Transformers: Honor and Loyalty

Chapter 3: Meeting the Sasakis

[Earth]

[Tokyo, Japan]

Kenji Sasaki had never been one for parties, but as the local construction tycoon, there was only so much he could do to avoid them.

His wife left him for a coworker nearly ten years ago, never to be heard from again, leaving him to raise their young daughter, Etsuko, by himself. Kenji had been forced to pick himself up, do the best he can, and provide for his daughter.

He had done well in the company, rising to become the CEO, which surprised him.

Now, Etsuko was nearly through with high school. Just a few more semesters and she would be ready for college, where she would study business so she could one day inherit his company. And, as the heir to his company, she sometimes accompanied him to parties, if Kenji felt it safe enough.

They always took a cab or bus, since sake was borderline a weakness of Kenji's (not that he indulged often outside of parties; but when he did, it got to the point where he was unable to drive but remained coherent).

Tonight was one such night. He'd had a few glasses of sake and smiles as Etsuko walks over to him.

He lets her side-hug him briefly. "Is everything alright?" He asks, seeing the subtle signs that Etsuko is uncomfortable.

"Otōsan, you know I do not enjoy these parties. May...may we go?" She asks softly, not wanting to make a scene.

Kenji holds in a small sigh. He'd planned on staying a little longer, but he couldn't ignore his daughter. She was his everything.

So, he nods. "We will farewell the host and leave." He replies. He never blamed Etsuko for wanting to leave and never made it seem like leaving was his idea.

He'd never expected to become a CEO, much less so fast, but here he is. To be frank, the pressures he faces are why he drinks sometimes.

After giving a polite thanks and farewell to the host, Kenji and Etsuko leave the venue arm in arm.

The father and daughter are walking toward the nearest bus station when out of nowhere a group of thugs grab their arms and yank them down an alley, cornering them and demanding money.

Kenji figures he can take them, even if he and Etsuko are outnumbered. Etsuko had not taken as many self-defense classes as he had, but she knew enough to at least get away.

No one sees the strange car pull up to the head of the alley.

That car would change Kenji and Etsuko's lives forever, but they didn't know it yet.

[Half an hour earlier]

Crash!

Deadlock jolts out of stasis, the pod vibrating and the horrid sound of crunching and scraping metal filling his ears.

When the pod settles, Deadlock sits up and shifts to look out of the viewport.

He finds he has arrived on Earth, not far from a populated area, judging by the structures on the horizon that he could see through the small pane of the viewport.

The pod had crashed into the base of a large hill, it seems, perfect for looking around and getting his bearings.

He opens the hatch and steps out, feeling sluggish and worn down as his systems come back online.

This is an organic planet, Deadlock realizes, a new experience for him, who had never left Cybertron. He found himself quite enjoying the feeling of the soft green...things covering the ground.