FBI: Chapter 206/207

Chapter 206: I Am Optimus Prime, Everything Starts With Me

"So, you brought four more people home?" John pulled Clark toward the entrance, his tone full of disappointment. "Buddy, how many times have I told you, as a social person, you have to learn to say no!"

"Uh, I did think about refusing." Clark shrugged helplessly. "But Dante was just too shameless. I was kind of dumbfounded at the time, and by the time I realized it, I was already in the car heading to Smallville."

"F*ck…"

John covered his face with his hand.

Looked like this disaster couldn't be avoided.

"Clark, tonight Teddy and I might have to deal with that Federal Bureau of Investigation agent," John said, his tone suddenly serious. "You absolutely must not reveal your identity or powers in front of them!"

"That's the Federal Bureau of Investigation! They might target you, the 'Superman'!"

It wasn't the first time John had warned Clark like this.

He still remembered how he'd once cooperated with the U.S. Government, only to later be hunted down by them in collaboration with the Decepticons and KSI Corporation.

He didn't want Clark to fall into that same mess.

But Clark replied calmly, "It's fine, Dante already knows who I am."

"I don't deny that the FBI once had some interest in Superman's identity, but Dante has always opposed them bothering me."

"At least as a friend, he's reliable... though it'd be better if he wasn't so mischievous."

John stared at Clark in disbelief, then turned his gaze toward Dante sitting in the living room.

"What did you say? He already knows your identity?"

"Yeah, a few months ago when we first met, he directly called my name and even mentioned my hometown…"

"Holy sht! What the fck!"

John wiped away a cold sweat.

If Clark trusted Dante, that at least meant the American General Bureau and the government weren't working together.

Otherwise, with how the U.S. Government operates, would they really let Clark just be a small-time reporter in Metropolis?

"Alright, John, don't be so tense." Clark put an arm around his brother's shoulder. "It's just a unique family gathering."

John wanted to laugh, but his smile was uglier than crying.

"Yeah, unique."

"Too f*cking unique."

...

"Martha, your honey-glazed roasted potatoes are divine."

At the dinner table, Dante sat beside Martha, showering her with praise. His Republic-born charm and high emotional intelligence had everyone impressed.

Jonathan, meanwhile, was getting along great with Lucifer, that familiar troublemaker, and after a few more drinks, he had to be carried to bed by Clark.

"Lois, the rumors are true. Republic people really have a talent for dealing with elders. Seeing it in action today, it's totally deserved."

Harley Quinn, like a kid, speared an entire roasted potato with her fork, gnawed on it, then leaned toward Lois Lane to whisper.

"What's wrong? First time seeing this side of him?" Lois's eyes gleamed with gossip. "Given your relationship, shouldn't Director Fury have already experienced this treatment?"

"Huh? Fury? Experienced this? You've got to be kidding me!" Harley instantly perked up, putting down her potato. "With Dante's glib tongue, Fury would probably drop dead from anger! The guy literally carries imported Republic heart-saving pills in his pocket!"

Hearing that, Lois didn't respond. She just gave an awkward but polite smile.

You guys really know how to have fun, huh?

Other people joke around, but you people play with your lives.

Sure enough, FBI agents are all a little crazy!

That lively dinner party ended with Dante's smooth talking and both Teddy and John half-dead from alcohol.

"Clark, I originally wanted you to stay home tonight." Martha gave him an understanding smile. "But Jonathan's completely drunk. If we wake him, he'll feel terrible, so you should all go stay at John's place."

Before Clark could ask, "Why do you think we'd be noisy?", Dante quickly covered his mouth, smiled politely at Martha, and led everyone out toward the neighboring Eagle Farm.

As they walked, Dante took note of the group.

Lucifer and Chloe came for Teddy, who was, well, a divine anomaly. No problem there.

Clark, John, and Teddy's brother — all fine.

Harley Quinn… that troublemaker was just there for the free meal, also fine.

Only one person remained suspicious.

Dante lowered his voice and asked Clark, "Let me ask you something."

"What is it?"

"It's about Lois Lane."

"...What about Lois?"

"I just want to know, does she know your real identity?"

"She didn't at first, but at some point, I must've slipped up, and Lois figured it out."

Hearing that, Dante confirmed Lois already knew Superman's identity.

Which meant everyone present could handle the supernatural.

So, when they reached the Eagle Farm, Dante stepped forward and stopped everyone in front of the barn.

He didn't say anything. He just stared at John and Teddy.

"...Alright, I knew we couldn't escape this." John sighed. "Fine, Teddy stole that palladium element thing, and I was just an accomplice!"

"F*ck! John, you bastard! Am I too nice to you or what?!" Teddy kicked him square in the crotch. "Because of you, I literally became a 'rotten crotch'! And you're pushing me out to take the blame?!"

Then he ripped open his shirt to reveal the unstitched wound where the palladium had been hidden.

"Oh! F*ck!"

"Hey!"

Everyone reacted with disgust.

Except Dante, who stayed perfectly calm.

"Alright, you two, enough." Dante turned to Clark. "I'm guessing you already know, right?"

Clark hesitated for a moment before sighing. "Yeah, I know."

"There's something hidden in the Eagle Farm's barn."

He'd originally planned to wait until everyone was asleep to investigate what kind of supernatural thing was inside.

But now it seemed Dante's goal was the same.

Just as Clark finished speaking, a deep yet weary voice echoed from within the barn.

"Please don't make things difficult for John and Teddy."

As the voice spoke, a red and blue pickup truck rolled out on its own.

Behind it came an old Chevrolet sedan, Ratchet without his emergency lights, a battered Hummer, a flashy Chevrolet sports car, and even an unlaunched armed helicopter.

"My name is Optimus Prime, and everything started because of me."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 207: The One with Me Is...

Dante was momentarily bewildered.

He had thought of countless possibilities, but never this — Transformers.

And at a glance, these Transformers looked like stray dogs, big, lost, metal stray dogs.

"Optimus Prime! You're finally awake!"

John and Teddy both sighed in relief as they saw Optimus Prime regain consciousness.

At least their string of illegal actions hadn't been in vain.

"John, Teddy, I have learned of your efforts for me from the accounts of my comrades." Optimus Prime nodded toward them, then turned to Dante. "You must be from the American Government. I am willing to go with you, but please let John and my other comrades go."

When Dante first heard Optimus Prime speak, he was confused, but soon caught the implication hidden in his words.

American Government?

Those rotten bastards are mixed up in this too?

Even though the World Federation now sat above the major nations, political infighting hadn't disappeared in the slightest.

Especially the American Government, full of hawks obsessed with restoring America's dominance in the Federation.

They were trying to turn the World Federation into the old United Nations.

And overwhelming military power was their method.

Thinking this through, Dante adjusted his tone slightly and said,

"First, let me make one thing clear. My name is Dante, I'm an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I have nothing to do with the damn American Government."

"Second, you don't need to worry about the FBI wanting to control you for power. Because, frankly, you're not that strong, just a bunch of large metal beings with life."

"So now answer me this." Dante floated up into the air, red energy flickering faintly around him. "Optimus Prime, right? How many comrades do you still have?"

Dante's words didn't make Optimus Prime drop his guard.

But the fact that the man in front of him suddenly floated into the air without wings or thrusters made his mechanical logic glitch.

How was he flying?

Even as a Transformer, he could feel the ocean-like energy radiating from Dante — vast, devouring, endless.

Are all powerful humans like this?

He quickly pushed the thought aside.

Whatever Dante was, or whatever the so-called FBI stood for, none of it mattered anymore.

What mattered was that they clearly weren't allied with the American Government or KSI.

"I… trust you."

"You trust me? Just because of what I said?" Dante felt awkward. "I was just running my mouth…"

"You have extremely high authority and immense power." Optimus Prime looked up at Dante hovering above him. "If you were truly allied with the American Government, we would have been captured or destroyed long ago."

Hearing that, Dante couldn't help nodding.

This level of reasoning… yeah, he definitely deserved to be the leader of the Autobots.

But the Transformers standing behind him, listening to the conversation, all had blank, confused looks on their metal faces.

The intelligence level of this species… really not that high.

It was only because their individual combat power surpassed most conventional weapons that the American Government hadn't already taken full advantage of them.

"Since we've reached an understanding," Dante said, landing softly on the ground, "then tell me, what exactly happened? I think everyone here is dying to know."

He looked at Harley and Lucifer as he said that.

Their curiosity had already hit the roof.

Lucifer was taking pictures nonstop with his phone.

Harley, meanwhile, had walked up and started tapping Bumblebee's leg with her trusty adamantium bat.

"Wow! Pudding! This thing is amazing! Can I catch one and keep it? Please, Pudding! I'll handle all the feeding, watering, and cleaning myself!"

"They're silicon-based intelligent lifeforms, not stray cats or dogs…"

Dante wiped away a cold sweat.

Harley really just acted on impulse.

What's so great about raising a Transformer anyway? They take up way too much space.

After speaking, Dante reached out and gently closed the gaping mouths of John and Teddy, who were still staring in shock.

"You two. You stole the Palladium Arc Reactor to recharge the injured Optimus Prime, right?"

"Uh… yeah, that's right." John sighed. "Even though I don't know them that well, once I picked them up, I figured I should take responsibility."

"That's right, buddy." Teddy nodded. "After all, once they were in the house, I wasn't the only thing alive without flesh and blood."

"Alright. But letting these big metal guys be exposed to satellite surveillance is not a good idea… at least not right now." Dante waved his hand to cut them off. "Everyone, back to the barn. We need to talk properly."

...

Federal Prison, Special Criminals Unit.

This was the most classified section of the Federal Prison, similar to the special containment cells beneath the FBI building, used to hold criminals with unique abilities.

Now, in the deepest part of that block, a man sat imprisoned.

Bald. Orange eyes. His face dripping with greed.

His entire body was bound by devices that suppressed both movement and energy generation.

Even with Mammon's blood in his veins, he could only remain in that dark, silent cell.

"Lex Luthor, you're a genius… but why did you end up like this?"

Outside the cell, an elegant man with calm but deranged eyes looked at Lex through the one-way glass.

Lex smirked.

"Well, if it isn't Derek C. Simmons, America's Chief National Security Advisor."

"Your title is laughable. As the head of the 'family,' which one of your actions has ever been for so-called 'national security'? Everything you've done is for your own benefit."

"I think your understanding of me is a little biased," Derek said smoothly, stroking his chin. "Everything I do is for order and stability."

"Order and stability as defined by you, right?"

Derek ignored Lex's sarcasm and turned to the officer beside him.

"Release him."

"Mr. Simmons… are you sure? The energy inside him…"

"I said, release him."

The command came again, sharper. The prison staff had no choice but to obey.

As the heavy cell door slowly opened, Derek smiled.

"It's just a bit of Mammon's blood."

"The one with me… is God."

(To be continued.)