Ruined - The "Optimus" Epilogue That Never Was

Discussion in 'Transformers Fan Fiction' started by SPLIT LIP, Apr 16, 2016.

  1. SPLIT LIP

    SPLIT LIP Be strong enough to be gentle

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2005
    Posts:
    97,613
    News Credits:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    462
    Location:
    agile house
    Likes:
    +98,319
    Instagram:
    Seven years ago I began "Optimus", a passion project that I look back on fondly, despite how utterly flawed it is. It was my own little universe, not bound by another series' continuity, and my own ideas and interpretations of Transformers in what was supposed t be a small-scale character-driven sorty. It took me two years to finish it. Two years! Clearly my work ethic needs improving. While I did finish that story, it wasn't a satisfying finish. It lacked a proper ending, the text equivelant of smash-cutting to credits after the big crescendo, with no falling action, no epilogue. It was awful, IMO, but I was too busy and too buzzing with new ideas to be able to come up with anything I felt was a worthwhile wrap-up, and I left it there. (and yet the new ideas I abandonned it for went unrealised in full due to real life interuptions and ugh...) A two year race ended not with a glide through the finish line, but a sudden stop just before it. A pretty weaksauce conclusion to something so many amazingly patient and helpful people on here had followed for so long.

    Three years later and the characters and designs I created for it are still with me. Really hard to let go of things you've spent so long creating, so I figured hell, better late than never? Besides, maybe with a bit of luck this won't take two years?

    So with the utmost humility, let's get started getting this finished:


    [​IMG]

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



    Chapter One: How We Act When We're Alone


    “I think it’d look better centered.” Road Rage said, pointing to the blank space above the door. “That way it’s the first thing you see when you walk in, like, boom, instant branding.”

    “But if it’s on the back wall, you can’t see it while you’re browsing the store,” Spiral pointed out. “The sign should be above the register. There’s already a sign outside for ‘instant branding.’”

    “I’m just thinking of the décor side of it.” Road Rage made hand motions encompassing the room. “We want it to be pretty as well as functional.”

    “Didn’t you used to live in a barn? Trust me, it’s pretty enough. Besides we can put tall shelves against the back wall.” Spiral picked up the large luminous sign. Op’s it said in large, stylized lettering, with Pawn and Loan in small block text beneath. “What do you think, Ironhide? It’s your place, after all.”

    “I guess Spiral’s right,” Ironhide said, not looking up from the tablet in his hands. “Over the register’s fine.” He sighed, then muttered under his breath. “So much paperwork.” Ironhide rubbed his head.

    “I’d love to help you with it, but I’ve gotta go…” Road Rage said, tapping her wrist in reference to the time. “I’ll see you both tomorrow, yeah?”

    “Hey, I’ve been meaning to ask…” Ironhide paused, thinking about how best to phrase his question. “How’s it going? If you don’t mind me asking. I mean I assume you’re going to…?”

    “It’s going good.” She said, shifting her weight on her feet. “I didn’t want to say anything, but it’s possible, nothing concrete, but two more sessions and I’ll be ready for surgery. My therapist says I‘ve almost deleted the violent impulses, and once I‘m restored mentally, I can be restored physically.”

    “That’s great news!” Spiral said, throwing her arm over Road Rage’s shoulders. “How come you didn’t tell us?”

    “I wanted it to be a surprise, and you were so busy with the store.” Road Rage looked around the half-renovated shop. “Y’know, I didn’t think I’d want to see this anymore, but I’m actually really glad you’re fixing it up.”

    “Honestly I’m surprised he left it to me.” Ironhide said. “I thought he sold it. I mean, he never really mentioned it, though I guess he wouldn’t considering the bad memories.”

    “Well, hopefully thanks to you we can fill it with new, good ones.” Road Rage said, she gave them an enthusiastic thumbs up and made for the door. “By the way, I’m going to see Jetfire afterwards, tell him the good news. I’ll tell him you guys said hi.”

    “Sure, and hey,” Spiral hopped over to road Rage and gave her a big hug. “Good luck!”

    “Thanks!” Road Rage said, sputtering from the death drip Spiral had her in. Once freed she gave Ironhide a wave, which he reciprocated, and she left.

    “Hell yeah!” Spiral said. “You know, things are really looking up. I know saying that’s basically attempted suicide by superstition, but considering we went from planet almost dying to cushy government hero bonuses and supported mental-health plans, I’d say our track record for success is ‘exemplary.’”

    “That’s a Botanica word, isn’t it?” Ironhide asked.

    “Oh yeah.” Spiral admitted. “Like I’d even know how to spell that.” She lifted the hotly-debated sign and stood on the front counter to reach it’s destined mounting point. “I thought civilian life would be boring, but I’m pretty happy.”

    “Me too.” Ironhide said dryly.

    “Spoken with all the enthusiasm of a houseplant.”

    “Sorry, this is just…” Ironhide put down the reader scrolling with various leasing documents. “You know it’s been only a month, right?”

    “I know,” Spiral said. “So?”

    “So!” Ironhide said, tapping his thumbs together. “It’s hard to not get sad, y’know?” Spiral sat down on the counter and looked Ironhide in the eyes.

    “Listen big guy,” She said. “I know it’s rough, but the way I see it, it was a week before it was a month, and a day before it was a week. We made it through each one. I may not have been his best friend, but don’t think I don’t miss him. And you’re still my best friend, and I hate seeing you like this, and I bet Optimus would, too.”

    “Maybe I just need more time-” Ironhide stood up, accidentally knocking his reader on the floor.

    “I got it, butterfingers…” Spiral scooped up the tablet. “Oh, I think I closed what you were reading, guess I‘m the one with butter…” Her words trialed off as she read what was now displayed on the tablet. She turned it to Ironhide. “What’s this?”

    “That’s private!” Ironhide snatched it from her hands.

    “Are you writing?”

    “None of your business-” He said, but before he could remove his writings from the screen Spiral had already plucked it from his hands. Ironhide tried to grab it back, but she slid to the opposite side of the small aisle in the center of the store.

    “Don’t tell me you’re into poetry, too.” She said mockingly. “Road Rage is red, Spiral is blue-” She rhymed, but ceased her teasing when she began to read his work. “Is this…?” She continued reading as Ironhide chased her around the aisle. “Is this an autobiography? Of your time on Earth?”

    “It’s nothing, I just…” Ironhide said, leaning on the aisle. “Want to commemorate him, us, everything we did, y’know? They honoured him, yeah, but I want his whole story told. Or at least the parts I was there for. He wasn’t the best leader, or fighter, or… lots of stuff, but… he died to save his planet. That’s something, right?”

    “It is.” Spiral said, reading Ironhide’s work. “There’s a lot of words spelled wrong, you know that?”

    “I had to turn the spell corrector off… kept saying my name was made-up.” Ironhide muttered. “I mean, it all sounds so good in my head but when I read it the words look like I have.. Problems, like my cache needs to be cleared.”

    “I could proof read it for you.”

    “Didn’t you just say you can’t spell 'exemplary?'”

    “I was kidding, I know how it’s spelled.” Ironhide gave her a cynical look, challenging her to prove it. “Alright future-best-selling-author, why don’t you ask Botanica for help?”

    “I was actually thinking about it, especially since, well, when was the last time you heard from her?”

    “Actually now that you mention it, it has been a while.” Spiral mused. “Tell ya what, I’ll hop on a Teletram, stop by, make sure she hasn’t burnt her lab down or whatever scientists do, and get her to buzz you.”

    “Thanks.” Ironhide said. “I’m expecting those display lights to show up today anyhow.” Spiral gave Ironhide an enthusiastic fist-bump and walked out of the store. The neighbourhood the shop was situated in had actually cleaned up from when Optimus had described it to them. It’s seedy nature was replaced with a clean, modern architecture. The old dilapidated buildings across the street had been demolished and replaced with a new fully automated transit system that was developed while they were away, nicknamed “Teletram.” Times had changed, and new fads, technologies and social standards had arisen. Especially since the anti-Decepticon movements gained a lot more power following the incident with Shockwave. Spiral could probably drive to Botanica’s lab herself, but opted to experience the new transit system. She walked over to a small terminal, the stylized “Teletraan” logo disappeared as she approached and a text message asking for her destination was already waiting.

    “Real Time Labs, please.” She said. A spinning icon appeared before the screen flashed a mint green, indicating her request was approved, and a moment later a sleek, golden orange high-speed train slowed down next to her. It’s doors parted and she stepped on.

    “Recalculating route, thank you for your patience.” A soft female voice came onto the loudspeakers inside the train, only a second before it started moving again. The interior was nice and new, very clean and free of wear. A display at the front projected the train car’s route and stops, along with all other trains sprawling in a web throughout the city. Spiral’s stop was the one after the next, so she took a seat on one of the three-tiered benches along the walls, picking and unfolding the one labelled ‘mid-sized.’ There were a few other robots in the car with her, and Spiral noticed not all of them were missing wheels or treads. With the transit system so widespread, even those who could drive were taking the trains. It was just more convenient than taking the old roads, not to mention less effort. Spiral leaned back to take a look the crystal clear windows. A lot of buildings looked different from the architecture she’d recognised. Still the same basic shape, but all refinished to a newer, cleaner, aesthetic. Gone where the gunmetal blue panels with exposed joints and clunky neon displays. Everything now was smooth whites and golds, with holographic accoutrements and etched crystal construction. On Earth Spiral had picked up on the fact that many clear minerals like diamonds were considered a rare commodity.

    “Humans would flip out if they saw all this.” She said to herself quietly.

    “Hey!” One of the passengers sat down next to her. He was a medium built ‘bot, mostly green with a clear yellow visor and antennae, and standing next to him was a pale lavender, thinner robot with claws for hands and a goofy smile. The robot sat next to her spoke up. “You’re one of the Autobots that stopped Shockwave. You’re, uh…”

    “Squiggle!” The skinny guy finished for his friend.

    “Uh, it’s Spiral.” She said. “And yeah, I guess I helped. Why?”

    “Oh sorry, Spiral, yeah,” The green guy was acting really jittery. “Hey I don’t mean to bug you, but can we get a picture on my T?”

    “Like of all three of us?” Skinny added. “Please, it’ll only take a second!”

    "What's a T?" Spiral asked. They laughed, only to realise she wasn't kidding.

    "Y'know, T's!" he said aagin, as if the inflection alone would jog her memory. "Teletraans? Little mobile devices? can take pictures, access networks, all that?"

    "Just one picture," Skinny insisted. "And we'll be gone!"

    “Um, sure?” Spiral wasn’t sure why they’d want it. After all she wasn’t the one who really saved Cybertron, but before she could say anything the two knuckleheads were on either side of her, the green ‘bot holding his miniature data pad on a stick to take an unobstructed photo of all three. Scrunched between them, she didn’t even have time to protest this invasion of space before they snapped at least a dozen pictures then scampered off, excitedly apologizing and thanking her for her time and “service to the people” and huddled next to each other, rambling about sending the pictures to everyone they knew. Another robot spoke softly to himself over a private comm., glancing at Spiral and her fans before moving to the opposite end of the car so their excited voices wouldn’t be picked up in his call. Spiral wasn’t sure how to react to this low-key ‘fame’ she’d attained, and was relieved when the next stop saw the car vacated by everyone except her and an elderly ‘bot sleeping in the back. The following ride to her destination was short and uneventful, and once there the train politely contacted her on her private frequency to let her know she’d arrived. She exited the car and was right outside the Demostius Technical Institute, of which Real Time Labs was housed inside. The campus was huge, especially to someone like Spiral who received education from the military, it seemed needlessly ornate in her opinion. The same modern design aesthetic of gold and silver-whites was present, with added touches of rust red trim and cool green fountains of some kind of liquid. Right before the entrance was a huge mineral sample no doubt meticulously chiselled free from one of Cybertron’s deep chemical oceans. Someone who’d never been shot at would likely call it nature producing art, but Spiral just thought it was a funny looking rock. As she made her way to the front desk a voice like that on the train asked her a brief series of questions before supplying her a visitor’s pass. Spiral stuck the weak magnet badge on her shoulder, and was about to speed off when she noticed the huge overhead sign forbidding the use of vehicle modes in the school halls. Sighing, she followed the markers until she found the wing labelled Real Time Labs, and peeked into every door window before she found Botanica, hunched over a reader at a table with holographic screens all around her. Spiral knocked on the door and waved ecstatically to get her attention, and Botanica tapped one of the screens to let her in.

    “Hey hey hey!" Spiral said.

    “Hello.” Botanica didn’t look up from her work.

    “I’m sorry, are you busy?”

    “Very.” Botanica said, leaning back. “But I suppose I’m overdue for a break. Teletraan, continue cross-referencing all samples and compile a list of likely matches, then run them against the Geodome database.”

    “Yes ma’am.” The same voice from the train came through the lab’s speakers.

    “What can I help you with?” Botanica asked.

    “Haven’t seen you in a while is all,” Spiral said. “Road Rage’s doing good and Ironhide’s getting the shop all up and running. Jetfire’s… eh… but y’know, that’s expected.”

    “Right…” Botanica sighed and rubbed her face. “I’ve just been so busy.”

    “What is all this stuff?” Spiral asked.

    “Reports, findings, things you wouldn’t understand.” Botanica said.

    “Okay miss passive-aggressive, make me understand.” Spiral crossed her arms. Botanica unapologetically stood up from her desk and drifted over towards a large container against the wall. She typed in a pass code and placed her hand in a slot, tapping a specific combination of buttons on a handle before turning it and unlocking the container. It hissed open, revealed a large, damaged piece of technology. It was hooked up to the container with diagnostic screens on the inside, the piece itself glowed internally through small holes, it’s intricate metal housing flexing as it hummed in a low bass.

    “Recognise it?” Botanica asked.

    “Yeah, a little. It’s from somewhere…”

    “This is the core processor of that ship Soundwave built.” Botanica explained. “Or, kind of built. The one that had that pair of silent robot avatars. The one I “spoke” to.”

    “I thought it was totally destroyed when we crashed?”

    “It was, it… died.” Botanica tried to explain in terms Spiral could comprehend, but her face told Spiral that even she was having difficulty understanding what she was trying to say. “But I revived it. Or restarted it. See, it’s not a sentient mind like us, it’s some kind of AI program. I was able to recover it, but… basically put, this is the bridge between mundane technology and a Cybertronian mind. It’s a perfect fusion of organic brain matter and cybernetic material. A potential breakthrough to understanding everything about life and concious awareness.”

    “So it’s like a cyborg… brain?”

    “Kind of,” Botanica placed a hand on her chin. “No, not really. It’s not been grafted in any way, it naturally formed itself out of cybernetics into an organic brain, running on the level of mundane technology but with the cognisance of a living mind.”

    “Where’d it come from?”

    “I have no idea.”

    “Can you talk to it?”

    “I don’t know.”

    “What’s it doing now?”

    “I couldn’t tell you.” Botanica sighed. “I’ve managed to bring it back, but I lack the sophisticated interface. That was destroyed entirely. And what’s more… I wonder if what I’m doing isn’t abhorrent. I‘ve placed a conscious, thinking mind in a state of secluded limbo. If this being is still in the cognitive state it was when I interacted with it… I could be torturing it and have no idea. Or it could just be asleep. I really have no way of knowing.”

    “So why don’t you make a new interface?” Spiral asked. “I mean I know it’s probably not that simple but can you at least try?”

    “That’s what I’m doing.” Botanica gestured towards the various mineral and metal samples, holographic displays and equipment in her lab. “By day my time is consumed examining reports from other lab techs and students, but make no mistake I’ve spent every ounce of my free time trying to crack this thing.” Botanica stared at the cybernetic brain and shook her head. “If only Soundwave hadn’t disappeared, he must've gone through this.”

    “Unfortunately he did.” Spiral crossed her arms. “Portly little backstabber.”

    “That “backstabber” saved our lives.” Botanica shot Spiral a stern look. “Had he not, we would’ve never stopped Shockwave.”

    “Yeah, I know…” Spiral said. “And besides, he did give me this sweet car mode. Guess he definitely doesn’t deserve what all the other ‘Cons got.”

    Almost all.” Botanica corrected. “Remember there’s still a missing party.”

    “Oh right,” Spiral winced. “The biggest backstabber of all. The backstabber who backstabbed the backstabber.” Spiral saw how uncomfortable Botanica was getting, and attempted to alleviate some of her stress. “You know the chances of him coming back are like a billion to one, right? Why would he?”

    You don’t know that.” Botanica said. “As long as he’s not behind bars with the rest there is always a threat.” An awkward tension absorbed the room. Botanica didn’t seem relieved at all.

    “So, uh, Ironhide could use some cheering up.” Spiral changed the subject. “You know it’s been almost a month, yeah?”

    “And next month it’ll be two months, and after that three, and so-on.” Botanica said, drifting back to her desk. “There’s nothing to be gained from acknowledging arbitrarily defined time cycles following events.”

    “You sound familiar.” Spiral laughed. “My point is he’s the one who’s upset, and with Optimus gone and Jetfire… not doing so well, the last thing we want to do is lose someone else.”

    “You guys haven’t lost me,” Botanica said. “I’m always right here.”

    “That’s the problem.” Spiral said.

    “Alright,” Botanica said. “The campus is closed tomorrow, the mind isn’t going anywhere-”

    “You’re calling it ‘the mind?’”

    “What would you call it?” Botanica glanced at Spiral, who shrugged. “So yeah, I’ll come by tomorrow. But only because I haven’t seen you guys in… how long has it been?”

    “Two weeks.” Spiral said as she started to leave. She stopped at the door, paused a moment, then looked back. “Do you think he’s in a better place?”

    “I don’t believe in an afterspark.” Botanica said. “But if there was a Well of Allsparks, I can’t think of many more deserving them him be there.”

    *****

    “I’m in hell.” Optimus said, the world on fire around him. “It finally happened. I knew I shouldn’t have sworn so much. They got Al Capone for tax fraud, they got me for my love of four letter words.” Optimus could only assume he was in the Pit, the never-ending Inferno that awaits Cybertronians who die unrepentant. Which he must have, because all he can remember was being combined with Sky-Byte, flying into the sky, the Decepticon WMD on the verge of self-destruction, and then waking up bound and slowly being dragged towards a hellish blaze, the world a mosaic of red, jagged metal and flame. But as he struggled against his bonds he began to remember bits and pieces. Like Sky-Byte saying something, Optimus being hit with something, and the explosion. Only, not from inside of it. Maybe he wasn’t dead? But if he was still alive, where was he now?

    “You’re not in hell,” A voice came from Optimus’ left. He turned as far as he could, but his vision was blocked. “Trust me, you’re too far up.” Optimus could make out yellow eyes amidst the flame.

    “Ironhide?” He said, he started to feel weaker. The heat was getting to him now.

    “You’re gonna need one to survive what comes next, but hey-” The eyes darted away as if something suddenly caught their attention. They came back, the voice lower this time. “Just don’t tell them anything, and I’ll be back for you! Don’t trust them, don’t do what they say!”

    “What…?” Optimus felt himself losing consciousness. The heat was too much, and if he wasn’t dead now, he felt he soon would be. The last thing he remembered was shouting, and a jostling motion as something grabbed him.
     
    • Like Like x 2
  2. Chief Gage

    Chief Gage Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2014
    Posts:
    1,283
    Trophy Points:
    142
    Likes:
    +33
    OOOooooo interesting! you gotta reader!!
     
  3. Coffee

    Coffee (╭☞ꗞᨓꗞ)╭☞

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2013
    Posts:
    6,789
    News Credits:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Location:
    Ontario
    Likes:
    +4,155
    Son of a fuck, Optimus is still kicking. It's a huge treat to see this finally being completed. Can't wait to see where things go.
     
  4. supernova222

    supernova222 junkion

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2011
    Posts:
    4,988
    News Credits:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    262
    Location:
    taunton, MA
    Likes:
    +3,559
    Ebay:
    whatever happened to megatron! i refuse to accept only a passive remark about him being locked up. and whats up with my boy jetfire

    not exactly what i was expecting though. it seems like it leads into another tsory, which u might be planning, but then it is less of an epilougue and more of a continuation.

    now, what i thought of happening, and please dont take this as me telling you how to write your story, it is simply what i imagined the final chapter being like as i was immersed in the story you wrote.
    -skybyte somehow warps optimus back to cybertron just before he explodes
    -megatron attacks the autobots
    -optimus(with jetfires sword) and megatron battle
    -optimus stabs megatron and says something like "you will never be remembered"(since that was what megatron wanted), then casts him into an abyss or crevice or something.
    -jetfire is all like "yo, where's my cane" and optimus is like"uuuuuuugh"
    -as autobots military arrive, they tell jetfire to fly to the moon and hide
    -botanica uses her high command connections to get everything for the group cleared super fast
    -the team soon gets a new ship, pick up the rogue soundwave and the waiting jetfire and go of to explore the universe mkore.

    so that's it, that's what i thought the final chapter would be like. and like i said, this is only becuase you created such a fascinating and compelling story/world that i was emersed into anf that was just what beleived/forsaw as an ending. regardless of the ending, it was still one of the best fics i have ever read :) 
     
  5. SPLIT LIP

    SPLIT LIP Be strong enough to be gentle

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2005
    Posts:
    97,613
    News Credits:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    462
    Location:
    agile house
    Likes:
    +98,319
    Instagram:
    This is only chapter one of the epilogue. ;)  (it's a full sequel, I'm just being cheeky calling it an epilogue)
     
  6. Ømnidrive

    Ømnidrive Stop.....think......fart.....and keep on going

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2011
    Posts:
    11,351
    Trophy Points:
    322
    Likes:
    +146
    OH SWEET BABY PRIMUS IT'S FRAGGING BACK BABY!!!.....Thank you Split you majestic beast!!!
     
  7. supernova222

    supernova222 junkion

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2011
    Posts:
    4,988
    News Credits:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    262
    Location:
    taunton, MA
    Likes:
    +3,559
    Ebay:
    aaaaand, i feel like a dick
     
  8. SPLIT LIP

    SPLIT LIP Be strong enough to be gentle

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2005
    Posts:
    97,613
    News Credits:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    462
    Location:
    agile house
    Likes:
    +98,319
    Instagram:
    Chapter Two: Left To Their Own Devices

    “Another blue one…” Optimus heard someone say. He was face-down and still couldn’t move, but he could sense at least two more robots near him. They were looming over him, making his spinal strut tingle. “…We should make him comfortable.” The voice continued. It was female, and had an odd tinny effect to it.

    “Try to cut that scrap off.” A male voice said, it also had the same overly metallic effect. Optimus felt his arms being pulled, something tugging at his bonds. He felt a cut, his arms were free, and he immediately transformed and peeled out, leaving his captors behind. Now he could see around him, he was in a large room, rust-coloured, and made a hard braking turn to avoid crashing into a table. He transformed again, skidding on his heels, and got his first glimpse of his captors. One was a thick ‘bot, orange red and brown, like the room but a touch more vivid. The other was a fembot, average build aside from awkwardly distributed armour and vehicle parts on her body. He’s the immediate trouble, Optimus thought, but she looks like a fighter as well. Wasting no time he deployed his towing hook and overhand-tossed it at the big guy. He raised his arm up, the hook wrapping around. Optimus pulled the line taught, but the big guy wouldn’t budge. Optimus spread his stance and tried wrenching him, and he slide, tripped, and fell. But before Optimus could capitalize on it, he was back on his feet. Optimus leapt forward, pulling his winch back and leaping over the brute. He wasn’t here to fight, he just wanted to escape. Big guy grabbed Optimus’ leg and pulled him down, Optimus taking it on the chin before being put into an arm lock. It was impossible, the guy was just too heavy. The fembot walked over to Optimus and knelt down.

    “We’re not here to hurt you,” She said. Optimus looked at her face. One eye was another colour than the other, and overall she was asymmetrical. “We’re going to let you go, and when we do, you’re going to let us explain ourselves, okay?”

    Optimus nodded slowly. She gave a look to the big guy and he eased off, Optimus stood up and rubbed his arm, taking a step back from them. The brutish ‘bot was also haphazardly constructed. They were rusted and unkempt, like they hadn’t been properly repaired in ages.

    “I’m Elita-14.” The fembot introduced herself.

    “And I’m Dion-7-K.” Big guy said.

    “You can leave off the numbers if you want.” Elita said. She awkwardly extended her hand to shake.

    “My name’s Optimus.” He accepted it.

    “What kind of name is ‘Optimus?’” Dion said.

    “What kind of name is ‘Dion-7-K?’” Optimus asked.

    “We’re scrap drones,” Elita explained. “Well, we used to be dock workers but, well…”

    “We got laid off.” Dion grunted. “Planet enters a golden age, less import and export, less need for space docks, and the grunts that keep ‘em running.”

    “But they were nice, though!” Elita said eagerly. “The worker’s guild, they let us keep working up here! Now we’re our own bosses, work our own hours. What about you, Optimus? You’ve got…” Elita looked him over. “Six wheels, are you manual class, too?”

    “No, I’m…” Things began to sink in. His fight or flight response was leaving, and Optimus started to remember and comprehend what had happened. “I died… or I should’ve died. I was going to die…” Elita grabbed a crate from the corner for Optimus to sit on. Dion just stared at him as he began explaining. “I was… so sure I was going to die. I was ready for it. But I…” Optimus looked Elita in the eyes. “You said this a scrap barge? We’re in space?”

    “Orbit.” Dion said.

    “Did you find another ‘bot?” Optimus stood up frantically, he grabbed Dion by the shoulders. “He was big, blue, gold face-” Optimus was stuttering. “Claws on his hands, big wings… a big… gold crest on his…” Optimus fell to his knees. He heard cracking, and felt his midsection. The windshield on his stomach was cracked and falling apart. He pressed on it and it shattered, exposing something that shouldn’t be there.

    “Get him on his back!” Elita said, Dion sighed and forced Optimus, rather roughly, to lay down, pain shooting up his side. Optimus felt around, and was all but certain a piece of scrap had embedded itself in him. This was confirmed, rather painfully, when Dion grabbed the foreign object and yanked it out. Optimus felt more pain, followed by relief.

    “Some of your gears are stripped…” Elita examined the wound. “But I think we have replacements that will fit.” Optimus looked down to see the damage for himself, and saw the piece of scrap Dion had pulled free. Optimus snatched it from his hand and sat up, ignoring the discomfort. The piece was a flat, gold shard, and Optimus recognized it as part of Sky-Byte’s head crest. He clutched the fragment and closed his eyes. Optimus didn’t really believe in the Covenant of Primus, but he gave a silent prayer to wherever Sky-Byte was going. He placed the shard in a compartment under his chest panel and looked to Elita and Dion, who seemed very confused.

    “I hate to ask-” Optimus’ voice gave out, and he realised he probably had minor internal damage as well. His brief confrontation probably didn’t help anything. “But can you take me back to Cybertron? I need-”

    “No.” Dion said. Optimus looked at him with confusion.

    “Listen, I’m more than grateful that you saved me, but there’s things I need to know. I have friends, I need to know they’re okay.” Optimus explained.

    “What Dion means to say,” Elita elaborated. “The barge is on an automatic path, we don’t actually control it.” She became cheerful and upbeat. “But it’s okay! A re-supply shuttle comes every month to make sure the barges are still working! It can take you back!”

    “When does the shuttle come next?” Optimus asked.

    “One week.” Dion answered.

    “A whole week?” Optimus mused. “Is there-?”

    “No.” Dion said again. His face, already hard to read due to one patched eye and a jaw plate so square and protruding it could be mistaken for a faceplate, was immobile. Optimus got the sense that this ‘bot wasn’t about to budge.

    “We have an extra stasis pod you could try and repair yourself in,” Elita said. “It’s not much but-” She was interrupted when the lights went out. A second later red emergency lights came on, followed by the sound of scuttling echoing in the walls. The normal lighting returned, followed shortly by a crash.

    “Him again.” Dion growled. He ran over to the door and slammed the switch open. “He’s headed for the main furnace. I’ll take the upper corridor you go through the maintenance halls.” He instructed Elita who was already by his side, but she stopped and went back to Optimus.

    “Stay here, don’t open the door.” She helped sit Optimus against the far wall. “We’ll be back.”

    “Wait!” Optimus asked, but the two had already run off. “What the hell is happening?” He said, exasperated. He waited like he was told, and tried to remember what had happened. He remembers fighting the Decepticons, defeating Shockwave, Sky-Byte about to explode, and him flying the Decepticon into orbit to save everyone. Then, as if a dam in a stream of memories was broken, it flooded back clear as day. Sky-Byte’s last words in Optimus’ head. “No one else dies.” No poetry, no regrets, no sense of self in any way. Just one, noble imperative. And then Optimus remembered being ejected. Sky-Byte saved Optimus, threw him away so he wouldn’t be killed in the explosion. Sky-Byte chose a lonely death over the idea of being responsible for anyone else’s. Optimus began to hurt more, and was about to slam his fist into the wall when a scream froze him to the core. There was banging, loud, short banging. Gunfire or something similar. Optimus couldn’t sit by any longer. He tried transforming, but his last attempt had clearly broken something on return, so he walked. Or limped, more accurately. Sky-Byte didn’t die so Optimus could be picked off by some movie psycho killer on a space junk barge. He stepped out into the hallway, the walls were pipes and exposed mechanics. Hissing steam and moaning from stress, the over detailed halls set the tone perfectly, but Optimus ignored the foreboding surroundings. He limped down the hall in the general direction of the banging, and stayed sharp. He could here the pattering of feet far away, but the no doubt maze-like inner workings of the barge were distorting all sense of direction. He couldn’t have made it more than a hundred feet from the room when he heard a very close clattering of metal. More footsteps, then a hand over his mouth. Optimus was shoved into an alcove, but he pushed off, sending him and his attacker through and open door into another small room. Optimus didn’t get a chance to fight back more before he was thrown off. The other ‘bot was only a blur in the darkness as he slammed the door behind them, making the room pitch black. Optimus hit every light he had on him, illuminating the room just enough to see the gold and black-blue robot pounce on him, covering Optimus’ mouth and holding a finger up to his faceplate to keep him quiet. Optimus heard running outside, Dion’s unmistakably deep voice, and only when it was silent did the attacker let go.

    “I told you I’d be ba-” Optimus smashed his forehead into the other robot’s face. They staggered back, then with a squint of they’re yellow eyes, returned the head butt. Optimus grabbed his face, groaning. “That only works if the ‘bot has a nose, idiot!” He then grabbed his own face in pain, leaving them both writhing from head injuries.

    “Okay…” Optimus got to his feet, shaking off the headache. “Who are you?”

    “My name’s Ruiner,” The mystery ‘bot said. “But I’ve also gone by ‘Bestest Buddy,’ ‘The Silent Squeak,’ ‘Reckless Abandon,’ and ‘Get off that damn crane, idiot!’ Take your pick.”

    “Ruiner’s-” Optimus wriggled the last bit of pain out of his face. “Fine I guess. I’ve heard worse names.”

    “What’s yours, friend?” Ruiner asked.

    “Optimus.” He said.

    “So, Optimus,” Ruiner began. “You ready to help me murder those two and take over this barge?”

    Pardon?

    “Y’know, so we can escape!”

    “That’s not what you said.” Optimus said. “You just asked me to help you murder two innocent robots and steal their ship!” Ruiner let out a hearty, raspy laugh. Optimus was utterly baffled. Before he could question Ruiner further, there was knocking at the door. Optimus heard Dion and Elita’s voices, and Ruiner turned to Optimus one last time, his own voice lowered.

    “The next move I make is gonna be the big one, and I’m counting on you to be ready. And remember what I told you.” He said, then ran over to the wall. He felt around, then pulled a panel free, slipping inside and replacing it behind him. He knew the ship, Optimus could tell. The door burst open and Dion and Elita swept the room.

    “Where’d he go?” Dion questioned Optimus.

    “I don’t know.” Optimus lied. “I turned my head when you knocked, and when I looked back he was gone.”

    “We still don’t know how he does that.” Elita said to Dion. She walked over to Optimus. “He didn’t hurt you, did he?”

    “Not really.” Optimus scratched his nose. “I’m fine.”

    “He’s dangerous.” Dion said. “He wants our ship for himself.”

    “The scrap trade is a lucrative business,” Elita explained. “With Cybertron exporting less and less, other planets would pay a premium for a barge half this size.”

    “Only problem is they’d have no use for us.” Dion said. “I’d rather haul scrap than be scrap.”

    “Not that this guy would care.” Elita said.

    “How long has he been on board?” Optimus asked.

    “A week.” Dion said. “Picked him up in a busted star hopper.”

    “We offered to get him home,” Elita said. “Just like you! But he tried to kill us instead. We naturally defended ourselves, and he’s been stowed away, dogging us ever since.”

    “I understand.” Optimus didn’t, really. He didn’t understand any of this.

    “Did he say anything to you?” Dion asked in his usual curt manner.

    “No.” Optimus lied again. “All we did was fight until you showed-” The lights dimmed, and a low rumble reverberated through the walls, followed by shaking.

    “The reactor room!” Elita said. “We left it unguarded!”

    “I’m gonna guess that’s bad?” Optimus said.

    “He’s going to try and overload it.“ Dion said. “If that happens, the whole ship will be filled with radiation that will fry every circuit we have.

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    “Find that still point.” The doctor said. “Keep still, keep calm.”

    “I’m calm.” Road Rage said. “I’m very, very calm.”

    “But don’t force it, find it. Find the still point. Imagine it like the sunrise. Don’t rush to be in the light, let it come to you.

    “Let it come to me.” She repeated. She kept her eyes closed and imagined the peaceful sunrise cresting a silver sea, with herself standing on the shore.

    “Now.” The doctor instructed. “Slowly.” Road Rage let her pressure vent, and slowly started to move her body. Her wings closed up, her feet folded into her calves, her hands slowly pulling into her wrist sockets. Gently, slowly, she assumed vehicle mode. She tried not to try, but to let it happen naturally. For the past month she’d slowly been building positive association with transforming, and this was one of the biggest tests. But she couldn’t force it, transforming had to be a natural process, like standing up. Second nature. She had to learn to not fear her vehicle mode. And with more calm guidance, she successfully managed four wheels. She remained still, kept calm, and kept imagining the peaceful sun beyond the water. She imagined cool air, boats on he ocean, the silver sea crashing against cliffs. No, too violent, she winced, but was able to turn her attention underwater. She imagined the smooth metal seafloor, the glowing schools of nanobots, the jagged build-up of mineral salts and iron. Again, too violent, she tried to surface, but imagined herself actually submerged, trying to swim. She imagined her waterproof seals breaking, her internal mechanics filling with liquid and rusting at impossible speeds. She pulled herself from the water to see the sun, but gone was it’s peaceful, soft glow, it was now a raging fireballs in the sky, jet contrails leading to it, until it shrunk away into a single, unblinking eye. She transformed back to robot mode, almost falling off her feet, diagnostic warnings going off in her head.

    “Excellent!” The doctor said.

    “That didn’t feel excellent…” Road Rage calmed herself down. “I had, like, some kind of nightmare. I was drowning, and I’m not even afraid of water!”

    “But you stayed in vehicle mode so long! Fifteen minutes, twenty nine seconds.”

    “It didn’t feel like fifteen minutes.” Road Rage pulled a chair over and sat back down. “It felt like fifteen seconds. Fifteen horrible seconds.”

    “This is normal.” The doctor continued. “As you mentally purge these violent impulse they manifest in smaller attacks, but over a greater period of time. Obviously they won’t be banished for good until the physical repairs are done, but I absolutely believe you’re ready for the procedure.”

    “Wait, for real?” She said.

    “I would personally schedule one more physiotherapy course to make certain, but yes, I believe the current timeline I gave you will be met.”

    “That is amazing!” Road Rage leapt to her feet to shake the doctor’s hand. “Thanks so much, doc-bot!”

    “You should be thanking yourself,” The doctor said, raising himself up on his armature to meet her at eye level. “You’re level of commitment is honestly uncommon. You must really want this.”

    “I do.” She said with a smile. After thanking the doctor one more time she exited his office into the main cerebral cortex, walking down the stairs that represented neural pathways, only stopping to politely give way to other patients and the holographic brain impulses going about their business. After thanking the robot at the reception desk she exited the giant head-shaped building, or rather, building-shaped head. She was never sure which was which with city-bots. She was surprised to see Ironhide and Spiral waiting for her outside.

    “I decided that Ironhide should decide to take a break from the shop.” Spiral said.

    “I think it was about the…” Ironhide counted on his chubby fingers. “Fourth dent I put in the wall that I realised she was probably right.”

    “That bad, huh?” Road Rage asked.

    “Let’s just say for both me and the wall’s sake I needed a breather from paperwork and money managing.” Ironhide shrugged.

    “Besides, we haven’t seen that old rust-bucket in forever,” Spiral said. “You mind if we tag along?”

    “Not at all,” Road Rage walked over to a terminal next to a track. “As long as you don’t mind trains.” She turned to face the terminal. “Chrome Acres Assisted Living, please.” A mint-green flash and a few seconds later a train had stopped to let them on. The ride was brief and uneventful save Ironhide’s confusion as to which bench size to pull down, and the three were dropped off outside the assisted living home. Spiral and Ironhide hadn’t actually been there, and so spent more time observing the décor. A sign was posted out front.

    “Chrome Acres,” Spiral read. “We put the dignity and comfort of our residents in highest regard as they live out their final cycles in peace.” She stepped back. “Wow, kind of… unforgiving with that last bit.”

    “Come on,” Road Rage said. “It’s afternoon so he’s probably in the viewing room.” The three checked in and walked through the peaceful blue and white halls to the atrium. As they entered Ironhide and Spiral couldn’t help but stare at some of the residents. All the robots in there were artefacts, small, frail, and covered in signs of age ranging in subtlety. It was actually rather impressive how many were still alive.

    “Wow,” Ironhide said. “There’s some veterans in here. Look, some even still have Powerlinx ports.”

    “And that one has military stripes.” Spiral commented. “Only ‘bots from the first war have those!”

    “You know it’s kind of rude to point.” Road Rage said.

    “I mean, I gawk with the utmost respect.” Ironhide said. He was about to ask where Jetfire was, but his question was answered by simply looking to his left. While most of the ‘bots there were small and skinny with age, Jetfire was still massive. Even sat down in a chair he was almost twice the height of everyone else. He and a few other elderly ‘bots watched a movie play on a monitor.

    “Hello, Jetfire!” Road Rage said. He didn’t look away from the screen.

    “Oh hey, I’ve seen this one.” Spiral commented on the movie. “The bad guys do some pretty messed up stuff in this.” She was immediately shushed by the other ‘bots watching the film who didn’t want to be spoiled.

    “So how’re you doing?” Road Rage asked.

    “Yes.” Jetfire mumbled. Ironhide and Spiral gave each other uneasy looks.

    “What movie are you watching?” Road Rage asked, her tone more serious. It was like she was quizzing him.

    “Yes.” He mumbled again.

    “Jetfire, what is my name?”

    “Yes.” He said again. She turned to Ironhide and Spiral and shook her head, they took a few steps away.

    “No good. He’s having an off day.”

    “What happened to him?” Ironhide asked. “I mean, he’s never been all there, but he’s like… gone, almost.”

    “Honestly,” Road Rage crossed her arms, bringing her voice to a low whisper. “I think it was just too much for him. He lost Optimus and Sky-Byte, and he’s been off-and-on from this ever since.”

    “Has no one run a diagnostic program on him?’ Ironhide asked. “I thought mental degradation in society was a thing of the past? He should at least be as lucid as he was on Earth, not worse.”

    “Don’t get me wrong, the staff here are great, but…” Road Rage sighed. “They’re either afraid or just plain unwilling to help a former Decepticon.” Their conversation was interrupted when something shocking happened in the movie, causing the elderly to react with gasps and disapproving murmuring.

    “Told ya.” Spiral said. They were about to leave the old ‘bots to their movie when a low chuckling came from behind them. Jetfire, still watching the same movie that had made everyone else gasp in shock, was laughing. Unflinching, he just laughed at the violence on the screen that had left everyone else so appalled.

    “Like I said.” Road Rage explained. “It’s an off day.”
     
    • Like Like x 1
  9. supernova222

    supernova222 junkion

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2011
    Posts:
    4,988
    News Credits:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    262
    Location:
    taunton, MA
    Likes:
    +3,559
    Ebay:
    ^like the new chapter, but the latter part hit a little to close to home for me since it isnt far off from what my grandfather suffered through last year. you hauntingly captured and portrayed the reality of that kind of atmosphere.
     
  10. Coffee

    Coffee (╭☞ꗞᨓꗞ)╭☞

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2013
    Posts:
    6,789
    News Credits:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Location:
    Ontario
    Likes:
    +4,155
    Wow, Ruiner got really ghastly really quick. I'm sure Optimus and Dion will be the bestest of friends!

    Jetfire's scene was done really well. It's neat to see that Decepticon maniac buried deep within come to light, though involuntarily. Makes me wonder how much more of that previous persona might reveal itself in his current mental state.
     
  11. supernova222

    supernova222 junkion

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2011
    Posts:
    4,988
    News Credits:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    262
    Location:
    taunton, MA
    Likes:
    +3,559
    Ebay:
    i got a question that you have probably been asked before, of all the characters in your fanfic, what voice actors do you imagine them having?
     
  12. SPLIT LIP

    SPLIT LIP Be strong enough to be gentle

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2005
    Posts:
    97,613
    News Credits:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    462
    Location:
    agile house
    Likes:
    +98,319
    Instagram:
    You don't spent hundreds if not tousands of years as a warlord without some remnant impulses. I they're even just that. ;) 

    I've not really considered it, but I know someone came up with a cast list for the original story but I can't find it. :(  Might've been a vistor message or pm.

    But anyhow:

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    Chapter Three: And Who Might You Be?

    “So what do people do for fun in the future?” Spiral asked.

    “Would you stop calling it ‘the future?’” Ironhide said

    “That’s basically what it is! We were gone for so long, everything’s different.” She explained.

    “We need to go to a bar or something.” Road Rage said.

    “That’s the spirit!” Spiral said. “Scope out the latest Energon-ing holes.”

    “That was horrible.” Ironhide said.

    “What? I have to acclimate myself back to local slang.” Spiral shrugged.

    “I’m pretty sure nobody in their right mind would call that slang.” Road Rage shook her head.

    “Hey, you know what we called watering holes back on the ocean planet I toured on?” Spiral asked.

    “Don’t do it!” Ironhide pleaded.

    “What?” Road Rage asked, ignoring his warning.

    “Holes!” Spiral laughed. “Get it? Because everything was water! So they were just holes!”

    “You sure you’ve not already hit up a bar?” Ironhide asked, looking at the car’s map route. He selected the nearest pub and set the tram to stop there.

    “Do they not have jokes in the future?” Spiral took a seat.

    “They do, they’re just usually funny.” Road Rage said. Spiral waved away her criticism and leaned back, peering out the window. Moments later the Teletram eased to a stop and the three departed, walking over to a bar recessed from the other buildings around it. Like most buildings it was refinished, with a stylized, holographic sign reading “Oasis.”

    “This looks nice.” Road Rage commented.

    “It could look like literal garbage for all I care, as long as I can fry my circuits inside.” Spiral eagerly swung the door open. The bar was fairly new, though it’s over cluttered layout betrayed it’s true age. Robots of varied shapes and sizes sat at the bar and in tables. Spiral eyed three empty stools and scampered over to claim them. Road Rage and Ironhide joined her and took their seats. A mid-sized mech sat next to them with a geometric glass filled with a dull green liquid.

    “I want a fancy glass like that.” Road Rage commented. “Everything’s so-”

    “Futuristic?” Spiral said.

    “I was gonna say contemporary, but whatever.” Road Rage waved to the bartender. “A triple mix, please.” The bartender nodded, produced another angular glass and filled it with a glowing, bubbling gold fuel.

    “Hey barkeep!” Spiral said. “You got fuel pumps in this joint or do only sissies drink?”

    “Under the counter.” He said. Spiral and Ironhide flipped over the end of the counter where they sat, revealing a pumping station and a menu of various beverages.

    “Ooh, so many colours.” Spiral admired the selection. “I may just have to try them all.”

    “I just want something strong, with a slow flow.” Ironhide picked his poison and plugged the pump cable into his chest, linking directly to his fuel tank. Spiral did the same. Road Rage just sipped from her glass.

    “When are you gonna get a mouth plate, Road Rage?” Spiral mocked her. “You look so prissy drinking with you mouth like that.”

    “I had one, years ago.” Road Rage laughed. “I hated that thing. No one could tell when I was smiling. Besides, I like drinking with my mouth. There’s real health benefits to the added filtration, they say. You should get one.”

    “Nah, we’re too hard-edged.” Ironhide knocked on his chest. “We can’t afford the luxury of savouring fuel. We‘ve gotta be ready for action!”

    “Yeah, at any moment, danger could strike!” Spiral slammed her fist down on the counter, knocking Road Rage’s drink over.

    “Oi!” She said. “I wasn’t finished that.”

    “Ah, don’t be such a sissy.” Spiral flipped over the counter in front of Road Rage. “I’ll pump ya a new one.”

    “Spiral, are you okay?” Ironhide asked. He looked at her pump station and saw the pump rate was set to max. She was getting massively over-fuelled, and becoming visibly inebriated. “Jeez, Spy, you have to reset these when you use them! Whoever sat here before you must‘ve been a heavyweight.”

    “What do I look like, a Mini-con? I can handle max!” Spiral said, shoving into Road Rage whilst operating her station. “Just gotta get this sissy a new thing I wrecked…”

    “I’ll just get another glass,” Road Rage pushed Spiral off. “And could you quit calling me a sissy? It’s stupid.”

    “You’re stupid!” Spiral giggled. “Sissy.” Road Rage grabbed Spiral’s arm with one hand and pushed her head into the counter with another, pinning her.

    “Call me a sissy one more time.” Road Rage growled into Spiral’s ear.

    “Road Rage!” Ironhide yelled. She snapped out of it and released Spiral, who slowly sat up, her head dented. The entire bar was staring at her.

    “Is everything alright here?” A red and blue ‘bot with a mouth plate stood behind her.

    “Yeah, um, sorry…” Road Rage said, backing away from the bar. “I’m sorry, yeah.”

    “Personal matter, bulk!” Spiral said, pointing at the newcomer. She swivelled back around in her stool to disengage from the pump.

    “I just wanted to make sure everyone was alright.” He said, he turned to Road Rage. “I was actually talking to you, really. I saw your… friend giving you a hard time.”

    “Spiral’s not usually like this.” Ironhide said. “Stuff happens and we all cope in our own ways.”

    “Primus, would you all just shut up.” The ‘bot next to Ironhide said.

    “Excuse me,” Red and blue said. “But your chosen words lack tact. Clearly this young ‘bot is distressed. I’ll ask you behave with compassion.” The drinking ‘bot stood up, easily as tall as the red and blue ‘bot, only thicker.

    “Listen fancy man,” He said. “This my bar, I come here every day, and I’ll be set to the Pit if I let some chatty six-wheeler tell me how to act when people start disturbing the peace.”

    “Let’s just go.” Road Rage walked towards the door.

    “And stay gone!” The patron said.

    “Now see here-” The good Samaritan began, only to be slugged hard in the face by the drinking ‘bot. Ironhide shoved him aside and was about to punch him back when Spiral grabbed his arm.

    “No Ironhide, don’t!” She said. Spiral grabbed the ‘bot’s fancy glass and smashed it in his face, he reeled back, the shards embedded in it. “Okay, now we can all fight.” The bar erupted in combat, even ‘bots who hadn’t been paying attention joined in, and everyone was punching, kicking, and running over one another. Ironhide helped the red and blue ‘bot up only to be rewarded by a kick in the back from the angry patron. Spiral punched him in the side, but it was less than effective. He swung for her but she ducked, and Ironhide tackled him into the stools. Their new friend leapt over Ironhide and landed his knee right into the angry patron’s damaged face, knocking him out cold, but there was still a fight around them, and flying stools, glasses and cans were everywhere. A random winged bot side-checked Ironhide while red and blue got pulled over a table and beaten. Ironhide shoved the winged jerk aside and kicked the bots off the good Samaritan, helping him up. Another robot with huge treaded arms hoisted a chair over her head and would have smashed it over Ironhide’s head had a glass not hit her in the face, followed swiftly by a kick from Road Rage. The treaded ‘bot fell and Road Rage plucked the chair out of the air, throwing it overhand at another ‘bot charging her. She jumped onto him, pushing off and side-checking another fighter into a shelf full of trophies. She rolled off in time to avoid being crushed by another knocked out ‘bot, and scurried to her feet to avoid a punch. She grabbed the attacker’s arm, leapt up and coiled her body around it, bringing him down while she rolled onto his back, bringing his arm with her and snapping its joints. She turned to two ‘bots grappling each other and slipped in between them, hooking her arms around their necks and pulling a double pile driver into the floor. She rolled backwards, avoiding more tumbling robots, and dodged a swing from a big brutish mech. He swung again, she dodged again, and punched him in both knees, stunning him long enough for her to climb on top of him, grab one of the overhead lights and pull it down into his face, shocking him. She dodged a thrown glass and grabbed a broken stool base, swinging it like a bat and knocking two ‘bots out. She got tackled by another fembot, and Road Rage rewarded her tenacity by clubbing her with the stool. She tossed it and the unconscious ‘bot away and leapt onto a table, then leapt again onto the back of another ‘bot, gouging her finger into his neck seams, making him stumble and fall, and Road Rage directed his tumble into another fighter, taking them both out. She scooped up a full oil can from the floor and beamed it at a skinny ‘bot across the room, knocking him out, too. A ‘bot wielding the same busted stool base swung it at her, and she ducked, grabbing the blunt end and jabbing it into his midsection. He screamed and she grabbed his head in one hand, the stool in the other, and smashed them together. Once he was out, she pulled the stool away and over-hand tossed it to the last standing fighter, knocking him flat on his back as he charged her. Road Rage stood, panting as her systems overheated. Diagnostic warnings filled her vision and she manually over-rode them. Ironhide and their new friend stood near the door, eyes wide.

    “Damn, Road…” Ironhide said. Road Rage looked at the bar full of groaning robots, all out cold or unable to stand. The only ‘bot beside them standing was the bartender, who sighed, and walked over to a sign that read “twelve days without a fight” and reset it to zero. Road rage stared at her knuckles, all the paint scraped off. Ironhide waded through the bodies and looked at her hands. “We’ll get those fixed, come on.” He said softly. Road Rage stumbled along with him, her face blank. Suddenly her eyes widened.

    “Wait, Spiral?” She and Ironhide looked around.

    “If you’re looking for your rude friend…” The red and blue bot pointed to Spiral’s unconscious body near the bar.

    “Was she hit?” Ironhide asked.

    “Fear not,” The ‘bot said. “She passed out from over-fuelling when the fight started. Feel her head, processor’s overheated.”

    “I’m sorry I got you hit, uh…” Road Rage said.

    “Convoy.” The mystery ‘bot said, standing proud. “Like a group of many following one another towards a single goal.”

    “I’m Ironhide, like I’m hard to... hurt?” Ironhide reacted to Convoy.

    “And I’m Road Rage because of…” She waved her hand behind her. “That.”

    “A pleasure to meet you all,” Convoy said. “Unfortunately, I don’t think we’ll be able to drink here. Ever again, I‘d wager. Perhaps I could help you all find a new place of refuge?”

    “Actually, Convoy, I think this is it for one night.” Ironhide flopped Spiral over his shoulder. “Or, afternoon.” Ironhide carried Spiral out of the bar over to a Teletram terminal and called for a train, Road Rage and Convoy followed.

    “I suppose you’re right.” Convoy said. “Suppose I tag along, though? I should be heading back myself and, well, no sense waiting for another train.”

    “Sure.” Road Rage said, examining her paint-devoid knuckles. The train arrived and the four of them boarded. The tram had only just started moving when Ironhide’s communicator went off. His eyes narrowed as the message played in his head.

    “Sorry Convoy, we have to make a detour.” Ironhide turned to Road Rage. “That was Botanica, Real Time Labs was just raided. She was attacked.”
     
  13. Coffee

    Coffee (╭☞ꗞᨓꗞ)╭☞

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2013
    Posts:
    6,789
    News Credits:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Location:
    Ontario
    Likes:
    +4,155
    That bar-fight is everything I needed. Convoy seems less pompous than I expected, but he seems cool enough. Kind of Silverbolt-y, in fact. Looking forward to what's going down with Botanica.
     
  14. SPLIT LIP

    SPLIT LIP Be strong enough to be gentle

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2005
    Posts:
    97,613
    News Credits:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    462
    Location:
    agile house
    Likes:
    +98,319
    Instagram:
    Chapter Four: Hands And Feet Inside At All Times


    “One, two, three!” Dion and Optimus kicked the door for the fifth time. “One, two, three!” Together they kicked again, and the door fell into the reactor room, letting Optimus, Dion and Elita enter. It was spacious, but cluttered with pipes, gauges, drums, and all of it rusted. At the absolute center was a massive cylindrical structure all the tubes and wires focused on, and it glowed a dull red.

    “This is really bad,” Elita said. “The inner wall shouldn’t be visible. That glow means the reactor is slowly melting through. If it’s punctured-”

    “We’re slag,” Optimus finished. “Like, literal melted slag, yeah?”

    “Yeah.” Dion grunted. “But where is he? He just exposes the inner wall and leaves?”

    “It must be a diversion!” Elita snapped her fingers. “He lures us here and escapes while we’re busy closing the reactor housing.”

    “No, he doesn’t want to escape.” Optimus said. “You said yourself he’s never attempted it. This isn’t a diversion, it’s bait.

    “Points go to the ‘bot with the ears!” Ruiner appeared from behind the reactor on a catwalk. “Or whatever you call them. Things on his head.”

    “The scrap-eater finally shows himself.” Dion said, thrusting his arm forward, it split down the middle to reveal a double-barrelled blaster.

    “You’re gonna shoot me this close to the reactor?” Ruiner leaned on the unstable machine. “I mean, if you want to fry so badly I could just save you the trouble and break the wall myself?”

    “Don’t fire, Dion.” Elita said. Dion begrudgingly complied, lowering his gun but not retracting it. Elita glared and Ruiner, still smugly leaning on the reactor. “What do you want?”

    “If I’m being honest, the two of you dead is on the top of my list.” Ruiner knelt down. “But I’ll settle for bound and helpless. Hey Op’s, tie them up.”

    “What?” Optimus said. Clearly Ruiner got the wrong idea from their interaction.

    “What is he talking about?” Elita asked.

    “I don’t know.” Optimus mostly told the truth. “I never made any sort of deal with him or whatever.”

    “I told you to be ready, man!” Ruiner slammed his fist on the reactor. It rumbled as it became more and more unstable. “I mean, when I told you I wanted to get them and you got all weak-kneed and sympathetic I thought hey, whatever, I don’t need them dead.” Ruiner stood up, two mechanical blocks mounted on armatures from his back unfolded into cannons. “But if you won’t take care of them your way, then I’ll do it my way.”

    “Ruiner, stop!” Optimus barked. “I never made a deal with you, and I never said I’d betray these two!”

    “What’s going on?” Dion demanded to know.

    “I swear I have no idea,” Optimus said. “He did talk to me, I’m sorry. I lied but only because I didn’t think he was this insane.”

    “Desperation will make anyone insane!” Ruiner stepped forward on the catwalk. “I gave you a choice, Optimus. I still am, but you need-” Ruiner was struck in the chest by a laser. It cut a line from the middle to his shoulder and he fell, toppling over the railing and landing on a large pipe. Optimus turned to see Elita, one of her eyes glowing more intensely than the other.

    “Take him to the main furnace.” Elita ordered Dion. He complied, scaling the various ladders and steps to reach Ruiner’s limp body and drag it off and over his shoulder.

    “I’m sorry.” Optimus said. “I should’ve told you, and I should’ve trusted you.”

    “Yeah, you should’ve.” Dion sneered.

    “It’s fine, what’s done is done.” Elita said, walking over to a control console. She pressed a large, marked button that caused the reactor to close.

    “It’s time we took care of this trash heap.” Dion said as he carried Ruiner to the door.

    “What’re you going to do to him?” Optimus asked.

    “Disarm him, restrain him.” Elita said, following Dion out of the room. “Figure out the rest once he’s harmless.” Optimus followed, and a short walk later they entered another large, but not quite as large, room with a huge burning furnace and conveyor belts of scrap feeding into it. Optimus surmised this was for smelting scrap, and his suspicions proved true when eh looked at his feet, past the grated floor he stood on to see streams of liquid hot metal pouring below.

    “You’re not going to smelt him, are you?” He asked.

    “And so what if we are?” Dion said. “This loser deserves it for the nine months he spent making our lives miserable.”

    “It may be the only way.” Elita turned to Optimus. “He’s too dangerous, and we don’t have the supplies to support the four of us until the ship comes and takes you home.”

    “But…” Optimus remembered Sky-Byte’s final words. “He can’t die, not like this. Killing someone in a fight is one thing, this is execution-” Optimus paused, then looked at Dion. “I thought Ruiner was only on your ship for a week?

    “I meant…” Dion squinted and threw Ruiner on the floor. “I meant it’s felt like nine months.”

    “What aren’t you telling me?” Optimus asked Elita, she wouldn’t look at him.

    “Oh-ho…” Ruiner sputtered from the ground. “So, so much.”

    “Quiet!” Dion kicked Ruiner in the gut. Ruiner curled in and swept Dion’s legs. He got up and bolted for a door on the far wall. Elita outstretched her hand and deployed a blaster on her forearm. An arch of lighting shot towards Ruiner, who leapt to one side and turned, the cannons on his back flipped over, revealing missile pods. He fired a volley at her and Optimus tackled her aside, the missiles cleanly missing. Ruiner again ran for the door, but Optimus grabbed him from behind, wrapping his arms under Ruiner’s. Ruiner kicked at the air and struggled, trying desperately to reach for the door control. Optimus tried to subdue him, but Ruiner’s weapons again became cannons and he fired wildly, hoping to hit Optimus or anything to be free. Optimus dropped and rolled onto Ruiner’s back, pinning him.

    “No!” Ruiner yelled. “You stupid idiot! You don’t understand!”

    “You’re damn right I don’t!” Optimus looked to Dion who was helping Elita up. “I don’t understand any of this. What aren’t any of you telling me, and why can’t a get a simple, straight answer!?”

    “You want a straight answer?” Ruiner adjusted his cannon to point at the door control and fired, blasting it open. Optimus looked into the room and felt a pit in his innards. He released Ruiner and stood up, walking into the room. Inside was hollow frames, exoskeletons. Dead robots, all missing their armour, mechanical workings, and sparks.
    “I…” Optimus was disgusted, but it quickly turned to sorrow when he saw one of the half-melted frames was bigger than the rest. It was only about a third of what it was, but Optimus could tell it was Sky-Byte’s remains. He turned back to Elita and Dion. “I don’t… who,” Optimus shook his head. “What are you? Part cannibals?”

    “It’s not what you think!” Elita explained. “We never salvage functioning ‘bots, just husks!”

    “Yeah right.” Ruiner griped. Dion stepped on his back.

    “Shut. UP!” Dion stepped on him again.

    “Tell him!” Ruiner sputtered in pain. “Tell them about the Star Hopper you have docked to your airlock! My Star Hopper, fully functional! I bet they said some scrap about not having escape pods, or how the re-supply ship only comes however many months. Lies! They’ve got a million of ‘em!”

    He’s lying!” Elita screamed, firing a laser from her eye into Ruiner’s already damaged chest to silence him. Optimus watched, then looked into the room. He looked at all the bodies, and noticed more than a few had laser cuts and electrical burn marks.

    “No,” Optimus said. “He’s not, is he?” Elita and Optimus locked eyes. Her gaze was almost apologetic, sad. Optimus almost wanted to believe her, but the truth was obvious. “Elita, please-” She pointed her weapon at him, Optimus held up his hands. “I know you don’t want to do this.” He began to take steps forward.

    “I really wasn’t going to hurt you…” She said. “I liked you. I thought maybe if you stayed a while you’d…” She put her hand to her face. She turned to Ruiner and pointed her weapon at him and charged it. “You ruined everything!” Optimus darted forward and grabbed her arm. She fired, but hit Dion by accident. Freed, Ruiner grabbed Dion by the arm and swung him around, throwing him into Elita. The two fell on their backs, and Ruiner deployed his missiles, blasting the conveyor above them and burying them in scrap.

    “You didn’t kill them.” Optimus said.

    “If shooting them dead was an option I’d have done it ages ago.” Ruiner said. “They’re too tough, at best it slows them down. Come on.” Ruiner transformed, his entire body folding in half until he landed on four wheels. His alt mode was sleek, night sky blue, with gold bottom trim and a bright yellow flame pattern adorning the hood.

    “That’s the tackiest car mode I’ve ever seen.” Optimus remarked.

    “Oh ha-ha tow truck,” Ruiner’s engine buzzed. “We can critique each other’s alt modes later, but right now we have to go before they dig their way out.” Ruiner spun one hundred eighty degrees to face the door. “Presuming you’ve made up your mind who to trust.”

    “Honestly? I haven’t.” Optimus transformed. It was painful and slow, he still didn’t have the replacement part, but it’d have to do. “But all I know is you weren’t keeping dead robots in your closet.”

    “Give it time, buddy,” Ruiner quipped as they drove out the way they came in. “We’ve got to get back to the reactor.”

    “Why?” Optimus asked, but the trip was fairly short and they were already there.

    “I’ve got to overload it again.” Ruiner transformed back to robot mode and hit the marked button.

    “But that’ll kill us all!” Optimus said. “Oh, unless that bit about deadly radiation frying our circuits was a lie, too.”

    “No, that’s true.” Ruiner said. “But I’d have to actually crack the reactor to do it. Over-loading it will just put the ship in emergency power, which will hopefully let me get back to my ship.”

    “I thought you wanted to steal this one?” Optimus asked as he watched the reactor open, revealing the red glow as it began to melt from the inside.

    “I did, but now that they’re on to us-” Ruiner switched off every safety save for the last one. “We’ll have to do the far riskier option of just-run-for-it.” The reactor buckled, and warning sirens blared. “Let’s go.”

    “You’re going nowhere.” Dion stood in the exit, Elita by his side.

    “Saw that coming.” Optimus remarked. Optimus was about to appeal to them again when Dion charged, body-slamming Optimus into a pipe, denting it so bad steam escaped. Elita fired her weapon at Ruiner, who scampered up the latticework of pipes and valves. Optimus got to his feet and held up his fists, Dion chuckling at the bravado, and pulled a pipe free to use as a club. Optimus likewise grabbed a pipe to his side and pulled. It didn’t budge. He pulled harder, then tried another pipe. It, too, was sturdy. Optimus instead grabbed a valve and pulled it free. Dion laughed again, and Optimus chucked the valve at his head. Enraged, Dion swung, and Optimus ducked, pulling his tow cable out and hooking it onto the pipe. He dodged another blow from Dion and slipped behind him, wrapping his cable around. Dion tried to hit him from behind and missed, Optimus again snaring him. He wrapped the cable around Dion’s hand and slide down, swinging between his legs and up behind him, leaping up to wrap the cable again around Dion’s neck. The scavenger was bound, and Optimus detached his winch and looped it around another pipe. Dion turned around. He shrugged, and his shoulder dislodged itself. He let the cable slip through, then reconnected it. He did the same again and again, taking himself apart and reassembling until the cable was at his feet.

    “Huh.” Optimus commented. Dion deployed his arm blaster and pointed it at Optimus. He ducked to one side and Dion fired, scorching Optimus’s shoulder. Before Dion could get another shot, bullets pelted his back. He turned, and Ruiner was crouched above him on a catwalk.

    “Hey Dion,” Ruiner said. “You’re fat.” He took off just in time to dodge another blast and Dion angrily climbed up after him. Optimus stood up and looked behind him to see Elita with her weapon again pointed at him.

    “Elita, please-” Optimus pleaded with her. “Don’t make this mistake. All we want to do is leave, we’re not going to hurt you.”

    “Ha!” She laughed. “Trust me, you couldn’t if you wanted to.”

    “Why are you doing this?”

    “Because it’s what we do.” She said. “It’s how we survive. There’s no supply ship. There’s nothing. This barge is totally autonomous. We ended up here just like you did. We were escaping Cybertron, we’d lost our jobs, our homes, and couldn’t afford a decent warp drive for our ship. When we tried to leave this system, it blew, and we were adrift. This barge picked us up, and we’ve been living off scrap ever since.” She looked to the ground. “Problem is, regular space junk isn’t enough. Certain materials can only come from one place.”

    “You’re deranged.” Optimus growled. “And trust me, I’ve kept company with some truly insane individuals.”

    “It’s just how it is.” Elita said.

    “Then I’m truly sorry.” Optimus spun on his heel and crouched, Elita fired, the lightning just grazed his antennae as he grabbed his tow cable and flung it towards her, wrapping it around her arm. He pulled with all his might and ripped it off at the elbow. Elita yelped and clutched her arm. Optimus was about to apologize when she let go of it and stood up straight. Her expression as apathetic, like it didn’t even faze her. She casually walked over to a pile of scrap next to the entrance and plunged her stub into it. A moment later she pulled it out, a bundle of scrap collected around it. She shook it off, revealing a new arm underneath.

    “See, that’s what I meant.” Ruiner said, standing beside Optimus.

    “Where’s Dion?” Optimus asked.

    “Oh, him?” Ruiner said as Dion landed behind them and grabbed them both by the neck, slamming them into the wall of pipes behind them. “Y’know, he’s around.”

    “Hold them while I close the reactor.” Elita instructed Dion. She went to the terminal and began restoring the safeties. Optimus struggled, and kicked Dion in the shins. He was unfazed, and kept his grip on them both. Optimus had to do something, and head-butted the pipes in front of them, cracking them and shooting steam into Dion’s face. His grip loosened enough for Optimus and Ruiner to slip free and climb the pipes. Dion climbed after them as they made their way to the catwalk. The reactor was right next to them, and Optimus could see the various locks and safeties reinstate inside.

    “We have to over-load it manually somehow!” Ruiner said right before Dion punched him in the face, sending him flying down the catwalk. Optimus grappled with him, and tried kicking any weak spot he could. The reactor buckled again, and Dion was distracted by it long enough for Optimus to get in a punch to the face. Without giving him time to recover, he punched again. And again. Over and over. Finally Dion was on his knees, dazed and beaten.

    “Please…” Optimus was angered by how persistently they denied his pleas. “Just let us leave in peace.” Before Dion could answer, the reactor started o close. Ruiner shoved Optimus aside and grabbed Dion by his sides, throwing him into the reactor just as the out case closed, crushing Dion. There was a dull thud inside as pieces of the scavenger cracked the inner wall. Optimus pushed Ruiner in the shoulder to turn and face him.

    “What is wrong with you?” Optimus yelled at him.

    “What’s wrong with me?” Ruiner became indignant. “I saw a chance to kill the psycho who kept me prisoner on this ship for nine months and I took it, there’s nothing wrong with me!”

    “He was beaten!” Optimus said.

    “For how long, though?” Ruiner was about to continue the argument when more warning lights came on, and the entire reactor started to glow with heat. “We have to go. Now.” He leapt off the catwalk, and Optimus followed for lack of an alternative. They landed and transformed, taking off down the hall. Elita cursed at them and transformed to her motorcycle mode, following. The hallways were all lit with red emergency lights.

    “It’s already switched the backup power?” Optimus surmised.

    “Yeah, which means we can get to my ship now.” Ruiner said, hanging a right. “In backup mode the doors heading to the airlock automatically unlock. I never could find away around them until now. Unfortunately, I‘m pretty sure Dion‘s corpse cracked the reactor exactly like I didn‘t want to, so I‘m almost certain this ship is done for.” They drove until they found a wider, cylindrical hallway. On the floor was a large marked door. The airlock. They transformed and Ruiner thumbed the door control.

    “Please open, please open…” Optimus repeated to himself. It did, and Ruiner hopped inside.

    “Come on,” He said. “It’s time we blew this petro stand before it actually blows!” Optimus was climbing in when he saw Elita standing in the hallway. She didn’t have any weapons out. She made no effort to stop them.

    “Elita, come with us.” Optimus said. “This ship isn’t going to last long and even if it does, this is no way to live.” They waited four full sparkbeats before either said a word.

    “You’re right.” She said. She turned around and slowly walked away. Optimus was about to make his plea again when he was pulled down the airlock into the cramped Star Hopper by Ruiner.

    “Sorry buddy, but we don’t have time.” Ruiner disengaged the Star Hopper from the barge, and they drifted away. As they rotated in space Optimus got his first look at the barge from the outside. It was gargantuan, and oblong in shape. Not far from here they had detached, the ship began to glow with heat, boil, and burst. This happened three more times, and slowly the ship tore apart, and contracted inward into a melted blob of metal.

    “Reactor crunch.” Ruiner said. “Yeah, it’s what happens when gravity sorta gets messed-up by reactors for ships that big. They don’t really blow up so much as get crumpled.” Optimus was silent, and oddly enough mourned Elita and Dion. Sky-Byte’s final wish, and Optimus had already disappointed him. Ruiner turned the ship around to face Cybertron, their glistening metal home.

    “Try and set us down at one of the larger spaceports.” Optimus said.

    “Really? 'Cuz I was actually going to crash us into the poles as far away from civilization as possible.” Ruiner said sarcastically. “Hmm, that’s odd.”

    “What’s odd?”

    “Well, and I’m being totally honest, we may actually be crashing into one of Cybertron’s poles.”

    “Shut up.”

    “No, I’m serious!” Ruiner tried to fight the ship’s steering. “We dropped too far into the atmosphere, I can’t course-correct! We’re being dragged in!”

    “Then how were you able to steer before?”

    “The gravity well caused by the barge eased the pull from the planet!” Ruiner explained, desperately trying to keep them from spinning out of control. “Now, well, I’m kind of fighting the tide here!”

    “Can you make it a safe crash landing?”

    “Is that a joke?

    “I don’t know, I’m just throwing out suggestions!” Optimus said.

    “Here’s a suggestion:” Ruiner struggled to speak from the inertia. “Brace yourself! Remember, it’s not the fall that kills you, it’s the sudden-”
     
  15. SPLIT LIP

    SPLIT LIP Be strong enough to be gentle

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2005
    Posts:
    97,613
    News Credits:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    462
    Location:
    agile house
    Likes:
    +98,319
    Instagram:
    Chapter Five: Breaking And Entering


    “Teletraan, begin final preparations and lock the doors, please.” Botanica instructed.

    “Yes ma’am,” Teletraan’s disembodied voice said. “However I must again voice my objections. Your safety may be compromised during this procedure-”

    “Your ‘opinion’ is noted.” Botanica scoffed at the idea of Teletraan expressing concern. The same canned message had played word-for-word at least eight times in the last four hours, a cute way of reminding Botanica of the dangers of her work. Teletraan wasn’t alive, but whomever had programmed it saw fit to make it as interactive and personable as possible to make it seem like it was. Which struck Botanica as ignorantly presumptuous, giving mundane technology the fallacy of sentience while she was on the brink of making the connection between the two herself.

    “Neural scope adjusted, ma’am,” Teletraan said. “Security blockers disengaged. All preparations complete.”

    “Stand by to execute-” Botanica slithered her slender fingers into the crevasses of the techno-organic mind, making sure every node connection was solid and wouldn’t break. “And tint the windows, maximum opacity.”

    “Yes ma’am.” The windows turned dark. The lab suddenly felt much smaller. Botanic picked up the four connecting cables, one in each hand, and plugged two into open slots in her temples, one in the back, and one under her chin. They automatically expanded to create a seal.

    “Execute…” Botanica counted five full spark beats. “Now.”

    “Executing…” Teletraan said. Botanica felt a swelling in her head, as if there was a sudden pressure change. She closed her eyes and felt the room tilt. Then nothing. The pressure normalized and the brief vertigo passed.

    “Teletraan, something’s wrong, I-” Botanica opened her eyes and noticed everything was dark. But not truly dark, as she could see her own hands in front of her. She was floating in a void, stood upon some invisible plane. This was much different from before, she was experiencing a full cognitive backdrop. Not only had the mind and her successfully connected, it had created a mental state of awareness she could observe. But there was no manifestation, only blackness. She looked all around, until finally she turned back the way she had arrived looking at and saw a figure. It was in the distance, blurred. She focused in on it and it resolved. The grey and muted red colours, the large back-mounted cannon. It was Soundwave. He was right in front of her now, without any noticeable movement.

    “Soundwave, you’re-?” She looked at him. He stood utterly motionless. She wondered if the mind was not some kind of mental duplicate of the Decepticon, but realised this wasn’t really Soundwave. Two forms stepped out from either side of him. Rumble and Frenzy, the mind’s avatars. Then from behind them Obsidian and Strika, then Starscream and Scourge. “Soundwave” outstretched his arms, and the Decepticons all metamorphed into fingers, then hands, and those hands were attached to an oversized image of Megatron. The image then began to strangle himself with his own hands, those hands now belonging to Scourge and Starscream. All three turned a monotone grey and dissolved like ash in the wind, and a small robot stood far behind it all. It was slender, and it’s features were nondescript. Slowly it’s head morphed into a face, a very young, very innocent face. Botanica moved towards it and knelt down.

    “Are you-” She was interrupted by the small robot placing a finger over her mouth. It gently took it away and wrapped it’s arms around her. She closed her eyes and hugged it back, and felt it tighten it’s hold. Too tight, in fact. She felt constricted, and when she opened her eyes again the small ‘bot was strangling her. She tried to fight back, but the ‘bot grew, changed again, into the form of Megatron. She blinked again, and this time it was Scourge. With eye blink of her eyes the assailant was another Decepticon, and their grip was tighter. Finally she closed her eyes and fought back, not physically, but mentally. She opened them again to see Sky-Byte and Optimus, fused together, flying into the sky and erupting in a hellish blaze that washed over her like a tide. Through the inferno she saw what looked like a giant red-eyed beast, followed by the feeling of being pulled back along with a pressure and vertigo, before she awoke in the real world. The connecting cables all self-disengaged and she fell back from the mind.

    “Fascinating…” She said. The experience was nothing like before, it was so vivid she felt her neck to make sure she hadn’t actually been strangled. “Teletraan one, begin log: I have made my first successful interface with the subject since it‘s repair. It was unlike the previous interfacing, the sentience of the mind seemed… lessened. A mental plane of existence was established to simulate physical contact. Note that it seemed to have difficulty manifesting itself, and settled on a Protoform-like visualization. Could imply a state of recovery that involves re-establishing it’s mental faculties. I will have to-” The lights went out. The room was totally black save the few lights coming from the mind before dim emergency lights activated.

    “We are sorry for the inconvenience…” A low-quality, emotionless version of Teletraan’s voice came on the loudspeakers. “But the campus has been placed in lockdown level one. If you are in a room please remain there until lockdown is lifted. If you are in the halls, please make your way diligently to the- south -exit immediately. Thank you for your patience.” The message began to repeat. Botanica looked to the windows, now clear again. The building was in emergency power mode, and non-essential features were offline. She saw security ‘bots running through the halls, but couldn’t make out what they were saying. Dull thudding reverberated through the walls, but Botanica heard something else. Guttural, lingering noise, almost like an animal growl. The normal lights came back on and the windows returned to their previous opacity.

    “Teletraan?” Botanica asked.

    “Yes ma’am.” The voice was slow to respond.

    “Adjust the window tint to be one-way.” Botanica said. “Zero visibility into this room. Confirm.”

    “Confirmed zero visibility into the room.” Teletraan replied. “Would you like the outer side to be mirror-coated?”

    “I don’t care, just no-one see sin her!” Botanica snapped. Irrational fear crept into the back of her mind. She felt a nauseating familiarity. The rumbling, guttural growl returned, louder. Botanica saw a beaker of liquid ripple along with it. Something very large was roaming the halls. “Teletraan, relay all audio responses to my private frequency.”

    “Acknowledged.” Teletraan’s voice was in her ear now, all pleasantries were removed, likely due to the power interruption. Botanica now felt mildly ashamed to admit to herself that she actually missed Teletraan’s programmed courteous tone in this unnerving situation. As she mused about her own irrational fears, the growling returned, this time very loud and very close. Botanica remained entirely still, as if she didn’t trust the window tinting. She felt the footsteps before she heard them, and looked at the general direction. The lights went out again.

    “Lockdown level two has been reached.” Teletraan’s voice said in Botanica’s ear.

    “Are the window’s still blacked out?” Botanica asked.

    “Affirmative.” Teletraan said. The growling returned so loud Botanica nearly jumped, and she positioned herself near the back of the lab. She glanced at the mind to her right, still sitting there, it’d completely slipped her notice.

    “Teletraan, lock down the mind!” She commanded. The case shut with a hiss, followed by the clicking of the locks. Just as it did, a shadow appeared in the window next to it. Botanica remained perfectly still as a very large, very dark creature slowly moved down the hallway outside. It was taller than her, and walked on all fours. It’s eyes were piercing red, though it as too dark to make out any of it’s other features. It was lumbering, but dedicated in it’s movements.

    “Teletraan,” Botanica whispered. “Are the door’s still locked?”

    “Affirmative.”

    “Keep them that way.” Botanica was struck still, as the creature halted. It raised it’s elongated head as it seemed to smell the air. It looked towards her, as if it could see her through the glass. The window fogged as it placed it’s head close to it. Botanica tried to move to cover, but couldn’t. She was frozen. The creature pressed it’s face against the glass. Her eyes widened as the glass flexed, then began to crack. It shattered as the creature pressed it past the breaking point. It lifted a foot and placed it on the empty window frame, pressing down and crushing the wall to create an opening. Botanica couldn’t begin to apply logic to why this thing was after her. In fact, she couldn’t think logically at all. The creature took slow steps towards her. She was shaking, but not from fear, from anticipation. She threw her arms forward as twin bolts of lighting exploded from her hip-mounted blasters, striking the creature dead center and pushing it back through the hole in the wall. Her spark was beating at an incalculable rate as she ceased fire and readied to shoot again. The creature shook it’s smouldering head, but was otherwise unfazed. She cast out another volley of electricity, lighting up the creature once more. She poured everything she had into it, hoping to melt it. Instead it opened it’s razor-filled maw and unleashed a plume of flame. Botanica ceased fire and ducked away before she was scorched and attempted to take aim again before the monster rushed her, swiping at her with a massive claw and knocking her clear across the room. She landed upside down as the creature turned, and she fired again, her arcs going wild as the monster opened its mouth once more, fire rushing forward. She transformed and drove straight under the monster, returning to robot mode and spun in place, firing her lighting as she did. It traced a line across the monster’s back and it coiled a massive tail, whipping it towards her and pinning her against the wall. It was a massive band of hydraulics thicker than she was, and she couldn’t move it. The creature held her in place a moment longer before turning and taking another swipe with it’s claws, knocking her down once more. That last blow hit her head and she felt dizzy. Her cannons were overheated and she shouldn’t move her left arms. The monster merely stared her down, it’s red eyes locked with hers.

    “You have a strong spark…” It said in a terrifying, guttural growl. “That is why you will survive.” Botanica felt herself lose consciousness, and despite her best efforts to stay awake, passed out as the creature turned away.
     
  16. Coffee

    Coffee (╭☞ꗞᨓꗞ)╭☞

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2013
    Posts:
    6,789
    News Credits:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Location:
    Ontario
    Likes:
    +4,155
    Did not expect Elita and Dion to be as deranged as they turned out. Gotta feel bad for Optimus.

    At this point I really can't imagine who or what the "creature" might be. When the last chapter described an "attack", I assumed either Scourge or Nightbird.

    I noticed some of your words seem to be affected by autocorrect or something. As what I assume is meant to be valve is instead read as value and long is changed to love. Just something to keep in mind, I guess.
     
  17. SPLIT LIP

    SPLIT LIP Be strong enough to be gentle

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2005
    Posts:
    97,613
    News Credits:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    462
    Location:
    agile house
    Likes:
    +98,319
    Instagram:
    Thanks for pointing those out for me! Yeah, autocorrect gets me when I least expect it. Worse is when I skim-read to look for mis-spellings but don't notice wrong words because they're still spelled right. I'm so used to it telling me certain names don't exist instead. :lol 
     
  18. SPLIT LIP

    SPLIT LIP Be strong enough to be gentle

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2005
    Posts:
    97,613
    News Credits:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    462
    Location:
    agile house
    Likes:
    +98,319
    Instagram:
    Happy mother's day to all mothers! Also, here I was happily writing away, totally forgetting to, y'know, post my progress. :p 


    ---------------------------------------------------------------------

    Chapter Six: Seasonals​



    “You what, mate?” Ironhide scoffed.

    “I said you can’t go through here-” The Trooper said, “please remain calm” scrolled across his red visor. “The grounds are still in lock down. Authorized personnel only.”

    “But our friend is in there!” Road Rage pointed to the smoke coming from the campus. Emergency sirens and panicked chatter filled the background with noise, forcing them to speak up.

    “A lot of people’s friends are in there.” The Trooper said. “Listen, if you’ll just be patient, the sweep is almost finished. Once it’s clear everyone inside will be evacuated. I promise.” The Trooper motioned towards the front door of the campus where more black and white troopers were escorting search and rescue crews in and civilians out.

    “Surely there’s not some way these ‘bots can meet their friend?” Convoy appealed to the trooper. “She’s in the labs.”

    “The labs were what got hit hardest,” The Trooper said, inadvertently sowing more worry into the Autobots. “No one goes in unescorted.”

    “Look, we’re ex-military-” Spiral said. “We can handle ourselves. We’ve handled a lot worse.”

    “Wait, so you’re-?” The Trooper looked them over. “You’re the ones that took out that purple Decepticon last month?”

    “We are,” Ironhide said. “And so is our friend in there.” The Trooper shifted on his feet. He looked around, then crossed his arms.

    “Alright,” He said. “But I’ll escort you. You stay right behind me. The labs have been cleared but there’s major structural damage. Watch your step, and no vehicle modes.”

    “That won’t be a problem.” Road Rage placed her hands on her hips.

    “Alright, come on.” The Trooper led them towards the campus. They examined the devastation as they walked through the courtyard. The large mineral art piece Spiral had seen before was half-melted and charred black. Gouges and scoring were peppered on every surface. Ironhide placed a hand on the wall with particularly odd scratches.

    “Like claw marks?” Spiral observed.

    “Some ‘bot with crazy hands I guess.” Ironhide left them so as not to fall behind their escort. They walked through the halls, and saw a door cut clean in half, before reaching the lab. Botanica sat inside with a medi-bot, her left arms were removed. Ironhide sprinted ahead, Spiral and Road Rage not far behind. He stepped through the hole in the wall where the window had been. The medi-bot began to protest but Botanica waved him off.

    “Are you okay?” Ironhide asked, looking at her moved arms. “What happened?”

    “I’m fine.” She said, the medi-bot picked up her arms and re-attached them. “It’s nothing, the nerve fuses just blew is all.” Road Rage threw her arms around Botanica, Ironhide placing a hand on her shoulder. Botanica smiled and patted her, then looked to Spiral. “What, no hug?”

    “Eh, you’re covered. Literally.” Spiral shrugged. Botanica watched Convoy step into the room over the shattered glass.

    “Who’s your friend?” She asked.

    “My apologies,” Convoy said, bowing slightly. “Convoy is my name. Like a group of many following-”

    “Yeah we met at a bar fight.” Spiral interrupted. “But he’s cool. I think.”

    “Who did this?” Ironhide asked.

    “Not who, what.” Botanica said. She thanked the medi-bot and he took his leave. She stood up and brushed dust off herself. “It was some kind of creature.”

    “This creature,” Convoy said. “Describe it, please.”

    “It was large, that’s for certain.” Botanica thought. “Black, or very dark at least. Red eyes, walked on all fours, had a tail…and it spoke.”

    “Spoke?” Road Rage said, incredulous.

    “Indeed,” She continued. “It said something about my spark, and that I’d survive. I don’t think it was hear to kill me.”

    “Why do you say that?” Convoy asked.

    “Because I feel like it could have, easily.” Botanica said, patting her hip cannons. “I gave it everything I had. Even Shockwave didn’t walk away from that unscathed. Yet this thing was barely singed. Plus…” Botanica looked across the room. “It clearly wanted something else.” She pointed to the torn-open container.

    “It took the mind.” Spiral said.

    “The mind?” Ironhide asked.

    “The core processor-slash-brain of the pyramid ship Soundwave built. I was analysing it, I had even begun to interface when… it arrived.”

    “Wait, interface how?” Road Rage asked.

    “A psychic link, for all intent’s purposes.” She explained. “The experience was remarkable but fleeting.” She held up her hands as if trying to literally grasp the meaning. “It spoke in vivid, but abstract imagery. I can’t begin to understand it’s true message.” She dropped her hands in frustration, her brow furrowed. “We need to get it back. It’s too valuable, the philosophical repercussions alone are borderline unfathomable!”

    “Excuse me, officer?” Convoy asked the trooper. “Where did the creature go?”

    “Your guess is as good as mine.” The trooper said.

    “Wait, you don’t know?” Ironhide asked. “It’s a giant black monster in a heavily populated city with no other animals in it, and it just disappeared?”

    “We’re investigating it, but…” The trooper shrugged sympathetically. “Last I heard it literally vanished. We have forensic teams on the way to comb the area, and we’ve set up a perimeter but it’s a big city with lots of places to hide.” He tapped his ear and turned away. “One moment, I have to take this. I’m sorry but right now, we’re out of leads.”

    “No,” Botanica said. “Something like that doesn’t just slink away into hiding.”

    “You know what’s up?” Spiral asked.

    “I can assume…” Botanica drifted over to her equipment, and started sifting through it to find what wasn’t damaged. “I didn’t make the connection at the time, but the way my electricity was absorbed, there’s few materials that can do that. The creature’s armour may have been coated in electrostatic grounding foam. A compound that absorbs amperes…” She grabbed a small device and slipped it into her palm. She tapped her left temple and a visor slid over her eyes as her hand folded inside out. A dim light emanated from her palm. “If I’m right, there should be residue-” She shined the light on the floor. “Ah.”

    “Is it there?” Ironhide asked.

    “Yes.” Botanica said.

    “Then you can track it?” Convoy said.

    “I can’t.” Botanica removed her visor. “The residue is only created during electrical exposure. There’s no trail, because it’s all here.”

    “So we’re out of luck?” Road Rage asked.

    “Not quite.” Convoy said. “Electrostatic grounding foam, that’s an uncommon substance…”

    “Because it was discontinued.” Botanica explained.

    “Exactly,” Convoy snapped his fingers. “Because once it burned away-”

    “It irradiated the surface it was applied to!” He and Botanica said in unison.

    “Excellent!” Road Rage pumped her fist. “And why is this so exciting!?”

    “Because we can track the radiation!” Botanica said. “At least, in theory. I don’t know where we could possibly find the equipment needed.”

    “I might be able to help.” Spiral said. She made sure the trooper wasn’t listening, then huddled them all together. “I may know how we could acquire such technology, but it is technically illegal.”

    “I’m in.” Botanica said without hesitation.

    “Wait, what kind of illegal?” Road Rage asked.

    “Perhaps ‘illegal’ was the wrong term.” Spiral mused. “I know a ‘bot. Met him touring up north. The type of ‘bot who ‘gets’ stuff for people. The kind of ‘bot who hangs out in shady spots and turns away when the authorities are around.”

    “If Botanica is in, so am I.” Ironhide said. ‘Especially if it means I get a go at this monster.”

    “Is there no other way?” Road Rage asked.

    “Not that wouldn’t take us weeks of going through proper channels.” Botanica said. “The things we need are high above my pay grade.”

    “I would like to point out I find this course of action questionable.” Convoy said, turning to road Rage. “But I will assist in any way I can.”

    “You don’t have to do that, mate.” Ironhide said. “We’re the kind of ‘bots who get into trouble, and I would-”

    “I insist.” Convoy said. “I can be a bit of a trouble-maker myself, but if there’s one thing I despise above all, it’s injustice. Your friend here was attacked and robbed, and the police are ineffective. I consider it my moral obligation to help.” Road Rage nodded thankfully to Convoy.

    “Then it’s decided.” Spiral said. “I will warn you, this guy? He may only accept payment in the form of body parts…”

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    “Ruiner!” Optimus called out from the star hopper. He couldn’t see anything through the storm, and couldn’t pull himself free from the wreckage. He tried once again to pry the bent chassis open, but again he failed. He called out again, but his words were less than comprehensible as he could barely hear himself over the wind. He felt the wreckage shift, and felt fear at the possibility of being crushed. His fear turned t anger, and ultimately determination. He made a promise, and he’d keep it. He placed a hand on each side of the bent chassis and pulled with all his strength. It began to flex, and empowered by this small victory, he didn’t let up. His pistons strained and he began to scream as he pulled the chassis apart and fell out into the snow. He panted as his systems tried to cool, which wasn’t hard in this weather. He climbed back up and brushed the flakes of frozen carbon dioxide. He stretched his joints and was relieved to not notice any new injuries. He transformed, not only to make sure he still could, but to use his headlights to search for Ruiner. The blizzard was intense, but he did spot a dark spot not far. He transformed back to robot mode and trudged through the packed white until, sure enough, he found Ruiner face-down. Optimus feared the worse, and flipped him over only to see his eyes wide and alert.

    “Ready to give me mouth-to-mouth, big guy?” Ruiner said.

    “You don’t even have a mouth.” Optimus rolled his eyes and stood up with his hands on his hips.

    “Really, because that’s the flaw in that statement?” Ruiner sat up in the snow, having to yell over the wind. “Not, like, the fact that we don’t breathe or anything.”

    “Why didn’t you answer me?” Optimus asked.

    “I was giving the planet a hug ‘cuz I missed it.” Ruiner said. “Nine miserable months trapped in hell, felt like a damn lifetime. Could do without the freezing snow and stuff but otherwise a solid homecoming.”

    “Can’t believe it.” Optimus shouted as the wind picked up. “I’ve been out-smart-assed.”

    “Believe it, blue collar.” Ruiner stood up. “And unless you’re a triple-changer with a third hyper sonic jet mode, we’re stuck together for now. Possibly literally if the ice sticks our frozen, lifeless bodies together.”

    “We’re not dying yet, buddy.” Optimus turned by to the ship.

    “You know delirium is the main symptom of hypothermia,” Ruiner covered his face from the storm as he followed. “Now get back here so we can huddle for warmth. I want to enjoy being alive for a scant few seconds longer!”

    “We’ll be huddling for warmth in an oil lodge with piping hot cups of petrol in our hands-” Optimus pulled free a mechanical box from the ship. “Once I lead us back to civilization like the improvising maverick I am!”

    “Oh yeah, you’re a real Mack-Guyver.” Ruiner snorted. “Gettit, ‘cuz you’re a truck. Oh hell, I think I’m delirious now!”

    “These ears-” Optimus was cut off by a particularly violent gust of wind. The storm was growing more intense. “Aren’t just for looking cool-”

    “Good!” Ruiner shouted. “Because if they were I’d get a refund if I were you!”

    “They’re receivers!” Optimus pulled one of his antennae free, it remained connected to his head via a flexible wire. “If I can boost my range, I may be able to lock on to, well, anything, and follow it!”

    “Oh snap!” Ruiner was nearly blown over, he scurried to the ship for cover. “Now all we have to do is not freeze to death! Can your special ears do that?”

    “No, but your guns can!” Optimus pointed to Ruiner‘s shoulder pods. “What kind of heat are you packing?”

    “Bullets, ballistics, and-” His eyes widened. “Napalm!”

    “Make a torch!” Optimus snapped his fingers. “It’s our only shot.”

    “Wait, won’t that ignite the air?” Ruiner waved to the swirl of carbon dioxide around them.

    “No, just means we need less of it!” Optimus grabbed a pipe from the ship and snapped it in half. He motioned for Ruiner to give him the napalm. Ruiner bent one of his weapon pods forward and a single warhead slipped out. He broke the tip open, took the pipes, and applied the napalm to the ends. He passed them to Optimus, who held them at arm’s length. Ruiner stood up and manually adjusted his weapons, Optimus nodded and held the pipes as far away from him as he could. Ruiner lined up and fired a single bullet, grazing both napalm tipped pipes and igniting them into torches.

    “Ha ha!” Optimus shouted over the wind. “We’re like cave bots, discovering fire!”

    “And that is why Transformers are at the top of the food chain!” Ruiner took a torch. “All we needed was manufactured napalm and automatic weapons.” He turned to the wrecked star hopper as Optimus attached his antenna to the power box. “See ya, old buddy. You were really a piece of junk.”

    “Okay, receiver is successfully boosted!” Optimus said as the wind nearly knocked him over. “I think. I’m not sure. A friend of mine once taught me how to mess with communicators. I wish she was here, we’d probably have a long-range telecomm system.”

    “I’ll settle for a poor ’bots radar!” Ruiner said. Optimus scanned back and forth, trying to pick up a signal. He’d all but given up hope when the smallest of static bursts came over his com.

    “Got something!” Optimus said, pointing. “North! Or, whatever. North of us. That way!”

    “I can’t see my hand in front of my face!” Ruiner said, using his hand as a shield for his flame.

    “Here!” Optimus unwound his tow cable and hooked it onto Ruiner’s shoulder armour. “Stay close!” Optimus began to trudge through the snow, Ruiner slogging in behind him. It came up to their ankles, which meant Optimus couldn’t drive even if he wanted to. Holding his torch close to his chest for warmth, and keeping his focus on the signal, he put one foot in front of the other. The storm was only growing more intense, and Optimus knew they had to keep moving. He’d survived treachery and hardship he’d never thought he’d experience, he wasn’t about to freeze to death in the snow in the middle of nowhere. He powered through and kept moving, the furious white threatening to consume him, and kept putting one foot in front of the other.
     
  19. supernova222

    supernova222 junkion

    Joined:
    Jun 19, 2011
    Posts:
    4,988
    News Credits:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    262
    Location:
    taunton, MA
    Likes:
    +3,559
    Ebay:
    you are such a good writer...and you are killing me with anticipation!

    when is optimus gonna reunite with the others and what happened to megatron? i gotta know(over dramatic crying)
     
  20. SPLIT LIP

    SPLIT LIP Be strong enough to be gentle

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2005
    Posts:
    97,613
    News Credits:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    462
    Location:
    agile house
    Likes:
    +98,319
    Instagram:
    Sorry I have't been updating this to anyone that's been reading, I've been super busy, but on the plus side the next bit is a longer one and I'll have it done tomorrow!

    Is it a faux-pas to post in a fic thread without an actual page? But I feel like it's worth mentioning that this is a real delay not just laziness.