Transformers: Leader's Proof - Fragile, but Hard to Kill

Chapter 227 Sky Cannon (bushi)

A complex expression of pity and sorrow appeared on Sideswipe's face, just like when Optimus Prime looked at those Decepticon minions who were forced to charge at the Autobots despite not wanting to die.

They are a group of miners, without shapeshifting abilities or combat capabilities. All they can do is serve as lowly soldiers for gathering resources, and they are oppressed soldiers at the bottom of the Decepticon hierarchy.

But they were unwilling to join the Autobots and leave the Decepticons who oppressed them, or rather, they dared not.

Megatron will tell them how serious the consequences of betraying him are. From the initial belief that Megatron could truly usher in a new era for Cybertron, problems gradually arise and he becomes increasingly brutal.

From initially resisting and questioning, then being brutally murdered, to the remaining soldiers no longer daring to have any thoughts of resistance, and finally becoming completely numb and obedient to Megatron's orders.

Pity, complex—

That's how Optimus Prime looked at them back then, and Sideswipe looks at the Decepticons who are long dead now with the same eyes.

They weren't innocent; those brought here must have committed some offense. But... such a brutal massacre... isn't that also...?

Sideswipe just hoped that the mini-Gorilla could escape, but he still had a bad feeling. He thought of the feeling of being watched back then.

"Sidewalker, what... what's with that expression?" Iron Fist looked at Sidewalker with a mixture of confusion and shock. It was too, too strange. She couldn't be mistaken, could she? Had Sidewalker been possessed by the ghost inside?!

Iron Fist hurriedly went up and frantically shook Horizontal Cannon, but Horizontal Cannon stopped him, and his brain module almost got mixed up.

"Sidewalker, how did you do that?!" Bumblebee was still hugging Rosa from behind, but he was too shocked to put his head on Rosa's shoulder anymore.

He really wanted Sideswipe to teach him how to give that look, like Optimus Prime, with that deep, profound feeling.

“I…I just…thought about those vanished Decepticons…” Sideswipe hesitated, his optical eyes unconsciously glancing to the side, but Optimus Prime admired Sideswipe’s awareness.

"That... is true." Bumblebee's expression was somewhat complicated as he thought of the Decepticons who had disappeared without a trace.

"It seems our scouts still have a lot to learn..." Optimus Prime looked at Bumblebee and, like Sideswipe, showed a slightly worried expression, though not with the same depth of feeling.

"Kids...keep this awareness and mindset in mind." Optimus Prime smiled as he looked at the two kids. Bumblebee was completely stunned and doubted his own existence. He seemed to have never imagined that even he, a machine that had survived the great war, had not achieved such a mindset, while Sideswipe had.

He didn't quite understand, and even wondered if it was because of some different experience that led to the different level of enlightenment, to the point that he began to doubt the existence of life.

Rosa knew the reason, of course, so she just chuckled and raised her hand, even though the other person was taller than her and basically hugged her from behind.

She raised her hands high and then gently stroked and comforted the bumblebee on either side of its mask.

This movement, due to its slight stretching, will make the abdominal lines more prominent, and it's also similar to a cat showing its belly on the ground.

By exposing her weak spot in the abdomen, she was also showing goodwill, which Bumblebee naturally felt even more strongly as he hugged her waist.

While comforting her, she was also being affectionate, but she couldn't be too direct in front of so many people.

And such actions also...

As Bumblebee tightened his grip on Rosa's waist, he also moved her further into the boat, trying his best not to step on or trip her feet.

After walking further into the small boat, they turned their backs to the aircraft behind them, blocking the view behind them while holding Rosa and looking at the distant coastline.

Rosa, somewhat puzzled, held onto Bumblebee's hand that was wrapped around her waist, and then, with her back to him, Bumblebee began to rub her head against her head frantically.

Rosa smiled and nuzzled against him back, their bodies pressed together...

The other planes below didn't disturb the young couple. The ambulance driver saw Bumblebee leading Rosa into the small boat and sighed with a helpless smile.

The two children who were in the base back then have both grown up.

The other machines were curiously asking Sideswipe how he did it, but Sideswipe wasn't in the mood to seriously respond to them because he had received a message from an insider.

Upon seeing this message, Hengpao's immediate reaction was one of lingering fear.

So the feeling of being stared at was correct; it was Rosa!

She... she really... took care of that Decepticon?

Before he knew it, Sideswipe remembered the gratitude the miniature gorilla had shown before leaving, and those were its last words—that he had failed to save it, to snatch a life from a monster.

Even if that life may not be innocent, even if he may not be able to change things immediately, even if he may not have deserved to die.

But... he needs to live too, right?

Sideswipe's feelings were particularly complicated. He didn't know how to explain it and could only attribute it all to his worry about the Decepticons who had "vanished into thin air."

God... why did I make eye contact with her in the first place? Why did I add to my guilt? And why am I showing this expression now?

"I never imagined that you would reach such a high level of awareness one day." The voice outside continued, and Drift bowed slightly to Decepticon Island, expressing his respect for the vanished Decepticons.

In their view, it was either caused by a mysterious force or by human intervention, but either way, these Decepticons were likely in grave danger.

"Hmm, ah? Oh...yeah..." Sideswipe was clearly not paying attention to these words. His brain module was in a state of guilt and numbness, but at the same time, he was also a little scared.

He was both afraid of being killed by Rosa and reassured that she probably wouldn't harm the Autobots. This contradiction, coupled with feelings of guilt towards the Decepticon who had died, lingered deep within his embers.

The desire to live triumphed over everything.

Eventually, the small boat carrying the Autobots sailed out of the prison ship's range, leaving behind the original prison guards, Optimus Prime, Ratchet, and Windblade.

Blackface and the other Autobots chose to remain in the junkyard, partly to continue the capture operation, and partly to allow Rosa to continue the construction of the Space Bridge for future handover.

On the way, even while sitting on the boat, Bumblebee held Rosa's hand tightly and wouldn't let go, so Rosa had no choice but to let him continue holding her hand.

She was thinking about how to proceed with the next space bridge project.