The Monster of Kaon (Transformers Si): Chapter 68

“This feels familiar.”

“Indeed. Remember that negotiation we had with the Forgers of Vos?”

Knockout laughed at my words as Breakdown simply shook his head.

“How could I forget? You two patied for an entire night, leaving me behind to pull your afts back to Iacon.”

Breakdown’s accusatory words simply made us laugh harder.

Indeed, those were the days when we did whatever we wanted.

Me, Codexa, Knockout, and Breakdown. People of high society who regularly spent their time with the lower classes, having as much fun as possible wherever we went.

Granted, it was always Knockout and I that made the most mess while Cortexa and Breakdown always tried to clean up after us. But still, that was a time I would not give up for anything.

Then, Sentinel happened, and things quickly fell apart, but this is not the time to feel sorry for myself.

“You guys were a real mess back then. Even I, who was mostly held up by my clinic most of the time in Crystal City, still heard tales of your escapades. The only good news was that Knockout was there with you to patch you up if something went wrong. Not to mention that you had two senators in the form of Shockwave and Soundwave on your side back then.”

I just grinned at Ratchet’s words.

“You are one to talk. Remember that night on Tyger Pax? Ambulon had to drag your aft back to Crystal City before you spent both your credits on the Turbofox race.”

Ratchet quickly covered his face with his palms, groaning into it.

“Don’t remind me.”

I shook my head and looked towards the entrance to this hidden bunker inside Area 51, waiting for the representatives of NEST to arrive.

“...How are the younglings doing?”

Ratchet thought for a few minutes before answering my question.

“Pretty good, all things considered. Optimus managed to reprimand them and make them accept this peace for now. On the other hand, Elita really tore into them and made them see the error of their ways. While they are still not ready to accept you as the current leader of our race, they are willing to stand down and stop doing anything stupid. Sometimes, I wish things were as simple with us as they are with the Decepticons.”

“You mean with almost all of our younger generation dead during the war and with only the vehicons and other MTO to fill our ranks aside from the old guard?”

Ratchet winced at Knockout's words, making me sigh and motion the two to stop.

“That is good enough, Ratchet. Tell them that they don’t need to follow my rule for long. Once we are done here with the Omega Keys and this alliance, I will be going back to Cybertron for a project. After that, I will be establishing a new government for our people.”

I grinned tiredly at my old friends, who looked at me apprehensively.

“Once that is done, they won’t have to see my face for long. And if my plan works out, they will never have to see my face again.”

“Maximus, you don’t mean-?”

I simply nodded my head.

“I have restarted Project: Umbra. And before you ask, I have already talked to Primus about it and he approves, even if reluctantly.”

“...You don’t need to leave. Maximus. We will still need you after-“

I shook my head again, making Breakdown stop talking.

“I am tired, my friend. I have done everything I can for our people. Besides, I think it is about time that our world is allowed to grow on its own without the shadow of us, the old generation, over them.”

“And putting all that aside, I think it is about time I fulfilled Codexa’s old wish.”

“...She was a free-spirited bot after all. It makes sense for her to wish for something like this.”

I just smiled at Ratchet’s words.

“Don’t look so glum. If the project succeeds, it won’t be an eternal farewell, but just a temporary goodbye, just like all those times I used to roam the universe back in the Golden Age.”

“Hm.”

We stood there in silence for a few minutes before the door to our bunker opened, revealing five humans.

It did not even take me a second to identify them, thanks to the data about them stored within secret locations across the world, even if the only data available were their fake identities and their designations.

The representatives gave us a nod, making us nod back as they took their seats.

As for why we did not have any seats? That’s pretty easy to tell, isn't it? How are they supposed to produce seats for gigantic machines? At such a short order at that?

So, we stood there as the humans introduced themselves.

“Greetings, we are the representatives of NEST chosen for this diplomatic meeting with your people. I am John, this is Sergei.”

The American man introduced the Russian representative, who gave us an acknowledging nod.

“This is Chen.”

The Chinese man gave a tiny nod.

“This is Ben.”

The man who represented the UK and the EU as a whole nodded at us.

“And finally, this is Shekar.”

The representative of India nodded.

All of those were clearly fake names cooked up for this group of secretive humans, but I could not care less about that. The only thing I care about is how much authority they have and if they are allowed to negotiate on behalf of their entire group and humanity as a whole. Which they probably can, given the way their information is so well hidden and off the books that even with my full efforts, I cannot uncover the details.

Now that the humans are done introducing themselves, it is time for us to do so.

“Greetings, representatives of Earth. I am Fortress Maximus. You already know my companions, so I do not believe there is a need for me to introduce them.”

“Indeed, we know them. Specifically, I know that two of them are rather dangerous individuals with a lot of body count.”

.....Great. So this is the path they are taking in this negotiation? I guess I should retaliate in kind.

I looked towards Chen and activated my projectors, showing an image that made the man pale.

It was an image of the Chinese government capturing a Decepticon Vehicon and dissecting it for their studies. The timestamp showed that it was only one day old.

The only reason the Decepticons and I have not retaliated against the humans for this act is that the Vehicon was already dead, a casualty of the war, and his body was left to rot near the Chinese coast for who knows how long before it was found by the Chinese Government.

“I know exactly what you are trying to do, Representative Chen, and believe me, I have a lot more of this kind of information on all of you. So, let’s not go down this road, please, and have a proper negotiation as civilized species.”

That shut up the Chinese man, and the rest of the representatives who were probably in on the ruse that was to be orchestrated by Chen.

Unfortunately for these humans, I have suffered through this kind of thing for so long that even the age of their entire species’s existence will not be enough to make up for a fraction of it.

“Forgive Mr. Chen’s words, Mr. Maximus. He did not mean any disrespect with his words. He was just questioning their presence here.”

“In that case, let me clarify a few things for you. The idiotic war between my children is over, and I am now taking back control. So, rest assured, they will not cross any boundaries while on Earth.”

There. A direct show of force, indicating that i am now in control of both the Autobots and Decepticons. My words also implied that I will be on top of things from now on and will not tolerate any kind of actions against my group.

A message that the humans clearly got if the subtle shift in their faces was anything to go by.

“...I see. In that case, shall we begin?”

“Indeed. Let us discuss the future of our races.”

Time to see if humanity is ready for what I have in store for them, or if I should have our people wait another thousand years for proper first contact.