The Great Attractor: A Transformers/Mass Effect crossover

Chapter 11: Party at the Normandy

There was no time for Megatron to recover fully as the Lost Light landed on the outskirts of Chiang Rai. Not only did they have an alien invasion underway but the Autobots themselves seemed to be losing ground. That made everything even more important than ever before—the humans still didn't seem like much compared to what Earth might need if Cybertronian civilization collapsed forever or started spinning off into its endless fractals again. The situation looked hopeless. Yet here we are sitting together trying to hold on. Of all things, friendship and love has given us some solace amid these terrible circumstances, he thought. Not just Orion, but Ultra Magnus and Rodimus were there for him - it was oddly comforting for someone like Megatron who liked to think they never needed anyone else - not that it wasn't usually true.

Orion held Megatron close as they walked down the deserted streets of their new home—in no rush now that there was nowhere left to run: Earth had been pacified by Decepticons, leaving behind only small pockets scattered like leaves blowing away after autumn has passed... But even so, Orion knew well enough how much Megatron wanted nothing more than peace from conflict itself. And he wanted that feeling again. He wouldn't get bored or jaded over thousands upon millions of eternities.

The abandoned Cerberus base near the border of Myanmar offered the crews of the Lost Light and the Normandy an opportunity to search for stolen or reverse engineered Cybertronian technology - something Orion and Megatron took as a very personal necessity now as they explored the facilities with Wheeljack, Perceptor, Bumblebee and Miranda Lawson.

Megatron observed the heaps and piles of dead metal in the Cerberus hangar. Then something caught his optic - disassembled parts that looked more extraterrestrial than of manmade origin. "Orion, have a look at this. These were Vehicons from my private army."

"Be cautious", Miranda advised the Cybertronians. "This place was used to research human-Cybertronian user interfaces which enable humans to use their minds to control robots. Cerberus experimented with the Geth as well. Sadly to say for you guys, but based on my files Cerberus had more success with your kind in that regard." 

The Cybertronians looked horrified. Bumblebee turned to Wheeljack. "Isn't that what M.E.C.H. did?" he wailed. "Are humans going to abduct us and probe our afts?"

"Ahem", Megatron said. "Been there, done that. And then I'm asked why I'm not a big fan of organics." The ex-Decepticon slouched, and the other Cybertronians stared at him even more terrified.

"Is that what Professor Sumdac did to you?" Bumblebee screamed in horror. Megatron looked like he was about to explain, but Orion gave him a warning glare.

"We do not talk about such deeds in front of children", Orion stated with narrowed optics. "It's time we went and figured out how to use all this scrap metal that's laying around." He realized Miranda was watching him intently again, and this time turned to the woman questioningly.

"Yes, Miss Lawson?"

"It's about the meeting Garrus invited you to on the Normandy", Miranda said without looking directly at him and shifting her foot. "It's urgent. We need you aboard as soon as possible."

"I see, it's about the surveillance intel from Dr. Liara T'Soni? I will be on my way." Orion gave an apologetic look at Megatron who continued inspecting the inactive Vehicon parts meticulously. "Wheeljack, Percy. Your assistance is required." Orion waved a servo, and all three Autobots marched back to the Lost Light. Since the crew normally used the holomatter converter just for fun, Orion using it for work and business aroused much curiosity among them as they watched the device print Orion's extended consciousness in humanoid form, not far from how EDI from the Normandy used her own android form while simultaneously operating the ship itself.