Transformers: Survival of Defective Products

After a series of discussions, the two parties tentatively agreed on a [temporary joint protection plan].

"They will stay at the Autobot base for now. The Autobots will be responsible for their personal safety. Our temporary judicial liaison office will oversee the relevant procedures and risks. As a representative of the human government, you reserve the right to inspect, question, and take administrative action by humans."

Fuller carefully reviewed the terms and had to admit that the chief judge was indeed so fair and impartial that he couldn't find any fault with him.

"When will they leave?"

"After completing all security checks, they can go home at any time unless there is an immediate threat."

Fuller pressed, "And then what? Did they keep coming here?"

"This is the next stage of the problem. I don't object to them establishing contact with the Autobots, but it must be made clear that they are not combatants, nor can they be implicitly incorporated into any military system."

Optimus Prime repeated, "I agree."

The other Autobots agreed, and Fuller leaned against the railing without objection.

Seeing this, the vector suddenly changed the subject, looking at the three children: "You all have guardians, right?"

Fuller was taken aback, and the other Autobots were also somewhat surprised.

"Yes," Jack and Raphael said in unison.

Meiqi: "I live with a host family."

"Then it will be difficult to keep it a secret forever."

Fuller quickly interrupted, "The scope of knowledge is already broad enough."

Vector waved to him, signaling him to calm down: "It's only when necessary. At the very least, guardians should know that their children are involved in government-regulated, confidential security matters and have formal contact channels. Otherwise, if problems arise, the trouble parents will cause when looking for their children will be considerable. As for disclosing the existence of Cybertronians, your human government can devise its own plan."

That overly familiar line of thinking came back to Fuller, who almost blurted out, "Just how many human administrative systems have you studied?"

The vector expression remained unchanged: "I've caught up on a little bit recently."

Fuller looked incredulous, while carefully noticing the slightly evasive expressions of the Autobots around him.

It’s tricky!

Yin Xiangfu calmly let him disbelieve her, after all, did she expect her to say that she hadn't even graduated with a bachelor's degree in law in her previous life?

-

Just when everyone thought it was over, she turned to the three children and, considering the height difference, knelt down.

Meiqi, bouncing around without much fear, asked, "Are you really an alien judge?"

"Yes."

"Do you have a gavel?" "Yes, I do when the court is in session. I'll use it if necessary."

"Then you can still sentence people to prison?" "Yes."

As the topic turned to this, Meiqi became increasingly excited, leading Vector to seriously suspect that the child had some distorted illusions about the judicial profession.

"Let's not talk about that now." She quickly steered the conversation back on track. "After asking so many questions, now let me ask you yourselves: what do you think?"

After a moment's hesitation, Jack spoke first: "I still want to go home."

"it is good."

Jack paused for a moment, then asked, "That's it?"

"Otherwise what?"

"I thought..." Jack looked around, "that it would at least require some kind of approval."

Yin Xiang said with a hint of amusement, "You're not a prisoner. You can go home after the checkup if everything is fine."

Jack visibly relaxed, but then, with barely suppressed curiosity, he asked softly, "Can I come back here to learn more about you guys later?"

The vector nudged Arcee: "As long as both of you are willing to stay in touch, that's fine."

-

Raphael also wanted to go home, but looking at Bumblebee, he hesitated and didn't move: "But can I stay a little longer? I want to play video games with Bumblebee for a while."

Following his gaze, the vector looked at Bumblebee, and the yellow Autobot blinked its dog-eye-like optical glasses at her, clearly having found a playmate on the same wavelength.

"Go ahead, Bumblebee will take you home."

Raphael gave a small cheer and started discussing with Bumblebee what to do next.

-

Finally, when it was Meiqi's turn, before even the vector could be asked, she cheerfully raised one hand and exclaimed, "I'm definitely staying!"

Fuller's temples were bulging with veins.

"This isn't an amusement park...we might encounter other Decepticons later," Vector advised.

"Anything else!?" Meiqi was even more excited.

You've completely missed the point!

"The partition will take you home tonight."

Meiqi's face immediately fell: "Huh? Why?"

"Because you have a guardian, even if it's a host family."

Meiqi looked regretful, muttered a few words, but still accepted it: "What about the future?"

The partition, feeling a little sorry for him, bent down and said, "You can come again next time."

"Wow! That's so cool!"

Meiqi immediately put her previous regrets behind her and clung to the partition to listen to rock music.

-

The situation turned out to be less complicated than expected, and all three children were found to be fine after being checked by the ambulance.

Before curfew, the three children were sent home separately.

Before leaving, Meiqi lingered around the partition, reluctant to part, and asked, "Will you still be here tomorrow? Can you pick me up from school?"

"Should?" The partition turned its head to follow her steps, but almost broke its head in the process.

"What about the day after tomorrow? And the day after that?"

As he held his head, he suddenly understood why human parents are so tired.

Fuller watched her expression closely. A Cybertronian chief judge who had only recently arrived on Earth was unusually adept at handling guardianship and government administration.

Before he could think it through, Vector turned to look at him: "Agent Fuller, I will send you Black Widow's violation record, as well as compensation for the highway damage."

Oh right, there's also compensation for public facilities. Fuller, who almost forgot, covered his head. Another headache has been added to the base.