Chapter Text
It was late in the afternoon and a slow day at the restaurant. There was only an old man drinking coffee as he read the newspaper and a man and woman on a date, sharing a smooth with two separate straws. Other than the customers, it was just you and your parents, who are talking about something that you zone out as the memories of this morning continue to bother you, causing you to bounce your leg in irritation.
You sigh, reaching into your messenger bag, you pull out a journal and pen. The journal was a deep, cobalt blue with a big lightning bolt that was Columbia blue, and the pen was just a regular Pilot G-2 07 black ink pen. Opening to a blank page, you began to write.
Dear Diary,
There has been something on my mind that I just can't get rid of. Then again, with how it went, it would be impossible to forget. After all, it's not something normal. It happened this morning, at the auto repair shop of my old friend, Edo...
[This morning; Edo Motors]
It was a regular morning at the dirt yard, and my little brother, Jun, was practicing tricks with his BMX. Although he's never actually invited to spend time there, Edo never really stops him from his fun. Meanwhile, I spend time trying to repair cars before I have to clock in.
You were neck deep in the engine, trying to reach into a tiny space that you have trouble reaching. When you felt an aching feeling in your body, a cramp, you pulled out, clutching your side as you hissed in pain, trying to hold back crying in pain. It's a really big and bad one.
"Sis, quick! I wanna show you my new trick!" You heard your brother call out. You groan, not really wanting to move in case it makes the pain worse. But, it's your brother and you know he won't shut up until he has your attention as he calls out your name. Sighing in defeat, you walk over, trying to massage the pain away.
Turning around the corner, you see a stack of tires in the middle of the dirt path. "'Kay, show me, kid."
"And you better be watching this time, sis!" He shouted, pointing in your direction. In response you gave a thumbs up. With that reassurance, he grabbed the handles of his bike, setting a foot on one of the pedals.
Setting the other foot on the other pedal, he accelerated, heading towards the stack of tires and jumped over them, landing perfectly. You clapped, cheering at his stunt. He attempted his own version of the Akira Slide as a way to stop, dragging his left foot across the ground- only for him to lose balance, causing him and his BMX to slide, crashing into the ground.
You ran over, "Jun! Are you okay?" asking in a worried tone as you knelt down next to him, checking him for injuries. He sat up, taking his helmet off. "I was so close..." he grumbles in disappointment. "Yeah," you say before smacking him upside the head, "close to killing yourself back there! You need to be careful next time." You scolded, grabbing him by the ear.
"Ow, ow, ow! Okay, I get it! I'll be careful!" He cried, wincing has he rubbed his ear after you let go. You sigh, relief filling you. "Good." You stood up, dusting off your cloths. An alarm rang out, causing Jun to take out his phone. Turning it on, he yelps, hurriedly getting up along with his bike. "I'm going to be late for school!" Putting his helmet back on, he gets on his bike. You noticed something on the ground, his school bag. "Don't forget this. Don't need you losing it now." You say, putting it on him. "Thanks, sis! See you after school!" He says, waving goodbye to you as he pedaled away.
It was supposed to be like any other day, but not this time. I heard a police siren in the air.
Jun stopped hearing the siren's wailing, you walked over to see into the street through the chain link fence. What's going on?
On the T-junction of the road, next to the chain-link fence, there drove an orange dump truck and- was heading towards you both?! Quickly, you grabbed your little brother and pulled him out of the way as it crashed into the fence, driving past you both. What the heck?!
The police siren got closer and closer. Peering through the opening of the fence, you see a blue and white Lamborghini police car.
It seemed like a normal police car, but it wasn't! When it reached the intersection, it started to shift and change shape, from a normal car into some sort of GIANT ROBOT!! It had to be over 4 meters tall!
The robot had jumped over the fence, landing over Jun's BMX, that was still intact. It rose up from it's kneeling position and started firing at the truck until it crashed into the vehicle storage racks. "A... robot?" Jun muttered in shock, craning his neck to look up at the massive machine. You quickly covered his mouth, worried that something bad might happen if it discovers that there are witnesses, slightly shuffling you two backwards as a way to get away.
"This ends now, Mega Trucker!" Exclaimed the police bot, "You'll have to come with me."
But it wasn't the only one, that dump truck, the police bot called Mega Trucker, was also a giant robot!
You saw two eyes appear on the windshield of the dump truck before it transformed, it's figure emanating a bright orange glow, picking up a rouge tire in the process.
Just like the police bot, it also had a motif, but of an American football player. Quite strange, to be honest...
"That's what you'd like, Blue Cop," said Mega Trucker, "wouldn't you?!" He threw the tire, hitting the police bot, called Blue Cop, square in the face which caused him to fall onto his back. "Jun, get out of here, I'll call the police- no, the army!" You say, pushing him away as you pulled out your phone. Crap, what's the number again, you thought panickily as you glanced back and forth between your phone screen and the scene before you, shaky fingers trying to input the password to unlock the phone.
The tire the dump truck threw landed back in his hand. "Look here, it's not over yet!" He threw the tire once again as the police bot got back up. He groaned, "you stubborn old truck!" He ran forward, dodging the tire as he transformed into his vehicle form. Charging towards his combatant, the police bot transformed back into his robot form and delivered a swift kick to the head.
Jun stopped in his tracks, turning back around. "My BMX!" He cried. "I'll get it, Jun. Just get out of here- O-Or hide somewhere safe!" You demanded, pointing away from the battlefield of these metal giants. With your phone in one hand, you ran towards where the discarded bike was. Once you picked it up, you were enveloped by a shadow. Looking up, you saw the dump truck robot in the air, and heading towards your direction.
You scream in terror as it fell on you. Jun shouted your name. Once the dust cleared, he ran over as he saw you trying to crawl out from underneath.
Hearing the call, Blue Cop looked over to see an adult human woman being pulled out from under Mega Trucker by a human child. "Two humans...?"
Mega Trucker got up as you were fully pulled out. Jun released a breath he didn't know he was holding, relief that you were okay. He looked over to where his BMX was, and your phone
"Ugh! This isn't over!" Mega Trucker swore, transforming back into his vehicle form and driving away, running over the bike and your cellular device. You yelp seeing the destruction of you and your brother's things. "Stop right there!" Blue Cop shouted before transforming as well, chasing after the orange dump truck once more.
Meanwhile, Jun crawled over to the remains of his precious bike, weeping. "What have you done to my bike!!" He cried. You walked over, giving him a comforting pat on his shoulder as a way to console him. He loved his BMX very much, so you know how much this destroyed him.
You couldn't say much about your phone, dying on the inside. That was your second phone of the year, having lost your phone early on this year. This was going to cost you a lot of money to get a new one and upload everything from your old one. You glanced over the crushed device, seeing bits and pieces of the hardware scattered everywhere, especially the CPU and crumpled memory card. If it's possible, you thought negatively, knowing that precious photos and memories are long gone now.
A glint of light appeared in the corner of your vision. Turning your head there was something on the ground. Walking over, it was some sort of wristwatch???
It wasn't like any sort of wristwatch I've seen before. The crystal of the watch was an emerald-green, the bezel was yellow with black and red parts, below that was a bright cerulean square, and the band was a dark brown- it looked more like a kid's watch more than anything. But, how did it get there in the first place? It wasn't there before the giant robots got there. It probably came from one of them.
You paused your writing, glancing down into your bag, seeing a small bit of the watch peeking out from the bottom of it. You shook your head, going back to writing in your journal.
Once can only imagine what they were doing with something that's a kid's toy. I've been asking all over town, and to customers that came to the restaurant, if they know this watch. None of them recognized it. Even old man, Bernie, a watchmaker who is knows all about the production of kid toys because of his oldest grandson working in a toy factory, and even he and his grandson were unfamiliar with the thing. Perhaps, it's not really a kid's toy but something that came from the same place as them. This has me second guessing carrying this thing around. For all I know, it could be a bomb or something. Fortunately, this could make a great story for Mowtown Times, I've been meaning to write something. I'll need to find further evidence to give, because a wristwatch isn't adequate enough, especially when I don't know how it works.
You closed the book, putting it and the pen back in your bag. With a groan, you stretched, feeling a satisfying series of pops in your spine. You looked up at the clock- Oh, crap! School's almost over for Jun! You gathered up your messenger bag and headed towards the door. "I'm leaving to get Jun!" You informed, waving goodbye to your mom as she cleaned up the table the couple were sitting at. "Bye, see you two back at the house!" She waved back before you opened the door and ran out.
About a week ago, there have been reports of children getting kidnapped by an ambulance covered in black soot. Worried about your little brother getting kidnapped, your parents had you walk him to and from school.
When you got there, you see Jun talking with his best friend, Theo. He's a sweet and smart kid; you even consider him another little brother to you.
When they saw you, they both ran over. "Is it true that you two saw a robot?" Theo asks. "Yeah. I plan to do a report about it." You informed. "We would like to help! Justice for my BMX!!" Jun cried. You chuckled, petting his head. "Sure, little helpers."
You three were walking towards Edo Motors, the scene of the crime. "Security cameras?" Jun questions. "If what you both said did happen, something must have been caught on video!" Theo explained. "Exactly! I'm just hoping that he finished setting them all up after those pranksters vandalized the place." You state. About a month ago, two of Jun's classmates, Barnes and Ravi, and managed to get in and spray painted all over the walls. He couldn't press charges because there was no recorded evidence that it was actually them.
When you three finally reached the repair shop, the entrance was blocked off by police tape. Right at the front, you can see Edo talking with a police officer to take his statement. "Yeah, so when I got here this morning, I saw-" "EDO!!" You called out as Jun waved at him. He quickly ran over and, the next thing you know, you both were enveloped in a veery tight hug, lifting you both off the ground. "You're safe and sound!" He exclaimed in relief. "E-Edo! We can't breathe!" Jun tried to shout.
Fortunately, he listened and set you both down, tears falling down his face. "I mean I was worried, you know? When I got here, everything was a mess! I saw you bike and phone and thought something happened to you both!" He cried. A nervous chuckle came from you before you pat him on the shoulder to comfort him. "Apologies, Edo... You good?" He stood up straight, sniffling. "Alright, I'm good now." He took out a napkin and blew into it.
"Seems like it's all good. We'll be off, then." The main police officer informed. "Thanks for coming!" Edo shouted back.
Once they were gone, Edo finally calmed down. "Tell me, what brings you guys here?" He asks. "Right. We need to see the security footage," you informed, taking out your work notepad and pencil from your messenger.
Edo was left confused but didn't question it. You've been needing to get a scoop for your weekend job, but you want to do it about what happened? Well, who is he to say no...
Taking you three to his office, he sat at his desk and pulled up the footage, you three looking over his shoulders to get a good look. "Hold on, rewind." You requested. The screen went back, spotting to where the orange dump truck was on the street and drove through the chain link fence. But, something was wrong. The police car tailing after it wasn't even shown. "Wha-... Bu-... But, how???" You asked aloud. "It's all covered up..." Jun said, defeatedly. "Yeah, didn't even get the license plate." Edo hummed.
"If we only had the license plate for the police car-" "What would you do with that?" Edo asked Theo, "Would you go the police station and ask, is there a car here that transforms into a robot?"
"I knew it! You don't believe us either!" Jun accused. "Who would believe that story...?" Edo retorted. Theo hummed, "if only there was some other clue..."
"Well," you started as you walked over to the coffee table, "I did find this in the aftermath." Digging through your bag, you placed down the wristwatch. They all walked over, kneeling down next to the table to get a good look at it. "Did the robots leave that behind?" Theo asks curiously. "It could be." Jun said.
"I think it could be something you could buy in any shop." Edo commented. "That's the thing, though. I asked all over if they recognized this model. Toy builder, watch makers, anybody, and they don't have the slightest clue." You informed. Edo reached forward to pick it up, just to get a better observation. Except... it would it budge.
Edo pulled it again. remained in the same spot. He tried once more with more force, didn't move a single bit. This surprised all of you as Edo tried once more with all his might, but it was like it was superglued down to the table.
You sigh in annoyance. "Okay, Edo, it's not funny. Stop fooling around!" You grumbled. "Agh, no! I really can't lift it! It really won't come off at all!" Edo exclaimed, trying once more, but his fingers slipped from the object, panting in exhaustion.
"I'll give it a go, then." Theo spoke, grabbing and pulled. It didn't move. He tried once more but let go when he go tired. "I can't move it at all, not an inch!"
"Here, let us both try, Theo." Jun suggested, reaching for the watch. "Alright," Theo sighed, reaching for it again. Even with their combined strength, it didn't move. "Okay, okay, okay-" You spoke up, shooing their hands away. "Something's definitely up. I can pick it up just fine." You reached forward and picked it up with ease. "See?"
The others stared in shock. "What's going on?!" Theo questioned. You glanced between them quizzically. "Uhh, that's what I should be asking..."
Afterwards, you three exited. "Let's look for a place where a dump truck might be parked." Jun suggested. Edo leaned against his door frame, "you guys never give up, do you?" He asks. "I bet Jun's only doing this to impress Anna," Theo spoke, nudging his best friend, "aren't you?" You snickered, seeing your litter brother's face turn red with blush. "Nah, not at all, Theo!" Jun protested.
You reclined against your brother, elbow on the top of his head to support yourself. "Jun and Anna, sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G-" "STOP!" Jun whined in embarrassment, pushing you away and running down the stairs, leaving your laughing self and his friend behind.
Once you calmed down, you waved goodbye to Edo as you and Theo walked down and made your way to the exit. "I'll be back soon!" Edo cupped a hand around his mouth to holler. "Please tell me you'll throw away that strange watch, will you?" You glanced down at your bag, where it was located. Maybe you should and put this behind you. After all, what's the chance that you'll see those giant robots again? You exhaled, turning to Edo once you reached the bottom of the stairs. "Yeah, I will!"
From far away, no one noticed the Lamborghini police car watching from afar.
For the rest of the day, you three looked all over town, for that dump truck. You checked various construction and excavation sites, the shipping dock, and anywhere else that would have a dump truck only to turn up empty handed.
"Ugh... guess it wouldn't be easy to find, right?" Jun grumbled. "It might not even be in this town anymore..." Theo suggested. You sigh, leaning back to pop your spine. "Probably," you groaned. "Hey, Jun, can you hold this?" You requested, handing him your messenger bag. "I need to use the restroom real quick. Be right back!" You walked into the building you passed up.
Once you were done and left the establishment, you turned to see Jun getting chased by two of his classmates. "Jun!" You called, chasing after them.
They were already far away when you spotted them, and lost track of them. You basically had to guess where they went. Luckily, your intuition was correct. When you found them, they were on a bridge. One kid, that you recognized as Ravi, was holding Jun back as his buddy, Barnes, was dumping the contents of a bag into the canal.
"Hey! Stop it! Let go of my brother!" You shouted, pushing Ravi away. Turning to where Barnes was, you see that the bag he had was your messenger bag. You had important things in that bag such as stuff for work, including the evidence of those giant robots that was the only thing left dangling from the bag. "I said stop!" You exclaimed, pushing the terrible child away, reaching for the strange watch.
The moment it made contact with your outstretched hand, it glowed brightly to the point of almost blinding. Soon the glow shrank but was still bright. Jun came over as it enveloped around your left wrist (right wrist if your left hand is your dominant hand). "What the heck...?" You muttered. Thoughts were ringing loudly in your head, filled with questions and worries, ignoring the outside world.
You snapped out of it when a familiar sound echoed from below. Police sirens. Looking away from the watch you see a police car. A Lamborghini police car with eyes projected on the windshield. It's... the robot from this morning!
It transformed and jumped over the bridge. His shadow loomed over you all as he got higher and higher- and you two made eye contact. It had a lovely magenta visor, showing his eyes to be a very light pink. Before you know it, the robot grabbed you and Jun as it took you with it over the other side of the bridge, transforming back into it's vehicle mode and driving away.
You were frozen in shock, like a statue, as Jun was panicking and screaming. You snapped out of your haze when the transforming robot started to sporadically move around, making you both squish against the windows with each swerve. The first thought that made it through your head was a, very reasonable, question that you spoke aloud.
"How is this happening?!" Everything was so strange, the dash has various flashing lights, and buttons, and other signs that you don't understand.
"Let me introduce myself." A voice spoke, eyes appearing on the windshield again. You both quieted down, a feeling of unease in the two of you. "I am Blue Cop, from planet Machina." The thing, Blue Cop introduced. So, we're inside and alien?! And Jun seems to share the same thought. "Does this mean we are actually inside a robot?! Seriously?!" Coming to the realization, he started screaming.
"HELP!! WE'VE BEEN EATEN BY A ROBOT!!" He yells, thrashing about. "Huh? Calm down!" Blue Cop said, trying to calm the child down. "Get us out before we're digested!" With his erratic movements, you almost got hit.
"Digested?" The robot muttered in confusion. "Hang on, pleased don't push us down! Send us back up!" Jun pleased. At first you were afraid, even petrified, but now you were irritated by your brother getting all up in your personal space with his anxieties. It didn't help that you were starting to develop a migraine. So, you grabbed his arms, "Jun, calm down! Please!" You stressed.
"I am a mechanical lifeform. I don't digest anything." Blue Cop pointed out. A wave of relief washing over you all. Thank goodness, you thought, relaxing in your seat.
"It's going to get a little bumpy." Spoke too soon.
He drove up the stairs of the canal, shaking you both inside, breaking the gate at the top of the steps in the process.
It was now late afternoon with a beautiful dusk, sun setting over the horizon of tall buildings. Blue Cop drove around town, telling you both his story. "My home, Machina planet, was completely annihilated by a giant explosion."
Annihilated? As in... destroyed? His home is gone?
"Since I came to this planet, I have been disguising myself as a car to avoid alarming the natives. As you say, a tree is best hidden in a forest. "So, a car in a city? That does make sense..." You say. "I have to live on planet Earth now. So I am trying to learn as much about this planet as quickly as I can." He adds as he enters an empty parking lot, parking in a designated spot, allowing you both to exit.
"Well, at least you know the rules of the road." You said, observing were he parked. He was inside the lines, and perfectly straight. It was such a great job!
"I like this planet very much. However, there are some of my kind who have not adjusted to life here." He says in a sad tone. "You mean, like that dump truck from this morning?" Jun asks. "He's not the only one," Blue Cop states.
"There are more Metal Cardbots hiding on planet Earth right now. I only wish to help them, so that they do not cause any harm to the natives of this planet. If I don't succeed-" "Hang on a second!" Jun exclaimed, interrupting him. "Why are you telling us all this now?!"
Blue Cop glances over towards you, specifically to what's on your wrist. "Because, it looks like the Metal Breath chose your adult companion." You brought up the thing on your wrist, curiously looking at it. So, this thing is important? And it chose you? "Metal Breath?" You repeated in confusion, staring into your reflection of the green crystal. Out of all things, why breath???
"The Metal Breath can only be possessed by the chosen one. The one who holds the Metal Breath will become the king or queen, the ruler, of all Metal Cardbots." He explained. Your eyes widened, turning to the police vehicle. "Excuse me...?" You muttered in shock. You're just a waitress and cook at your family's restaurant, and a journalist. Now, you're supposed to be in charge of some alien species from a distant star??? "Uh, pardon my mistake. I mean... the boss? The master?" That doesn't make it any better?!? "So, you mean... someone important?" Jun asks. You're not helping!! "Yes sir! That's correct."
Your eye twitched before tossing your head into your hands, shaking. "I never asked for this! I had other things to worry about, but now this?!" You exclaimed, groaning in nervousness and frustration. "Please, ma'am. This is of the upmost importance." Blue Cop pleaded.
You lifted your head up, glancing at the car before turning your attention to your brother, who gave you two thumbs up and a big, excited smile, nodding his head. Tired, you let out a sigh of defeat, "Alright, I guess I'll give this whole thing a try."
"On one condition, though!" You quickly added. "Yes, ma'am?" Blue Cop responded. "Don't call me ma'am, please. It makes me feel older than I already am, and this new stress isn't going to be of any help." You said, muttering the last part under your breath, before giving him your name and your brother's. "Yes," he confirms, saying your name with a chuckle. Finally, some hope for his race- "And one more thing!" Jun spoke up, holding up the screen of his phone in Blue Cop's vision.
"My BMX that your friend crushed! I'll need to be compensated for that! And my sister's phone- don't you know how expensive they are nowadays?!"
Startling Blue Cop, he backs up, bumping into the tree behind him. You laugh at the scene in front of you. Hearing your laughter made the police car blush in embarrassment.
Maybe this won't be so bad after all?