Scanning the office, Skygnaw fixed his holographic gaze on the two human visitors.
"Humans. Speak. What is it you wish to discuss with me?"
The voice echoing from the projection snapped Lawrence out of his trance. Seeing the "face" of the operation, he recognized him instantly. "You... you're the Elite-Class Decepticon known as Skygnaw?"
"Oh?" A thin, predatory smile curved on Skygnaw's projected lips. "Am I that famous already?"
"Well..." That was a dangerous question to answer. Lawrence skipped past it immediately. "Mr. Skygnaw, my name is Lawrence. I am the Inspector General of NEST."
"NEST. I know of you," Skygnaw feigned a rasp of mechanical hatred. "It is your organization, allied with the Autobots, that has slaughtered so many of my kin!"
"No, no, no!" Lawrence waved his hands frantically. "I think there's a misunderstanding, Mr. Skygnaw. I am an Inspector. I oversee resources and audits; I don't command troops in the field. The ones who killed your compatriots were the Autobots and Colonel Lennox."
"Is that so?" Skygnaw watched Lawrence with mock interest. The man was throwing his colleagues under the bus with zero hesitation. "But you are allies with the Autobots. You and Lennox are of the same species. Are you not an accomplice?"
"Well... you have a point..." Lawrence looked momentarily embarrassed before deciding to abandon that line of conversation. They were enemies by default; talking more would only make the situation uglier.
"Mr. Skygnaw, since you were able to reach an agreement with her," Lawrence pointed to Alice, "then why not partner with someone of significantly greater influence?"
"You mean you?"
Skygnaw understood Lawrence's intent instantly. He let a flash of undisguised contempt cross his optics. "To be blunt, I don't believe you have the standing to be my partner."
Lawrence's position in NEST was critical, but he didn't represent the entirety of the United States, nor even the heart of the military.
However, the next name out of Lawrence's mouth made Skygnaw recalibrate his assessment.
"And Secretary Clarice?"
Lawrence wore a confident smile. "I might not have the standing, but what about Madam Secretary Clarice? I believe she carries enough weight."
Before coming here, Lawrence had met with Clarice. Without her backing, he wouldn't dream of negotiating with a Decepticon based purely on his own silver tongue.
Skygnaw went silent for a moment, then nodded. "She carries weight indeed. You've given me a surprise, Lawrence."
Skygnaw hadn't expected a mere Inspector to have direct ties to the topmost tier of the US government. The web of human power is fascinating, he thought. Follow the silk long enough, and you always find a Queen.
"Speak, then. How do you and this 'Secretary Clarice' intend to work with me?"
"My apologies, Mr. Skygnaw," Lawrence said, looking genuinely apologetic. "I cannot give you a concrete terms yet because your direct appearance wasn't in our initial projections. But I promise to report your message to Madam Secretary immediately. We will decide on the terms of cooperation at top speed."
"If possible, she wishes to meet in person."
In person?
Skygnaw studied Lawrence, confirming through his sensors that the man wasn't lying. "Very well. I grant the meeting. But the time and place will be of my choosing. When your Secretary agrees, give the details to Alice."
"I... I will, Mr. Skygnaw," Lawrence said, glancing at Alice with newfound wariness. He hadn't realized the female CEO was this deeply trusted by the Decepticon.
Walking out of the Aura Group headquarters, the brilliant Miami sun hit Kane like a physical weight. He looked back at the skyscraper, his expression dazed. "I can't believe we actually walked out of there alive..."
Lawrence straightened his tie, smiling. "More than that, Kane. We've established a channel with an extraterrestrial—even if he is a Decepticon. Those 'noble' Autobots occupy our land but refuse to share a single scrap of their technology. We need an alternative."
"Let's go. I need to get to Madam Secretary immediately."
"Wait, Kane." Before getting into the car, Lawrence stopped his assistant and patted his shoulder. "Today's events... no one in NEST is to know. Not a soul. Especially not Lennox. Understood?"
"Understood, Boss," Kane nodded seriously.
Lawrence's car sped toward the Dumen Building. An hour later, he left Clarice's office with a satisfied grin.
Edge State (Alaska), Southeast District.
Receiving Alice's confirmation, Skygnaw selected a suitable neutral ground and had Alice relay the coordinates to Lawrence.
He chose a location in the southeast of Alaska, near the border of the "Maple Nation" (Canada). Since Lawrence had already tracked Alice's shipments, there was no point in hiding the fact that he was operating in the Alaskan wilderness. Better to show his hand than play a transparent game of hide-and-seek.
Bambaro Outpost, Alaska.
Early in the morning, the troops at the border base were mobilized. Over twenty armored vehicles and tanks rolled out into the freezing mountain passes. The soldiers and even their local commander had no idea what their mission was—only that they were to hold a defensive perimeter for exactly three hours.
Two hours into the freezing watch, a luxury convoy arrived at the mountain's lee side.
"Madam Secretary, we've arrived."
In the center SUV, Lawrence looked at his GPS and spoke to the woman in the back. Clarice opened her eyes, looking slightly weary. She hadn't agreed to the meeting immediately after Lawrence's report. Only after consulting with her husband, Homanton, did she decide to fly to Alaska under the cover of night.
Lawrence helped her out of the car. "Ugh, this weather," Clarice cursed, pulling her heavy coat tighter. Even in summer, the Alaskan temperature stayed in the single digits.
A team of researchers carrying laptops and scanning equipment approached. "Madam Secretary. Director Lawrence."
"Start the sweep," Lawrence ordered.
Ten minutes later, Clarice checked her watch. "Lawrence, it's time."
As if on cue, a thunderous roar split the sky.
VROOOOM—
A Foxhound Interceptor screamed down from the clouds, performing a physics-defying hover just a few dozen meters away. With a series of violent, rhythmic mechanical clacks, the jet shifted.
The guards, pre-briefed by Lawrence, didn't open fire. They watched in frozen awe.
THUD.
Skygnaw landed from a height of fifteen meters, a slight smirk playing on his faceplate as he walked toward them. "Lawrence. You're early. I hope I haven't kept you waiting?"
In reality, Skygnaw had arrived long before them. He had seen the hidden tanks on the other side of the ridge, but he didn't care. An Elite-Class warrior could dismantle a standard military base with ease. Moreover, he wasn't alone—the Four Horsemen were circling in high altitude, ready to drop at a moment's notice.
"Actually, we arrived early, Mr. Skygnaw. Your punctuality is appreciated," Lawrence complimented smoothly.
Beside him, Clarice could only stare. She had only seen these beings in blurry photos or classified NEST footage. Witnessing a living, breathing Decepticon in the flesh for the first time was a soul-shaking experience.
"Madam Secretary," Lawrence introduced, "this is Skygnaw."
Clarice, a veteran of decades of political warfare, composed herself quickly. She looked up at the silver giant. "Mr. Skygnaw. Allow me to address you as such."
"Of course, Madam," Skygnaw nodded. "Now, let's skip the small talk. Shall we begin?"
"By all means," Skygnaw tilted his head. He liked this pace. Direct and efficient.