Arc Eleven. Chapter Three-Hundred Seventeen. Riding Lessons

Peter had been asked to vacate the RV as the road trip began to come to an end.

He sat outside the gas station where they were parked, and it was only a few hours drive to the campsite they would be staying at before heading into the Oregon mountains to find the remains of the Ark.

Peter was sat, leaning against the gas station toilets drinking a bottle of cider when Optimus pulled up alongside him. Shrugging Peter opened the door and climbed into his cab,

"Hey, Optimus. Sorry for the stop, but we want to be fresh for tomorrow, just in case," Peter explained.

"It is fine Peter. We understand your organic need for rest, and the others are taking the time to explore as well. While we are not organic, our systems do need time to recover as well. We shall all rest tonight."

Peter nodded, "So, what did you want to ask me, I mean, you didn't pull up here just for a chat." Optimus always seemed more interested in strategy and small talk wasn't in his vocabulary at all.

"I have noticed that you are different from your female companions and that they are different to the other humans that inhabit this area. Is it rude to ask if you are not human?"

Peter laughed, "It's fine. I was experimented on by a madman, and I guess I'm a human hybrid. The others, well, not Gwen are hosts to a symbiote, uh, I have no idea if you know their species. The Klyntar?"

Optimus was quiet, and Peter wondered if that was maybe the wrong thing to share. "We are. The Klynatr are slaves of the Kree, and it is heartening to see them free after so long."

"The Kree? Did they use them for controlling their ships?"

"Yes, You know of the Kree as well?" but Peter shook his head and scooted down in the large chair, taking a swig of his cider.

"We found their tech on Earth, but there was no mention of the species it came from," which he always thought was fair. How many books or reports on earth started with 'written by Joe, definitely human.' Nobody would admit to being an alien, given most of the movies about aliens never ended well for them or their friends.

"Then may I tell you of the galaxy that we remember, and it may help you understand yourselves and the Klyntar better?" Optimus offered

"Oh yeah? That would be great. Wait, on your ship, do you have historical records? Could we maybe?" but Optimus interrupted him,

"We shall see. I have no idea after all this time how damaged the Ark is, and what condition our computer, Teletran One, is in. For now, an oral retelling shall have to do."

Peter nodded, settling in comfortably to listen.

"In the beginning, the gods walked the stars, seeding life and keeping order. Two brothers were created, giant planet-sized entities, known as Primus and Unicron. Primus was content to explore, learn and watch the gods work. Unicron coveted their power, and wanted it for himself."

Well, Peter thought, it's only been a couple of billion years and that's not changed much.

"Unicron fought the gods, and lost, and in their wisdom, they decided to purge his species from the galaxy. Primus, fearing for his life, learned to change form, and using this new ability, created a planet around himself, and the life that evolved on it became to know him as Cybertron."

Peter leaned forwards, "But if you're Cybertronians, how did you come about. I thought you needed the All-Spark to create new Cybertronians?"

"I am getting to that Peter. Billions of years of history are difficult to compress into a few sentences," and suitably chastised Peter leant back and sipped his cider.

"At first, the life on Cybertron mimicked life everywhere. It was organic in nature, but as they delved deeper into the planet they found the core of Primus, and they used him to evolve. Now part technology part organic, these Maximals formed the first Cybertronian society, but for some, it was not enough."

Never is, Peter thought to himself,

"One of them, a Maximal named Megatron, created a virus, one that stripped him of his final organic parts and made him into the first true Transformer, a name we now take as an insult. Claiming that all flesh was fake, he named his faction the Decepticons and preached true technological superiority."

Optimus sighed.

"The war raged for centuries. Eventually destroying the organic part of Cybertron all Maximals were forced to adopt their new forms. Forming the Autobots faction, I was still barely functional when the Matrix of Leadership was passed to me. Adding my name to the list of Primes to lead us to peace."

"In the years, our forms grew smaller as the life force of Cybertron dwindled. Without our organic parts, we were dependent on Energon, the last of the organic energy that circulated in the planet's core. As we left Cybertron, to try and find a new source, we were attacked by Megatron and his elite warriors, forcing us to crash on the Earth. I alone survived the crash, and in seeking the All-Spark to revive my crew, fell into hibernation mode as well."

Peter was engrossed, and as Optimus finished he stook a swig, "so, you've been here for four million years, what about everyone else?"

"The Skrull empire was in its infancy, but the Kree we met preached total Kree domination. They were no match for the Maximals but their Klyntar slaves could meld with us and create a new technorganic being. We tried to liberate them but with our own civil war, we failed."

Peter nodded, "So you were asking in case we were either a Kree colony or the Klyntar were free and you could use one to recreate Energon?"

"That is my hope. Can you tell me their fate?"

Peter sighed, "The Klyntar were wiped out. The Asgardians destroyed their home planet, and the only ones left are on Earth. I," and he paused, so far Optimus and the others seemed to be friendly, but with the Sentinels and the civil war, he didn't know, "I would need to speak to the others. Klyntar can only spawn once, and without a guarantee, I cant make that choice. It's a living thing and not a fuel source."

"I understand Peter, and I would not ask if the situation was not desperate. We may need to at least borrow a Klyntar to repair our systems. Their abilities may be needed if our doctor is damaged beyond repair."

Peter nodded and looked down at the empty bottle, "that I can agree to, but you might not need one. My biology is part Klyntar, that's how I managed to talk to you while you were frozen."

"I cannot hope that you would agree, if not for my sake then for the others. I am old Peter, having lived for millennia, even before my hibernation, but Arcee was created before we left and had barely experienced the world. Please I ask for them."

Peter shrugged, "I can't promise for anyone else, but sure. If I cant repair Rachet, then I can try to make this Energon you want. Never made energy before though."

Peter sighed, "let me get some sleep, and I'll discuss it with everyone else." The door swung open, "For what it's worth, I will do my best."

Optimus chuckled, "that is all I ask Peter." and as the door swung shut, Peter watched him drive away to be with the others.

Peter threw the bottle in the recycling bin in the RV and was greeted by eight expectant women.

"We are not all going with you tomorrow dear. We decided that a smaller team, plus the Cybertronians would be more advisable, especially as some of us aren't training." Liv looked over at Gwen who shrugged.

"Gwen, myself, and Wanda will all be heading home, leaving Carol, Natasha and Laura here to help."

Peter nodded, "We have another problem though, Seems the Autobots want our help to make Energon, and a Klyntar to help repair their friends."

Liv sighed, "that might be an issue. So far they have been pleasant if a bit standoffish, but I really can't blame them, humans did imprison them for years and starved them, I wouldn't trust us either. But a Klyntar is up to you. Only Octave can spawn, and she doesn't want to. I do think you should spend more time with one. Arcee?"

Peter laughed, "Really? The single female one and you send me to talk to her,"

Liv grinned and shrugged, "We all agreed, and we do all know you too well."

Gwen nodded, "if someone's gonna hit on a giant robot lady, it's either you or Liv," and Liv batted her arm as Gwen snorted, "and Liv doesn't have the right type of wrench to undo those tight panels of hers." and Liv just shook her head,

"All being said, if they require someone to interface with their fallen friends then either you or I are the best option, given our backgrounds, and as I am staying away until it is safe, then it does fall to you."

Peter nodded, "right, so that's the plan tomorrow, what was the discussion for?"

Wanda smiled, "Oh that? We are heading back to the bathhouse, taking turns in tiring you out and then you will be back with Carol and Natasha to assault a giant spaceship. We were just determining the order. And as she waved circles a portal back home appeared. "And I am first."

The order devolved into splashing wet fun of flesh and laughter and in the end, everyone had their fill, kissed Peter and anyone not busy, goodnight before heading off to bed, leaving Peter, Carol and Natasha lying in very cloudy water. Laura was soaking in one of the tubs, eating chips, while watching the fun but she stood, shook herself off, and stalked out the door, "got big robot lady now, out so we can clean."

Peter laughed, Laura was definitely taking after Logan more and more, and the gruff belligerent Augments personality was a mix of devilish scamp, who loved practical jokes, loving partner, who would just sit curled on his lap, and sex kitten who was insatiable and sometimes required more than one partner to tire out. Today though she was a no-nonsense fighter, and they had a job to get done. The quicker they clean the bathhouse, the sooner they could get rest and she shoo'd them away before hitting the sprinkler system and purging the pool and bathwater.

Peter was portalled back to the RV and he found Arcee sitting in robot form next to it, "Optimus said I should speak to you, but nobody was answering."

"Sorry. We can travel back home instantly and thought you'd all be busy," Peter explained.

Arcee nodded, "Space bridge technology. We have it too, the ark has an uh, maybe I shouldn't be telling you this." and she looked over at the big rig sat with the others.

"Hey, it's fine. It's what Optimus wants, for us to get to know each other better?" and she nodded. "So uh, rather than sitting and talking, how about we go for a drive? I mean, I don't have a licence but you do right?"

Arcee snorted and transformed, "If you mean can I stay upright with a passenger while maintaining speed, then yes. I am a Cybertronian after all, I was made to do this."

Peter made sure nobody was looking and his clothes became a black bodysuit with a slick black helmet.

The fuel gauge and the speedometer between the handlebars flashed, "Hold on tight," and as Peter gripped the handlebars and slid his feet on the foot pedals, Arcee whooped with joy and shot off at ridiculously high speed.

Optimus had given her permission to go as far and as fast as she wanted, as long as they were back before dawn to finish the last leg of their journey. She cut loose, letting the energy flow through her and pushing her systems to the max.

As they sped past a sign, welcoming them to a small town, the cop car, sitting behind it beeped as the speed gun clicked "two-hundred kph" and the deputy and his sheriff partner stared at the gun.

"Yeah, must be a mistake." because, even though they had seen the readout, heard the approaching engine, and watched as the bike blew past them, they knew nobody would ever believe them.