When All Lights Go Out II (TFP)

Chapter 7

Arcee shook her head. "Not at all, Fowler. While Ratchet and Optimus are keeping themselves busy for the moment, I think we can spare a moment. That way you can be on your way and proceed to sort things out with your leaders to proceed regarding Mech."

Fowler was pleased with that, and Arcee proceeded to tell Fowler what they had endured while they were investigating the involvement Mech had in Breakdown's disappearance. That man was shocked to hear what Mech had done to Breakdown, even though Breakdown is a decepticon. The danger that Mech was also showing to the autobots and decepticons made the man quite mad, and he definitely was going to dig deeper to find any potential holes in the military. Though he could not promise if he would find anything.

While Arcee spoke with Fowler regarding what the autobots had witnessed regarding Mech, Optimus grabbed a couple cubes for himself. He caressed his abdomen gently, as he was worried about his daughter. She was kicking a lot more today than she has before, and it has him wondering what exactly she was seeing in her dream. And he really wanted to help her if he could, even if it meant giving her good advice.

And though he was completely okay with Ratchet taking his time in ensuring that Bulkhead was back in top shape, and his injuries could be repaired, Optimus still wanted to go through the procedure and see what Azura's dream is. And he wanted that to happen today, and he could not help but feel a bit impatient. However, Optimus kept that to himself, as he was not the one who had been shot at. And he did not engage the enemy on his own.

Caressing his abdomen gently, Optimus did wonder what Azura was seeing in her dream. He only knew that she was trying to call for him. He's heard her calling for help, and he hoped that he could. If he did not know the answer straight away, he would certainly help her find the answer if it was something she had to solve. After all, Azura was still an infant. She was smart, he could not deny that. But she was still so young, and needed guidance. And he hoped that he could give that to her since he was certain she really needed him.

Meanwhile...

Silas was frustrated that Mech had lost their grasp on one of the Cybertronians. He was glad that they were able to get substantial material from Breakdown that they could use in order to research and apply the technology to their own as they advance their knowledge. It was a genuine surprise that the autobots would even save a decepticon, based on what he knew of the two sides at war with each other. He did not care for their war though, as it was a good thing that they were distracted with each other.

For now, Silas ensured that his men returned to the location that they had set up to retrieve any material they had been forced to leave behind. He was actually surprised that the autobots and decepticons did not destroy their lab, as it would have prevented Mech from proceeding forward with their research. It would seem that it would be their downfall in the near future, and Mech would ensure they keep a close eye for autobot and decepticon activity in the future. At least they knew how easy it was to lure them.

Standing before a console, gazing up at the blueprint that Mech had managed to scan from their brief guest, with a smirk upon his expression as he stared at it. An image of Optimus Prime was on the left of the blueprint, an image that was taken during the brief conversation he had with the autobot before the planted bomb had gone off. "The test subject escaped, but we managed to sanitize the location and transfer most of the newly acquired data to another facility. Our diagnostic scans of the subject's vital components were thorough enough for us to initiate Project Chimera. The power of the living machines will someday soon belong to Mech."

"Sir...I might have more information for you..." Silas grimaced and turned his chair around to face the man approaching him with a tablet in his arm. "As you instructed me to keep watch of the surrounding base, even after you were forced to retreat, I was able to observe something different regarding the autobot, Optimus Prime." Silas raised an eyebrow at him. "When we first saw the bot..." The man turned the tablet around to bring up a screen of the original blueprint that they managed to scan of Optimus. "He looked like this. However..." He tapped the screen to change an image of a photo of Optimus, and an internal scan of his body. "Something has clearly changed about him."

Silas stared at the image as his eyebrows rose slightly in surprise and he leaned forward to see correctly. It was an image of Optimus with a swollen abdomen, and Silas smirked as he knew what that meant. "Well...reproduction..." The man nodded as Silas came to that conclusion. "It had not ever crossed my mind that these bots could even reproduce. But upon our first meeting, I knew that those bots were not robots. They are alien."

"Though, I must say, it is strange that Optimus would be the one who is pregnant, Silas," The man said with a shrug, gesturing to the picture. "I don't imagine he was pregnant when we first saw him...but we didn't really scan for that...until now..."

Silas looked at the internal scan and he saw the golden outline of a smaller being curled within Optimus's body. He chuckled a little and leaned back in his chair. "Maybe he was when we first met. And it would seem that they grow rather quickly. That might just change things..." Silas gestured for the man to upload the information into the system, and the man nodded before walking over to the console. Silas turned his chair to look at the console, looking at Optimus's image with a smirk. "Especially since if they can reproduce, we can find a way to produce our own army without building anything. We would only need to raise them as our own."

"But do we even know how long that would take?" The soldier asked curiously, and Silas rolled his eyes at him. "I mean...we don't even know how old those autobots and decepticons are..."

"That does not concern me." The upload of the new material was complete, and Silas changed the image on the screen to Optimus's picture and the internal scan of the autobot. He stared at the image curiously and rubbed his chin lightly. "However...it is strange that it seems this child of his is quite large...hmm..." He stared at the image for a moment before facing the soldier. "It would seem we are in need of a new facility."

"Sir?"

"We are not going to pass up the opportunity to ensure that Optimus is given a comfortable place to stay in. After all, how else will he be ready to give birth?" The soldier understood and bowed respectfully. "Start searching for a suitable location, and if any new location requires some building, fortification and such, inform me so I may approve. I do not believe we will have a lot of time before the offspring arrives."

"Understood."

The soldier walked away while Silas was left alone with his own thoughts. The man was feeling quite smug at the moment, thinking he has found a weakness. But he was well aware that the autobots and decepticons had a way to travel around. He has seen the ground bridge vortex, and he did not know how to detect it at this time. But that is something he intended on enforcing his men to upgrade their systems to do. Not only to scan for the autobots, but also their transportation system. There was no other way to capture Optimus if they could not locate him.

Silas did not know where the autobots had their base. He did have information that the autobots did have a secret base, but he has not been able to figure out the location. Even so, he doubted getting in would be easy. The only thing he could think of would be to ambush the autobots, and take their prize. But Silas did not know if they could wait on Optimus for their current project to be finished, so that will also need to be worked on. Nonetheless, Mech had another plan, and Silas intended on it going right this time.