Transformers: Survival of Defective Products

Jack's return home has become increasingly unpredictable lately.

Sometimes he went straight to the Autobot base after school, sometimes he asked for leave from the burger shop, and with that elusive blue motorcycle, Xiao Zhen finally couldn't take it anymore.

"What have you been up to lately?"

Jack paused as soon as he entered the room.

Xiao Zhen stood in the living room with her arms crossed, looking clearly worried.

"Nothing happened at school, and the burger joint said you only occasionally take leave. But you always come back late, and sometimes we can't get through to you on the phone, and there's that motorcycle too."

She paused for a moment, her tone becoming even more worried:

"Jack, have you been hanging out with some shady characters?"

"No!" Jack answered hastily.

Xiao Zhen looked at him, a hint of hurt in her eyes: "Then why won't you tell me anything?"

Jack opened his mouth, but then remembered all the things that had to be kept secret: the Autobots, the Decepticons, the alien wars.

None of these words would put a mother's mind at ease.

"I believe you," Xiao Zhen said softly, "but I'm worried something might have happened to you, and I don't even know where you are."

Jack could no longer hide it; his heart had been struck straight, and he blurted out:

"Arcy is an alien!"

Xiao Zhen: "...What?"

"She's a Cybertronian, an alien mechanical life form, and that motorcycle belongs to her."

Arcee, parked in the garage: ...What? Why did you suddenly become a suicide bomber?!

Jack rushed out: "Arcy, transform!"

The blue and pink motorcycle was as quiet as a very ordinary motorcycle, showing no intention of cooperating at all.

Jack: "..."

Xiao Zhen watched her son talking intently to the motorcycle from the doorway, her expression gradually changing from worry to worry and sadness.

"Jack..."

"Mom, I really didn't lie to you!" But at this moment, these words had no persuasive power for Xiao Zhen.

-

Later, when Jack returned to the Autobot base, he was completely devastated. Seeing that the Graviton was there, he poured out his grievances.

After hearing the whole story, Vector only asked, "Where is your mother now?"

"At home."

"Walk."

Jack was taken aback: "Where to?"

"Pick her up."

-

Just as she was about to go to sleep at night, Xiao Zhen heard the doorbell ring. When she opened the door, she saw a dark purple heavy motorcycle that she had never seen before.

The car body is low-slung and long, with a dashing appearance, but the wheels don't look like normal tires at all.

The woman riding on it was wearing a full-face helmet.

He had short black hair that just reached his shoulders, wore a cool black motorcycle outfit, and had a well-proportioned figure with visible muscle definition even through his clothes; he was quite handsome.

She had a touch of heroism in her brows and eyes that were an inhumanly bright blue.

The vector didn't bother to redesign a human-like projection.

The arrow she used looked the same as before, except that her original dark brown eyes had been replaced with the cyan-blue she was used to now.

"Ms. Jane Darby?"

Xiao Zhen looked at her warily: "Who are you?"

"Vector. Jack is safe now; he's waiting for you."

This self-introduction was highly suspicious, but luckily Jack called back in time.

"Mom, I asked her to go. It's okay, you can come with her."

Xiao Zhen was silent for a few seconds, but finally, worried about her son, she climbed onto the back of the motorcycle.

The motorcycle roared towards the suburbs, and then suddenly a blue-green light curtain split open in front of them, through which they passed straight.

-

Upon entering the Autobot base, the human projection of the vector dissipated, and the deep purple vehicle transformed into a towering mechanical life form before her.

Not far away, Arcee also transformed from her motorcycle form into her robot form and nodded to Jane.

Jack cautiously approached: "Mom?"

Xiao Zhen turned her head: "So everything you said is true?"

"……right."

"You know aliens, and you frequently visit alien bases?!"

Jack didn't dare answer.

The vector coughed beside him and took over the task of explaining.

Fuller was already aware of the existence of the Autobots, the contact between the judicial center and the human government, and most importantly—Jack was just a human friend who came to experience life and make friends.

Xiao Zhen listened attentively, accepting the existence of aliens faster than Jack had anticipated. However, accepting and being at ease are two different things.

"Making friends is fine, of course." She looked at her son one last time, "but I absolutely cannot accept you being in danger without knowing anything about it."

Jack apologized quietly and hugged his worried mother.

Vector knelt on one knee beside him and said gently, "Although these matters need to be kept secret, your concerns are entirely reasonable. You will be given the necessary notifications in the future regarding matters concerning Jack's personal safety."

Xiao Zhen glanced at her and said, "You're a good kid."

Jack: Cat Thinking About the Universe.jpg

Should we really call the Chief Justice's child?

Just then, the highest-secret frequency band from BICk0 popped up in the internal signaling of the vector.

The results of the first phase of the artificial energy body project are in.

The previously relaxed expression on Yin Xiang's face instantly froze.

The simulation model passed all tests.

[Artificial circulation is stable.]

The energy release curve is within the normal intake range for life on Cybertron.

No one around knew the specifics, but Optimus Prime noticed that the fins of the gravitational vector suddenly tensed up.

"What happened?"

"It's something very important." Yin Xiang was silent for a moment, then turned to Xiao Zhen: "Sorry, I have to go back first."

The land bridge opened, and Optimus Prime watched as the deep purple figure disappeared into the light.

-

In the confidential room of the temporary judicial liaison point, Yin Xiang read the report over and over again.

Ancient formulas have been replaced with modern raw materials, resulting in stable parameters and an established purification process.

In theory, these artificial energy bodies can be seamlessly adapted to the body.

As he stared at the report, his migraine started to flare up again.

We're about to move to the next phase. The Autobots and Decepticons can no longer be excluded, and it's best if both sides know this at the same time.

As he leaned back in his chair, he suddenly remembered his long list of unfinished tasks.

The Omega Lock has not yet been found, and the coordinates of the remaining three ultimate keys have not yet been fully deciphered.

The Cosmic Emperor is nearing awakening.

The mechanical dog smelled the strange traces twice but couldn't find them.

The mech special forces have begun capturing Cybertronians.

Now, let's add another man-made energy source that could completely rewrite the energy system.

The vector emitted a desperate, hearty laugh: "Haha, to be done, to be done, the magic weapon for work!"

-

Before she could even formulate her wording for the joint talks, the second batch of Earth dispatch list was finalized.

The Autobots arrived: Cliffjumper, Wheeljack, Ultra Magnus, and Alita.

The Decepticons then deployed more roadblocks.

As the scope of energy exploration on Earth expands, the manpower naturally needs to be increased as well.

The most critical thing is that Chong Yunxiao found out.

His first private message: 【Why can they go?】

The vector did not return.

Article 2: [I can also work.]

Article 3: [I can prospect for minerals!]

Article 4: [I'm very big and can help a lot.]

Pointer vector: "..."

Chong Yunxiao has learned a lot and his expression is becoming more and more complete, but sometimes he is so blunt that it is outrageous.

She was still pretending not to see it when another message popped up.

You are also on Earth.

Well, if the monitoring system is stationed in another city, it seems understandable that the child wants to come with them.

"Come on, come on." The vector resignedly granted permission.

-

The temporary judicial liaison office engineering team subsequently received an urgent notice for expansion.

The original space could easily accommodate a few of them, but if they were to soar into the clouds? That would make it seem like a mini space.

Ultimately, the only option was to add large event areas and open-air parking areas.

After the second group of personnel arrived, the communications became even busier.

Upon arrival, Overwatch immediately sought out suitable Earth vehicles. Jacket promptly began researching Earth equipment, Ultra Magnus's first task was to review past workflows, while Alita quickly took over some of the newly added coordination tasks.

The roadblock, familiar with the place, went to report for justice.

Soaring through the clouds, it finally landed, its massive form taking up most of the newly expanded activity area.

He looked down and saw the vector, and was quite pleased. In his beast form, he vigorously swung his tail, like a steel dog's tail.

-

Personnel were settled, energy surveys were rescheduled, and new areas were put into use... Vector finally managed to handle most of these messy matters.

Sitting back down at the terminal, she decided not to delay any longer and to send a message to Optimus Prime first.

A joint meeting requiring top-secret coverage is needed here.

He then copied it for Megatron.

[Content involves energy.]

She continued typing, intending to explain a little bit in the private channel first.

Then a piercing alarm suddenly went off.

[Bumblebee's communication is interrupted.]

She stopped moving, and the second one appeared immediately afterward.

[Communications interrupted.]

The secure room fell silent, and Yin Liu slowly raised his head.

What's with the planes now?!