69novels Chapter 147 Aquitron, Days 6-3
Chapter 147 Aquitron, Days 6-3
The sixth day passed quietly, and by this day, many machines no longer actively questioned anything.
They were exhausted. Doubt required strength, rebuttal required evidence, and staying clear-headed required an even stronger will.
What Aquitron excels at is making every explanation seem plausible.
-
On the seventh day, Optimus Prime woke up in the Ark's rest cabin.
He briefly shut down external responses, trying to free the processor from the excessive data, arguments, and the quintessential avatar's voice.
He stared at the dark metal panel on the top of the rest cabin and felt that something was wrong.
It's not just the documents, a video, or a single sentence from the curator that reveals a flaw.
It was more like something had been taken from his memory.
He stood up, the light from the leadership module on his chest rising and falling quietly. At that moment, he wasn't even sure if he was being forced to lose his judgment by another kind of responsibility.
The light in the corridor of the Ark was dimmer than usual.
Bumblebee passed by from the other end and paused when he saw him: "Optimus Prime."
As if it wanted to say something, the bumblebee's wings on the car door twitched, then slowly drooped down.
"They will also be releasing new leads on the Spark today."
"I know."
Bumblebee nodded, then added softly, "Will you go?"
Optimus Prime looked at him, and Bumblebee's optics showed no hostility, only hesitation, exhaustion, and unease after being disturbed.
He didn't want to doubt Optimus Prime, but Arquitron gave him too many reasons to feel that doubting was also a form of responsibility.
Optimus Prime did not want to cause trouble because of this.
"I will go."
The bumblebee opened its mouth, as if relieved, yet also as if more upset: "Okay."
He turned and left, and Optimus Prime watched his retreating figure, his chest feeling heavy and tight.
He walked to the bridge and looked out the window. The sea at Aquitron was as still as a polished piece of blue metal. Soft light streamed from the city dome, the waves were steady, and the low-frequency radio broadcast, though its melody was indistinct, was always there.
Optimus Prime stopped in front of the window.
He suddenly remembered a pair of optical glasses.
Cyan blue, clear and bright, like a calm blade, cutting through the chaos, guilt, and those beautifully packaged lies layer by layer.
She once looked at him like that.
In Iron Fortress, the judicial center, at certain moments when he thought he had done his best.
What right do you have to make decisions for him without his consent!
The voice was clear and bright, as if it were rising from a spark.
Optimus Prime's hand unconsciously rested on the window.
Then, the name finally emerged from the fog.
"Capacitor vector..."
In an instant, the fog covering the processor was torn open with a thin slit.
Too many images remain chaotic, and many thoughts are consumed by Aquitron's data.
But one thing suddenly became clear.
Regardless of whether the Quintessons ever came into contact with Cybertron or possessed clues about the AllSpark, they have no right to judge them in the name of their creators, nor do they have the right to define the truth for Cybertron.
-
When Optimus Prime entered the bridge, the police cars were still verifying documents.
He looked at Optimus Prime, his eyes reflecting painful confusion and many unresolved doubts.
Optimus Prime said directly, "I'm going to the courtroom."
The police car stopped: "Now?"
Hornet, Hot Rod, and Sidewinder were also located at the edge of the bridge.
Hot Rod immediately frowned: "What are you going to do?"
"We demand that they release all original data, cease further separation and contact, and lift the restrictions on the Ark's departure."
Hengpao paused for a moment, then asked, "Are you sure you want to turn against them now?"
"We have been separated for too long."
Hot Rod's tone, though not malicious, was sharp: "But what about the AllSpark clues?"
"Clues should not be used as chains to bind us."
Bumblebee looked up at him, hesitation in his eyes: "But what if they really know where the AllSpark is?"
Optimus Prime's voice softened but remained firm: "Then they should be subject to verification even more."
A moment of silence fell over the bridge.
Alita walked out from the direction of the tactics room, looked at Optimus Prime, and guessed that he had finally caught something.
"I'll go with you."
Optimus Prime shook his head: "You stay here. The police need you to review the Ark's data, and Arcee needs someone to keep an eye on her."
Alita frowned.
Optimus Prime looked at her: "Please."
Alita stopped, and after a long pause, said, "If you don't reply within fifteen cycles, I will lead the team over."
-
The courtroom did not officially open on the seventh day.
But when Optimus Prime arrived, it was as if the curator already knew he would come.
He stood at the foot of the black staircase, with the hall half-submerged in the sea behind him. The shimmering water on the walls looked like many cold blue eyes.
"Optimus Prime," the curator said, bowing slightly, "you don't seem calm."
"I want to see the five-faced judge."
The curator didn't ask why: "Of course."
A shadow appeared above the judge's bench, and the five-faced judge slowly materialized, his five faces rotating before finally settling on the smiling one.
"The holder of the leadership module," it said, "you came with questions."
Optimus Prime stood in the center of the hall.
"Cease contact and separation between the crews of the Ark and the Nemesis."
The sly judge turned to him with a suspicious look: "Separation contact?"
"You used professional verification as a pretext to break down our data and present it to us separately, amplifying your distrust, and then demanded that we accept your conclusions in the name of the creators."
"We never asked you to accept this."
"You're just arranging for all machines to lead to the same answer."
The five-faced judge remained silent for a moment, then his sorrowful face slowly appeared: "When a creature first sees its creator, it always tries to deny it."
Optimus Prime's gaze darkened: "Don't call yourself that anymore."
A low murmur arose from the shark demon ranks in the hall, and a bailiff stepped forward.
The curator raised his hand to stop them.
The five-faced judge turned his angry face around: "You reject the origin."
"I reject uncensored divine authority."
"You are rejecting the truth."
"I demand complete evidence."
The face of death slowly appeared, and the light in the entire courtroom dimmed.
"Optimus Prime," the Quintesson Judge said, "you've been misled by the Leadership Module."
Optimus Prime did not back down; the accusation fell like a pre-written verdict.
As Optimus Prime listened, he became even more certain that they had been prepared all along.
-
The Ark quickly received a notification from Aquitron.
Optimus Prime is currently negotiating with the Quintesson judge in the courtroom.
The negotiations covered topics including clues about the source of the fire, the impact of the leadership module, and the dispute over the sealing of Ark data.
To avoid misjudgment, it is recommended that relevant members attend the hearing.
Bumblebee was the first to stand up, but Alita stopped him: "Wait."
"We can't leave him there alone."
Hot Rod whispered, "Perhaps we really should hear his explanation."
Alita looked at him, but Hot Rod avoided her gaze.
"I don't like this," Hengpao said irritably.
The police car turned off its data screen, and a deep voice said, "I don't like it either."
But they still went.
Not going would be seen as an avoidance, so Aquitron successfully led them to the courtroom on their own.
-
When they arrived, Optimus Prime was standing in the center of the courtroom.
The five-faced judge sat high on the bench, with the curator standing to his side. The bailiff, prosecutor, eccentric, and shark spirit each stood in their respective positions.
The five-faced judge turned his smiling face toward them.
Hot Rod looked up at Optimus Prime, then at the judge's bench: "We want to know what happened."
"Very good," the curator said gently. "True understanding should always occur in front of all witnesses."
Optimus Prime looked at them: "Don't listen to their one-sided conclusions."
Hengpao frowned: "Then give us your conclusion."
I have no conclusion.
"Then what gives you the right to demand that we leave immediately?"
"Because this is affecting us."
Hot Rod retorted, "Where's the evidence?"
Optimus Prime froze.
Bumblebee immediately shouted, "Hot Explosion!"
"Isn't that right?" Hot Rod finally couldn't hold back. "We've seen too much! Optimus Prime says something's wrong here, but he can't give us any solid evidence."
"So you believe them?" Hengpao retorted.
"I didn't say I believe it!"
Hot Rod looked at Optimus Prime: "I just... don't know which side to believe anymore."
The courtroom fell silent.
The five-faced judge sighed softly, his face etched with sorrow.
How heartbreaking.
"The Creator does not want to see his creations doubting one another."
The curator chimed in softly from the side, "Optimus Prime, we understand your fear. Many civilizations instinctively resist when they first encounter the Origins."
"This is not fear—"
"What is that?" the curator interrupted. "If it wasn't fear, why were you in such a hurry to take them away? Why did you refuse to continue the verification? Why wouldn't you let your companions make their own judgment?"
Every sentence sounded like a question, or a verdict.
Alita finally spoke: "He did not refuse to verify."
The curator looked at her: "But he demanded a halt to contact, and he had no evidence."
Alita was momentarily speechless.
Arcee stood to the side, not saying a word from beginning to end, as she recalled too many exhausting moments.
The five faces of the five-faced judge began to rotate.
Smile, anger, doubt, sorrow, death.
Finally, the face of death stopped at the very front.
"Optimus Prime".
Its voice echoed in the courtroom.
"You reject the creator."
"You are trying to prevent the descendants of Cybertron from accessing the truth."
"You use leadership modules to establish your authority, but you are unwilling to accept the more ancient scrutiny."
"You brought war to Aquitron and are trying to lead your followers away from the evidence."
"You are guilty."
The bumblebee suddenly looked up: "Wait!"
Hot Rod was also stunned, not expecting it to suddenly draw a conclusion.
Optimus Prime didn't look away: "You're not qualified to judge."
The five-faced judge's smiling face reappeared.
"Then, we will give you the opportunity for a qualification review."
The curator took a step forward.
"The court will officially open seven local days later."
"Aquitron will hold a public trial for Optimus Prime's crimes."
"Optimus Prime shall not leave this planet until the trial concludes."
As the bailiffs approached, Bumblebee instinctively tried to rush forward, but was pulled back by Sideswipe.
"What are you doing?" Bumblebee asked urgently.
Hengpao didn't answer, because he himself didn't know.
As the bailiffs approached, the police car finally said, "This is unlawful detention."
The curator looked at him: "This is a pre-trial travel restriction."
"You have no jurisdiction."
"If the Quintessons are the creators of Cybertron, then they have the right to examine the origins."
"This premise has not yet been established."
The curator responded calmly: "That's why a trial is needed."
Optimus Prime raised his hand, stopping the Autobots from moving forward.
He looked at Bumblebee, whose optical view showed a scene of panic.
"Don't be impulsive," Optimus Prime said.
The bailiffs stood on either side of him, using a cold white restraint area to block his movement.
As Optimus Prime was being led away from the courtroom, he turned around and saw his companions standing there.
The bumblebee finally lifted its foot, but then stopped.
Hot Rod clenched his fists, his face showing bewilderment.
Hengpao's expression was so ugly it looked like he wanted to draw his sword but didn't know who to chop.
The police car silently recorded every step of the process.
Alita was about to step forward, but ultimately her reason held her firmly in place.
Arcy stood at the farthest point, her expression as somber as a dark cloud reflected in her optical glasses.
The sound of waves crashing in Aquitron could be heard from behind the walls of the courtroom.
Optimus Prime closed the optical mirror.
"Attraction vector".
He never forgot that name.
-
From the eighth to the twelfth day, no significant changes occurred in Aquitron.
The Ark and the Retribution were like birds with broken wings, forced to remain in the port areas on either side.
Optimus Prime is confined to a separate area on the lower level of the courtroom, with its own power supply, and is also allowed to submit his defense.
However, Bumblebee's several requests to visit her were postponed on the grounds of "avoiding mutual influence of testimonies before trial".
Hot Rod looked at the reply and, unusually, remained silent.
Hengpao asked him, "Do you still think this is normal?"
Hotpo looked completely bewildered.
Alita took over temporary command of the Ark. Her orders were clear and her actions were stable, but she spoke less and less and spent more and more time alone.
Arcee would sometimes stand in front of the observation window on the side of the Ark, looking in the direction of the courtroom, and stand there for a long time.
Something's not right inside the Retribution Ship either.
Megatron frequently ventured into the depths of the Energy Harbor.
Red Spider made sarcastic remarks about this three times, but on the fourth time, it was silently glanced at by the sound wave's display screen and temporarily shut up.
The data processing latency for the sound waves continued to rise. He sealed all anomalies related to memory retrieval separately, but Aquitron's data kept flooding in like a tireless tide.
Knockdowns and roadblocks reduced the number of times ships had to disembark.
Before the end of the twelfth day, Aquitron sent a new invitation to the Retribution.
[High-level load-bearing core physical object on display.]
[This applies only to Megatron himself.]
A line flashed briefly on the sound wave display screen.
[Risk Level: Increased.]
Megatron looked at the invitation, his red optical mirror remaining expressionless: "I'll go."
Red Spider chuckled: "Of course you'll go. They've practically wiped the chairs clean and are waiting for you to sit down."
Megatron glanced at him, and Starscream immediately shut up, his expression full of dissatisfaction, though his machine remained obediently quiet.
-
On the thirteenth day, Megatron entered the deepest part of the Aquitron Energy Harbor.
The curator stood in front of the central platform. Only a few bailiffs and two rows of shark spirits surrounded the platform, as if indicative of trust.
"You guys have some nerve," Megatron said.
The curator remained calm: "We believe you will cherish what you are about to see."
The central platform unfolds, several locks unlock one by one, and the dark protective shield peels away layer by layer, revealing the core inside.
The thing was suspended in mid-air.
It does indeed resemble a leadership module. It has wing-like structures on both sides, a dark purple core at the center, and light condensing into a slowly rotating vortex inside, with faint cold golden lines shimmering at the edges.
Compared to the leadership module, it is more like a power organ that has been forcibly made into the shape of a sacred object.
Beautiful, dangerous, with a fabricated air of authority.
The curator said, "The old leadership module chose Optimus Prime."
He turned to Megatron: "And this one will choose you."
The sharks surrounding the platform simultaneously lowered their heads, their dark purple cores flashing for a moment in response, as if in a pre-arranged performance.
Megatron sneered, "You think I'd be swayed by such a trick?"
"No," the curator said, "we'll give you the facts."
The documents clearly demonstrate the command chain of the Shark Spirit Legion, the group control system of the Quintesson ancient colonial fleet, and a carefully packaged "New Cybertronian Order Model".
Mining areas, arenas, legions, administrative systems, energy allocation, post-war reconstruction.
Everything was just as Megatron had desired.
The curator said, "We will not ask you to submit."
"We just want you to acknowledge that the Quintessons have the right to examine Cybertron's ancient origins."
Megatron chuckled, revealing his shark teeth as if chewing on a dirty metal plate.
"The right of censorship."
"And," the curator continued, "the Quintessons will be allowed to provide guidance in the future reconstruction of Cybertron."
Megatron raised an eyebrow: "You want to go back to Cybertron."
"We want to correct the misunderstanding."
Megatron stared at the dark core. He could understand the meaning behind those words, but the thing was right in front of him.
A new symbol is telling him that the universe can acknowledge him.
Megatron stepped forward slowly.
The curator didn't urge them; they were always good at waiting for their prey to walk to the right spot on its own.
Megatron stretched out his hand, his fingertips just a hair's breadth away from the fake module.
He was almost ready to agree.
He could have obtained the power first and then dismantled that five-faced thing.
"I will never join the Decepticons!!"
The words rang out without warning.
She stood before him, her voice as cold as a sharp blade, each word seeming to be ground from the cracks of metal.
She looked at him then, her expression a mixture of anger, disappointment, and clarity.
She said a lot. Sometimes she would casually mock him, sometimes she would complain that he was unreasonable, and sometimes she would argue with him in a way that seemed like she could tear the entire Decepticon Code to shreds.
She would call him Megatron.
A long, long time ago, I looked at the nameplate that she had picked up herself and asked, "What does D-16 mean?"
He did not answer at that time.
Megatron stopped.
Aquitron's low-frequency sound was ripped apart by something.
He suddenly realized that he had hardly thought of her at all these days.
Megatron raised his head, and the red optical mirror gradually lit up, becoming clearer and more furious.
The curator paused slightly: "Megatron?"
Megatron's voice was deep and savage, filled with suppressed tyranny: "You've disturbed my memories."
The curator hesitated for a moment.
Megatron abruptly withdrew his hand and fired a cannon at the central platform.
A protective shield immediately rose from the outer layer of the dark core. The explosion struck the barrier, causing the entire deep energy port to tremble.
The shark demon roared and pounced at the same time.
Megatron kicked the foremost one away, then turned the Fusion Cannon towards the Curator: "You're all asking for it!!"
The bailiffs simultaneously lowered the restraints, and cold white chains sprang from the ground and walls, wrapping around his arms, shoulder armor, and legs.
Megatron ripped off the first layer and blasted the second layer of bailiff array with his fusion cannon.
The curator quickly stepped back, a slight crack appearing in his gentle expression.
More shark demons surged in through the side door. Megatron raised his arm to block the biting attacks, then slammed one of the shark demons into the power lines. Purple sparks exploded, and alarms blared across the entire platform.
"Seal him off," the curator ordered.
The rise of more powerful energy locks from the ground was clearly not a temporary measure.
When the third restraint field enveloped him, Megatron was forced to kneel on one knee on the platform, and the metal ground began to crack.
He gritted his teeth, the red light so bright it was blinding: "Wait until I get out."
The curator stood behind the barrier, his expression returning to calm.
The fourth layer of restraints bound Megatron, forcibly lowering his fusion cannon.
The shark demons surrounded them, and the bailiffs rearranged themselves into formation.
The curator sighed softly, "What a pity."
Megatron glared at him angrily.
The curator said, "You could have become the new symbol."
Megatron sneered, squeezing out the words: "I don't need what you give me."
-
Megatron was transferred to a separate isolation zone on the lower level of Energy Harbor.
Aquitron's notification to the Retribution number was concise and clear.
Megatron is undergoing a high-energy adaptability assessment.
To avoid data contamination, visits are temporarily suspended.
When Red Spider saw the notification, the smile on his face froze for half a second.
Knockout slowly commented: "That doesn't sound very good."
The roadblock stood to one side, head bowed in thought.
Red Spider looked at Soundwave: "What do you say?"
The sound wave display screen flickers.
[Megatron's signal: Isolation.]
Access permissions: Denied.
[Anomaly Level: High.]
Red Spider remained silent for a moment. Logically, this should have been an opportunity.
With Megatron isolated, he could easily use this opportunity to elevate himself to a higher position.
But this was not the victory he had planned.
Starscream hates Megatron, but he hates even more anything else that dares to interfere with his plans.
"I'm going to Energy Harbor," Red Spider said.
The sound wave display screen flashed.
[Recommendation: Exercise caution.]
He glanced at him, put away his polishing tools, and unusually followed without saying a word.
They were ultimately unable to enter the deeper parts of the energy port and were politely refused entry.
Red Spider almost blew the door open.
-
On the fourteenth day, the Aquitron Court officially opened.
A cold white guiding light illuminated the underwater passageway, and shark-spirit guards arrived in formation from different waterways. Bailiffs stood on either side of the courtroom, while the prosecutor and executioner entered beforehand, and all the recording chips hovered near the judge's bench.
Optimus Prime was brought to the center of the courtroom.
The restraint area was limited to a level that allowed him to stand and answer questions.
To the left of the courtroom is the witnessing area for the Autobots.
Bumblebee, Hot Rod, Sideswipe, Police Car, Jazz, and Ratchet have arrived. Cliffjumper, Detective, Ironhide, and Skyfire are also on their way from the direction of the Ark.
Bumblebee kept staring at Optimus Prime, its small wings drooping and trembling.
The thermal rupture barely hibernated, and its optical mirror reflected frustration and guilt.
The sidebarrel was unusually silent.
The police station stood at the front, attempting to record all the procedures.
As soon as Ironhide entered, he looked at Optimus Prime, moved the cannon barrel slightly, and then stopped.
The detective saw this and calmly said, "Wait."
On the other side, the Retribution Witness Zone also saw a steady stream of new entrants.
Red Spider, Soundwave, Knockout, Deadfire, and Barricade stood in the front row, Thunderclap and Chaos were at the back, and Skyquake and Horrorwing were on the outer edge.
97 was also in the Decepticon ranks, like a silent cog in a well-placed machine.
Starscream glanced at the courtroom, then frowned: "Where's Megatron?"
The curator walked over from the side: "Megatron is undergoing a separate evaluation."
"They won't even attend the trial?"
"His condition is not suitable for attending."
The red spider lowered its wings and looked very unwell.
A line popped up on the sound wave's display screen, visible only to a few nearby machines.
Megatron: Signal isolation continues.
Knockout and Barricade exchanged a glance, both seeing the unease hidden in each other's optics.
-
When Alita went to find Arcee, Arcee was standing in the outer passageway leading to the courtroom.
She didn't go in; through the transparent water curtain on the outside, the underwater light shimmered on her outer armor.
"Arcy".
"I know I should go in," Arcee said.
Alita walked over to her and said, "Then let's go in."
"But I keep thinking about the partition."
Arcee paused, then turned and said, "Optimus Prime is there now, and I know what to do. But standing here, I'm still wondering if I'll be a step too late again."
Alita looked equally tired, even worse than she had imagined.
"Let's go in," Alita said simply. "No matter what, we have to be there."
Arcee took a deep breath and then nodded.
The two machines walked together toward the courtroom.
-
In the courtroom, everyone gradually arrived.
The curator stood below the judge's bench, confirming that the recording ports in each area were activated.
The five-faced judge has not yet fully appeared; only a huge shadow hangs high above.
The prosecutor organized the indictment documents, the bailiffs guarded all the exits, and the shark demon and crocodile demon stood silently and uniformly on the perimeter.
Optimus Prime stood in the center, looking up at the judge's bench.
He didn't see Megatron, and his unease grew.
Red Spider surprisingly refrained from making any sarcastic remarks.
The main entrance to the courtroom slowly closed, and the curator looked up.
"The witnesses will soon be all present."
"The court will formally convene after the confirmation process."
The shadow of the five-faced judge began to sink slightly, and those faces finally appeared.
Finally, the view of the courtyard is from the side of death.
"Today, Aquitron will try Optimus Prime for his crimes."
A series of cool white lights illuminated the center of the courtroom.
All the machines were forced to follow the light and focus their gaze on Optimus Prime.