Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The Battle of Chicago, the Chicago Disaster, the Chicago Snafu. No matter what you called it, that day was a turning point for the race of man, as one and all learned not only that the human race was not infact alone in the universe but also that they were not the strongest or the most advanced.

And with that knowledge came fear, a fear that was stoked by fiends in the shadows who had been waiting for something like this to finally happen.

Unseen by the bots or their allies as the American government dismantled N.E.S.T in an attempt to save face and reassure the human race that they were the ones that controlled the alien machines, fear mongering  propaganda began to fill the screens and ears of the humans of earth, not out right calling all bots dangerous but implying enough to have any slightly afraid human going for their phone at the first sight of a bot, con or autobot.

Then one day, not two months since the battle, the bots were told to come to a secure location to negotiate a new treaty with the new CIA group Cemetary Wind, and Optimus, weary as he was with the heavy handed humans,  still went with most of his surviving fighters, such as prowl and lambo twins in hopes of salvaging some kind of peace.

Not a week later the Prime wounded and dying from the human's traitorous ambush fell to stasis lock, and on that same day a storm broke out across the world. An immense hurricane that covered the entire world blocking out the sun for 7 days. In the. Far north and south the storm was a great thundering blizzard, but everywhere else the rain came down, hard.

Buildings that were never meant withstand such wind and rain came down in thundering piles of stone and wood. Fields were drowned the world over. Deserts flooded.

Many feared the end of the world had come.

And one pastor who watched the storm from the safety of his small cathedral along with many people who had sought safety and comfort from the storm described the storm as " what he imagined the embodiment of a god's grief to be."

But after the seventh day the storm dissipated and as the human race is want to do, they picked themselves back up and began to rebuild, many governments blaming as had begun to become common the cybertronians for the freak storm. 

But even as the rebuilding began the human race didn't realize that their doom had already been sealed after the fifth day, and that Nothing would stop that doom from coming to pass.

######

The crystal deer could be seen peacefully grazing on the smaller crystal clusters at the foot of a Greater Crystal. As big around and tall as a twenty year oak, the enormous crystalline structure had truly earned the name. 

And yet the beast would graze with nonchalance at its foot, it's hide as clear and shining as its namesake, making it's internals easy to see, from it's delicately shifting servos, taunt dark wires and bright glowing blue lines of fuel. Even it's jaw was see through, revealing the diamond sharp and hard teeth grinding at the tiny crystal it had bitten off.

But even as it grazed it's clear wired ear would be raised as if to catch the slightest sound, a sound it never heard even as a predator lay in wait, holding his breath.

After a moment the beast would go in for another bite, and it's observer would raise a large compound bow with a strange arrow on the wire line ready to be shot. The arrows tip was green with two wires coming from the haft of the arrow and merging into the tip, sparking faintly with electricity.

After another moment the hunter would let his arrow fly, and the green bladed arrow would sink into the clear hide just below the spine and with a metallic shriek the mechanical creature would fall twitching with the electricity overloading it's circuitry. The hunter would run forward quickly and with one quick stab of a hand-made crystalline blade to the base of the skull, the light would go out of both its optics and it's chest.

The hunter would after checking for signs of life would whoop with victory as hed leap into the air," it worked, the tazor arrow actually worked! I knew it would work!" And with a self satisfied smile Cade Yeager would bend down and scoop his kill over his broad shoulders.

Giving the dead beast a pat with his hand, he'd mutter," should be enough fuel and bits to last us for a few days and put some back." And would begin marching through the eiry forest that now bordered his home.

Tall dark blue crystals the size of old oak trees in width and height towered over him giving off a bright yet diffused blue glow, smaller crystals of a much paler blue scattered about the foot of the larger ones, twinkling like stars in twilight. Plant like structures of copper, tin, and iron black metals scattered across the ground in thickets and bush like structures, while crystals of every color grow from where flowers or buds would have existed on similar plants. And over everything else rust red growths like rusty grass grew.

To most other people the sight of this forest might have been odd, scary, eiry, alien. But to the inventor who had always felt more at home with machines then people since he was very young, it was fascinating. Like an entire new world to explore just outside his home, a world he was still exploring even after returning to the family farm just two months ago, still finding new things to explore or examine. His barn had even begun to look more like a naturalist hut then his temple of technology, but with every beast he dissected or metal plant he took apart the more he learned and it was enough.

And to think this had all begun a mear 7 months ago. Well to be honest no one knew exactly when it had started as by that time things had already gotten past the point of containment according to what he had read, but that was when the governments of the world had begun locking down certain areas as Quarantine Zones and declared world wide lockdown due to a plague that had just been discovered.

The world already on edge from the attack on Chicago had done as ordered, and people had stayed home as much as possible and whenever the silvery sheen of the plague appeared on a part of their body they reported to their local hospital which would send them to a registration camp.

Cade, who had been working as a janitor for a company that was researching the plague to develop a cure, had been one of the lucky few who could keep working through the quarantine, which had been a godsend due to his daughter's illness. But then he had found something damning on the computer the on sight physician had forgotten to turn off on his way out. A euthanasia order for himself, his daughter and her boyfriend for showing signs of the plague. 

Terrified and infuriated, he'd sat down at the desk and broke out his Hacking skills, something he'd had talent in since collage and left a back door into the company system and quickly left the office for home, stopping at an ATM to retreave the mear 4000 dollars he had in his savings account and went to gather his laptop and every USB he owned along with some clothes and hurried to the hospice his daughter was living in.

All through the night he had copied and downloaded every scrap of data he could, and by dawn he'd found out a terrible truth. The 'plague' was some form of nanite that was infecting both their bodies and ecosystem, slowly turning the animals and plants into cybernetic versions of themselves and was doing the same to people, which once the government had come to the conclusion was incurable once it started had become an automatic death scentance for anyone caught with anything metallic showing on their bodies as a way to 'slow the infection of others' and to 'preserve the sanctity of the human race' those camps weren't registration camps, they were death camps, and the death toll according to the company statistics had already hit the thousands.

He and his family had been tagged due to showing above average health and a recent blood sample which had shown the nanites in him and Shane had multiplied to the point of beginning the transformation.

That morning he told them a quick version of what he had found and together they had come up with a plan to run to the old farm which seemed to lie in one of the Quarantine Zones. Giving them half the money he'd pulled out of the bank the two groups had gone their separate ways and after weeks of running and hiding from the military which was patrolling the highways they had by some luck of the gods made it and with some clever uses of backroads found their way back to their old home avoiding the military cordon keeping people out of the area.

Of course despite escaping their government mandated deaths, that had not changed the fact that they were 'infected.' Saying that they were scared and unnerved was putting it lightly and the three of them had talked long into the night about what was happening to them and wether death would be preferable to changing. 

Luckily for them all they had agreed to take a chance rather then end it all without a fight and together the little family had begun to find out about their new world as they waited for the changes to come.

'And boy had they come,' he thought ruefully as he'd look down at his hand, his entirely metal hand. An amazing piece of bioengineering, the thing slightly resembled a knights gauntlet rather then the skeletal thing he had feared it would become and it hadn't even hurt when it had fully transitioned in his sleep from flesh to metal. He'd kept it mostly silver with some purple detailing and he had for the first few days obsessed over it. Then the stomach cramps had come and his fascination had taken an abrupt dive.

He'd been sick for days throwing up huge globs of blood and, dare he say, flesh. but ofter three days he'd woken up fine, his daughter and Shane sleeping on chairs nearby having watched over him during that whole time.

Overjoyed to see him awake the two had cooked him breakfast. He'd been ravenous but with one wiff of the poached eggs and he'd dove out of the bed and house, the stuff reeked!

For the next few days they'd panicked, not knowing what he was meant to eat as nothing they had appetized him but in fact did the oppisite.

But then he'd watched one of the new mechanical species that had appeared in the forest, nibble on one of the crystals growing on the metallic plants and had an idea, a crazy, but soundly thought out idea. He'd taken one of the same crystals gave it a nibble as well. The thing had felt like quartz in his hand, but had cracked in his mouth like a delicate sugar crystal and it had tasted wonderful. like a sun ripened strawberry with a hint of electricity like when you tongue a battery.

It had taken time for the other two to trust him, but after watching him nibble said crystal without breaking his teeth and seeing the absolute please he got from eating it the two younger had accepted the fact that the change had gotten to the point he would now have to eat rocks.

Of course with experimentation he'd learned that he could also eat the parts and fuel of mechanimals and that the fuel with some mech bits even made him feel fuller longer, and by the time Shane had gotten to the point of 'The Heaving of No Return' he'd had a slew of options to chose from to eat.

Tessa of course being far more leery of the looming prospect.

And with that cheery thought he'd walk into the copper and sapphire crystal fields the wheat had turned into.

Say what you will of golden wheat fields, he thinks his fields are far prettier.

And as he'd come up to the yard he'd hear a voice call out, "how'd the hunt go, dad?"

He'd look up surprised and happy to see Tessa standing at the door watching him with her usual curious yet cautious gaze whenever he showed up with a mechanimal, leaning on a cane but mostly holding herself up.

He was so glad to see her finally getting around on her own. The nanites might have saved her life but they were slow going about getting the rest of her body up to snuff fighting off the last of her disease.

"Tessa! The hunt went fine. I even got to use that new arrow I've been developing. Now I won't have to worry about wasting fuel due to accidental punctures."

She'd shudder, "I still think it's a bit freaky that you now have to drink blood like a vampire."

He'd roll his eyes fondly stating,"and I've told you time and again that it's not the same as blood. We can't exactly eat the servos or wires, only some of the cogs, tubing and fuel. So it's basically just eating the flesh part of the beast inliquid form."

She'd shake her head even as she'd smile as she'd square her shoulders and state,"well just means I have to keep finding ways to make actual food out of this stuff for when I start having to eat the stuff" determination covering her lingering unease as she'd continue," so you better not mess up the tubing this time when you butcher that thing. I'm still trying to figure out the right melting temperature to make them gooey without setting off the crystal filling."

He'd give a sloppy salute as he'd state" yes ma'm!"

Before stating worriedly,"just be careful June bug. Those crystals are more reactive then a rock should ever be. Remeber..."

"If I want to heat up anything with crystals in them they have to be covered with oil so I can heat it without it reacting with oxygen and only taking it out once it's no longer hot enough to set on fire, I know dad,"she'd say in an annoyed huff even as she'd grin showing her retort was mostly for fun.

Laughing he'd look around and ask,"where's Shane? I was hoping he could help me with this."

The happy grin would fall as she'd say quietly," he had to go on a grocery run. Hes...he's not come back yet."

Worry would crease the older man's face, but only for a moment. He'd reassure her, "I'm sure the leprechaun is fine.  He knows that town like the back of his hand now. No way any ham fisted government goon is going to be able to catch him. Has he hit the emergency call yet?"

She shook her head no.

"Then he should be fine. Have some faith in him Tessa. He'll make it home."

'or ill go out there drag him back half dead if i have to,' he'd think grimly as he'd head for the barn, picking up a recently cleaned bucket along the way. That kid was the love of his daughter's life, and was the son he never realized he wanted. No way was he giving him up to those god complexed bastards.

Chapter Text

One of these days, thought Shane as he drove his rally car through a back alley at a blistering pace, he was going to learn the fine art of stealth. But today was definitely not that day as he drove recklessly through the abandoned streets three black muscle cars nipping at his heels.

While getting ready to leave an abandoned supermarket he'd just picked up some food for his girlfriend in, it seemed he'd been spotted again by a Cemetary Wind patrol and had started one of their chases.

He had to hand it to them though, they didn't hire slouches in the driving department. If he wasn't a perfesional rally driver with experience driving through every fucked up street and alley imaginable, he might have gotten caught during the drive up here. Remembering that drive made him shiver.

He didn't know precisely when things had started going down hill in the world at large, but he did know when it had started going downhill in his world. The day his girlfriend had been diagnosed with bone cancer. The day he'd been told by tessa about it had felt like the floor had fallen out from under him. It didn't help that it had been the first time he'd met her father or had learned that neither he nor her dad could afford treatments.

Both of them had scrambled to make money to pay for her stay at a hospice despite the older man's distaste for the situation, Cade getting a job in a fancy new engineering company and Shane taking up several more races. But it had never been enough and all they'd been able to afford was to make her last months comfortable.

Cade had been a mess, blaming himself for not getting a proper job, working himself to the bone as a janitor for that fancy company and even getting other jobs at fast food joints. He'd had to physically man handle the older man onto a couch when he'd once came to the hospice ready to collapse from exhaustion.

To say his girlfriend's dad had not been happy with his actions would be an understatement. The old man had snarled and shouted until finally the man had started screaming, his frustration, fear, and guilt rising up to swallow him whole and Shane unable to walk away had stayed with the man, letting him pour out his pain as he held him through the storm.

After that he and the old man had tried to get along more. Talking more civilly and trying to both be there for Tessa. And Shane not wanting Cade to fall to such a state again had also done what he could to be there for him as well, hanging out together to work on his rally car or even just talk.

Surprisingly they'd found a shared passion for engineering, though Shane preferred tried and tested engineering compared to Cade's desire to envent new things. Still, when he actually took his time the older man did good work, having even made some pieces on his car far more fuel efficient, something the driver had very much appreciated, even telling Cade directly so. 

It had almost been sad to see such innocent excited happiness on the inventor's face at the compliment, as if no one had ever appreciated his talents before.

But even as they'd grown closer, it had not stopped Tessa's cancer from looming over their heads like a guillotine, the hospice bills burning through both of their savings. One or the other falling asleep in a chair at Tessa's bedside more often then not. Her illness getting worse and worse till it was predicted by the company doctor Cade had been able to hire that she would only have a few more months to live.

Of course the forced quarantine had not helped matters, cutting off half of their income, with Cade barely able to keep up with bills.

Then for some reason, Tessa's  health had begun to turn positive. While she still remained weak, a good chunk of her pain had eased and her appetite had returned. Just happy for some form of improvement, false or not, he and Cade had celebrated with what little they could.

Not a week later Cade had come to the hospice looking like he'd just stood in front of a firing squad. And after hed explained what he'd found on his company servers, well, it hadn't sounded like a much better situation. And shane still didnt believe that the man had told them everything he'd found, his face had been far too...haunted afterwards, not to mention his strange guilt complex when it came to the transformers which caused him to keep an eye on several watch lists and forums.

After that night they'd gone on the run, Tessa still weak, but recovering due to the nanites in her system according to her father, playing navigator once again, and Shane using every trick he'd ever learned to throw off the military goons that they began to run into. It had been a god's be damned miricle that they'd gotten to their family farm in one piece.

And that hadn't been the end of the excitement either, the young man thought ruefully as he'd finally drive into a large theater to hide having thrown off his persuers enough to get in without being seen.

They'd found out exactly Why the area near the farm had caused the place to be made into a Quarantine Zone. Enormous crystals had sprouted out of the earth deeply rooted into ground, crystals that according to Cade were still growing, plants and animals made of metal and gears spreading out from the crystalline forest, and their own transformation beginning, which according to some files Cade had been able to steal before going on the run, was being accelerated by being near the enormous glowing crystals.

Every day had become an adventure of finding out what they would be able to eat, the differences between the mechanimals and normal creatures, Cade basicly becoming a biologist, trying to find out as much as he could about these creatures anatomy. Tessa trying find out how to cook with the volitile fuel and crystals. And finally himself having to make runs to and from any town nearby, preferably abandoned, to get food for tessa who still needed to eat normal food and whatever tools or supplies Cade needed. Which almost always involved a cat and mouse chase with the blasted government.

He'd hold his breath as he'd listen to the goons through the radio Cade had set up in his car to eavesdrop on the bastards who didn't realize they knew the exact frequency they used.

: damn it! We lost him, again!:

:the commander is not going to be happy:

:are we even sure he's one of the metal heads? I don't see any curcits on him.:

:he's running, therefore it's logical to persume he is. Not to mention his last medical checkup to did flag him for critical mass.:

: (sigh) it would make this so much easier if it was a false alarm. He's the slipperiest bastard we've tried to bag yet.:

:report back to base. We'll find out where he's been getting passed the cordan sooner or later.:

:yes, sir!:

Shane would let out a breath even as his lips would curl into a sneer. Metal Heads. A new derogatory term for those going through the transformation. As if they'd lost all human rights the minute they started turning into something else. He'd shudder at the memory of the one time he'd talked to one of these crazies during the run to the farm. He'd talked to them like they were subhuman, no less, like they were some defective robot that needed to be scraped. That was when he'd fully believed cade's story and had booked it even harder for home.

He'd wait for another thirty minutes, gather what tools and machinery he could find around the old theater.

Then he'd pack up and slowly slip away from the large building. Driving cautiously into the backroads that criss crossed the area, only breathing easier once he crossed the cordan into the Quarantine Zone, marked by the scattered metal plants mixed in with the normal foliage.

He might not find the new plants as fascinating as Cade did but he had to admit the metal plants with their jewel like crystals were very pretty in their own way, and the giant crystals you only ran into farther into the Zone were awe-inspiring things, like from some movie about an alien world.

But as he drove down a road he'd never driven before, he'd spot a not so beloved creature brought about by the change, one he had a personal grudge against, a group of ten glowing blue butterflies with sparks of energy coming off a few.

Their was another species of mechanical butterflies that he didn't mind, but they were bright pink and only ate the energy of the crystals of metal plants, but these little bastards? They ate any form of energy, including the electricity from his car's battery! He'd been in a silent war with the things for weeks before he'd found out that the little bastards were warded off by the scent of their own fuel which he now painted onto the outside of his battery every week.

Needless to say he hated the things but as he watched more flit away down a turn off, he'd begin to wonder what it was they were going for. Their weren't any of the giant crystals they normally fed on, and as far as he knew they were the only people in the area.

Curiosity getting the best of him the young man would turn down the dirt road and begin to follow the bane of his existence. For several minutes he'd find himself going through a tunnel of thick normal looking trees before breaking into a clearing covered in dead rusted car's.

Shane would blink in mild surprise. It was a junkyard. A long abandoned one by the look of it.

Befuddled he'd look back at the butterflies and mutter," what the fuck are you pests eating here? There shouldn't be anything here that still runs."

Curiosity peeked even more he'd follow the blue butterflies through the rows of dead cars until finally he found himself staring at a bewildering sight; a large broken down truck covered in the little bastards, some of them flying off, clearly having taken their fill with how brightly they shone even in the daylight, while duller ones would take their place.

"What in the hell?" he'd ask quietly as he'd step out of his car to get a better look at it. The truck it's self was clearly old, and looked like it had been through a war, covered in holes and dents and rust. Waving away the butterflies on the door, the racer would go for the door handle and opening it, he'd realize to his numb horror that his metaphor seemed more appropriate then he had thought. Hundreds of bullet casings would fall out of the truck's cab as he'd open it, (Was that a mortar round casing!!)

Looking up he'd whisper "what the hell happened to you!"Even as he'd close the door, guessing that he really wouldn't want to see what's inside.

"Must have been someone trying to get to the Quarantine Zone," he'd mutter to himself.

"But how'd it get to this dump? Did the driver know about it before hand?"

With a final helpless shrug, the young man's eyes would come back to the large truck, said eyes beginning to shine with eagerness. Cade had been mentioning that he wanted to start tests on one of the larger chunks of Greater Crystal he'd found in the Crystal Forest, but they had found out quickly that anything bigger then his torso which where the smallest pieces the could find save a a few hand sized stones, were for too heavy even for Cade's pickup truck. This eighteen wheeler might be just what they need.

Of corse they'd have to fix it up, but between himself and Cade he was sure they'd be able to fix it, and considering the pests, it clearly still had battery left. Must have been a recent attempted escape.

He began squishing the little bastards until he'd  painted most of the truck's frame with the little bastard's fuel and just like with his own battery the bastards stayed away.

Patting the hood of the car he'd state," Cade is going to love you," before hurrying to his car to get home and tell him and tessa about what he'd found.

Chapter Text

Beep beep!!

Cade could honestly say he couldn't have been more happy to hear that annoyingly triumphant beeping in his life. It was just past noon, but Shane had been gone since dawn according to Tessa and the inventor had truly begun to worry. Cemetary Wind had not given up on their execution, made evident by their constant attempts to capture the rally racer.

Tessa would come out and would hobble as fast as she could to the now stopped car lunging into the red heads arms as she'd squeal,"where were you!? We were worried sick!"

"Sorry babe," he'd mutter into her shoulder. "Bastards spotted me and I had to play ring around the roses with the clowns again. Was able to hide in an old theater till they left."

"Well at least you made it," she'd say with relief as she'd let him go and would stand in front of him.

Cade would also state, "always knew you would, since you and I both know that if you got captured she'd be the first to start mounting a rescue operation and I don't think that would be good for anyone involved," even as his stern face would soften with his own relieved smile.

He'd then ask, "you did get groceries right?"

"Yep!" The young man would say excitedly as he'd drag out some bags of flour rice can goods and other staples.

"Sorry I could find anything fancy, but it's the best I could grab," shaking her head she'd state "it's fine," before taking a bag and leading the two towards the house.

While following Shane would tell Cade with a grin," I also found something you'd definitely like to have."

Raising a brow he'd inquire,"oh, and what would that be?"

"I took a new route to through off the scent and found an old junkyard. There's an old eighteen wheeler inside and considering the thing was covered in those bastard flutterfries I'm pretty sure the thing still runs."

Shaking his head Cade would drawl "I will never understand your hatred of those insects. I mean yeah their a nuisance, but as you found out yourself easily deterred."

Before muttering thoughtfully,"an eighteen wheeler you say? Could be useful for getting one of those large crystal shards I've been wanting to work with."

Shane would nod, his eyes gleaming as he'd agree," just what I thought. I was thinking we could hitch it to your truck and tow it home to fix it up."

His face would fall as he'd contiue," though I'll warn ya now boss, the thing's fill with bullets. Looks to be an attempted escapee that didn't make it."

The man would wince, "message relieved, I'll see if we've got any bleach on hand. Cold water should be enough but I'd like to disinfect the interior too."

With that grim thought they'd finish packing the groceries into the pantry as Cade would state ,"well looks like you're good and stocked up for the next two months. Need anything else June bug? Cause your beau found something we need to go get."

As she'd look over the food clearly making plans , she'd wave her hand nonchalantly, saying," go on, go. I know how you boys get with your toys. Just remember to be home before nightfall. You two are going to try my attempt at crystal cooking, no trying to weasel your way out of it."

Laughing at her fake stern look he'd nod as he'd go to get his truck," right right, June bug. We'll be home in time I promise." And with that the two would drive out together to the junk yard.

######

Both men would be quiet save for the occasional instruction from Shane, each lost in their own thoughts.

Then Shane would state, "Tessa seems to be doing well. Didn't need a break or anything, even if she still needs the cane." A sense of unease under the innocent observation.

Sighing Cade would nod, "yep, and before you ask I've already taken a blood scan. The consintration is still too low for the start of transformation. But it's not hard to guess that they're finally fixing up the last of Tessa's internal damage."

Shane would blow out a breath as he'd sink down into the seat of cade's truck." Won't be long now."

"No it won't," agreed Cade grimly.

"I hope... I just hope she isn't too freaked out by it," Shane would state with a hint of nervousness.

"I mean she's not been hateful towards it, and she gets that the nanites did save her life, but she's not exactly been the most comfortable with our transformation."

Cade would nod in agreement as he'd state, "not like we can do much, kid. We'll support her and help her as much as we can but it is, ultimately, up to her. Though I do think that the cooking attempts have helped. Made it feel less alien, less out of her control."

"I hope so," Shane would mutter as his eyes would flicker with a hint of trepidation, "I'd hate to see her afraid of me or her herself. And it's not like it's completely painless."

"You mean the 'Heaving of No Return?' "The inventor would ask a hint of ruefulness in his tone. "Yeah that wasn't a walk in the park by any means, but my daughter's strong, she'll make it."

Trying to lighten the mood the younger man would give him a sly grin as he'd state,"you mean, My girlfriend, don't ya old timer?"

Cade would roll his eyes as he'd grouse, "shut up leprechaun."

The two would laugh at the old nickname, taking some comfort in the companionship they'd found in each other as they'd done what they could for Tessa, with Cade finding a son in the man he never knew he wanted and Shane finding a friend in the older man.

Finally the truck would pull into the junkyard and would pull up in front of the truck.

"Wow," Cade would drawl, a look of surprise coming over his face at the sight of the large vehicle.

"You weren't kidding when you said it was beat to hell."

Shane would nod as he'd chase off the few flutterfries that had returned, answering,"told ya, old timer.but the bugs still come so it's still got juice."

The inventor would nod as he'd go back to the truck and would turn it around and would carefully back up before stopping and ordering," kid, get the jack out of the back. We don't need it too high to hitch it, but it's got to slip over the hitching ball."

"Yes sir," Shane would state as he'd get out the jack.

There'd be the sound of cranking then a call, "alright, back up just a little more."

Slowly Cade would back the truck up but it seems he'd backed it up too much.

The sound of a clank, shifting metal, then a whining sound as Shane would shout in strained voice, "move forward a bit jackass!"

Cade fearing he might have nearly nocked the jack out of place would drive forward a smidgen.

The sound of the truck coming down just a bit too heavily, a relieved "it's in!" and a ceasing of the strange whining. Cade's eyes would narrow.

That dumbass better not have done what he thought he did.

Wrenching open the door of the truck he'd rush to the back just in time to see Shane trying to hide the fact that the jack had been nocked down. Growling the inventor would snap," you better not have done what I just thought you did."

The racer would jump, before turning with a nervous laugh, "I don't know what you mean boss," even as his arms would twitch.

Snarling the older man would grab at one of said arms and tearing away the long flannel to reveal both arms, still mostly flesh but criss crossed with wires under the skin and cables replacing tendons, and fuelines being to run into the now metal bones, fuelines that were pumping far too fast and cables heated much too hot under the skin.

Snarling as he'd run to the truck to grab a water bottle, cade would shout," what have I told you about lifting things too heavy for a human to lift you fucking numbskull?!"

As he'd hurry back and would pour the cold water on the over heated lines and cables he'd contiue to lecture,"even if your mech parts can take the strain your human parts can't and not all of the mech parts have come in for your arms. Your were trying to hold up a superior weight with an unfinished lever, you idiot! Your lucky you didn't pull anything."

His eyes then would latch onto Shane's leg, before growling," that whining wasn't coming from your leg was it?"

With a nervous wincing laugh now clearly trying to avoid putting weight on his right leg he'd ask, "would lying keep you from smacking me?"

"No it will only mean that I'll have to hog tie you for your examination, after I tell Tessa about this fucking stunt." The inventor would state with dry yet sweet tone.

The younger man would wince, as he'd state," I didn't think a few seconds would hurt."

"Well that whining says otherwise," the inventor would growl. "Come on it'll be best to get you back home to treat it. Don't want to get any dirt particles into the ball joint."

And with that the older man would march to the driver seat while Shane would limp to the passenger seat, and the truck and eighteen wheeler would drive off onto the dirt road home in the evening light

######

It would be nearly dark when they got home backing the large convoy truck into the barn which he'd cleared out a while ago to make room for his butchery and collected specimens.

But when Shane would try to reach for the jack, the inventor would smack his hand away stating firmly "no, you don't get to get anywhere near anything heavy needed to lift for that stunt you pulled earlier. I can get it off the hitch on my own."

At that moment before Shane could protest, Tessa would come into the barn, beginning to rant, "I thought you two wouldn't be home in time and I was ready to put cold raw tubing in front you for it... " only to be cut short by the sight of her boyfriend getting out of the truck wincing and limping, even as he'd try to smile at her, saying "got here in time even so didn't we?"

Worried she'd rush over even as her father would begin to tidy up the area that was both office and a makeshift medical area, demanding,"what happened?! What hurt you?"

"The kid's own stupidity, again, "groused the older man.

At first confused, then dawning comprehension she'd shout at her handsome yet oh so dumb sometimes boyfriend, "did you try lift something too heavy again?! You know what happened last time!"

"It wasn't that bad," the racer would try to weakly defend.

"You nearly crushed your own leg! Do you think that I want you to get hurt like that S"hane!? That I want you to do stupid stuff to show off?! Dad needs you to be fit and able just as much as I do to help keep us all alive. Who do you think is going to drive to town to get food if your driving leg is out of commission huh?!"

As her scolding would contiue, a red flush would go up the young man's neck as he'd realize she was right, he might have been a tad bit too reckless.

"I didn't think a few seconds would hurt," he'd try to defend again but it was clear even he knew he'd gone a bit too far.

"A few seconds is all it takes to damage something irreparable," Cade would snarl as he'd point to a chair in front of him, "sit,  I'll give it a look over. If we're lucky you just over taxed the servos, and didn't snap anything."

Before Shane could give even a token protest Tessa would shove him towards her dad as she'd order, "you let him look you over or I swear by all that is holy I will have you sleeping on the couch for a month."

Wincing he'd say automatically, "yes ma'am."

After shoving him into the chair she'd tell Cade," I'm going to bring dinner out here. Just because you have to treat this idiot doesn't mean you have to suffer a cold dinner."

"Thanks, June bug," he'd say absently as she'd hobble back towards the house, and he would kneel down in front of Shane's leg.

"Alright, pants leg up and boot off. Let's see what damage you've done."

Rolling his eyes he'd do as he's told, revealing a shining white black and silver leg. Just like Cade's arm it was a master piece of engineering , servos cogs and cables working in perfect sink underneath smooth metal plates that made his leg look like he was wearing a metal boot from some knights armor. Though the area right above the knee joint where metal melted into flesh  would disillusion anyone of that notion.

Tapping the knee joint with his metal hand Cade's eyes would go distant as he'd begin reading the prompts that were now scrolling down his vision, like he was using some kind of HUD. It had been unerving when it had first come up, but the way it helped him isolate data had become quite useful and he'd found that he could tune it out whenever he wanted.

"The temps definitely above normal but I'm not sure if it's from damage or just a bit of strain."

He'd begin tapping a pattern on his wrist, a focusing technique that helped him call up one of his arms internal functions. A small scanner would pop out of the top of his wrist and a green sheet of light would pass a couple of times over the knee joint, his eyes going further distant as he'd try to keep up with the information coming in. He'd always been fast but it had taken practice to be able to absorb even  a third of the information that could come in from a deep scan through this new way of doing so. Luckily this one wasn't too deep.

Nodding he'd state dryly, "you're damned lucky leprechaun. Seems you just strained a few cables and the knee joint, as long as you don't do anything stupid it should clear up in a few days"

A voice behind Shane would ask," does that mean I can smack him now without hurting him?"

Giving his daughter, who was standing behind her now stiff backed victim, a devilish grin he'd state "of course you can, it not like his head was damaged, though he acts like it."

And with that Tessa promptly smacked her boyfriend upside the head before hugging him hard, "please, please don't get yourself hurt like that again, honey, please."

Sighing he'd give her a kiss on the head as he'd apologize," I'm sorry babe. Should have used my head. Forgive me?"

Sniffling she'd nod ,"yeah sure," before handing to each of them a metal plate with what looked like transparent blue and gold ravioli in a blue sauce or soup.

"Well," she'd ask as the two would stare at the creation, "what do you think?"

Giving each other a wary glance, both men would take their spoons and would take a cautious bite.

It was delicious.

The crystal filling, clearly made for those crystals he found in the beasts chests, was as savory as a piece of venison liver, while the casing was a much more mild yet similar flavor, while the fuel clearly came from one of their less strong flavored prey, maybe some that was left over from that robochicken he'd killed.

Altogether it was the best meal he'd eaten since he'd started turning into a mech and he found himself singing her praises.

"I don't know if transformers have anything like chefs but I'm certain not even the most bestial would turn their nose up at your cooking."

Shane would nod in agreement, grinning,"this is fantastic babe! Great job!"

She'd blush, "thanks, just been trying to figure out how to cook the stuff according to what you guys say it tastes like with some finagled recipes."

"Well you certainly outdid yourself junebug," Cade would say with a warm smile, and as the other two would begin chattering about her other ideas for cooking the crystals and fuel he'd find himself glancing at the truck, excited to work on a new project.

It was hard to believe that two months ago he'd been more miserable then he'd ever been in his life, but now he couldn't be happier, his daughter alive and well, Shane and him working on projects and all the things to research he could ever as for.

Only the memory of what else he'd found on those files dampened his mood, and even that could only drive him to a thoughtful sadness.

One day, one day he'd help the ones his old job had wronged. But for now he was going to enjoy this happiness.

Chapter Text

Morning dawned bright and early, a light blue mist covering the copper and sapphire fields outside the farm.

Yawning Shane still sore from his ill advised stunt the day before would limp into the kitchen, which was bigging to look more like some mechanics lab then a place to cook food, with beakers and small furnaces meant to melt metals and even crystals now where stoves and counters would be. The walls reinforced with heavy metal paneling salvaged from abandoned barn roofs and such. The cabinets filled with crystals and powdered minerals and filed metals.

And there amidst the chaos was the love of his life busy cooking her own breakfast on a small camp stove next to the only windows in the kitchen area right by the door, pancakes and apples by the look of it.

Yawning again he'd greet, "mooo-MHaaa-orning," even as he'd wrinkle his nose at the mixing of the heavenly slightly sweet scent of petro-rabbit fuel and the now horrid burt carbon scent of coffee.

Rolling her eyes at the sight she'd put the air tight lid on the coffee Cafe, leaving only the slight scent of her personal cup and would hand him a coffee mug of the bright blue fuel and a bowl of yellow and red crystals.

"Sorry about offending your delicate nostrils honey, but you know I can function without the stuff in the morning yet."

Smiling apologetically he'd say,"sorry about that, but the stuff really reeks. I think your dad said it's because most forms of carbon are now poisonous to us, if I'm recalling it right."

She'd nod tiredly, "yeah during geek out number 55 I think," she'd chuckle indulgent, just glad that her dad finally had something to peek his interest and make him happy. Oh how times had changed them all

Back before the cancer and everything all she had cared about was getting out of the boondocks she saw her home to be and away from the selfish failure she saw her dad as. She loved Shane, but she could freely admit to herself that half his appeal to her back then had been the fact he'd offered to help her get out and see the world.

But then the cancer hit and all her selfish shallow dreams of heading to collage and partying and driving into the sunset while her dad watches fell and shattered to pieces.

But even as she found herself watching her clock run out in terror, she also found herself having to watch as all her preconceptions shattered to pieces as well.

She watched her father give up his dreams of enterpernourship and get the highest paying yet most embarrassing job he could as a janitor for a high class company to pay for her hospital bills.

She watched the man she'd been sure would leave her for a more free and exciting and less doomed relationship stay at her side, showing her a devotion she in all her daydreams of excitement and freedom had never dreamed of having from him.

And as she watched these two overcome their differences and work so hard to pay the bills she'd also come to understand something ugly about herself. She'd been selfish, greedy. Always desiring freedom and calling her dad selfish when he'd just wanted to do some same thing she did, follow his dreams, only he'd tried to do it in such a way that he could still be there for her, and she, in her shallow understanding, had scorned his hard work.

Her desires for Shane had also been shallow. She had loved him, but more for the freedom he could give her and the defiance of her father's wishes he'd represented.

And as she watched the two sleep sitting up side by side on the small couch in her hospice room, she'd in tears promised herself that for whatever time she had left she was going to appreciate them with all she had.

And as it turned out, she had alot more time left then she'd thought.

Shaking her head to clear the thoughts of the past she'd smile at Shane who was gobbling down the crystals, which he'd said taste like strawberries and a very lightly flavored orange, and would ask him, "how's the fuel?"

Giving her a curious glance the racer would take a sip, before his eyes would widen, this is...pretty good. Definitely has more energy content.

Grining triumphantly she'd take one of the very few tree crystals her dad had been able to collect from fallen chunks, and would reveal a tiny piece had been carved out of the crystal, as she'd state smugly," looks like dad's guess that those things haveing enormous amounts of energy in them is right on the money. I was able to heat it and break off a small chunk. Then I powdered that chunk and mixed it with the metal plants I'm feeding to those bunny things dad caught."

"Petro-rabbits," the young man would correct automatically. He'd had the diffrent names of the mechanimals drilled into his head enough times.

Staring at the stuff in his mug, "he'd state bewildered the petro eggs have this much improvement from just that little bit?"

She'd nod, "yep, though I don't think I'm going to use much more then this as a daily supplement. They were glowing so brightly I was afraid the things would go boom, and you and I both know dad' be pissed if he had to go catch more of the fuckers."

"True, true," he'd say with a laugh." Still I think what you did was genius, you have like some sixth sense when it comes to how these things work, he'd hold up one of the last red crystals. Me and Cade can barely ever find the "ripe" crystals that don't taste bland but somehow you always just, know."

Grinning sheepishly even as she'd blush at the praise, she demur, "I just find the shinest ones, no biggy."

"Well I think it's a biggy, a very big biggy," he'd say as he'd finish crunching at the last crystal and would sneak an arm around her waist and pull her down for a few kisses on his lips and cheek.

Laughing she'd push away his face and tickling whiskers, "stop it! What if dad walks in?! He might have given his blessing, but you know he still goes green at PDA."

Reluctantly stopping he'd look around, asking curiously, "where is he anyway? He doesn't usually sleep this late."

Before they could investigate further, there'd be the sound of running and Cade, his hair sticking up this way and that would run in and say excitedly,"come on, you have to come see this."

######

Curious yet used to his antics the couple would run after the inventor without worry even as he'd burst through the barn doors and over to the new truck, a tarp already underneath it and all his larger tools nearby along with a bottle of bleach.

He'd begin explaining excitedly, "I at first started with trying to clean out the interior, but there was no blood inside the cab, that was the first red flag. There should have been something but nothing, nodda, zilch."

"So I began to look around for anything else that was odd, and boy was there."

He'd go over to the engine housing and would point at the radiator where a large hole gapped, telling Shane  excitedly,"look in there! Notice anything odd?"

Shrugging at Tessa he'd bend down to look inside only for him to give a very confused, "huh?!?"

There was no engine! Or rather where there should have been an engine was a confusing layering of metal plates and wiring that he could see went far into the truck past any point of having an engine in where it normally was. He had to guess that what ever had hit the thing must have had armor piercing 'cause this layering looked like it could normally take a granade at point blank range.

Looking up at the manic inventor for an explanation, said inventor would then proudly hold up his scanner as he'd continue to explain, "I began to have a hunch about what I was working with, especially when I began to get that weird, tingly feeling I get whenever I'm around your leg, the one that let's me and you feel what the other is feeling. I wasn't getting any emotions but it was there, so I took out my scanner, and while most of it was stuff I couldn't understand there was enough there to prove my hunch."

His eyes gleaming with excitement and joy he'd tell the shocked couple," it's a transformer, and it's still alive!!"

#####

As Shane helped Cade get the truck on cinder blocks,(under tessa's direct supervision to make sure he didn't try another stupid stunt) the racer wondered how on earth he'd let his girlfriend's dad talk him into this.

When Cade had made his announcement he and Tessa had been understandably...worried.

While they understood that not all the mechs during the Chicago battle had been bad...well considering what Cade had found out through his company's files and the underground forums he'd later found on the dark web, it was not hard for the two of them to imagine that the mech might be danger no matter what side it had been on.

But Cade refused to budge on his idea of helping the unconsious bot.

"We have to help it! It's our fault it's in this state to begin with."

"No, no, dad, I've told you before," Tessa had tried to sooth, "what those bastards from your old job did isn't your fault. You've got to stop blaming yourself."

But Cade shook his head scowling hard, "doing nothing, even in ignorance, is as bad as doing it myself"

"And this time I know that this one is here and needs my help. Please, I know I'm taking a risk but please...try to understand. I have to help them, or I'll never be able to look at myself in the mirror again."

And that look he gave them as he asked this, a mix of pleading and determination and that strange guilt he'd had since they'd escaped, had probably been what talked him into it, Shane thought ruefully, as he'd finish making sure the thing was secured, even as Tessa still watched the still machine with worry, she having been the most fearful of possible violence, but unable to resist her father's bagging anymore then him.

Hopefully doing this, even if they failed, would set that secret guilt to rest, or at least loosen his stubborn tongue about what he'd found. All they knew was that it had to do with doing something terrible to the transformers.

Cade would be scanning the thing like no tomorrow, looking over it for injuries as best he could, though that wasn't hard for even Shane to do. The thing was literally covered in bullet holes. He didn't even know where to start.

"So what are we going start with first, boss?" he'd ask casually.

"Not sure," Cade would state as he'd continue to stare vacantly as he struggled to read the scans.

"It's like all of its vital functions have been frozen. Fuelpump, reflexes, even mental stimulation. The scans keep bringing up something called stasis lock and the need to take off pressure somewhere to lift the stasis, but I'm not sure where said pressure is being placed."

Staring at the truck for a moment, Shane's eyes would drift to the deepest hole he could see on the truck; the hole in it's radiator.

Tilting his head as he'd come closer, his mechanic curiosity over coming his unease, he'd ask,"maybe whatever did this? Seems to be the worst 'injury' of the lot."

Cade looking up surprised would come over fast and together they would begin to carefully examine the hole and what was deeper inside.

Now that they were looking they could see flickers of a strange light and something dark blocking it.

Again Cade would scan it, muttering, "sparkpulse low and irregular? Foreigns blockage? Is that like a heartbeat?"

He'd give Shane a look as he'd state ,"I think you were right. Were going to need the butchering winch."

Together the two would get the winch they'd stung up in the rafters, and hooking the winch's hook to the obstruction they'd slowly pump the winches bar and drag the obstruction out revealing what looked to be a small missile.

Near panicking, but not wanting to risk the thing blowing, shane would carefully rush it to the rust grass covered part of their property and would throw it before diving back into the barn.

Boom went the missile and shriek went the transformer's metal hide.

The thing almost immediately began to transform, bellowing in rage and fear,"get away, get away from us!!" Even as it's form would barely be able to hold itself together clearly still badly injured.

"Stay away, I'll gah-fra-gah kill you!! I'll kill you all for this!!"

It's will to fight for it's life despite it's clearly horrific injuries would have been impressive if it weren't for the fact it was raging in close proximity to a bunch of easily squishible human-transformer hybrids.

Tessa would scream as the thing would swing it's large rifle at Shane, who'd jump to dodge, Cade would be desperately calling for the creature to stop, to calm down, but clearly it was panicking just as much as it was raging. Shane would dodge again this time a swipe from it's foot and Cade desprate, decided to try a hail Mary.

Running forward the human would scream "calm down!!" as he'd place his metal hand on the transformer's leg.

Just as he'd thought, he could feel it's emotions through that weird tingling thing, though far more powerfully then he had ever felt from Shane's singular leg.

It was like his arm had been plunged into an inferno of rage, while at the same time it was being stabbed by frozen blades of terror. Hoping to all hell that his hypothesis that the ability to feel emotions went both ways he'd use every calming technique he knew to calm himself even as he'd try to feel his desire to help, to protect, to save with all his might as he'd call out again to the momentarily frozen mech, "calm down! We aren't going to hurt you!"

The metal under his hand would go as stiff as unliving steel even as the field for lack of a better word would explode with emotions, blasting the focused fear and rage to smithereens. Confusion, fear, anger, bewilderment, pain, and, strangely,  aching loneliness filled the thrashing field even as the metal would relax with abnormal swiftness, and then with a groan the mech who had been staring at Cade for a few incomprehending seconds would keel over in a dead faint.

After a few stifling silent minutes the hybrids would begin to come out of their terrified stupor.

"Is it, is it dead?" Tessa would ask timidly.

Cade scanning it again would sigh in relief,"no it just fainted. I guess everything just completely overwhelmed it."

"Overwhelmed it!!" Shane would giggle incredulously as he'd come down from the adrenaline high. "I would think I should be the one fainting from that not it!"

"Him," Cade would say absently still distracted by the scan. Before looking up, and asking,"didn't you feel it? It was fucking terrified. It thought we were going to kill it."

After a moment Shane would slowly nod, comprehension dawning as he'd realize that a good chunk of his fear and anger was now gone. Wide eyed he'd ask ,"that was him!? I mean I knew they weren't unfeeling, but that much emotion is ridiculous."

Sighing, Cade would state ,"my best guess is that he went unconscious during or right after a battle so he came out it looking for a fight. Now that it's no longer in stasis lock, which seems to be similar to a coma, he should be able to wake up more slowly which as long as no one makes any sudden moves or such should let him wake up without going on the attack"

Tessa, would look at him a bit incredulous," are we sure we want to be around it when it wakes up?!"

Cade would look at her the same determination as before in his eyes," it was just frightened junebug. And I'm not going let another's fear stop me from helping them."

He'd then begin to start trying to find a way to situate the transformers limbs to make it easier to treat the "flesh" wounds while the great creature was still unconsious, as well as just make it comfortable.

Shaking his head the calming Shane would give his wide eyed girlfriend smile," stubborn as a mule, but his hearts in the right place. Don't worry I'll be sure to be ready to drag him out if the thing's more aggressive then he gives it credit for. But he is right, babe," the racer would stare at the great being with a mixture of second hand sorrow and some pity," it was more afraid then angry."

And for the first time she'd look at mech not with fear but a hint of worry.

"What could frighten something like that!?"

As he'd watch Cade wander up and down the things hide, using the winch to lift and situate the mech's limbs, Shane would remeber the haunted look that would come into the investor's eyes when he thought no one was looking and would say grimly." I don't think we want to know."

Chapter Text

Pain.

Dull endless pain.

That was what Optimus found himself waking up to. Not the sharp, bright pain, of being stabbed, or the scattered burning pain of being shot with a blaster. Oh no, those would have been merciful, as it usually precluded blissful stasis and being healed by a medic before he woke back up.

This was the dull throbing full body ache he'd only felt during the few times he'd been beaten to slag, every other time of course being during the beginning of the war when megatron managed to get his claws on him.

By the grace of the allspark he'd survived those encounters, and learned from them to the point that it had been over a million human years since he'd felt like this.

Breaking away from his reminiscing, the bot would claw his way back to full consciousness, just as he would also claw at his archival data recovery cashe to figure out where he was, what had happened, and most importantly, who he was going to slug in the faceplates for putting him in this predicament.

Maybe not a primely way of think but considering how he felt, he had a feeling even the Primes of old would allow him the slip in decorum just this once.

But as the archived data would slot into his conscious processing, the thought would be snuffed out as a feeling like ice cold oil being dumped om him would wash over him.

The humans, they'd attacked them. No... that was being too generous. They'd ambushed them, tried to slaughter them in a kill box they'd set up just for it.

Things had not been going well with the negotiations with the American government, but Optimus had been, well, optimistic when word had been set to him of a new group meant to handle cybertronians who wished to discuss a new treaty.

He'd thought the name of the group Cemetary Wind had been a bit morbid but nothing more, he'd been such a fool.

He'd even gone so far as to scan a new alt-mode, a more modern and sleek model of eighteen wheeler which had his armor taking a far more sleek and elegant appearance then usual, hoping to make a good impression.

But everything had felt wrong when they got to the new hanger, a much larger group of humans had been there then had ever been in N.E.S.T, and Prowl had been antsy since they'd been greeted and led inside where a single white haired older human had been waiting, just standing inside the empty hanger.

Optimus shuddered as much as his near paralyzed with pain frame would allow.

There had been something fundamentally wrong with that human from the very beginning, something that had made his plating crawl with every word out of his mouth.

He had introduced himself to them as Harold Attinger and without even asking for their names he began to ramble in what appeared to be a scattered unconnected monologue that became increasingly alarming.

He had spoken of how it had been irresponsible of their government to hand their country's protection over to a foreign power. Of how they should have learned how to fight the threats on their own How humanity's greatest strength was their ability to adapt, overcome, and conquer. And finally he'd told them that he didn't believe that there were bad aliens or good aliens. That it was simply humanity vs. Them

prowl was shouting "get down!!" just as attingar said in calm dead tone filled with an endless frozen hatred, fire at will.

After that everything became a blurr as almost a hundred humans opened fire on them, prowl's early warning allowing him to bust through the wall and outside but that had only made things worse, as their had been takes and men with bazooka waiting for them.

He saw prowl take several near fatal hits before transforming and driving off, while the lambo twins had not been so lucky, with Sideswipe being blasted in the spark with a mortar round, snuffing him instantly and with him Sunstreaker, who hadn't even had time to realize his loss before their bond had taken him too. Skids and Mudflap lucked out and got away as well, while Optimus had gotten away last, desperately trying to buy time for the others to escape.

But just as he'd thought he'd get away without serious injury, one of the tanks fired several missles, one of which hit him square in the grill. Normally, as the most armored part of his frame, this wouldn't have been a problem, but clearly the thing had been some new form of armor piercing missile as it had dug through feet of his armor and he'd felt as it slammed into his spark casing. And even as he'd driven off at top speeds no human truck or even car could match, his systems had been screaming for him to fall into stasis lock before he snuffed.

Knowing that that would just seal his fate he had overridden every system demand for him to shut down, driving for three days before finally in haze of pain found himself in a clearing surrounded by trees, and with his last sight being the stars above he'd let himself fall to stasis lock, believing his end had come.

But clearly it hadn't.

And as his memories began to come back clearer and faster his systems coming back online, he realized that those stars weren't the last memory he had.

Instead it seemed he'd woken up earlier in terrible agony, the stasis lifted, but his body unrepaired, and again surrounded by humans, though that was a bit fuzzy, pain and admittedly fear making him unable to think or even see clearly. Then...

A flash of maroon, pink and brown, a flash of silver and purple, a voice calling out, "calm down" even as the touch of kin and field pierces through the haze of pain and fear, the field soothing and comforting, kind. He looks down and sees...a human.

Then everything had gone dark as the complete illogic of what he was feeling and seeing had overwhelmed what was left of his conscious thought.

Still despite the oddness of what he'd felt, clearly the halusinatons of a proccessor seeking comfort, there was no denying it. He was once again in the custody of humans. Which begged the question; why was he still alive? What did they intend to do to him? Several...unsavory ideas came to mind, the memory of what the humans had done to his brother foremost in his processor.

But just as he was working himself into a fine panic, a noise not to far away would startle him out of his spiral.

Holding very still, he'd let his optics power on without their normal light. It would reduce his vision but would keep the fact he was awake unnoticeable.

He seemed to be in a large building similar to a hanger but..smaller, the ground covered in hard packed earth rather then cement. And the walls were made of thick yet unfitted wooden boards which let in long streams of sunlight, and two large doors that looked big enough to let him walk out with only a slight need to bend.

He'd struggle to remember what such a place would be called. A...barn? He thinks.

And in front of said barn's doors would be two men one clear to be seen, a human male, middle aged by the look of his face, with brown hair and a maroon shirt. Optimus would start at the realization that this was the human he'd seen before he'd passed out.

The second human would be mostly hidden by the door even as the two would finish what seemed to be a discussion they'd had on their way to the barn.

"Look he's been out like a log for three days. It's clear his systems are keeping him under to help with repairs."

"I don't need you watching us both like a mother hen. Yes I know we have stores, but we really need to keep bringing in the bacon. Winter's coming and I'm not sure the livestock we've gathered is going to last us."

The answer was too muffled by the door to quite hear his hearing along with everything else dulled to help his body focus on healing.

The visible human would groan," yes I made a game of thrones reference, sue me, it was a good series."

"Either way, I promise I'll get out if things start getting dicing, I've got you and June bug to take care of after all. I'm not that stupid. But he's probably going to be out for a few more days and I'd like to get as much of him repaired that I can before he's awake and possibly too growly to let me finish repairing him."

At the realization that the human was talking about him,the prime would do a quick diagnostic scan, revealing that several wounds had been welded across his frame, with a startling amount  of care and skill. Why on earth was this human healing him!? He didn't know him and Optimus had seen what believing in human kindness gotten him.

The human clearly finished would give a shooing motion with his hands, and for the first time he heard the other human speak as the first humanstopped blocking the door as he went to shut it, stating with a hint of amusement "stubborn old fool."

And the First human would quip back as he'd shut the door, "pushy young leprechaun."

He'd then turn towards Optimus, shaking his head with a smile muttering "I'll be fine, worry wort." Clearly unable to see that the very still prime was infact conscious.

The mech would watch as the strange human would grab a large tool box and would come over to his right arm, the most recently repaired he recalled from his diagnostic.

The human would begin brushing at the plating the prime was struggling to keep still with his gloved hand, muttering, "looks like the welds are holding. Guess that alloy mixture works well enough. Hope it works the same for the shoulder."

Then he'd climb up next to the prime's shoulder between his arm and his chest, perilously close to a place where Optimus could crush him with ease if he wished.

Then the human would state a bit louder,"alright, let's take a look," before raising his right arm...which wasn't a human arm at all. It was a cybertronian servo and arm!! A simple unadorned yet polished silver with purple accents on the sides of the arm and the top of the servo.

Infuriated at what that could mean and desiring to get the human off of him, the prime would lurch uprightslightly grabbing the human in his left servo snarling threateningly at the human now at his mercy,"where did you get that arm, human?"

Said human would yelp, staring up at him wide eyed, though the field coming from that stolen arm didn't teek him to any fear coming from the human, only alarm.

Nervously the human would state,"well, didn't think you'd be awake this soon, guess I'm getting that I told you so from Shane."

Growling the prime would squeeze the human slightly to interrupt the nervous babble,"answer the question, human!"

Wincing the human would look up not in fear but annoyance," you know it's weird to ask people things without at least introducing yourself right? I'll even go first. Hi my name is Cade yeager."

Still growling Optimus would say in a cold voice, "and mine is Optimus Prime, now quit stalling and tell me where you got that arm!!"

The human would nod firmly as he'd say in a calm voice, "nice to meet you optimus," as if he wasn't being threatened with quite the gruesome death by a metal giant. The Prime had to admit the human was quite brave, maybe as brave as sa....?

Mentally shaking away the thought he gave an impatient huff which the human seemed to read well enough as look of trepidation came over his face, as he'd answer," as as for the arm...it just grew there, to be honest."

Snarling he'd squeeze a bit harder as he'd slightly shake the human, spitting,"do you take me for a fool human!!? That is no human arm and it's too advanced to be a prosthetic. It's clearly tech based on my people. So I will not ask again; where did you get that arm!?!"

yelping the human would babble," I'm not lying okay it grew there! How long ago were you knocked out? The Plague's become so well known I think even most transformers should know about it by now."

At the word Plague, optimus would loosen his grip, frowning as he'd demand, "what plague?"

Sighing in relief the human would explain,"around 7 or 8 months ago, several large governments across the world came together to reveal the fact that a Plague was spreading rapidly across the world and that they were going to initiate a world wide lockdown as well as Quarantine several high risk areas."

"What they didn't tell anyone was that the "plague" was in fact a highly aggressive and prolific form of nanite that has begun to slowly transform both people and the very environment into cybernetic versions of themselves. The process has only started with me, but I've heard that their are several people out there that are far more along then this."

Optimus' frown would deepen as he'd state in a low almost growl,"that is impossible, not even the most advanced terraforming tech in recorded history can do such a thing. They can only turn the organic to inorganic inert material, they can't make mechs."

"Try something a little less absurd human," he'd demand with another light squeeze.

Now struggling lightly, the human would state loudly wide eyed," I'm not lying, everyone knows about it, and even though the public news just posts what the government wants to hear there are plenty of people going out to seek the truth out and share it."

He'd then perk up as he'd stop struggling," I even have physical proof! My farm is inside one of those Quarantine Zones I talked about. They're Quarantined off because they are heavily concentrated with those nanites which makes the changes happen at a faster rate. I've got whole fields of metal plants right outside. I could being you some to examine yourself."

Optimus would freeze at the offer, staring down at the pale faced but determined human.

What should he do? Common sense told him that the human was clearly lying, trying to save his own life, the scared vicious part of himself told him to get rid of the human before he could hurt him, but what if he was telling the truth? Would he kill this human just for what he was born as? He didn't seem to be anything like Attingar, and bruised and broken as his spark was, he wasn't ready to kill in cold energon just yet.

Slowly, very slowly he would lower the human to the ground as he'd rumble," fine human, bring your proof."

The human would give a quick nod and would scurry out the door.

Not more then a minute after doing this optimus began to fear he'd made a terrible mistake.

What if the human was calling the authorities? What if he worked for Attinger? What if it was a trap meant for his autobots? What if.....?

Before the mech could spiral further into his fear fueled panic, the human would come back into the barn calling out" I'm back! And I've got my proof."

And with that statement the human would proudly present what at first looked like several stalks of wheat. But as the human would come closer the mech's optics would begin to catch the clear difference and non-organic nature of the plants.

The stems seemed to be made of some light brown metal, possibly copper, while the long thin leaves seemed to be made of the same material along with what almost looked like a matrix of darker metal, maybe some form of rudimentary solar panel? But it was the last difference that made his spark leap to his throat and his fuel tanks scream with sudden wrenching hunger; energon crystals.

They were tiny, no more then a crumb each, but to a mech who hadn't had so much as a crumb of energon in over a hundred vorns, those tiny crystals looked like a veritable feast 

The human not yet realizing why the mech had gone still would continue to explain, "everything is changing into cybernetic versions of itself just like these plants, including us humans. I mean if you took a closer look at my arm you would have seen how the metal is practically growing out of my skin."

Forcing himself to look away he'd look at the human and would ask in a quiet voice, "is their more of these crystal baring plants?"

The human would nod fast, as he answers,"yep there are dozons of them. These were just the closet to the barn as i didnt want you to get agitated. So do you believe me now?"

Optimus couldn't answer, could barely vent, his optics glued to those tiny precious crystals. Did the human even realize what he held, how some mechs out there would kill for a single one of those crystals? His tanks would churn with a familiar hunger made all the worse by the sight of what it wanted, a whine desperately wanting to come out as he was still barely able to move, unable to snatched up that precious fuel.

The human's babbling would petter away as he'd seemingly notice something wrong with the wounded mech.

He'd look at the crystals and back at the mech several times before something would seem to dawn on the human.

He'd slap himself in the face as he'd exclaim, "right! You've been unconscious since before the plague hit so at least 8 months. You must be starving. Give me a minute I'll bring you out something."

And with that the human would place his little sheaf of crystal baring plants on a small table and would scurry off to a place near the back of the barn, even as the prime would contiue to stare at those crystals.

Shaking his head dazed at the exposure to real fuel, not to mention the possibility of actually having Some, the prime would find himself waiting with undesired eagerness, barely able to keep his composure as the human began to haul two large sealed buckets over to him. Even in an unrefined crystalline state the energon would be a blessing to his tanks. But as the human got closer, the mech's hyper focused hearing would begin to pick up the sound not of tinkling crystals hiting each other but of sloshing.

Surely not. The humans couldn't have created the technology to refine energon in less then a year. Surely that couldn't be...

But the human would stop at his side and would pry off the lids, unknowingly defying optimus's silent and desprate denials. There in all it's blue shining glory was pure refined energon, the darker blue tint a sign of a heavy trace mineral content.

Carefully the human would raise the first bucket grinning as he'd quip ,"bottoms up," forcing himself not to snatched the bucket the mech would take it and would down the bucket, barely two mouth fulls, in one go.

If he'd had any less composure, the prime would have fainted in pure bliss. Fuel, pure, untainted, glorious energon. He could barely keep the washer fluid from flowing from his optics. It had been so long since he'd even had a swallow of their true fuel and not the bitter reeking fossil fuels he and the rest of his kind had been forced to make do with for the last hundred vorns or so.

The human far too observant then the prime would like would frown," hey are you okay? You look like you're about to have a breakdown."

Abruptly coming back to himself the prime would shoot the human a cold glare and would say in a cold formal tone, "no, human, I am not about to have a breakdown, it's just been...awhile since I've had fuel."

His grin returning as if unbothered by the tone, the human would offer the other bucket as he'd chirp, "then go ahead prime, have some more. Plenty where that came from."

Giving a stiff nod the mech would take the second bucket, this time savoring the fuel. Savory and strong, it had about the same energy content of a similar sized glass of mid grade, some of the healthiest energon a bot could drink. Add that with heavy amount of vital trace minerals and Optimus could sware his poor self repair systems were purring with satisfaction.

He found himself looking at the empty bucket slightly mornfully.

Seeing this the human would ask," want some more? We've got plenty to share."

The mech would hesitate, should he allow himself to become further indebted to this human? They'd already made a vast number of repairs and now had offered him something which was more precious then anything the mech could repay.

But it seemed he'd not answered fast enough either way.

Shaking his head the human would state firmly,"none of that, optimus. I don't care if you think this is some kind of trade thing or something. No one goes hungry under my roof, that includes you. No strings attached, don't need that kind of bad karma."

Hoping to deflect, the mech would state smoothly, "never heard a human call us drinking fuel 'eating before. Just refueling or gassing up."

Frowning the human would state with a slight sharpness, "then you weren't around very good humans, sir, cause I'd bust the jaw of anyone who would mock something as important and universal as eating."

"Though," the human would muse thoughtfully as he'd turn back towards the back of the barn where he seemed to store the energon in a large cellar in the back, considering the large doored square low on the ground, "considering the fact we have to eat this stuff too, maybe it's just more personally insulting then it normally would be? I'd like to think I'd be insulted on your behalf either way."

The mech would freeze as the human, no, bot? The something, now rummaged through the cellar door for another close bucket of energon. This human, this something wasn't just giving him fuel made for his machines but fuel that could have gone to his own tanks?!

As he came back over the mech would ask in a quiet voice, "you...you have to drink energon?"

Looking up the human would tilt his head curiously as he'd ask,"energon? That's what you call this stuff? We just call it fuel, but yeah, both me and my son-in-law-to-be now need to drink this stuff and eat crystals and metals to live. Normal foods are now poisonous to us. My daughter still has to eat normal food but her change is almost started so it won't be long before she too has to drink fuel to."

He'd then hold up the bucket which the Prime would take slowly even as he'd stare numbly at the bright blue fuel.

Long ago, even before the war, giving each other fuel was a sign of close friendship. With the looming famine sharing what little you had was a better sign of close bonds then anything else.

And after the war started that action became even more significant. Sharing fuel between allies was a way to cement ties and reaffirm bonds, and sharing fuel with enemies...well it became an ironclad if unwritten rule that if you shared fuel with an enemy there would be an unspoken seacefire between the two for at least a day more if you shared more fuel. Even Megatron, mad as he'd been, had respected that rule, some remnant from his mining days the prime guessed.

And while the human might not know this, the prime's battle protocols certainly did, almost immediately beginning to register him as no longer an immediate threat but a possible future threat, and for the first time since he'd woken up, the prime relaxed, albeit reluctantly, and as he finished the third bucket he'd say in a quite timber, "thank you,  Cade Yeager, for the fuel, and as for your claims, I accept your evidence, but if you could share some further information about this "plague" it would ba appreciated."

And the human grinned.

Chapter Text

Night had fallen, and Cade left the barn with a tired sigh, looking up at the stars thoughtfully before trudging up to the farm house, inside the kitchen was lit with warm the warm light of the furnaces and golden light of the old lightbulbs.

It had been tricky, but he'd found a way to make a generator that ran off energon, (he was beginning to like that word) and not only was it fuel efficient but it ran cooler then any other so he could just let it keep running day and night, which was necessary considering the equipment he had in the barn.

Opening the door he'd see Shane sitting at the table laughing at something Tessa had said, munching on some of the tiny pink crystals the racer was fond of. At the sound of his entrance the young man and his daughter would look up,

"hey dad,"

"hey cade" they'd greet.

"Don't worry I'm almost done," Tessa would say brightly as she'd watch the temperature gage like a hawk.

Grinning Shane would state," and I've been busy playing taste tester, so I know for a fact, it is."

Shaking his head at their antics, the older man would state,"that's good, I'm starving."

Before raising a brow at Shane asking, "didn't have any luck out in the field?"

His grin turning to a smirk, the younger man would answer, "maybe not immediately, but I did find a large herd of robodromedaries. Over a hundred head I think. I'm intending on bringing one down tomorrow, it was just too late when I found them, not to mention arrows ain't gonna cut it for hunting down those things. Going to break out the stun javilens."

The inventor would brighten at the word of the beasts, as he'd ask eagerly,"were there any calving?"

Shane would shake his head,"I didn't see any, probably too late in the season if they still follow the same rules as cows."

Cade would nod even as he'd sigh in disappointment,"still hoping to get us a one or two for fuel. I'll bet my new arm they'll still produce fuel for live young we could use ourselves. That would really be good for our stable energon production. You know I don't like how we have to hunt so much of our fuel. The robochikens and petro-rabbits are helping, but even just one large regular fuel would really give me a bit more peace of mind."

Shane would pat his shoulder companionably as the older man would sit down at the table as well, stating," I know what you mean, and maybe by next spring we'll get one. That heard I found is pretty large, there's got to be few that will calve next spring, and I'm sure the ecosystem can take one winter of extra hunting."

Smiling thankfully at the young man he'd state,"thanks for that Shane, you're right, a few more months of extra hunting won't hurt."

"Of course I'm right," the young man would sass before asking, "well what about you, how was your day with working on the big guy?"

Letting out an explosive sigh the inventor would state,"eventful."

Tilting his head the racer would ask," how so? Cut a line on accident? Found some wound trickier then you thought?"

"Nope," he said dryly, "he woke up."

Shane would jurk even as the pot Tessa was stirring would slosh nearly out of the pot as she'd flinch as well the two turning to look at Cade in alarm.

"What do you mean he woke up!? I thought you said he wouldn't wake up for at least a week!?" Tessa would demand worriedly as she'd look him over quickly for injuries.

"What was that you said about not being stupid when you told me it'd be safe to go hunting while you tended to the local giant," Shane would demand himself, also looking him over.

Cade would shake his head,"I'm fine you two, he didn't hurt me or anything, I promise,"neatly skirting the fact that he'd been held like a rag doll and threatened with squishing for a few minutes there.

"That's not the point," Tessa would state firmly," you could have been injured, he wasn't exactly willing to talk when he first woke up."

"Well he was this time so it's fine," he'd say a little sharply.

The two younger hybrids would look at each other before Shane would state, "we are going to find some way to get you to realize we just want you to be safe Cade, but we'll let it slide for now. Now how Did he react when he woke up? did he speak?"

"He was...wary for the most part,"  Cade would say slowly, rembering the mech's first reactions to him.

"And yes he spoke."

Shane frustrated would ask,"well, what did he say? How did he speak? Was he mad?"

"He didn't say much, mostly just asking about my arm, and some on the plague, among other things. He didn't seem like he really wanted to talk about himself and I wasn't about to pry."

"As for how he talked....he was very...cold. Cold and formal, and" he'd say with a look of sadness coming over his face,"absolutely terrified."

Startling Tessa would ask, "I thought you said he wasn't violent?"

"He wasn't!" for the most part he'd silently amend in his head.

"But it was pretty obvious for most of the first part of our talk. He hid it well, but he was stiff as a board, constantly fidgeting as if he wanted to move and his eyes were constantly darting here and there as if he was looking for a way out."

"He didn't really unclench until I got him some fuel, and while it seemed to calm him, I'm pretty sure he still trusts us as far as  I can throw him."

Hearing the mention of fuel Tessa would perk up," he was hungry?"

"Yeah, really hungry," he'd affirm even as his eyes would darken with slight anger as he'd contiue, "too hungry to be honest."

Shane tilting his head would ask, "what do you mean?"

"Well for one thing, he's been unconscious since before the plague considering he knew nothing of it, so he's not eaten anything for at least 8 months, but the way he acted makes me think he hasn't eaten for quite a bit longer when he was awake enough to feel said hunger."

Seeing the worried questioning in both of their eyes he'd explain," it wasn't anything obvious, he's got one hell of a poker face, but for a moment there I thought he was going to start bawling after drinking the first bucket, and when I first brought in some crystal wheat for him to look at he looked for minute like he was going to dive for it, injuries be damned. You don't get that emotional over food unless you've been hungry for a very long time."

A look of disgust would come over Shane's face, "you thinking our most generous government overlords were being a bit too stingy with the gasoline?"

Tessa would look at her boyfriend in horror, "you think they were starving them?!"

He'd shrug with a grimace, "got to face the facts babe. It's clear the government knew about them and probably had them under their supervision for awhile before the Chicago incident, and our penny-pinchers-in-chief aren't exactly known for being generous to normal refugees when they have the Geneva conventions breathing down their necks, let alone alien refugees completely at their mercy."

"How much is the gas to crystal fuel energy conversion again Cade?"

"Energon," he'd correct.

At Shane's questioning look he'd explain," the mech said the fuel is called energon, and as for your question, it's not quite exact, but roughly ten gallons of gas to one gallon of energon."

"And how much did he drink?"

"Thirty gallons, though I have a sneaking suspicion he could have drunken more."

"So that's three hundred gallons of gas," shane would state grimly looking at tessa, "do you really think our government overlords would give that much fuel to something that is completely at their mercy and probably can run off less, if at their detriment?"

The girl would look close to tears, "that's, that's aweful! No one deserves to go hungry like that!"

Then a look of determination would come into her eyes even as she'd turn back to their own meal as she'd state firmly," guess we'll just have to feed him up then."

"Can we even keep up though?" shane would ask with a thoughtful frown, "Cade did say he drank 30 gallons of energon. We can't hunt that much fuel everyday."

She'd wave her hand nonchalantly,"it'll be fine. Remember how we used to drink ten gallons a day before we found out that that eating crystals could supplement most of the fuel, not to mention cause us to feel more energy and fuller longer? We now drink only two gallons a day altogether. I'm sure with some tweaking and tests I'll be able to drop his fuel consumption too."

Cade would sigh with relief as he too had been a bit worried about the fuel delema too.

"Should have known you'd think up something, junebug," he'd say with a proud smile, which would cause her to blush sheepishly even as she'd announce," dinner is almost ready for the table."

Shane would then ask ,"did he at least tell you his name?"

The inventor would nod a thoughtful frown on his face, "yes, he did. He said it was Optimus...Prime."

The two blink at the name in surprise.

"Well that's a fancy name," Tessa would mutter as she'd put the covered pot on the table and would go to get bowls.

While Shane would chuckle as he'd state, "Optimus? strange name for someone who sounds so morose."

Cade would give the racer a chiding look,"give the guy a break. You wouldn't be all that optimistic either if you'd gotten stabbed in the back by the people you were depending on."

Shane would wince as he'd say," right, that was a bit of a jerk thing to say. Still ironic."

Shaking his head the inventor would state,"maybe so but it's still tasteless, kid. Show some tact."

"Tact, from Shane?" Tessa would mock as she'd bring over two ceramic bowls and her own bowl of soup. "That will be a long time in coming."

"Babe!" Shane would whine," I'm not that bad."

The three would look at each other before bursting into laughter.

Shane would stop laughing as he'd state," yeah, I did kind of walk right into that didn't i?"

She'd nod with a smile, "you did, but I wouldn't have you any other way," kissing him on the  cheek.

Coughing slightly and looking away Cade would ask a little loudly," so! What did you concoct today?"

Rolling her eyes she'd reach over and lift the lid, revealing what looked like some kind of noodle soup, if soup was a bright translucent cherry red, and noodles were a dark black. Cogs floating here and there like bits of meat or veggie. All of shimmering with heat.

Curious, he'd look up at Tessa for her usual explanation.

Grinning, she'd exclaim, "robochicken noodle soup! I got the idea when Shane told me that the wires of robochickens are really strong if eaten with the wire, but are far milder when you just eat the wire casing."

Nodding thoughtfully Cade would add, "and robochikens have the most wiring for body mass of anything we've found yet, not to mention the only ones mild enough that you can eat more then a bite or two."

She'd nod eagerly,"yep! Add the chicken flavored energon and cogs and, voila, an easy noodle soup! Still took me a bit of experimenting to figure out how high to heat the wire casing to soften them but not melt them but I think it turned out alright."

Cade felt his metal mouth water and would look up at Shane who looked as eager as him. Together they scooped out some of the super hot liquid into their bowls, and taking their ceramic forks would twirl some of the casing onto said forks and would eagerly take a bite.

Both men would groan, the casing tasting perfectly like a slightly irony tasting noodle, the broth they'd gotten with it the chikeny flavored iron rich red energon of robochikens, it truly did taste like a slightly salty chicken soup, the noodles perfectly cutting down on that saltiness.

"You are a fucking miracle worker babe," shane would exclaim as he'd start devouring the soup." I thought I'd be drinking fuel like a car for the rest of my life, but this is some of the best stuff I've ever eaten before and after the change."

Cade would nod as he'd also eat hungrily, stating simply but warmly, "you did good, junebug."

Blushing she'd look down at her own normal canned soup as she'd say," thanks you two."

"Can't wait to see what the big guy thinks of my cooking," she'd say then with an excited glint in her eyes. "He'll never be hungry again on my watch."

Cade would smile at her enthusiasm even as he'd wonder, "are there any crystals big enough for him around here though? I don't think those crystals we eat are going to cut it."

"Don't worry, dad I've already got some ideas," she'd say excitedly her eyes gleaming with the challenge.

"I've been going out to the larger crystal bushes in the deeper parts of the forest when Shane can spare the time and we've found that many of them are more like vegetables then the fruit like crystals that come from metal plants."

Shane would nod, a shagrined look on his face as he'd state ,"as the designated taster, i can confirm this."

Curious Cade would ask, "oh?"

Shane would nod, "we've only found three types so far, green ones that taste like a cross between kale and celery, a yellow one that tastes like a salty squash, and a red one that, I shit you not, tastes like a tomatoes, one of those nice garden ones."

Cade's eyes would go wide before he'd turn said wide eyes on his daughter as he'd beg, "do you have any more of them!? I haven't had a tomatoes in what feels like ages!"

Grinning she'd get up and would go to one of her cabinets and would hand him a red crystal the size of a golf ball, saying, go ahead.

Eagerly he'd crunch down on the red crystal, and would moan as the salty savory taste of a sun ripened tomatoes edged with lightning would slide over his flexible metal tongue and down his gullet.

Looking up he'd say," that has to be the best thing I've tasted besides your cooking. You are some kind of crystal wizard with the way you keep finding these things."

Sniffing even as she'd sit back down to her own food she'd state,"a witch if you please, dad."

She'd then contiue, "most of those bushes create crystals around two feet tall and four by four wide, along with some smaller ones around the edges. If I cook it in one of those big metal fifty gallon drums I'll be able to whip up a stew for everyone tomorrow."

He'd nod," of course you can use one. I think we've got like fifteen or so around the back of the barn waiting to be used for fuel storage."

"Looks like I know what I'll be doing tomorrow," she'd state excitedly, "crystal gathering!"

"You really are starting to like working with crystals aren't you?" Cade would ask amused.

She'd blush." I guess I'm just glad to no longer be useless, and like you said I seem to have a nack for these things."

He'd smile softly at her, "you have never been useless, junebug."

Shane would nod firmly, "never useless, babe. You've just been down for the count for a bit. Nothing wrong with that and looks like you're hitting your stride again."

Smiling at the two she'd say brightly," thanks you too."

As he'd give her a side hug, shane would look up at Cade and would ask, "what about me boss man? Want me to help you out with the big guy tomorrow?"

"No!" The man would say in a near shout causing the other two to jump and frown at the sharp tone.

"Alllllright," shane would drawl slowly, "any reason for the shouting?"

Taking a deep breath he'd state," not particularly, but you remember that hole in his grill?"

He'd nod.

"Well looks like my guess about it being something like a heart was right and I'm going to need him to be as calm as he can be while I do what is basically open heart surgery on him tomorrow and I'm very sure he will not be calmer with someone else there."

"He's already made it very clear that he is not...happy with the fact I'm going to have to do this and I'd like to not agitate him further."

Reading between the lines the racer would whistle," that was probably not a very happy conversation to have."

"You have no idea," the inventor would grumble grimly, his eyes going dark at the memory.

He'd just been explaining the plague to the mech, having even gone to his cobbled together computer, made from several servers he'd stolen from diffrent abandoned cities and the large near TV sized computer monitor and had begun to pull up some photos of the nanites, when the barn had rattled with the roar of engines behind him.

He'd turned to see the mech clutching at the tarp he'd tired to his shoulders to cover the hole his chest, looking more angry then even when he'd woken up the first time demanding in a roar,"what have you done to me human!!?"

It had taken several harrowing minutes to explain that he'd done nothing, that it was a wound that he'd gotten during whatever had knocked him out.

"You're actually pretty lucky," he'd said matterafactly to the mech,"the missle that hit you there must have had a dud firing sequence, cause not only did it stop just as it got that light thingy in your chest but it didn't go off."

The mech who had begun to calm had again revealed his engines in out rage, as he'd demand," you saw it!?!"

Realizing he was treading on thin ice he'd state slowly,"yes, kind of had to considering if I didn't get that missle out of you, you'd still be in stasis lock. I covered up as quickly as I could afterwards, though."

The mech's eyes had still been pissed, but clearly something about what he'd said had gotten through as he'd asked," how do you know that term," rather then continue to demand about his chest wound.

After explaining about his scanner's functions, which had gotten a funny look from the mech, he'd gone on to tell the mech that he was going to have to see the light at least one more time to repair his chest cavity. That had gone over well...not.

but after some snarling, shouting, and finally out logicing the bastard with the fact that it would be better to have the thing repaired and covered in metal again then be just covered with a thin tarp, he'd finally said," fine human, but only you are allowed to see it, and only during the procedure."

And Cade exhausted had agreed, not long after the mech had fallen asleep and Cade had left the barn for dinner.

Cade coming back from his thoughts would tell shane, "I think it'd be best for you to just bring in one of those robodromedaries. Reduced or not with crystals, we're still going to have to replace what he eats. I'll leave the fuel you need for cooking outside the house door, junebug. Please for all our safety do Not come in until i tellyou to, both of you. He's skidish enough as it is."

The two would look at each other before nodding, as shane would say,"alright, your the boss, I guess."

And as the three would clean up and go to bed, their thoughts would turn to tomorrow and what it would bring.

######

The next morning Cade would come down for breakfast to find his daughter and her boyfriend getting ready to go while gulping down their fuel and food respectively, Tessa checking her saws and chisels and hammers, while Shane went over his rope and stun javilins, a larger crude form of the tazor arrows Cade had invented.

"Looks like you two a raring to go," he'd say with tired amusement as Tessa would shove a coffee cup filled with petrol rabbit egg fuel into his hand, as she'd state,"well we're burning daylight and I'm going to also have to cook what I bring in which means I've got to get moving."

"And I'd like to get to the herd while it's still morning," shane would state, "they'll still be sleepy so I might be able to get a quick hunt if I'm smart about it."

He'd wave his hand as they'd get ready to go, "don't let me stop you. I've got my own work to do. Remember, don't come in until I tell you under any circumstances."

"Yes dad," Tessa would say as she'd come over and give him a hug as she asks," be careful, okay?"

"I will junebug," he'd say as he hugs her back.

While asking shane, "keep an eye on her for me, alright?" when he let her go.

Smiling as he'd follow his girlfriend he'd tell Cade ,"always do."

And the two would leave the older man alone with his fuel and bowl of crystals.

Shaking his head he'd devour his own breakfast and would head out to the barn.

He'd give the doors a few kicks before calling out" I'm coming in!" Before doing just so.

He'd find the mech now sitting leaning heavily against the wall, watching him with cold steady blue eyes.

"I wouldnt think it necessary to announce yourself coming into your own building,"  the mech would state stiffly.

Rolling his eyes as he'd go over to his forge he'd quip back, "well I consider it basic courtesy to knock before entering my guest's room, don't you?"

"Is that what I am to you," the mech would ask softly," a guest?"

"Well I'd hope you'd stick around a bit longer then a guest would," Cade would state as he'd take the new half of the round casing he'd already measured to replace the damged part of said casing around the bright shiny thing before the mech had woken. "But for now yes your my guest, with all the courtesy that demands."

"Including tending to my injuries?"

He'd look up, a shrewed look in his own brown eyes as he'd state," I'd like think that tending to another's injuries is something anyone with decency would do for even a stranger, but I have a feeling you don't want to hear that. So yes, tending injuries also comes with the territory of being my guest."

The mech would harumph at the circumvention of his attempt to trap the human verbally.

Grinning for moment in trimph the human would take a deep breath before stepping over to the mech, who's eyes had narrowed.

"Alright big guy, I know you really don't want me near that shiny thing, but we agreed yesterday that you'll let me help get you patched up, so are you going to fight me on this?"

"Would you back down if I said no," the mech would ask, frost in his voice.

Sighing the human would state, "yes, but I wouldn't like it. You're consent to this feels more important then I'd normally guess, so I'm not coming near until you let me."

"And how did you come to that conclusion human?" He'd ask just as coldly.

The inventor would snort," it's not hard to guess that this is somehow much more important then just a heart considering how you act like I've offended your every ancestor by even looking at that light."

" 'That light,' as you like to call it, is called a Spark, it holds our lifeforce, our memories and our emotions. It's the very core of our being, and no one but those closet to us is ment to ever see it," the challenge in the mech's voice was as sharp as blade.

Cade's eyes would widen at this information, stunned even as he'd look down at his own chest for a moment.

will I have one, too?

Before shaking his head and asking, "and I'm guessing the only exception to that is a medical perfessional?"

The mech would start as if expecting more from him then this, but would sharply nod.

"Alright then," cade would say with a nod," I guess I understand now why you didn't want anyone else in here. As that sounds awfully similar to our concept of a Soul."

"But that still doesn't answer my question and now that I know what that really means to you, I have even more reason to ask you for consent."

The mech would just stare at him as if expecting him do...something. maybe pry or ask invasive questions? He would have snorted if he wasn't caught in a stare down with the titan. Like he would act like some kind of nosy child about something so personal.

Finally the mech would nod stiffly before carefully ripping away the tarp, while Cade came over to the now sitting mech shoving a large work ladder and platform near, so he could work on the mech while they were sitting up. Best not to make the mech feel anymore vulnerable then he already was by asking him to lie down.

The Spark would shine and glitter, burning like a miniature blue star, beautiful in ways he could barely comprehend, but Cade would ruthlessly squash his ever present curiosity and would carefully cut away the broken half of the casing which now that he looked at it clearly split apart into two halves naturally, one being busted to slag.

Carefully he'd then slip the new cover over the spark hiding the spark from vew as he carefully spun the half of the casing so it would slightly screw together, knowing that the mech's nanites would absorb and assimilate the metal into his own body, replacing any hinges or such it needed to fit into the whole properly again, just as his arm did when he had to repair a plate or a cable.

For the first time the mech would relax slightly as he'd step away, grinning up at the stoic mech," see good as new, and it's all hidden away, right and proper."

"I can see that," the mech would say stiffly." I thank you for your assistance, Cade Yeager."

His grin going lopsided he'd climb down the stairs as he'd go for the plating he'd already picked out and cut to size, made for cyberbear plates, as he'd state,"I'm not done quite yet big guy. Still got to repair the armor plates after all. Not to mention the rest of you. You are kiiind of a mess."

The mech would stiffen again before sighing as they'd relax, clearly far more comfortable now that their Spark had been covered." Do as you will, human."

Nodding said human would get to work.

Hours would pass as the inventor focused at the task at hand, till he was almost as startled as Optimus when someone began banging on the barn door, "old man! You still alive in there?!"

Cade, who had just finished a tricky weld on the mech's thigh, would raze his welding helmet off his face and would ask, "shane, that you?" as he'd walk away from the mech, and would come over to the door.

"Yeah, it's me. Good to hear you're doing okay. Now are you done with whatever it was you were so adamant about cause I'm going to need the winch for this one?"

Brightening at the mention of the winch he'd ask, "you got one?"

"Yep and it's freaking huge, and before you get on my case, yes I'm using the dolly. I do not need my snuggle partner privileges revoked."

"TMI Shane," he'd groan, before stating," yeah, I'm done with most of him, so you can come in, just let me unlatch the door."

Looking up at the now watchful Mech, he'd state apologetically," sorry about this, Optimus, didn't think they'd bring in one so big. Don't worry, it's not as messy as you might think. Got it down to a science by now."

Before opening the door to reveal Shane in all his proud dirty glory who'd push a large dolly into the barn, a huge clearly cybernetic bull like creature on said dolly, two of the javalins in the quiver on his back stained a bright teal.

Cade would whistle at the beast," now that's one big bull."

"I know, right?!" Shane would say grinning excitedly," probably has a good twenty or thirty gallons in it. Was even able to keep the wounds shallow before i knocked it out and gave its skull a crack, so nothing wasted."

"this is great!" cade would grin as well. "We'll be able to replace what Optimus drank in no time if all of them are this...."

BOOM!!!

The whole barn would shake as something enormous would slam into it.

Turning fast the two humans would turn to see the mech pressing up against the barn wall, staring at the dead robodromedary, looking absolutely terrified. 

Chapter Text

He was such a fool

He had done it again.

He'd dropped his guard around a human too quickly again.

Hed allowed the human's supposed kind demeanor and mech like parts to lull him into a false sense of security, only to now realize that he was at the mercy of the worst kind of monster he had ever had the horrific displeasure to deal with, a frame drainer, or as humans would call them, cannibals.

What made this all even worse was how casual both the humans were discussing their murder and desecration of the mech's body, as if it was no more then a tank of fuel.

Said humans had looked up at his desperate instinctual attempt to get away from these monsters, looking both confused and alarmed, with the one called Cade, asking bewildered with a false look of worry,"whoa,whoa, what's wrong? You look spooked to all hell." As he'd take a few steps towards him.

The other human looked more wary, even as he too had that false look of worry.

Optimus would Rev his engines in pure helpless terror, an ancient if useless threat display, as he was still too weak from his injuries to fight even a scraplet, growling,"stay away from me, you monster!."

Said monster would look both hurt and confused,"um I'm not sure I follow. How exactly am I monster?" 

The mech would snarl,"don't play dumb human! Your victim is lying right there on the ground! I should have known you were no different from the rest of your wretched kind, killing other sentient beings to fill your own tanks!! It's sickening!"

The two would look at him at each other and then the beastformer in complete bafflement.

Cade would ask slowly a if he couldn't comprehend his accusations,"are you talking about...the bull?"

Giving the human a withering look he'd say cold as ice,"and what other murdered mech is there in this building?" Even as his tanks would roil at the thought of the energon he'd drunk the day before.

Shane would scoff,"victim? Uhh buddy,  this thing is no more a victim then a hamburger is."

Optimus incensed would Rev his engines as he'd roar as much as his injured frame would allow, "you wretched sparkless monster!! You actually mock the fact that you've slain a fellow sentient being!? You are no better then the rest of your abominable kind!! Worse even!! At least even your kind also find eating other sentient beings abhorrent!"

The human would look like he was ready to bolt or leak himself, but Cade would begin to look at the mech with a strange light of dawning comprehension.

He'd say softly,"Shane, get the bull out of here and go get a robochicken from the coop."eyes locked on the angry transformer.

Shane terrified would go for the door, pushing the dolly, but would look back at Cade with worry and fear as he'd ask "what about you!?"

"I'll be fine," the human would say calm as he can,"now go!"

The younger human would do as he's ordered and the older would take a step back, optimus growling in defensive fear.

"Easy, easy,"the human would say in a calm, quiet voice as he sits down at his desk, which was a good distance from the mech"just calm down. I think there's been a major miscommunication here."

The mech would scoff angrily,"I saw the dead body, not much to be misconstrued, human."

The human would shake his head,"oh, no, there's definitely a misunderstanding going on here, and I intend to nip it in the bud before you dig your heels in further."

"This is an educated guess, but I'm guessing that there are some animal shaped transformers or transformers that transform into animals instead of vehicles?"

The mech would narrow his eyes in,suspicion, not sure where the human was going with this,"obviously."

Nodding the human would then ask,"and I'm guessing your planet didn't have animals like earth has?"

Confusion beginning to bubble up from his suspicion, the mech would state,"no we didn't have an evolved ecosystem like earth does. We had a few non-sentient creatures like scraplets and turbofoxes but they were all artificial creations."

Sighing the human would nod, "alright that clears up some stuff. Now listen to me very carefully, that thing was not a sentient mech. When I told you that the nanites were infecting and changing our ecosystem I wasn't just talking about the plants. It's even changing our animals into cybernetic versions of themselves."

The mech's eyes would widen having not thought of such a thing but would narrow in suspicion once more as he'd demand,"and you expect me to just take your word for it human?"

"I actually prefer to be called a Hybrid thank you," he'd say dryly," and no Optimus I don't. I'm not an idiot. You've been hurt and betrayed in ways I can't possibly fathom. It's why I told Shane to bring a robochicken here. It's one such mechanimal that we keep here on the farm, to show you concrete evidence of my words. Just like I did yesterday with the crystal wheat." 

The mech's suspicion would dim slightly in surprise. He was so used to humans demanding that he trust them or do as they say with little explanation or evidence. And yet this human offered it like it was normal. Like he had every right to being given both the honest truth and evidence to back it up just like anyone else.

Before he could continue his demands for the truth, there'd be strange whuring sqauwking sound from outside the barn and there'd be kicking at the door, "Cade you still alive!? If so, please open the door! I think Carl was getting ready for a night with his harem and has decided the appropriate punishment for my offense is disembowelment!"

He'd call out," I'm fine Shane," a small smile on his lips at the young man's words, before looking up at the mech with a more neutral expression asking,"well, can I let him in?"

The Prime would hesitate, everything inside him telling him that this was a lie, a trick, but the human had told the truth before, and either this was true as well, or he was in the clutches of the worst creature possible, and if there was a chance of the latter being true, then he'd take the chance. He always was a hopeful fool.

He'd give the human a slow nod, and the hybrid, taking that as assent, would go over to the door and would unlatch it, letting in the younger hybrid, who looked quite harried carrying the strangest creature the mech had ever seen.

It resembled an avian bot like Lazarbeak, but smaller then said bots talon, covered in thin feathery plates that shifted and rustled as it did indeed seem to try and disembowel the human with its sharp metal talons, while glaring baleful at the human with beady red optics.

Cade would chuckle as he takes the struggling creature from the younger hybrid and would ask,"why did you bring Carl? We both know he hates you. You could have brought one of the hens and it would have been perfectly fine."

He'd put the creature in the crook of his metal arm and would begin to pet at the beasts back and had calming it.

Shane would give the human a dead pan look,"old man, last time I took one of his hens out of the coop for you to give it a check up, that little terror tried to ambush my ankles for a week. I'd rather take a single attempt at disembowelment over a week of having to watch my back for the little overlord trying to shred my ankles with beak and claw."

He'd give the now calm beast a withering look as he'd ask,"why has he not been put in the stewpot again?"

Optimus would stiffen at the mention of the human cooking utensil even as Cade would chuckle,"no Shane, we can not put your nemesis in the stew pot. I've already told you we need a rooster to keep egg production up. And I have yet to find another. Not to mention he's pretty good protection for the hens all on his lonesome."

Optimus still stiff would ask softly, "you also drain these creatures for fuel?"

Shane would go stiff as if expecting his mention of eating the thing to set off the mech again, but the older human would shake his head,"we eat a few of them to keep down their numbers and supplement our fuel, but we actually keep them to produce eggs, small capsules of fuel which in time can become other robochikens."

Optimus would feel his tanks roil,"you eat their Young!!"

The human would wrinkle his nose," gods no, that would be both disgusting and disturbing. The capsules take months to develop into a living being, until then it's just some fuel and metal bits."

Shivering in disgusting at the very thought of eating a baby bird, the human would continue,"I'll show you some diagrams and some documents on how eggs work later if your interested but I think we've gotten a bit side tracked."

The human would then take a deep breath and ask,"is it alright if I come over? I promised to show you proof and I'm pretty sure the best proof of its lack of sentience is it's field."

The mech who had continued to watch the strange creature would look up at the human's serious face and after a moment of hesitation would unclench his fist and would hold out his hand on the ground, palm up.

The human would slowly come over clearly trying to avoid spooking the mech further and would place the wiry black avian on the mech's palm. Optimus would nearly start, the creature's field as jaring as the human had said it was. He could feel that it was a living feeling being, but it's field was more rudimentary then even a sparkling's, it's emotions simple and uncomplicated, anger annoyance and hunger, but none of the constant dips and peeks and layering that was normal for a mechs field.

He'd look at the creature some what baffled. Cade would smile,"see what I mean, it's about as intelligent and as sentient as a slightly smarter ai.there are a few mechanimals that are a bit more intelligent but not by much."

Looking up from where Carl was inspecting his new metal Fortress, the mech would ask,"so that creature from before....?"

He'd nod," completely non sentient, it was created from our cattle, which I've named robodromedaries. And if you need living proof, I'll take you to see the herd once your more healed up."

Optimus would just stare at the strange creature in his palm, now marching about on it like some tiny lord glaring imperious at Shane who was standing well away.

Cade would take some wheat crystals he kept in the barn as a snack and would offer them to the avian, would begin pecking away dutifully as he'd explain softly," we need the fuel in their lines, optimus. We don't have the technology to turn the crystals into fuel and while we can supplement most of our diet with crystals, we need at least some fuel to Kickstart the fuel processing in our tanks or we just aren't able to do it and purge everything we've eaten."

Optimus would look up from the pecking roborooster with surprise even as he'd state in a much calmer voice then he'd spoken since the bull had been brought in,"that's almost exactly like us. We can eat crystalline energon but it's very difficult usually for our systems to process it in its crystalline form without at least some liquid fuel in our tanks."

"Huh, interesting similarity," Cade would say with a smile,even as he'd look up and ask, "usually?"

He'd grimace,"starvation can cause a mech's systems to become more efficient at processing fuel, though it's not a good thing as it mean his systems have shut down to the point that all his processing power is going to his fuel tanks."

The human would nod silently, not pressing the issue, again startling the mech with his sense of tact and respect of his boundaries, unspoken as they were.

He'd go back to looking at the black wiry creature in his palm, it's simplistic field oddly soothing especially now that it was no longer angry and irritated but focused on it's meal.

He'd barely start when a new timid voice would ask from the doorway of the barn,"ummm, dad it okay if I bring the cooking furnace in?"

The three would look up to see a human girl with blond hair tied up in a tight bun, dressed in warm tough clothing looking at optimus with a nervous yet brave look in her eyes.

Cade would take a few steps from the mech in surprise,"Junebug! Guess your done with your crystal gathering. You sure you want to cook in here? I know the big guy makes you nervous."

She'd give the mech a nervous smile as she'd state as nonchalantly as she can,"if it's okay with him I can do it, dad. It'll be nearly impossible to transport his dinner to him if I dont, and I promised I'd make sure he gets a good meal."

The mech would shake his head, a little dumbfounded at the thought of being offered more fuel,"no it's fine, you've already given me more fuel then I've had in a long time. This much will last me for more then a week. You don't have to give me more."

The hybrid girl would look at first surprised and then disturbed as she'd state,"why would you say such a thing!? We've got plenty to share and you need the fuel. Dad says that your healing systems need more fuel then average when healing major wounds."

Cade would also look worried as he says,"and I know that from experience after accidentally cutting one of my servo wires. Had to drink double fuel for 2 weeks. You don't have to worry about our stores we've got more then enough to share for now, and junebug is already working on a way to reduce your liquid fuel needs with crystals so it'll be easy to keep up with. I told you, no one goes hungry under my roof,not even you."

The mech feeling a little bewildered would look back down at the roborooster in his palm who was once again strutting within it's metal Fortress, as he'd say in a quiet voice,"I'm sorry if I offended you. I just know my own systems well enough to know that this much fuel is enough to last me easily throughout a week, maybe more if I was desperate." Confused at the attitude of these strangers offering their fuel so readily, when the human government he had been allies with had been so bad about withholding fuel at times, that Lennox and Epps and several nest members would pool their money together to buy fuel to supplement their meager rations.

"But you don't have to," the girl would say firmly, determination replacing her earlier nervousness.

She'd then ask just as firmly," well, is it alright if I bring in my cooking equipment? Cause it seems you're going to need a meal or thirteen considering it doesn't sound like you've been living the healthiest lifestyle to put it mildly."

Optimus would be further confused by her mentioning of the human practice of cooking as energon doesn't need heat to prepare it once in the liquid state, but would nod his assent as he'd state quietly,"I would not mind, young one."

Giving a firm nod she'd turn to Shane as she order,"I'm going to need your over sized muscles to move my furnace. Chop, chop, we're burning daylight."

He'd roll his eyes even as he'd smile stating sarcastically,"yes master." Before walking out with her to help her get set up.

Optimus watching them go would say to Cade who had remained in the barn," your daughter seems...principled."

The older hybrid who had been watching his daughter with pride would shake his head,"yeah and I'm damned proud of it. She wasn't always like this and I intend only be proud of the change."

At optimus' questioning look he'd shake his head again as he'd state,"let's just say she only realized what she really wanted once it was almost taken away and leave it at that."

The mech would nod having no intention of prying after the human had shown him the same courtesy.

At that moment the two younger hybrids would come back into the barn, Shane pushing what looks to be a large furnace on wheels into the barn, while the girl would carry in a large fifty gallon metal drolum with a lid with a temperature and pressure gage.

The mech would watch with interest as the two would set up the drum on the furnace, while the girl would check the fuel and the young man would check to make sure everything is steady.

Finally Shane would ask,"need any more help babe."

She'd shake her head, "no hon. All that's left is the fuel and crystals and you know how finicky it can be while working with them."

He'd nod while stretching, "alright guess I'll go finish that robodromedary up now that we don't have to worry about a giant metal mech going after us."

The mech would give a near undetectable look of shame at the realization of hom much his over reaction had spooked the young man."I apologize for rightening you. I was just...surprised."

The young human would wave his hand dismissively,"hey it's okay, you've been put through my hell, and I did kind of stick my foot in my mouth ia pretty common for me. We'll just call it a mistake on both our parts and leave it at that okay."

Optimus again surprised at how understanding these humans were would nod, even as Cade would call out firmly,"hold up! You still got to take Carl back to his coop, leprechaun."

The younger hybrid would groan ,"do I really have to? Why don't you do it. He actually likes you."

Cade would chuckle, "someone's got to stay here and help junebug with the stew, and you're already going back outside. You chose to get him out, so it's up to you to put him back in."

He'd roll his eyes as he'd give a long sigh and would state grouchily,"fine, old man, you win, I'll take the little terror back to the coop."

He'd then ask optimus,"mind if I come over to get him?"

The Prime would shake his head,"and the younger hybrid would state,"cool, thanks." And would come over looking the avian dead in the optics as he'd say firmly,"alright your lordship, it's time to take you back to your. Castle. Please don't make this hard for me, I've even got a pocket full of your favorite seed crystals to pay for my offenses to your person. Just stay still, ya little bastard."

The avian though would glare at the hybrid with its vicious beady red optics, almost looking like it wanted to rip the beating spark from the hybrid, which was amusing in its own right and began to remind optimus of someone.

Just as the human would lunge for the bird, holding it in such a way as to escape it's sharp talons, the image of his older brother as a tiny silver feathery version of this creature would pop into his conscious proccessor, and while he might be Prime, he still is only metal and struts. A tiny chuff of a laugh would come from the prime, causing all the humans to freeze and look up surprised.

Shane would look a little offended as he'd state dry as the desert,"oh great so you find my suffering amusing, too?

Optimus startled at himself would shake his head,"oh no, it's just...the bird reminds me of someone I know."

Shane would give him a look of mild dread as he'd ask in perfect deadpan,"someone like you, but with a sharp beak, talons, and the disposition of  Genghis Khan wielding a chainsaw?"

The description would bring another quiet chuff even as he'd say dryly,"fangs actually, but yes you are mostly correct."

Shane would roll his eyes before looking down at the still struggling roborooster,"great, just what my brain needed, confirmation of a fifty foot tall bipedal version of your psychotic feathered ass, with claws and fangs and can probably shoot lazers. God's help us all,"

He'd then march out the barn grumbling,"alright let's get you back to your harem, your lordship, and hope for the sake of my ankles my offering is good enough for you."

Optimus would watch the creature go, finding himself missing its soothing field. Cade seeming to notice this somehow, would offer,"if you want I can bring him in here for a few hours every day. You two seemed to hit it off and it could get boring in here when I'm on a research binge."

The mech would hesitate surprised at the offer but would nod, as he'd say in his soft deep voice,"I would appreciate that, Cade yeager. Thank you." Finding It's simple field soothing and it's personality nostalgic without being cruel.

He'd smile even as the girl would come back in from when she'd gone out during their little discussion, bringing a large wheelbarrow full of large crystals. Optimus was both fascinated and bewildered by how large the crystals were. How much fuel was beginning to appear on this planet!? He'd not yet seen much of what this changing world had to offer, but what little he had seen gave him a wild hope that his people would never have to go hungry again.

Shed bring it over to the work table next to her large furnace and metal drum and would ask her father,"dad, could you go get some fuel from storage? Robodromedary preferably. It's got a pretty mild taste, and I don't think the big guy can take really strong stuff right now."

"Sure thing junebug," the older hybrid would state as he'd trot over to the seller doors that led under the barn.

Optimus would watch with interest and curiosity as she'd begin to stack some of the crystals onto the bench as he'd ask,"what do you mean too strong for me? You don't mean you've found a way to make higher grade energon have you?"

Looking up from her work she'd shake her head,"I don't know anything about higher grade fuel, but I do know that some of the fuels are very strong tasting and that's not good to feed someone that's been starving for a long time, at least for humans."

He'd nod looking thoughtful,"I see what you mean. What you are describing seems to be fuels with high mineral content, and you are correct, fuels with too much metal can be bad for mechs who haven't drunk such fuel in a long while."

He'd then nod his head to her as he'd say softly,"I thank you for your consideration, junebug."

Shed startle at the use of the name before shaking her head with a laugh,"no, no, my name's not junebug, that's just a nickname my dad calls me cause I was born in June. My name's Tessa, Tessa Yeager."

"Ah forgive me, Tessa Yeager. I had thought the name odd for a human," the mech would nod his understanding and in greeting as he'd tell her in return,"and my name is Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots."

He'd look away as his thoughts would turn darker as he'd say softly,"or former leader I suppose, considering I don't know where my team is or if they're alive and its clear that much time has passed since i fell."

Shed give him a worried look even as she'd state firmly as she got out her hacksaw,"hey, don't give up hope yet. I'm sure some of your team survived, I mean, it's not like the government would be able to focus too many resources on hunting you guys while trying to contain the Plague." And with those words given she'd begin carving the long forearm length crystals into smaller more manageable chunks for them all.

The autobot would say nothing, not wanting to disturb her and lost in his own dark thoughts, though they'd slowly give way to curiosity and wonder at how well she worked with the crystals.

"Did you work with crystals before you started changing, Tessa Yeager?" He'd ask as Cade would return with the fuel.

Shed look up for a moment surprised before shaking her head and going back to her work,"no, I wasn't exactly the most productive gal before the Plague, but I just seem to have a nack for working with them." She'd motion for Cade to pour the fuel into the fiffty gallon barrel, two ten gallon buckets 

Cade would look up at her with pride as he'd finish pouring the fuel into the barrel that was to act as their stew pot,"she's always been really good at spotting new crystals and the ones with the most energy. My junebug's pretty good at her job and I couldn't be prouder."

Optimus would look up genuinely surprised,"such talent with crystals was rare among my people, only those from the crystal city of Praxus or those apprenticed under them had such natural talent. You should cherish the gift you have, Tessa Yeager."

Shed blush as she continues to hack away at the crystals, saying in fake grumpiness,"staaahp, you'll give me a complex I swear."

Cade would chuckle as he'd come over and begin helping her place the cut crystals into the barrel, not pushing the issue but clearly quiet proud of his daughter and her gift.

Optimus would watch the two work together, Tessa carefully cutting the diffrent colored crystals into smaller chunks, while Cade would dump them in the still cool barrel of fuel.

Curious and a little bewildered he'd ask,"why are you preparing to heat the energon, when you're already mixing it with crystals? Energon doesn't need heat to prepare it like your human food."

She'd look up a little horrified,"are you telling me you guys don't have a concept of heated food or cooking!? Did you guys just drink your fuel straight? That sounds like something I'd get bored of very quickly."

He'd shake his head,"no we didn't have anything we could really cook like you humans do, but we did learn ways to change our fuels taste and texture. Most common way was mixing inexpensive metals or minerals into our fuel, maybe even crystals if we really wanted something to crunch on. Then there was jellying our energon, using a special metal to cause the fuel to seize up. And we also had a way to prepare a special strain of rust to eat as what you'd probably consider a cookie or wafer like treat."

The mechs eyes would go distant for a moment as he allowed himself to think of the things he had tried so hard to forget after they had run out of fuel for good, his tanks rumbling at the thought of such nostalgic foods from his home.

She'd calm as she'd hear that there had been some way to prepare food back on Cybertron, but would shake her head,"well while all that sounds well and good, it doesn't really sound like a filling meal to me, though I am definitely going to pick your proccessor for some of your foods so I can at least try to make something similar."

She'd then start as she'd realized how that sounded and would look up a bit sheepishly as she'd state,"if that's alright with you of course."

He'd give a slow nod, his mouth lubricating at the thought of having one of his favorite treats once again, as he'd say softly,"It's perfectly alright, Tessa Yeager, thank you for the offer of trying at all."

Cade who had been tossing more crystals in the metal barrel would look up and ask,"so rust is edible to your kind? And what do you mean by 'strain' of rust? Rust is just a form of corroded metal right."

Optimus would grimace at the less palatable topic, but would explain,"maybe here on earth where all metal is dead it's just a form of corrosion, but on my planet it was more of a bacteria, a form of mutated nanite that devoured non-living metals, usually very slowly, but there were a few strains that were basically like one of your plagues,including the worst of the lot, cosmic rust which could devour an entire settlement in our equivalent of a week."

Tessa would look up shocked,"I thought you just said you eat rust!?"

"Only a very specific strain of it," he'd say calmly,"one cultivated for years to be non harmful and tasting quiet good."

Cade would nod with comprehension,"kind of like how we cultivate yeast or fungus."

Shed give a grimace, "well  I for one am not going to play space plague roulette and just avoid eating rust entirely, okay? Sorry big guy, but I'm not taking that risk."

He'd nod," completely understandable," and would sit back continuing to watch the two finish placing the crystals inside, all of so many different hues, from an emerald green crystal, to a brilliant red, such colored crystals hadn't exactly been rare on his planet but they hadn't been common either, and made his tanks rumble hungrily at the sight, knowing that all had unique tastes depending on the minerals tinting them.

As they finished Shane would come back in carrying several buckets full of fuel into the back, having to make two trips, offering her an energon soaked bag after the second trip as hed state,"here's some cogs and crystal from the big brute. I know you like to work with fresh stuff babe."

Shed light up as she'd kiss him on the cheek and would take the bag and dump over three or four dozen energon stained cogs, and several shards of a teal colored crystal into the nearly full barrel of fuel. The sight would make Optimus' tanks a little queasy, but he would firmly remind himself that this was the only way to get fuel and essential metals for these hybrids and himself now.

Shed then place the lid over the barrel, locking it shut and would turn on the furnace and begin watching the pressure and temp gauges like a hawk.

Hours would pass, the hybrids going out to finish what they called chores, while Tessa would watch the now audibly boiling fuel with all her concentration, though such need for focus didn't surprise the mech, as energon was extremely unstable, one tick too high of a temperature and the thing would go off like a bomb.

Every so often she'd let off some pressure filling the barn with the surprisingly delicious scent of boiling energon and heated crystal, mixing the fuel with a hand crank on the top of the lid which allowed her to stir it without opening the lid.

And as the male hybrids began coming back inside the barn with a large pot and bowls, and a bag with some human sandwiches Optimus found himself having less and less reservations eating this heated fuel. It wasn't something he was used to, but it certainly smelled delicious, and the rule of if it smells good it probably tastes good was pretty much the same for Cybertronians as it was with humans.

But as he watched the humans joke and banter, setting up a make shift table with one of the crates in the barn, Optimus would be struck by how...normally these humans were treating him, like it was perfectly normal to just want to fix him a meal, to just talk and banter around him. They still seemed a bit wary of adding him to the conversation at times but they never seemed truly afraid or in awe of him.it was both jaring considering how his only frame of reference was the....Witwicky family and NEST, but also he couldn't help but find it, liberating.

Closest thing he could compare it to was how young Mikaela treated them after joining NEST permanently after Egypt, becoming Ratchet's apprentice.

He'd immediately shy away from the thought of that human, not wanting to relive that pain again, her death during the Chicago incident hitting particularly hard.

the girl's call of," almost ready you guys," would pull him from his thoughts and he'd see her carefully adjusting the pressure valve and mixing the fuel that was still closed.

"Great!" Shane would exclaim as he'd sit down on one of the many eclectic chairs around the barn he'd brought over to the makeshift table,"can't wait to see what master piece you've cooked up this time!"

Shed roll her eyes even as she'd smile,"it's just a stew, hon. Didn't want to shock our resident hungry giant with anything too exotic."

He'd wave his hand," details, shmeetails. It's still something new, using those new crystals you found and you've cooked it, so I'm sure it will be delicious."

"Flatterer,"she'd say grinning as she'd turn off the furnace and would, watch the temperature until it was out of the danger zone and after making sure all the pressure had been released would remove the lid.

It would reveal a kind of energon he'd never seen before, a dark blue green, simmering with heat, even as he'd see flashes of emerald and ruby in the now thickened liquid, along with the dark copper of the cogs she'd added last minute. And the scent, the scent was like nothing he'd ever smelled, savory with hints of spice. His tanks so used to living on less then starvation rations and on fuel not really made for his kind, would roar at the scent, his mouth nearly drooling at the scent.

Cade seeing his fixation on the fuel and hearing his rumbling tanks would grin,"smells good, right? Told ya she's got a way with these things."

"I've," he'd shake his head to clear his thoughts, "I've never smelled anything like it. It smells...divine is the best way I can describe it."

"Welp,", said Shane as he'd watch her fill their personal stew pot,"looks like your cooking has left someone without words yet again babe. Got to be a new record rendering a giant speechless"

Shed blush hard at the praises, even as she'd state," I just hope it tastes as good as it smells for you Optimus."

That would be when he'd realize the hybrid wasn't eating the same thing as them, a stack of sandwiches on her plate rather then one of the large bowls the others had in front of them."you don't eat what you prepare, Tessa Yeager?" He'd ask confused.

Shed shake her head, "my transformation isn't as far along as the other two due to health complications. My digestive system hasn't yet adapted to its new needs yet, so I'm stuck with the boring shit and only smelling, ozone and hot crystals when I cook. Shane and his taste testing is a godsend."

"And I will always be happy to play copper ghineapig, for ya babe." He'd say with smile, happy that his girlfriend had found something to be passionate about with their new life, hoping that it would help her with her trepidation with the change.

Shed sit down after placing the hot stew in front of them and would turn to optimus," well, go on, the rest is yours."

He'd look dumbfounded at the barrel of hot fuel. It was around the size of a small cube of energon and was around three forths full. Less then what he'd drunk the day before but the crystals would make up for that.

"Are...are you not going to take more for yourselves?" he'd ask a little bewildered

They'd look at their own huge pot of fuel and would laugh.

Cade laughing deeply he'd state," it's alright Optimus you can have what's left. Trust us this will be plenty."

"Might even have some left overs for tomorrow," shane would chirp, grinning, finding the giant strangly endearing when he wasn't pissed to all hell.

Leftovers. How long had it been since his people had enough fuel to even feel half way full, let alone have some to save back? He didn't know whether to call what was happening to this world good or bad, but he couldn't help but be overwhelmingly grateful for it to have started, offering such a boon to his people.

Carefully he'd pick up the barrel in one hand, just a bit smaller then a normal energon cube, hot but not to hot for him to hold and would carefully place it to his mouth and took a sip.

He wanted to melt into a puddle of melted cybermetal. Hed never understood the human desire for their food to be hot, other then in the case of preparing foods they couldn't digest without the preparation, but as that soothing heat went down his intake and settled in his tanks, warming him from the inside out, well...he now understood why some humans back in NEST would get so incredibly irritated when their meals got cold.

And the taste! He could barely describe it, salty,  savory, with a rich flavor that could take hours of careful measured mixing of metals and minerals to get anywhere close to. The crystals a bit small for him, but he could taste the bursts of flavor of every one on his metal tongue. And the next sip would only be better.

By the time he had finished, he felt more full then he'd been in millenia, his self repairs systems nearly weeping at all the energy and metals that were now swimming in tanks that had been empty for so long. His engines purring softly as he'd be propped up by the wall he'd been leaning on.

He'd look at the humans who were watching him a little stunned.

"Um wow," Shane would say a little speechless."I've never seen anyone get that emotional over food, and sometimes after working all day I'm ready to worship my girlfriend for the food she makes."

Cade's eyes would have that same knowing glint in them, as if he could read optimus like an open book,"guess it's been awhile since you got a decent meal. Glad we could provide."

The girl would smile at him,"guess you liked it huh?"

"It was the best fuel I've had in ages," the mech would say with solemn honesty,"Thank you, Tessa Yeager for the wonderful meal."

Shed duck her head a bit as she'd nibble at her own sandwiches, as she'd mutter,"your welcome, Optimus. I'm glad you liked it so much."

The other two would dig into their own shared of the stew, giving their own praises, discusing this or that about the farm, and Optimus, more relaxed then he'd been in a long time would just listen. Some of his subroutines would try to butt in that it was not smart being this relaxed among the very species that had betrayed him so thoroughly, but optimus would bat it away from conscious processing. He wanted to feel like this for just a bit more, before he had to go back to being Prime.

As the meal wound down the three would be talking together softly, mostly about plans to get more of the larger crystals harvested and stored away and to get more robodromedaries brought down, when a piercing sound would begin to ring out from the large homemade super computer, startling them all.

Shane would cover his ears as he'd grouse,"Cade, your eldritch abomination of wires and circuitry is trying to impart forbidden knowledge again."

Cade would roll his eyes as he'd go over to the main monitor as he'd snap,"Atlas is not an eldritch abomination thank you. It's only thanks to it that we still have connection to the outside world. Be a little more greatful."

"I'd be greatful if it wasn't trying to make me dig out my ear drums."

Rolling his eyes again at the over dramatics the older hybrid, would silence the alert and begin to type at the computer's keyboard. After a moment he'd smile widely as he'd turn to the other two," it was a notification.The RFD just posted it's next video."

Shane would sit up from his relaxed slouch, "really? i thought he'd finally finally bit the dust. It's been over a month since he last posted."

Cade would give him a shrug,"considering what he reports on, he might have had to move locations, leprechaun."

"Well let's see what the madlad's put up this time." He'd say looking excited.

Cade would give him a stern look, "guest is here remember." Before looking up at Optimus,"you don't mind if we put on a video do you? This sight is one of the foremost underground news sights that's been getting out the truth of what's going on with the nanite Plague and everything, and I've cross referenced some of their stuff so I know they're pretty accurate."

Optimus would sit up a bit straighter looking intrigued,"you called them an 'underground' news sight. If my memory of human vinacular is correct that means illegal, right?"

"Well duh," said Shane,"considering every other news outlit is shouting how everything is super fine and contained and we aren't getting rid of mass numbers of the population just because they aren't human enough anymore, the only ones that are telling the truth have to do it illegally."

He'd nod, the mech understanding the weight and power of propaganda all too well,"and this one is...reputable?"

He'd snort ,"are you kidding?! they've got some of the biggest balls of steel this side of the Atlantic, alot of the stuff they post could get them killed dead if they get caught."

Cade who was looking at Prime would explain more coherentlly,"the owner of the RFD sight is known for being quite the brave investigative reporter, sometimes streaming his findings live, asking live witnesses, sneaking into goverment facilities or even hacking into their systems. He's been instrumental in the growing network of witnesses and refugees being able to know about each other and connect, and there's an actual bounty on his head from the government. While there's no offical statement of what will happen to him if caught, it's pretty clear he'll be executed for how much he's completely busted the governmental lockdown of information."

The mech would look impressed despite himself,"quite the brave human I see. And this video you were speaking of would be his most recent report?"

Cade would nod,"yep, mind if we put it on to watch?"

He'd shake his helm ,"of course not. I am intrigued about what's going on in your world now, and this reporter sounds fascinating."

He'd nod as he'd pull up the sight.

Optimus did not know what he was expecting but a code green screen, with the a large design of a human dressed in army fatigues and a blank mask which hid the face holding an F like it was an assault rifle backed by a bullseye target was not definitely not one of those expectations.

Below the logo was the the words The Real "F" ing Deal!" In bold golden lettering. Something about the name tugging at something in his deep archival memory.

As he'd begin trying to find where that thought was going, the human would scroll down to show several videos, some about city lockdowns, interviews of people who had escaped like the Yeager family, and more.

Cade would state, "the sight looks tacky I know, but trust me the information is actually very accurate. Did a lot of cross referencing to make sure, and as I said, he's one of the main reasons the hybrids have begun to be able to connect at all."

Finally he'd come to the final video, labeled,"concrete proof for the ones who still think the goverment is their friend" it had a warning underneath it."This video contains graphic violence, including live footage of an execution and is unsuitable for young children. You have been warned."

The humans would look grave at the warning.

"Looks like the Deal finally got more then just one of his smoking guns this time," Shane would say with a low whistle.

Cade would nod, even as he'd look up at the mech, "you still up for this?"

The mech would nod grimly,"this seems...important. I can take the sight of death even that of a human."

Nodding the human would pull up the video and push play.

A simple intro music, similar to fox news would come up, along with the logo of a man in army fatigues holding an "F" like an assault rifle would spin a few times, before the screen would cut to a well lit,unfurnished room and a man wherein came and a fake flak jacket and a white mask, who would then greet,"Hello again, viewers.As the old saying goes, reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated. Just had to do a bug out after this last stunt which will be the content of today's video."

And it would be that voice that would finally bring the old memory file up from the deep archives, and Optimus would startle as he'd ask incredulously,"Leo?!?"

The three would look up as Cade pauses the video startled," you know him?!"

He'd shake his head, still stunned by the realization,"not personally no, but an....old friend knew him and he did offer me aid once."

He'd then hesitate before asking dubiously,"are you sure he's as reputable as you say he is? Last time I met him he was, to put it mildly slightly cowardly, and his sight was, according to my...old friend, just a madman's conspiracy web sight, that couldn't hold up to a bullet made of foil."

The three would look at him incredulously.

Finally Cade would sat tactfully,"well, everyone changes Optimus, and while I could see him being like that in his younger years the Deal. Or Leo as you call him, has shown iron clad proof of his findings, and has helped hybrids on multiple occasions.

"Like he has one video where he hide a family of hybrids in his basement while they were trying to get out of the city and offered to smuggle them out, and only asked for a live interview in return."Tessa would give as an example.

Shane would nod, "or that one time he went out to one of the largest hybrid caravans for live interviews. Those things are not safe to be in as if the militia fails to keep the government goons at bay, that entire caravan is getting executed whole sale."

Cade would nod with them as he'd say again,"people change Optimus. Sometimes for the worse, but also sometimes for the better, and considering how you described him it seems he changed for the better."

Optimus would look a little dumbfounded to hear how much the young man he'd barely known for a few hours had changed so drastically from the spastic, slightly cowardly youth, to what sounded like quite the brave young man.

It made him wonder what he had done so wrong to have caused his....old friend to take such a diffrent path.

Shaking his head to clear away thoughts of him, he'd state,"it seems you humans can transform in more ways then one."

"That kind of how we are," Cade would say safely as he turns back to the computer monitor,"we change and we adapt or we stagnate and get left behind by life. But now that we've got this fascinating little tidbit of the Deal lore we didn't know out of the way, mind if I restart the video?"

Optimus would shake his helm and the hybrid would start the video.

:A little over a month ago, I did a large mass interview, in the Illinois Refugee Caravan headed for the Sappire City Zone.

For all you guys still new to hybrid lingo, a Zone, is one of the many quarantine or evacuation, depending on who's talking, zones now scattered across the world, with the Sappire City Zone being what was once the city of Chicago and one of the largest Zones in the states.

To continue my earlier point, after my mass interview live stream, I found that alot of you  were asking why they needed to head all the way up to said Zone, even going so far as to ask why I had pleaded for thise infected with the Plague to head for one such Zone while avoiding any and all government workers such as, FBI, state or federal police, or the army.

And realizing that all the smoking guns in the world would not be enough for some of you rock headed idiots, I decided to go out to one of government mandated registration camps and give you all the iron clad proof you keep sticking your heads in the sand to avoid seeing by refusing to accept anything else.

Now as you know I prefer to live stream my videos, but in this case that would have been impossible, as I was going into some pretty dangerous territory, so this will all be non narrated video footage. Any information i need to imaprt will be in writing or captions.

No joke if I had made one peep, I'd have turned into red Swiss cheese. But anything to educate the ignorant masses am I right?

Now as I said in the warning below the thumbnail, this video ain't for the faint of heart, and it was not something I enjoyed filming, but again, since it seems that all the circumstantial evidence in the world will not wake some of you fuckers up to the fact that your government is waiting to exterminatus any and all hybrids, I pulled up my bootstraps and did this. You're welcome,  assholes.:

Hed then reach forward and would press a button on his computer, starting up the recording.

######

the footage shows the Deal standing in front of a beat up old black camaro with yellow detailing, carefully strapping on what looks to be climbing gear, including climbing cleats onto his boots, as we as securing the body camera around his neck showing that he was in a large rocky area, a map would appear on the side of the screen, pointing at an area in Arizona and the exact location of the registration camp according to official government sources.

He'd give a pat to his car, the captions saying "For Good Luck! :D" Before turning to start walking from rocky outcrop to outcrop, in the distance the camp, which had been placed in an old abandoned prison with high fifty foot walls.

A new set of maps would be revealed to the side of the screen, showing the general layout of the prison, including the large court yard in the back of the prison's main occupied building. Along with the layout would be markings denoting guard changes and patrols, dog patrols and finally camera's. And finally some arrows showing his route and how he'd be able to slip through the ten minute blind spot to get to the area of the wall which was a permablindspot for one of the cameras.in the area where he wouldn't have to worry about a guard shift for several hours.

The footage would show him slowly making his way over while keeping an eye on his watch, and then darting forward as the blind spot was caused by the camera moving. Finally he'd be hugging the stone wall. And after taking a few breaths. The man would begin slowly climbing up the wall, digging his cleats into the wall as he dug climbing pins into the wall, pin by pin, bulling himself up by his climbing ropes, going up and up and up, until finally he'd find himself at the top of the wall which had a large coil of razor wire over the top of it. Luckily he wasn't trying to get in, just film what was going on into the courtyard below.

Down below the camera would record the sight of dozens of soldiers milking about, fiddling with their rifles as if waiting, and to the right, could be seen the back wall of the old prison courtyard, the bottom of which was covered in what could be mistaken for red paint, from one end of the wall to the next, the captions helpfully stating "each wall is fifty feet tall and fifty feet wide." The ground below this fifty feet long strip of stone wall would be covered in the same red paint, gallons of it making brilliant red pools.

But it becomes very clear that isn't paint, the edges of the pools are blackening in the hot light of the sun, and there are flies everywhere as even the camera can catch dozens flying by.

It's blood, gallons and gallons of blood, covering the bottom of the wall up to seven feet high and going from one end to the other, and pooling on the ground.

The captions would state,"you don't want to know how it smelled 🤮"

At first everything remains silent, then people begin to be herded out into the courtyard, men women, teenagers and old men, several of whom are shouting screaming or crying their hands hand cuffed behind their backs.

They're shoved against the wall one by one, many of them freezing in horror as their boots slosh in the blood at their feet.

One a young teenager screams, "you God damned fucking murderers, she was only fourteen, you're going to burn in hell!"

Another, an older man struggles till his hit in the head as he shouts" I'll kill you! I'll kill you! you killed my Milly, my wife, you God damned monsters!"

Others are simply crying or shaking in terror, though one old man with an army crew cut looks out at the macabre scene with grim calm.

Finally they are all lined up and the captions state,"I counted them, 250 in all."

And it becomes clear that they are all hybrids, their prison clothes made to reveal the parts of them that are changing, legs, arms, shoulders. The old man had a part of his face changing, the eye a piercing blue optic now watch it all, like the grim eye of a mechanical god.

And then a man in a fancy military suit would step forward a solemn look on his face, as he would begin to say in an offical sounding voice,"you have been brought here today, due to a grave and horrible thing that is happening across the Americas and the world. Our very species is on the brink of extinction, our very existence and our way of life under attack. And thus to slow down the spread and to preserve the sanctity of the human race I must hereby scentance you all to death."

The hybrids would roar in rage and denial, the man who had shouted for his wife, would roar,"you God's damned liar, this is not some solemn sacred duty, this is God damned murder! I'd have rather been a bot with my wife then be butchered like a god damned cow!"

"Liar!" The teen would scream as well,"me and my sis did everything the government told us to, we Quarantined we stayed at home, we didn't interact with any hybrids, and we still caught it. I wish I'd shot that God damned agent in the face when he came to our door! We could have gotten away!"

The military man's solemn facade would Crack as he'd sneer,"then you have no right to be of the human race, if you would rather be turned into an unholy abomination, and deserve to be destroyed like any other alien force. The human race will rise victorious from this and continue to show that we are the one true race created to rule this world."

But even as the military man would raise his hand and the soldiers would begin to line up, the old man would say with cold finality,"you're lying to yourself, army man. You haven't got this thing contained, just the media coverage of it, and considering how quarantining clearly does squat to keep it out, I have a feeling you'll be joining us soon enough. See you in hell when you eat your own bullet."

The look of fear and revulsion that would flash over his face would barely be caught by camera,as he'd state,"it's you who will be in hell for daring to think that life as a metal abomination would be preferable to death."

He'd then snarl, "fire at will!"

And the firing squad would begin  putting rounds in every one of them, up to a dozen bullets each, the old man especially getting torn apart, their blood flowing from dozens of wounds as all 250 were butchered in seconds.

As the bodies dropped,most of the soldiers would have a wall eyed stare, others would look angry and afraid at the old man, others, while a few would look slightly horrified at what was happening and what they were doing.

The military man would snarl get this garbage thrown out and get the next batch ready. And would march back into the building, only for one ofcthe soldiers to look up directly at the camera and widen his eyes, clearly having seen the Deal.

The captions would read,". . . . . OH SHIT!"

And the Deal would begin scrambling down the wall and the recording would shut off as he gets to the bottom.

######

The bot and humans would be completely silent as the recording would end, all horrified in their own ways.

With Optimus truly disgusted at how far the human government had fallen to butcher it's own kind like this. Even Megatron in the height of his madness had not butchered their kind like this, giving autobots a chance to defect for millenia before even that mercy had run dry.

The Deal would now be looking into the camera, his whole body slumped as he would say in a tired solemn voice,:this is why I implore any and all of my viewers who are hybrids or have hybrid family members to get out of their region and head straight for any of the Zones that are on this map.:

A large map would appear on his screen, showing dozens of these zones marked by little crystal markings, three large colored crystals over what was once Chicago, Mission city, and Mount St. Hilary, but there were several all over the map.

The Deal would explain :The colored crystals are the largest Zones, but every place I've marked is a Quarantine Zone. And trust me, no government goons is going to go near that place, because the old man was right. This thing ain't stopping, this thing don't got a cure, everyone is already infected, we just haven't all hit critical mass yet. So do what you have to to preserve your lives, not some made up supremacist bullcrap, like 'the sanctity of human life.' I know it's scary to think about, but your loved ones will still be your loved ones, even once this thing is finished, so please don't let their lies get to you and keep on hoping."

He'd then continue,:thank you for watching this report. I know it was a tough pill to swallow, but hopefully with this you'll finally get what I've been trying to say, stay safe, and protect yourselves, a new life is coming for all of us whether we want it or not, and I want to see my viewers on the other side with all their loved ones.:

:My next video will be up in around a month and will be several interviews with fully botified people, where we'll be asking the though questions we all want to know, like how it feels, if it hurts, and if they really are the same people they once were. But for now I'm signing out, this is the Deal, Keeping it "F"ing real.:

And the video would cut after he gives a salute to the camera.

The little group in the barn would remain silent, before Tessa would being to quietly cry in terror in her boyfriends arms.

Shane would shh her as he'd helps her up to her feet" it's going to be okay, we're safe, remember we're safe."

"But...but that...that could have...could have been us!?"

Cade would also go over to her hugging the both of them protectively, his eyes like stone walls.

while Optimus would feel a pang in his spark, of fear and sorrow at the thought.

If this had happened to these humans, he'd still be in stasis or dead, he would never have gotten to feel what it's like to drink energon again, and while he still was wary of the humans, they did not give him the same feeling of two timing frustrating condescension hed gotten from Mearing,  or the absolute wrongness of Attinger.

Instead they made him think of Lennox, who'd grieved so deeply for Ironhide, Epps, who had risked his life for the bots fighting side by side with them, of Mikaela, who had stood with them since the beginning, and had even permanently begun to work with the bots, till her life had tragically been cut short while trying to beg for Perceptor's life.

He'd sworn he would never trust a human again after what had happened, but these humans, they reminded him of the ones who sacrificed as much as the bots, and that stirred the ashes withihim.s wounded spark.

He still had to locate his team if they still lived, but as he watched the humans comfort each other, the humans under just as much danger as he and his people, he found himself wanting to try, to try one last time, in this changing world, where humans were slowly becoming his own species, to hope that things could turn out okay.

Chapter Text

A few hundred yards from the barn, with in the treeline of the slowly crystallizing forest there lies a clearing.

Once this clearing had been filled with red crystal barring iron plants. But now it lies bare, the ground now only churned up earth, metal and broken crystal.

And within this clearing a blue and red titan dances a waltz of war.

A long pole in his servos, that was once an electrical pole, now stripped down to the single plain pole, which he weirded as lightly as any blade forged for his own servos.

High guard.

Low guard.

Spin.

Upsweep.

Lunge.

Repeat.

Optimus found the repetition of the kata soothing, though it had been quite some time since he'd done any of his old sword drills.

Either way it had become a godsend as he'd been growing more and more restless.

Living amongst these hybrids was strange especially after living for seven years among the American military. He hadn't realized how much their military structure had been something he'd leaned on for it's similarity to the life he'd been living on Cybertron until it had been taken away, replaced by the Yeager family's far more laid back and chaotic routine.

Not that the hybrids didn't have duties, or as they called it chores, to perform but once the mostly minor list of chores were done they were for the most part free to do their own projects in as lackadaisical a fasion that they desired.

Young Tessa had the duties of collecting wild crystals from the forest of varying hues, while also harvesting the crystal wheat, but when she wasn't doing that she seemed to spend her time studying and experimenting with the crystals and applied heat.

He had not been prepared for the explosions when they had started up a few weeks ago, and had been certain they were under attack.

Luckily Cade had been there to defuse the situation and bring him over to the back of the property to show an area that looked like some kind of ballistics testing sight, with a large ditch, wires and am enclosure with large blast resistant walls.

There Tessa, after being told of how she had startled him, had sheepishly explained that she did tests and experiments on crystals to figure out their ignition temps, and how volatile each type was.

Optimus had spent a good hour discussing this with the girl, curious about how the young hybrid was going about learning about the crystals, apparently so she could more safely cook them.

The younger male hybrid, Shane had a less startling hobby after he was done hunting and aiding his bethrothed in collecting larger crystals, being one to constantly be on the move scouting and exploring  the surrounding area, unless working on his racecar.

Though his constant coming and going did sometimes irritate or grate on the mech who was used to a constant reliable schedule.

And finally their was Cade who's schedule was even more eclectic then the other two's. He seemed to do anything and everything, from repairing machinery, to drawing up blueprints to expand the barn, to constant disection and study of the mechanical creatures which were growing more and more common in the crystalline forest.

And that was just his duties, for when his eclectic list of chores was done hed proceed to his favored project of the day one of them being the creation of outer armor made of mechabeast plates.

when optimus had asked him about it after watching him painstakingly drill holes into cut pieces of metal, hed explained that due to the fact they had to hunt so much and that most of the beast was inedible, they always had a surplus of parts, which he not only used to make machine repairs but also armors to barter with to a carvan that passed by every so often for rarer minerals and metals.

Altogether the constant unplanned movement and projects had begun to grate on the prime, especially since he'd only recently been repaired enough to start moving around and yet had nothing to do.

It was after the third incident where he had snapped at young Shane for his coming into the barn unexpectedly that Prime had realized he needed something to bleed off his anxious energy and Cade had suggested some form of exercise to both get his frame back into working order and to help him calm down.

And that was how he found himself here finishing another set of sword forms.

Though if he was being honest it felt nice to be practicing them again.

While the war had forced him to take up more practical weapons such as rifles and servo blades, Optimus had always preferred cold forged steel weapons, long swords most of all, though his first had been a war axe he still thought fondly of.

He took a deep breath as he brought up his makeshift training blade into a disengage stance, feeling calmer as he always did after his sword drills.

He'd then lower the pole and place it against one of the enormous crystals that were beginning to outnumber the organic trees ofcthe forest, the surface of the crystal humming with power as he brushed his digits against it while doing so.

He would shake his hand the tingling sensation, odd but not painful, like sharp static.

He remembered Cade saying something about the crystals being possibly the main energy source for the terraforming nanites that were slowly taking over the area during one of his many rambling lectures.

He could believe it. The only thing he'd felt having a similar amount of power to those crystals was the all-spark itself and it only made him wonder further how the crystals came to be.

Shaking himself from his musings the prime would turn to leave the clearing, walking out of the crystalline forest and into the wheat fields surrounding the farm.

As he walked down the small trail cutting through the crystal grain fields he felt himself calming even further, having found just the sight of so much energon almost as soothing as a good sword drill, reminding him visually that no matter what his people would never go hungry again.

Finally he came in sight of the farm, his optics sweeping over the still and quiet farm, the only movement coming from the chicken coop where Carl was patrolling the walls of his domain, red eyes glaring at all and sundry, ready to defend his territory from all comers, though mostly from the hybrid Shane, who the avian delighted in tormenting.

But despite the peaceful atmosphere, the Prime would grit his denta. It was too quiet, and this was only the latest of several things that had been putting him more and more on edge this week.

It had started when the hybrid girl, Tessa, had begun to flag, growing tired and lethargic quicker then was normal for humans.

It had gotten so bad that she hadn't been able to cook for two days, and while he would never complain, the change was clearly out of charecter and something that made optimus wary.

Which was further exacerbated by the two other hybrids beginning to become grim and quiet one or the other never far from the girl, but saying nothing about what was going on.

It had become obvious that the humans were hiding something, and his ever vigilant speculation programs had been going haywire trying to figure out what it was.

He had thought for a time it was some kind of illness, but with the way Cade and Shane were acting it seemed like something more then that.

With a frustrated growl the mech would begin striding towards the barn intending to finally demand some answers from Cade, unable to take this suspense and suspicion any further.

But around half way there he froze in his tracks as an energon curdling scream ripped through the air from the house.

Old shadows and ghosts of past battles flickered over his optics, till by the time he'd shaken them from his vision the three hybrids were running for the barn, Cade scanning his daughter furiously as her bethrothed carried her looking incredibly worried.

The girl herself was pale as a sheet and was sweating profusely as she whimpered in pain as they passed the mech, blood leaking from the corner of her mouth as Shane desperately tried to sooth her.

Finally they barreled into the barn ahead of optimus who was staring at where the three had disappeared into the building that had been assigned to him.

That had looked serious and normally he'd leave the three to whatever treatment they needed to do, but unable to resist learning what had been the cause of the scream and the general uneasiness of the last week, he'd slip up to the door and peek inside.

Shane had laid the girl on the steel slab in the area of the barn that seemed to be the unofficial madbay of the multitasking Cade, who was built grabbing a large empty bucket while Shane soothed the girl,"it's going to be okay, babe. I know it hurts but you're going to be fine,"Looking up at the older hybrid for further reassurance.

Cade who'd still be scanning her would nod,"you're going to be fine June bug. You've seen both me and Shane go through this and we're better then ever."

She'd whimper,"I didn't realize it was going to be this bad.it feels like a stomachbug from hell!" 

Shane would rub her back as he'd sooth,"yeah I know, babe. It's going to hurt like hell, but you'll make it through, just like us."

Cade would then hand over a bandana as he'd ask want this? It's not going to be pretty."

She'd blanch even as she nod gratefully as Shane would tie it around her eyes,"don't remind me. I thought you were fucking dying went it started."

Before Cade could answer she'd begin to heave, and her bethrothed would hold the bucket for her while holding her hair out of her face.

To Optimus' horror, she didn't start purging food particles and bile like he'd seen a few soldier back at nest do when ill, but blood, copious amounts of blood, and chucks of something he didn'twant to identify.

Cade would say firm but soothingly,"you're doing fine, Tessa, just tell me if you feel something catch." Even as Shane would shake as he holds her.

She'd cry,"it tastes so wrong!" Before whispering,"I'm scarred daddy."

Cade would hug her as well saying softly,"it's okay honey, it's going to be okay, you're going to get through this, and when you do you'll get to eat all the foods you've been making for us. You've got this."

She'd give both of them tearful greatful looks before she began heaving again. This times large chunks of what was clearly bloody flesh began coming up, but it was when long ropes of what he recognized as intestines began to come up, that optimus finally looked away shaking in horror and disgusts sinking down to the ground onto his aft as he'd lean back against the door, unable to watch anymore.

Hours passed, interspersed with the sounds of wrenching, encouraging words from Cade and Shane, and the girl whispering of fears even as she took strength from their faith in her.

It was like her suffering just wouldn't end!

But finally after six hours, the heaving and cries went blessedly silent, and slowly the prime would stand up and open the door peaking in.

The girl was now rapped in a warm blanket with her bethrothed, both of who seemed to be sleeping, the girl looking exhausted but no longer in pain.

While Cade seemed to be working on the large monitor, tired but calm.

Optimus would open the door of the barn crouching to enter as he'd call softly,"Cade?"

The human would look up surprised,"Optimus? How long have you been there? Its..." He'd look out the door to see it's very dark out,"it's really late. Oh I am such an idiot. I'm sorry about hogging the barn all day, big guy, its just..." but as the hybrid caught a glimpse of Optimus' face his excuses would trail away before he'd say in a numb voice,"from the look in your eyes I'm guessing you saw...all that."

The mech would sigh as he sits down in his corner of the barn, now covered in many large tarps to make a makeshift bed roll, stating,"some of it, around the beginning. Forgive me for being intrusive. It was rude to peak in on something so...private."

Cade would shake his head,"nothing to forgive, just sorry you had to see that. Probably wasn't a pretty sight for you."

It wasn't he'd rumble looking a bit sick, before asking,"what....exactly was that if I might ask?"

The hybrid would give an explosive sigh as he'd sink back in his chair before the large computer monitor and would state,"well to cut a very long explanation short, Tessa's body finally finished healing from her cancer and was ready to begin her transformation."

"Normally it would start with one of her limbs becoming a cybernetic version of itself like my arm," he'd lift his Cybertronian arm for emphasis."but for some reason her change started with what we call the 'heaving of no return,' where her digestive track is completely replaced with a transformer's fuel and metal processing system."

"I'm going to have to look into why," he'd mutter to himself, as he'd look thoughtfully back to his monitor.

Optimus would look at first a bit lost until the implication finally dawned on him and he'd look quite ill as he'd ask,"and this happens all at once?"

Cade seeing the look on his faceplates would shake his head,"not like you're thinking."

"it actually happens pretty gradually, with the digestive system becoming encased in what will become the main fuel tank over a period of one to two weeks, the nerves connected to the stomach and intestines slowly being shaped over to the new system with the necessary tweaks till the stomach and intestines are just a lump of dead useless flesh."

"It would actually be pretty painless, except for the fact that her tanks can't in any way proccess or burn off the massive amount of flesh inside them so she has to purge the Organic material, which basically makes her feel like she's having the worst stomach ache and flu imaginable."

Optimus would look utterly ill at the graphic descriptions even as he'd ask,"how do you know all this?I doubt you would have been able to learn this from beasts, and I don't think you are the type to dissect another hybrid."

Hed look disgusted,"hell no! There's actually a large forum that was posted and maintained by a medic who lives in one of the major Evac Zones, the Ruby Mountains. He goes by the handle, Hatchet911 and seems to be one of the most knowledgeable and published several medical journals and papers on the forum he created."

"It's been a god send for those who don't know quite how to treat our new forms, and there's just as much information on simple first aid as there is on anatomy and info on how our bodies are changing."

For a moment Optimus would flinch at that name a desprate wild hope filling his spark. Could it be...? But no it couldn't. Why would ratchet be posting cybertronian medical knowledge on the human internet?

Scolding himself internally for jumping to such wild conclusions, he'd state,"I'm glad you have someway to know what's happening to your bodies. I...I can't imagine it's pleasant being changed against your will like this."

Hed sigh as he looks down at his hand,"you aren't wrong, but we've gotten used to it, and it's not all bad, my scanners have been very helpful not just with treatment but analysis in general, and I know Shane's been loving the get up and go of his leg, seems to be changing into some type of speed based transformer."

"But it's definitely not been easy, especially for Tessa, though hopefully with this hurtle passed and her cooking she'll get passed this with minimal trauma, though that could just be my inner hopeful fool talking."

Looking up from his musings the human would look at him thoughtfully,"all things considered, you're taking this well. In fact you seem more at ease then you have for a few days."

Optimus would go stiff before saying tense and coldly formal,"your apparent secrecy was very obvious, and it was making me..,tenser then normal."

Cade would wince,"ah...that makes sense. Not that I blames you for it."

"Though I promise I wasn't trying to hide it from you. We were just so used to everyone on the farm knowing about what was coming that we didn't think to tell you. Forgive me?"

The mech would sigh,"apology accepted but I would ask that in the future you tell me if something is coming or about to happen if you can. I do not care for surprises."

Cade would chuckle,"sure thing big guy, I'll tell you anything I can when I can."

The mech would hesitate before stating," there is something else."

The hybrid would give him a curious look, Nodding wordlessly for him to continue.

Biting the bullet as humans say, the mech would state bluntly,"I am unused to being idle for this long. While your accidental secrecy was a contributing factor I have been growing restless with nothing to occupy my time other then sword drills and feeding the robochickens."

The hybrid would chuckle as he states,"should have guessed the leprechaun would pawn off that chore to you after you showed how well you can handle Carl." Before sobering as he'd state,"I'll see what I can think up for you to help with.

I'm sure Tessa would be ecstatic to have help harvesting the grain fields, and considering how surprisingly quite you can be you could also go with Shane on one of his scouting patrols, or you could help me with the larger carcasses, though I don't know if that would sit well with you. He'd say with a wry grin as the mech couldn't hide his distaste at such a task.

"Don't worry, there's always something someone can be doing on a farm and I'm sure you'll find you're niche."

"Thank you, Cade Yeager," the mech would say stiffly,"I am unused to civilian life, but I will do my best to work with you."

The engineer's would soften with kindness and thoughtfulness as he'd say softly,"you don't have to push yourself big guy. Take one step at a time, your still healing and some wounds take a long time to heal, and some never heal completely."

"If you need work to feel comfortable here, we'll the more the merrier, but don't feel obligated to."

"I didn't save you to get a new farm hand. Ya know?"

Optimus would look the hybrid in the eyes, feeling something in him want to shrink away from those too knowing eyes. Still all he could see was sincerity in them and despite his better judgement screaming at him to be more cautious he found himself still relaxing slightly at his words and would say in a far less stiff tone,"thank you Cade Yeager."

The mech would then stretch slightly as the day's fatigue would finally catch up with him and he would say softly to keep from disturbing the sleeping pair across the barn,"I think I shall retire for the night, Cade."

The hybrid would smile softly as he turns back to his monitor,"alright big guy, good night."

Good night...such a simple greeting, yet given so simply to him, like he was no more and no less then the two who were sleeping on the medical slab across the room. With that thought running through his proccessor he'd mutter back,"good night, cade,"as he'd lie down on his sleeping mat, falling asleep like he had for the last month, trust, wanted or not slowly beginning to build up.

Chapter Text

As the cemetery wind muscle Cars passed his position on the road, intimidating with their black paint jobs and loud engines, Shane, crouched behind some bushes in the tree line, couldn't help but wonder how these bastards could be less inconspicuous then a fifty foot tall robot with a giant rifle.

Case in point, the mech beside him obscured behind the trees, silent and still as a statue as he mapped out the patrol route.

It was eery how silent the mech was, especially when he knew all too well how loud the mech could get when angry.

things had been going okayish after his girfriend had gone through the unpleasantness that was the 'heaving of no return'.

she'd been getting better and had even begun drinking petrorabbit fuel, which she described as "milky with an afrertaste of ozone."

He and the old man had picked up the slack around the farm, taking care of the fuel situation for everyone whole keeping things running, while Optimus had begun to help with harvesting the crystal grain which had been a godsend for everyone involved really as the large mech could harvest an 100 square foot section of the fields in a few hours and then help with the storage for a few more.

And the hybrid had to admit, the mech had seemed far calmer with both the work and steady schedule.

But then they ran upon a problem.

Tessa had begun having cravings, And while it had taken a bit to find out what they were it had not been good once they did.

they found out she was needing rare metals like silver, gold, platinum, aluminum, nickel, and copper

not only that but after scanning her Cade had also found she was also using up trace amounts of ceramics and silicon rapidly, which had to be added to her diet as well.

This along with the large plate like structures that was beginning to grow under the skin of her back had seemed to confirm a theory of Cade's and the older inventor had explained that he had been trying to figure out why her HoNR had happened early, and now it seemed his hunch was correct.

Unlike the two of them, her first transformation wasn't going to be a limb, but some form of large sensory equipment on her back, which the protein to metal transmutation just would not have been able to keep up with, so her body had just skipped that middle man step and made it where she could eat and process the materials necessary directly.

Tessa had clearly been a bit freaked out by that but had calmed when her father had explained that their had been a few other hybrids who'd gone through something similar according to that medical forum he was always on.

That it meant she would probably become a flying bot, maybe even a seeker due to the fact all of the materials she was eating were necessary components for sensory equipment.

But while Tessa had found herslf tentatively excited about the idea of being able to fly, Shane and Cade had been far more worried.

namely thanks to the fact they didnt have alot of the materials she was needing, not even out in the forest as the only mech animals with large amounts of sensory metals and materials were avians, and those were actually quite rare as their area didnt produce alot of those rare materials, unlike the more established larger Zones, like the Sapphire City Zone, or the Ruby Mountains Zone.

and while robochikens did produce some in their feathers, they were very poor in these metals as they weren't meant to fly so didn't need as many sensory circuits.

not to mention the fact that it would be a month at the very least till the next caravan passed through, and considering her appetite, they couldn't wait that long.

so that meant they had only one other option, a raid on a Cemetery Wind outpost.

Tessa had not been happy with that idea to put it mildly, even when shed had to accept that it was their only option to get her the materials before she starved of the minerals and metals she needed.

"though," he thought as he glanced at his silent stakeout partner before shivering"that had been nothing compared to his reaction."

They had been in their arms shed, looking over their weapons and armor, a mix of Cade's armor craft and Cemetery Wind Kevlar, while making plans, when the mech had come in from the fields as quiet as ever.

They hadn't even known he was there until his angry Rev had roared through the entire farm.

They'd looked up and Shane would freely admit, if he'd still been able to, he would have shit himself in fear.

The mech had looked enraged and terrified, like he was one wrong twitch away from either going on a rampage or running for the hills.

thankfully, Cade, the utter madlad, had stepped towards the fuming death machine and had told him in soothing tones to calm down, that the guns and kevlar had been spoils of combat, and that they had been preparing to go out on a raid.

miracle of miracles, it seemed to work slightly, as he did stop reving his engine so hard, but the mech had still demanded angrily why civilians would need enough armaments to take a small garrison.

Cade had proceeded to explain that thanks to their Zone having the know-how and the materials necessary to create and maintain a Crystal Net Router,(and explaining that piece of tech had been a trip and a half, a database network simialr to the world wide web, created by manipulting the energy pattern storage of the Greater Crystals and their ability to transfer these patterns to other Greater Crystals across great distances according to a gushing Cade, invented by a guy in the Deal's imploy who went by the handle 'robowarrior' who had then had the schematics placed on the sight for anyone with the know-how to build.) Their Zone held a small amount of statis in the hybrid community.

They got first dibs on all caravans coming through, would have some say over the other Zones within a hundred miles of them up to and including asking them to join in on a larger attack, (though Cade would never do that unless absolutely necessary,) and of course access to all the knowledge on the Crystal Net, including information that was forbidden from being placed on the World Wide Web, which included medical information of bots and hybrids.

But with this status also came responsibility, namely the need to keep an eye on the military outposts and garrisons in their area, and once a month mapping out their positions and their patrol routes to be published on the Crystal Net so Caravan leaders would be able to plan the safest routes between safe havens, which basically made their Zone one of many relay stations.

And sometimes this meant raiding the smaller outposts for Intel and if they can grab some, supplies.

The look on optimus' facepltes had gone from angry and suspicious to thoughtful as he'd state with growing interest that it reminded him of the duties that were expected of an ancient city-state lord on his planet before the rise of the primacy.

And as their discussion had devolved into a discourse on the differences and similarities between ancinet human and cybertronian nobles, Shane had tuned them out finally relaxing with disaster averted.

Afterwards Optimus, once everything had been explained had insisted on helping, citing his many years of experience as a warrior.

Cade had been understandably wary, but had been unable to say no, so had offered to at least let him join Shane on recon, which the younger hybrid had found both reassuring and nerve-racking at the same time.

Reassuring, since how can you not fell safer with twenty tons of steel guarding your back? and yet nerve-racking for the same reason.

He knew Cade couldn't see it, but the mech was always on edge, never once letting down his guard outside of sleep, and maybe not even then.

he was always suspicious paranoid and on a hair trigger, ready to go up like mount doom at the slightest hint of betrayal, and call it experience talking, but he new that such a mental state foretold nothing good in the past or the future.

and while he could understand and even sympathize with such a mind set, having seen the mech nearly blow up again for such a situation happen more then once now, he knew he couldnt stay silent any more

So as optimus finished his scans of the area Shane, who had been watching him closely would ask,"why?"

Optimus would look down at him questioningly.

"Why are you doing this? Helping us with this raid? Helping in general?

The mech would rumble formally,"I owe your bethrothed's sire much, not least of which my life. Aiding him in getting materials for his creation's frame reformat is the least I can do."

The human's eyes would bore into his optics before he'd say bluntly,"that's not true, not completely, even if that's what you tell yourself."

The mech's optics would narrow as he asks sharply,"and what, pray tell makes you think that?"

Rather then answer right away the hybrid would look away, as if thinking, before saying in a calm voice",Cade is a good man, more importantly he's the son of a good man."

"That kind of life is what makes him able to do and believe in things most people can't."

But it does leave him with blindspots, which include the fact that he can't see that you don't trust us one iota more then the day you woke up ready to slaughter us in rage and fear and pain.'

"You've just got better at hiding it."

"I doubt you would do all this for something so altruistic for those you see as your enemy, though I don't have a clue otherwise."

Optimus who had gone stiff would ask,"and what brought you to that conclusion?"

"The fact that I'm an Irish boy from the bad side of new York city. I know what a suspicious paranoiac looks like, especially considering I was once one for a long time even after I got out of that hell hole."

The mech would state stiffly,"my wariness is well founded and I have my instincts under control."

The yojng hybrid would give the mech a lopsided smile as he'd say,"I thought the same thing after my foster parents got me out of that place, and yet I still nearly stabbed my foster father for months when he stepped up behind me or just moved too quickly around me."

Hearing the unsaid observation, the mech would ask cold as ice,"do you expect me to just turn it off?"

Shane would shake his head hard,"hell no! I know full well how hard it is to put those instincts to rest. I still sometimes find myself looking over my shoulder out of habit."

"I'm not saying all this to condemn you, just to get you to realize that if you don't find some way to put that paranoia to rest at leadt a little, you are going to hurt someone. Paranoia always does that to a person sooner or later. And unlike my foster dad, Cade can't catch your fist when you try to flatten him during a misunderstanding."

The Prime would just stand there looking at Shane, his face unreadable and the hybrid with a sigh would go over to his car stating,"just...think on what I said, please. Cade doesn't deserve to get hurt for trying to help you."

And with that he'd slip into his car blank faced until he closed the door and would collapse on the steering wheel, giggling hysterically.

He'd actually done that!

He'd actually taken a metal giant to task about his sucky mental health and not died!

But as he'd calm down and thought about how the mech had reacted as he started up his car, he'd know that it had beed to be said, the mech was a good person, neither he nor Cade deserved the fallout of what could come of such a volatile blowup.

#####

Cade pov.

As the quiet hiss of the sleeping gas canister fills the military outpost Shane and optimus had staked out two days ago, Cade begins to finally belive that this might just work.

Cade had been worried as hell as he'd planned this raid.

To he honest he hated when he had to call for a raid or an attack, even on these cursed human supremacy fascists, as it was always a gamble.

He knew of curse he could technically call for back up from the other Zones within a certain range, but he had never done so, most of them being tiny farms with small families that barely survived the initial slaughter, and had noxwish to lead them into danger.

But at least the plan had been simple, one of them would play bate while the others gassed who was left in the outpost, steal everything techwise that wasn't nailed down and even some that was, dive off and help the bait get away by divide and conquer strategy, the conquering being getting away in the confusing to live and fight another day.

Of course there had been a heated argument about who would play bait, optimus insisting he take the dangerous position, while Shane who usually played bait, had taken offense citing his greater speed and mobility.

Finally they had all had to concied that out of the two of them the one that would cause the most stir and draw out the most troops would be the transformer, no matter how much Shane and honestly himself didn't like it.

And even as he and his daughter's boyfriend slipped into the now quiet outpost he couldn't help but still worry.

He knew the mech was capable, he watched him practice his sword kata things, and he had been a living hurricane when he'd first woken up half dead and ready to drop.

But the mech had only recently recovered enough to do some chores around the farm, let alone play a life and death game of tag.

'Which just they meant they had to hurry so optimus won't have to  play with those psychopaths for long,' he'd think to himself as they find themselves in one of the many monitor filled rooms, only a few personnel scattered around slumped in their chairs or fallen to the ground asleep.

Looking at Shane they'd nod at each other before plitting up, each carrying a bucket and some USB drives as they began downloading files before bashing open monitors and servers, and computer banks, stripping them of computer chips and mother boards.

They ripped down all of the sonar and infrared sensors, electro-optical sensors, radar sensors, and finally acoustic sensors, taking down even the dishes covered with sensory circuitry which was all his baby girl would need to eat for the next few weeks.

They stripped the place bare carrying smaller pieces out in sealed buckets and placing them in a battered old equipment trailer hitched to Cade's pick up, while tying down the half a dozen dishes and sensors down.

But as they were making a finally sweep over the outpost, Cade who had wandered into the main office, and had been casually smashing open the bosses own computer for that tasting computer guts, looked up to see on the desk in front of said monitor to see a file with a logo that made his blood and energon freeze.

A silver circle with three uppercase letters underneath it, KSI.

He narrowed his eyes as the instinctive fear gave way to rage and disgust. How he hated that organization.

Still, Intel was Intel, and he knew that when the big two used paper files rather then digital, it meant that it was something they didn't want hackers to get their claws into, which usually meant it was something important or time sensitive.

Snatching it up he opened it ND began to read it, his eyes going wider and wider as hie read it.

"Containment compromised....will be moving Assets to more secure location." He'd mutter his face going pale as death while a glint of fear disbelief and a hint of wild hope flahed over his eyes.

But then Shane would call out from the other room, gathering up some ammunition and weapons since they had a little room left in the trailer,"hey, old man, hurry up, I just got a call from OP. He sounds like things are getting tight out there!"

Shutting the file quickly he'd bark, "coming!" Even as he'd shove the file into his duffle bag, running out to join the younger man as they rushed themselves into the truck, and Shane throwing the truck into gear and driving as fast as he dared, even as Cade would look like he was ready to fight Cemetery Wind alone, even as he clutched his bag with a knuckle white grip.

#####

Optimus' pov.

As optimus leaned against an administrative building on the edge of the abandoned city young Shane used to frequent for his bethrothed's food, he cursed every god known and unknown as he gripped his abdomen.

Why...why now. Oh please for the live of the universe not now!

It seemed something had heard his prayer as the pain finally subsided but not before the sound of three muscle cars driving up to the alley he had nearly collapsed in met his audible horns.

"Frag you, universe,"he'd snarl softly, even as he gripped the electric pole he brought just in case rumbling in anger and fear as they drove up and men began to pour out.

He'd called Shane earlier but what if he was too far away? Was this how he would die, escaping death by missile only to be killed thanks to cramps!?

But just as the men began to shout and raise their weapons and the prime would do the same, a voice called out,"hey! Keep your filthy blood drenched hands off of him, you natzi rejects,"

Both bot and agents would look up to see Shane and Cade, bot pointing bazookas, which they must have salvaged from their raid, at the alley.

Optimus would nearly freeze until he heard Cade shout,"Optimus duck!!" And almost on instinct he would duck as the himans would shoot.

The agents, who had been shocked by the audacity of the two, tried to dodge too late, and were caught in the fire ball as all three muscle card went up in flames, the back wash barely heating the Prine's plating.

Looking up and realizing what had happened the mechxwould stand stunned for a moment before the humans would call out,"come on let's get out of here!

And the prime running on old instincts and reflexes would dive through the flames transforming as he did, landing on his tires as he came down on the broken road, tires screeching as he followed the truck and loaded trailer, his mind reeling.

His spark and mind sputtering as he'd rebel from the shock of what he had done.

He'd seen a human pointing a weapon that could injure him badly nearly directly at him, and he'd ducked when they said so instead of tried to get  away.

Was he a fool!? Was he so desperate to cling to his foolish hope that he would risk himself like this again!?

He'd promised himself he wouldn't trust a human again, at least not without ample reason, and yet he'd done it, again.

It didnt help that te younger humans words were still burning in his audials,"why are you doing this? If you don't rein your paranoia in you're going to hurt someone,"and now here was blatant proof that he was trusting a human again!

"It was just reflex," the mech would growl to himself,"it was a combat situation and I trusted him on reflex like he was an autobot, foolish but understandable."

"And it's not like he's completely human anymore, it was just a slip. I'll have to be more careful. At least this time didn't end in disaster."

These and other thoughts would continue to chase each other through his proccessor all the way back to the farm.

Chapter Text

###Optimus POV###

As a burning sickle swipes through swathes of copper stemmed grain, Optimus finds himself both grateful for and yet hating this new task he'd been given by his hosts.

Greatful because finally he'd been given work he could throw his frame and processor into after weeks of idleness.

It was even necessary work as everyone was busy harvesting fuel in different forms as winter was getting closer, and Cade had hypothesized that the crystals, metal plants and what cyberbeasts that didn't migrate would go into some kind of hibernation to get through the cold of winter as most machines just didnt run well or at all in cold weather.

Thankfully, according to the engineer turned subsistence farmer, they'd soon have enough to hold them all over the cold season and even have some surplus for celebrations and in case of an unexpected caravan.

And yet he hated it because unlike paperwork, endless meetings, or stratagizing for a battle, this work just couldn't drown out the thoughts and doubts that had bee plaguing him for three weeks since the raid like he had secretly hoped.

He just couldn't figure out what had come over him to listen to the human in such a manner.

It wasn't like with the fuel or if they had both been in battle, it was sparkling's play to scan the fuel for dangerous additives, and while he wouldn't trust a human at his back, he could at least accept that a Hybrid betraying him in the middle of a battle would be the height of stupidity. He can trust human self preservation instincts in such a situation if nothing else.

He'd tried to brush it off, comparing it to listening to a soldier on the battle field where a second of hesitation could mean the difference between life and death, but here, as he calmly cut through great swathes of crystal grain, his mind still in the monotony of the work, he couldn't lie to himself.

It wasn't the trust he'd given the human government, that from the very beginning had been fraught with distrust and suspicion, and a desperate hope that his people had enough to offer to remain useful to the ones who controlled the fuel in the territory of the planet they were stuck on.

It wasn't the trust he'd had in NEST. Less fraught with distrust, but still only the practical trust between soldiers that Optimus had given to both his fellow autobots and them alike, it had been easy, familiar, nothing like this.

It wasn't even the trust he'd given.....given Sam. A trust given after witnessing what he'd thought to be acts of selfless valor, acts he had come to realize more and more had simply been the selfish actions of a youth who desired to survive, a trust that had been throughly destroyed.

No, he realized, what made this so unnerving compared to every other time he'd trusted a human was the fact that he had never been in this weak of a position before.

He had nothing to give cade, nothing to make his life more valuable so as to discourge betrayal,  and yet the hybrid had still come back for him, had saved his life despite the fact it had to have been a risk running head long into the hunting party.

This he guessed was what was causing this to unnerved him so badly, and the work, mind numbing as it was, just wasn't enough to distract him.

He was no farmer, no medic, no scientist or engineer, he was a warrior, a chieftain of his kind, long before he'd been a prime he led and fought and protected his tribe from raiders and tribes wanting young ones to boost their own numbers Or the fuel his tribe so desperately guarded.

But Cade had no need of a warrior, not only being a fighter himself, but living in the equivalent of a Fortress completely self sufficient, with no need to raid others or fear being attacked with how remote the area seemed to be. 

He had no need of a leader, being a good and beloved one himself, despite the small size of his tribe.

He didn't need Optimus, so why? why did he let him stay? Why did he give him fuel? And why did he not just wash his servos of the liability that Prime really was when he had the chance, having to learn everything from scratch slowly, even as he continued to drink their fuel.

He'd grunt as he'd tie another bundle of grain, but just as he'd bend over wondering if he should just demand of the human why he was keeping him around, a terrible ripping cramp would stab into the abdominal section of his frame.

Oh no. Oh no. Not now, Oh,  by the stars not now!!

He'd grit his dente, praying that the pain would pass like before, but it seemed like his luck had finally run out. The pain radiating from his abdominal region getting worse with every spasm.

He'd hoped that this wouldn't happen! That finally getting real fuel into his system would head this off!!

But just as he'd start feeling that burning burnt tar at the back of his intake, the last voice he wanted to hear would cry out,"Optimus, what's wrong!?"

Great, just what he needed, his host seeing him at his weakest.

He'd growl weakly on sheer reflex like a wounded predator even as Cade, clearly worried would climb out of his truck, a large trailer ment to haul the crystal wheat hitched to the back.

"Come on big guy, what's wrong? You look like death warmed over."

Snarling, hed state sharply,"none of your business!" willing it to pass, to stop making him look weak.

With a stubborn look on his face that looked far too much like the look that would grace his amica's faceplates when dealing with young wounded fools, the human would state," bullshit! You look as bad as Tessa looked when she started HNR. Did you eat something that doesn't work with your systems? Talk to me, please!"

But before he could refute it, his frame, as if to spite him, finally lost the battle with his tanks.

White hot pain ran through his frame as he fell to his knees, as he began to purge.

His pain tolerance built from millenia of war could do nothing to stop the screams of agony ripped from his intake between bouts of purging internal plates covered in layers of a tar like substance and tainted fuel. it felt like his tanks had been dipped in acid.

Finally after what felt an eternity, it stopped, everything feeling distant, far away, he couldn't think, could barely remember where he was, it was always like this when this happens.

A voice speaks, it's close yet so far away behind the roaring in his audials,"hey, hey, it's going to be okay, you think you're done?" A small servo, (maybe a minibot?) Brushes his arm, it's field soothing but worried. Were they a new apprentice of ratchet's? He couldn't quite remember.

The minibot began to babble,"Alright, alright, this is bad, very bad, but not as bad as it could be, (I hope). You could have been totally knocked out and that, would have been a problem."

"Man you look totally out of it, can you even hear me?"

Hearing the question, he'd nod slowly, wincing at the slight movement causing his tanks to roil again, though luckily not enough to trigger a dry purge.

"Okay, okay, that's good, at least you aren't completely out of it," the minibot medic babbled, before asking," can you get up? You dont have to go far. the trailer is right behind you. Not quite big enough for your legs, but it should be okay if we keep it slow."

His optics swimming with lubricant and his vision going in and out, processor spinning, it took him a long moment to see what the minibot was tugging his arm towards, a flatbed trailer connected to some sparkless vehicle.

His helm was killing him and he could barely see the minibot, only a tiny blob of maroon and silver, but he'd nod again as he'd slowly stand, unsteady and dizzy but able to drag himself the few mechanometers to the trailer and carefully lying down.

The minibot fluttered around him laughing nervously,"Great, you're doing great big guy. Normally I'd tie ya down to make sure you don't slip, but I have a feeling loopy or not you would not like that, and I really don't need my truck getting crushed.

He'd growl softly at the thought of being bound, he didn't like that idea, at all.

"Right, message received, just...hold on I guess."

And with that he was left alone, only for everything to start moving and jarring, it made his already sore processor spin and feel like it was contracting, only avoiding dry purging thanks to still lying down.

For what felt like both a few minutes and an age, the moving trailer stopped and the minibot padded over to him, a servo patting him on the upper arm as he states,"sorry about the bumpy ride, big guy. I know you want to just pass out, but you need to get up, just one more time, then you can pass out in the barn I promise.

Grumbling he'd say in the old tongue,"bossylittlemedic," even as he'd force his frame to sit up and stand. Every soldier knew that you obey the medic no matter what if you want to live, even a prime obeys.

Slowly he totters after the maroon and silver blob, into...a building? He wasn't sure, but it was dark and cool and it made everything inside just want to collapse.

Finally they'd come to an area he recognized as his nest, and without prompting he'd tip over, collapsing in a heap of exhaustion and pain,  promptly passing out the minute his head hit the tarp and fiber scraps.

###Cade's POV###

Long into the dead of night the clacking of keys could be heard, the light of Atlas' monitor the only light to be found in the barn of the Yeagar farm.

Cade had been searching for any information on what could be happening to their guest turned farm hand and possible friend? But hed found nothing. Closest thing he had found was caused by over eating certain metals like lead and yet nothing had described bringing up metal plating covered in what almost looked like....coal?

Finally when all other avenues had been exhausted he went to the source himself, pinging the only medical professional he knew, or the closet thing to one he knew.

Hatchet911 as usual answered his request to dm promptly and had demanded what was wrong.

After a few minutes of typing out an explanation the engineer turned medic would hold his breath, afraid that maybe even he didnt know what it was.

there was a long pause then.

Hatchet911:

I think i know whats wrong but first ive got to ask, is it one of the big bots?

Cade would raise a brow hesitating.

It had become something of an unspoken rule among hybrids and monoformers to not ask or mention if ones Zone was hosting a transformer or two, not because of the government but because of the transformers' opposing factions.

The two sides had come to an unspoken cease fire after the dissappearance of their leaders and the rise in humans hunting all transformers.

But that was the thing, it was an unspoken unofficial ceasefire, not signed off on by anyone in power on either side, so it was still technically treason to aid one another through deed or word, even if for mutual survival.

So it had become a don't ask, dont tell policy between Zones so as to be able to gain aid and information from each other without getting their resident transformers in hot water.

finally the engineer would type

#1EngineerDAD

And that matters why?

Hatchet911:

because if my guess is correct, they've got last stage carbon poisoning, and only the big bots can contract it. Hybrids and monoformers systems are too delicate and shut down with even small amount of carbon introduced to them

His eyes would go wide with concern before typing out.

#1EngineerDAD:

I thought that our systems were fundamentally the same.

Hatchet911:

the fuel processing systems yes, filtration, not so much.

Hybrids and monoformers are just too small to have very good filtration, unlike transformers who have specialized filters and systems ment to dispel most toxins.

Cade would sigh as he digests this information.

it made sense, filtration was more often then not about size as the bigger the vehicle the more layers of filters it can hold.

finally he'd answer.

#1EngineerDAD:

okay i think i understand that, but i still have a bot laid up after screaming his intake's raw while throwing up plates covered in sheets of black tar.

You said it's carbon poisoning? Is there a treatment?

Hatchet911:

alright im going to explain this only once, with your word not to spread it around. Transformers are at there most vulnerable when suffering from this.

hopefully it'll die out completely after a few decades but i dont want to take any chances.

#1EngineerDAD:

i promise not to post it to the forum and only use the information when necessary, like now.

Hatchet911:

you better, or I will be sending you a concussion express shipped on my wrench.

Alright, to put it simply, transformers systems are just more robust and have better filters then hybrids and monoformers.

This means that alot of stuff that would be toxic to you would be a mild iritant to a transformer.

infact carbon fuels are among the mildest form of toxin and acts similarly to alcohol for humans.

it was concidered the equivalent to the cheapest beer you could purchase compared to the more expensive form of intoxicant, high grade, which was simply a highly concentrated form of energon and overloaded mental circuits with energy rather then mildly poisoning them

Cade would read all this fascinated by the information, from how carbon wasn't even concidered normally dangerous to transformers to the information that they had once created recreational intoxicate.

#1EngineerDAD:

Alright thats interesting and all but wht does that have to do with the poisoning?

Hatchet911:

hold your pistons, im getting to it.

despite it being a mild toxin, carbon is still aintoxicated, its a cumlitive similar to heavy metal posioning in humans, though luckily transformer systems do have ways to dispel it.

normally in a bot who rarely drinks carbon fuels, the carbon is shunted to the vents where its burned off as exhaust. Smelly but overall a harmless sideffect.

its when you start drinking the stuff every day, as a hard core drinker or when you have nothing else to fuel on that problems start.

what I just described is the symptoms of first stage carbon poisoning, along with harsh headaches and lethargy.

Next comes second stage poisoning when the bot in question has drunken so much carbon fuel over a long period that the vent systems can't keep up and the frame starts retaining the toxins in their tank filters to be expelled later.

At this stage fuel efficiency goes down, the bot feels tired alot, maybe having problems focusing, but few phisical signs.

And finally there's third stage poisoning where the retained carbon hits critical mass and the fuel system has to do an emergency pirge or risk carbon getting through the filters and into the fuel lines, which is as fatal for them as drinking carbon fuel is for hybrids

Cade 's face had slowly drained of color as hed begin to realize what Hatchet was talking about.

#1EngineerDAD:

Are you implying he just shed and purged his entire stomach lining as a last ditch effort to get rid of a deadly overload of toxins?!

Hatchet911:

you catch on fast. Knew there was a reason i waste my time teaching you personally.

But yes, in human terms thats wht happened, and its no drive down a smooth road.

#1EngineerDAD:

But he's not been drinking carbon fuels! We have plenty of fuel here on the farm, along with metals and crystals for variety.

Hatchet911:

thats good, but if he's purging that means he's hit critical mass awhile ago. You dont want to know all the tricks transformers have come up with to trick their frames into not starting the purge for as long as possible.

Luckily him having fed well before hand means he'll have plenty of energy and trace metals in reserve for his self-repair systrems. He'll be ready to fuel again in less then a week instead of in three.

Cade's eyes would become troubled as he hears that Optimus won't be able to fuel. That will probably nor be great for a mech who'd been starved not too long ago.

#1EngineerDAD: 

He wont be able to fuel at all?

Hatchet911:

Not that he'll want to, but no. His tanks are at their most vulnerable right now, so even trace toxins could be deadly for him right now.

#1EngineerDAD:

How long? He's had problems with starvation before and I don't feel comfortable withholding fuel from him.

Hatchet911:

Don't worry too much. It's painful but not fatal as long as you dont do something stupid like drink carbon fuel to try and dull the pain, thats a first class ticket to the smelter.

He's already used to it, probably has gone through this before hundreds of times, and as I said with all the fuel and metals he's been eating he'll take less time to heal then usual.

It'll take around three days for his tank lining to heal enough to be able to safely drink fuel again.

To be honest I'd  recommend a whole week, but if hes a friend of yours then hes probably just as much of a workaholic as you, so ill take what wins i can reasonably get.

Cade would go pale at the sight of those words, hundreds of times. Hundreds of times suffering through what had clearly been hell.

What made it worse? The grim casualness of Hatchet's words. He'd long suspected the poster was a bot and that casual mention of something that would horrify anyone else covinced him more then anything else, and it was even more horrifying to think of the one he thought of as a mentor going through the same thing, which he was beginning to think was more and more likely, considering how shocked Optimus had been at just the sight of energon crystals and fuel.

How long had Optimus and Hatchet911 and the rest of their people had to make do with literal poison just to survive?

Trying to add a spark of levitety to the grim discussion he'd type.

#1EngineerDAD:

That's rich coming from you, Hatchet. You write articles, medical journals and forum answers every day and you always are ready for a dm ping at any hour of the day or night.

I sometimes wonder if you even sleep.

Hatchet911:

watch it youngster. I was saving lives long before you were even a twinkle in your parents' eyes.

smiling at the prickly answer, the hybrid would stretch as he gives a great yawn before typing out.

#1EngineerDAD:

Either way, thank you.  If it werent for you I'd not  not know half of what i do now, let alone what to do for...my friend.

i think im going to sign off though, theres only a few hours before dawn and I'd  like to get some sleep while i can.

hed then hesitate before also typing.

#1EngineerDAD:

And for what it's worth, I'm glad he and you will never have to go through that again.

Before clicking off of the dm.

all he had was suspicions. As long as they weren't confirmed he wouldnt have to risk Hatchet911 getting hurt if he was from the faction opposed to optimus'.

as darkness fell over the barn after turning off Atlas, he'd take out an old blanket he kept in his desk for emergencies and would go lie down on the medical bed in the med corner of the barn, falling into a deep sleep to the sound of Optimus' quietly humming engine.