Chapter 48
Lockdown's phase-disruption cannon detonated with a thunderous roar. A blinding energy beam shot out instantly, slamming squarely into Yang Jian's chest.
Then it scattered like water droplets hitting a steel plate.
Yang Jian didn't even twitch the hem of his clothes.
Lockdown's single optic flickered madly; his mechanical jaw nearly dropped to the floor: "Impossible! Even Optimus Prime couldn't tank that shot!"
Yang Jian brushed off nonexistent dust. Red light flared in his pupils: "Now—who am I?"
Lockdown's mechanical joints creaked. He staggered back two steps, then dropped to one knee: "My god?"
"Good."
Yang Jian raised a hand and sliced open a portal. On the other side was the brilliant starry void.
"One more time: submit, or destruction?"
Lockdown's gaze swept over the battle-ready Optimus Prime behind Yang Jian, then flicked to the three mechanical dinosaurs baring their teeth. Steam hissed from his throat vents.
"I choose to live."
Mikaela burst out laughing: "That was fast."
Yang Jian turned toward the starfield portal—only to be tugged back by the sleeve by Mikaela: "Wait! That's outer space!"
"Don't worry."
Yang Jian's bio-field wrapped around her: "Hold on tight."
The moment his boots stepped into vacuum, everyone held their breath.
No spacesuit. No oxygen mask. Yang Jian's black hair still floated freely in absolute zero—as if the laws of the universe simply didn't apply to him.
"This violates physics." Ratchet's scanner immediately crashed.
Optimus Prime's optics shrank: "He's warping local universal constants."
Yang Jian turned back and crooked a finger at the group: "Coming along?"
Ironhide's cannons visibly drooped: "You call this 'coming along'? We're not space creatures!"
"Trust me."
Golden light flared at Yang Jian's fingertips. The field rapidly expanded: "Now you are."
Optimus Prime took the first step. When his metal foot touched vacuum—
The expected freezing and cracking didn't happen. Joint lubricant didn't even solidify. "Incredible."
Bumblebee whooped and shot forward, tumbling gleefully in zero gravity.
Mikaela clung desperately to Yang Jian's waist—only daring to open her eyes once she realized she was actually breathing.
Stars spun beneath her feet. Earth hung overhead like a blue sapphire.
"My God." She pinched herself.
"I'm actually having a romance in space?"
"Hold tight."
Yang Jian suddenly wrapped an arm around her waist and shot toward another Transformer, trailed by a line of Autobots.
They leaped across crater rims, raced through the Sea of Tranquility, and finally stopped at the point where a star rose.
Mikaela pointed at the distant flickering Cybertron: "That's their homeworld?"
"Once was."
Yang Jian opened the final portal. On the other side lay a sun-drenched private beach.
"Now—welcome to my universe."
Golden sunlight poured across the private beach; gentle waves lapped at the shore.
As the portal closed, Yang Jian stepped onto the soft sand with Mikaela, Optimus Prime and the other Autobots, and the mechanical dinosaurs following behind.
Ironhide looked around; his armor gleamed in the sunlight: "It's quiet here. Good place to rest."
"This is my villa."
Yang Jian spread his arms with a smile: "Welcome to my domain."
Grimlock, Slug, and Swoop could no longer hold back.
With earth-shaking booms they charged toward the shallow sea area, massive mechanical bodies rolling in the surf and sending huge sprays of water flying.
Bumblebee excitedly transformed into car mode, doing several donuts on the beach while upbeat rock music blasted from his speakers.
Lockdown stood off to the side, single optic scanning the surroundings before finally settling on the luxurious villa in the distance.
"So you're just going to park a spaceship next to your villa?" Mikaela's eyes widened in disbelief as she took in the scene: "This is your home?!"
Yang Jian smiled and reached out to ruffle her hair: "Now it's yours too."
At that moment, a flash of scarlet energy appeared. Wanda's figure materialized instantly before the group.
When she saw Yang Jian, joy flickered in her eyes: "Yang—you're finally back."
Ratchet's scanner immediately blared: "This woman's energy readings are off the charts—another god?!"
Yang Jian opened his arms and gave Wanda a brief hug, then turned to introduce her to Mikaela: "This is Wanda—my family."
Mikaela took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, then extended her hand: "Hi, I'm Mikaela."
Wanda smiled gently and shook her hand: "Welcome."
Her gaze then shifted to Optimus Prime and the other mechanical beings. She raised an eyebrow: "So… these are?"
(Note: In this world, there are no Transformers. In the Transformers world, there are no Marvel comics.)
"Cybertronians. Mechanical lifeforms."
Yang Jian explained simply: "This is Optimus Prime—their leader."
Optimus Prime dipped his head slightly. His optics regarded Wanda warmly: "An honor to meet you."
Bumblebee scooted closer. His radio channels flipped rapidly before piecing together a sentence:
"Hello, pretty lady!"
Yang Jian laughed and patted Bumblebee's hood: "His vocal processor is broken—but I'll fix it."
Wanda nodded, looking at the alien mechanical beings with interest: "So… they're going to live on Earth now?"
"For the time being."
Yang Jian raised a hand. A golden portal opened on the beach—its other side connecting directly to the interior of S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters.
Coulson, Natasha, Clint, and Captain America were in the middle of a meeting.
They suddenly saw the portal open and immediately stood up alertly.
"Boss?"
Coulson stared in astonishment at the scene on the other side of the portal.
Beach. Villa. Giant robots. And a massive spaceship blotting out the sky.
"Time to introduce you to some new friends." Yang Jian beckoned them over.
The four exchanged glances, then cautiously stepped through the portal. When they set foot on the sand and came face-to-face with Optimus Prime and the other giants, Clint couldn't help but quip:
"Whoa… this beats Hydra by a mile."
Natasha crossed her arms, eyes sharp as she scanned Lockdown: "This one doesn't look particularly friendly."
Lockdown sneered: "If I wanted to invade Earth, you'd already be scrap."
Captain America stepped forward cautiously: "Boss—who are they?"
"Cybertronians. Mechanical lifeforms."
Yang Jian gave a brief introduction: "Optimus Prime and his team are willing to cooperate with Earth. Lockdown was originally a cosmic bounty hunter—but now they're all ours."
Coulson took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm: "So… we now have an alien mechanical strike force?"
"Pretty much."
Yang Jian shrugged: "They can transform, they're very strong—perfect for handling problems that conventional methods can't solve."
As soon as he finished speaking, Optimus Prime's body rapidly reconfigured with a dramatic mechanical sound.
In an instant, the ten-meter-tall mechanical giant became a red-and-blue Peterbilt 389 semi-truck.
"Whoa!"
Coulson's eyes lit up: "That's cooler than anything S.H.I.E.L.D. has in the garage!"
Bumblebee refused to be outdone. He transformed into a Chevrolet Camaro and cheekily flashed his headlights.
Mikaela excitedly patted the hood: "He plays his own music too!"
Optimus Prime swiftly shifted back into robot mode: "We are willing to assist humanity—as long as you can provide sanctuary."
Captain America thought for a moment, then looked at Coulson: "Does S.H.I.E.L.D. have a suitable place to house them?"
Coulson immediately pulled out his comms device: "I'll arrange it right now."
Mikaela stood off to the side, watching everything unfold. She couldn't help whispering to Yang Jian: "Is your life always this insane?"
Yang Jian smiled and pinched her hand gently: "You'll get used to it."
Wanda walked over, scarlet energy swirling at her fingertips.
"So… what's next?"
Yang Jian looked toward the distant horizon: "First, let them adjust to Earth—then turn them into proper warriors."
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