Transformers-First Breath

Discussion in 'Transformers Fan Fiction' started by Jus09, May 11, 2013.

  1. Jus09

    Jus09 Well-Known Member

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    Author's Note; This is a Tokusatsu [Sentai/Metal Hero]-inspired fanfic that exists in it's own universe.

    Chapter 1- Welcome To The Apocalypse.

    Millions of years ago, a mysterious cosmic phenomena descended upon the utopian planet, Cybertron. This phenomena, known as Black Dust, quickly bled Cybertron dry of it's natural resources. Shaken by the rapid decay of their once-plentiful paradise, the planet's inhabitants, called Cybertronians, descended into feudal anarchy. Divided into various baronies, the disgraced population had scattered all across the planet, hiding in the ruins of their ancestors' former glory.

    Sifting through the decaying rubble, an ebony and lavender mechanoid searched the deserted ruins with a strange scanning device. It's optics flashed with intrigue, uncovering a black square case beneath the rubble. Pulling the box free from the rubble, the mechanoid carried it over to another of its' kind, presenting it's find.

    The one in charge, a Drone with a missing servo, nodded before ordering; "Unit M-3.8, throw the artefact on the pyre." Obediently, M-3.8 walked over to a mound of flaming cartridges, before throwing the newly acquired item onto the fire. Silently, the machine stood by, watching the ancient artefact he had uncovered slowly burn to a crisp. The flames scorched his optics, before he turned his back to avoid it's vicious glare.

    Recovering his wits, Unit M-3.8 then regrouped with a contingent of similarly clad machines, before marching behind his squadron. Once he was marching in tune with the others, the Vehicon couldn't help but notice a peculiar rhythm from the way he was marching. Left, Right. Left, Right. Left, Right. Nothing but those same two beats. Left, Right. Left, Right.

    Marching through the seemingly endless stretch of charred rock and twisted metal, the drones kept moving, chatting amongst themselves. "There's been no activity from the other Baronies in 2 vorns....' 'Does that sound suspicious?' 'Slaggin' dust, getting in my joints...' But at the back of the contingent, Unit M-3.8 found himself haunted by the sight of the burning film. Concerned, one of his fellow drones, a Vehicon with a slight limp, tapped on his shoulder before asking, "Brother M-3.8? Are your systems properly calibrated?" The drone shook himself awake from his daze before answering, "I-I am fine, Brother M-3.7..."

    In the distance, an ominous tower marked their destination, as legions upon legions kept marching ahead, their steps made harder by the familar, yet coarse terrain of rock and ash.
     
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2013
  2. halfaway

    halfaway Did you think you were cool?

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    I am hooked!
     
  3. Jus09

    Jus09 Well-Known Member

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    Chapter 2- The Inferno.

    Once they arrived at the Castle, the returning horde began to descend through the lower levels. Inside, darkness shrouded the halls. Flickering lights lit the stairway as the drones made their descent. A foreboding presence seemed to surround the drones from every side. Every nook, every cranny and every corner seemed to grow tighter and smaller, trapping the Drones in the same fashion as mice in a maze. Their omnipotent master's influence was oppressive, almost claustrophobic as the corridors grew tighter. Some of them tried to lighten the mood with more chatter. 'Do you think He will accept our lack of findings?' 'Who cares? All that matters is that the Father's will be done.' 'After this is over, I might need some maintenance....'

    When the Drones entered the lowest level of the Castle, they heard the booming voice of their master chilling each one to their circuits. "Welcome home, my children. In these wicked times, it makes me proud to have such devoted children." The drone's chatter grew silent, as their attention had been attracted by a dark blue mechanoid staring down at them from a balcony. The mechanoid was tall and imposing, his very presence capable of silencing even the most foolhardy of critics.

    As the Mech began to address the Drones assembled beneath his feet, they listened eagerly and without hesitation. "For several vorns, I have served as your guiding intellect. I served as your father. Your salvation from the accursed wasteland, and from the ills Our forefathers burdened upon We Faithful Many." Obediently, M-3.8 listened, trying to ignore the flickering flames that raged in his optics. "The ills of science. Of free will. Of philosophy. I, as your protector and your father, have treated you, my children, as if all of you were an extension of my spark. And in return, all I ask is your continuing devotion and obedience to your Prime Directive. My proud Vehicons, you are all created to serve my whim. The items you have all helped purge are but mere dust-ridden relics, that serve only be purified by my arbiters of change. Understand, my children, that an enemy of progress is your enemy! The thinker, the weak, the stubborn, the ill, the treacherous viper of independent thought, are all your enemy! You are the architects needed to forge a new order, to protect it from the savages that oppose me." All of a sudden, the chamber walls echoed with the frightening cheer coming from the crowd, as they chanted in unison, "Father! Father! Father!"
     
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  4. Jus09

    Jus09 Well-Known Member

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    Chapter 3- Making Music.

    After the Speech, Unit M-3.8 left the Great Hall before heading up the staircase, the Father's words ringing in his head. His fuel cells exhausted, Unit M.3-8 headed toward a recharging station before refuelling himself. A poster hung from the wall, with the words 'Strength Through Obedience' inscribed in Pre-Dust text. Once his fuel cells were filled, M-3.8 listened as the loudspeakers shared the Father's message. "--Krzck--Loyalty is Strength, Treachery is Weakness--Loyalty is Strength-Trzk--Treachery is Weakness--"

    That statement, repeated ad infinitum, was how the Drones memorised His influence. Slowly, he drifted, his mind wandered back through time.

    For as long as he could remember, Unit M-3.8 was merely a cog to help run the Great Machine. Having been a unit created from the M-3 Vehicon Template, he could not remember what his World had been like before the Dust. He had only rolled from the Assembly Line twenty Solar Cycles, the last one to be completed before the M-3 Line had been scrapped. Namely from rumours of Gold Plastic Syndrome.

    Yet like the other drones, M-3.8 was programmed and conditioned to uphold said mantra ever since his Template rolled from the assembly line. And like his Brothers before him, it had been encoded into his Prime Directive to honour and respect the Father. To purge the Savage World outside the Gates was a privilege that his Template had been fortunate enough to earn. There had been no need for his Bred to undergo combat training in 10 Vorns, since the previous Templates had already purged any remaining life outside the Palace.

    Waking up, M-3.8 heard a sharp 'klang!' that snapped him out from his trance. Looking below his feet, he noticed a thin sheet of metal had collided with an errant wrench. Curious, M-3.8 knelt down before picking up the wrench. Then he dropped it, making the same 'klang!' as before, but with a higher pitch. His interest piqued, M-3.8 tried it again, dropping the wrench to produce different sounds. Again, another tune! Just like earlier, during the March. Inside M-3.8's mind, he began to put the two tunes together. Left, Right, Klang! Left, Right, Klang! Klang! Right, Klang! The sounds interested him. It wasn't organised. It didn't need to be conditioned. And yet, this tune held his attention, even as he repeated it in his head.

    Suddenly, he heard footsteps near the recharging station. Hurriedly, Unit M-3.8 picked up the wrench before hiding it from sight. Another M-series drone, a peg-legged Vehicon labelled M-3.2, walked up to the younger unit before asking, "Brother, I heard a noise. Did something happen?" Trying to hide the wrench, M-3.8 glibly replied, "N-no, Brother. I did not." Slightly suspicious, M-3.2 walked past his younger comrade before recharging his fuel cells.
     
  5. Jus09

    Jus09 Well-Known Member

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    Chapter 4- Relic from the Past.

    The next Solar Cycle, Unit M-3.8 found himself assigned to find and track new relics. Transforming into vehicle mode, Unit M-3.8 drove away from the Palace Gate. But as he drove through the wasteland, his audio receptors were tingling. Pausing for a moment, he tried concentrating on this specific signal, stopping in his tracks as he listened to the signal. But as he listened closely, he swore he could hear another tune somewhere.

    "What's this? It's another tune." Excitedly, Unit M-3.8 drove toward where he thought the music might be located. He thought to himself, "This tune...it's different." But his excitement slowly began to turn sour, as he began to lose control of his steering. As he careened toward his unintended destination, he slowly began to panic as his axel starts jamming from heat stress. "What..what am I doing? Why can't I stop myself?! Turn, Turn!" Struggling for control, Unit M-38 could only watch helplessly as he crashes into an abandoned warehouse, knocking himself offline in the process.

    Regaining consciousness from his collision, M-3.8 transformed into robot mode as he slowly pulled himself from the wreckage before trying to scan the area. His scanners damaged, he hobbled through the ruins, all the while, still hearing that same music he detected.

    Searching through the ruins, M-3.8 then uncovered what appeared to be a blue, old-fashioned dial-operated radio blurting out a stream of nonsensical statements. "Krzch-hellooo, fellow survivors! This is your ol' pal Master Blaster comin' at 'cha...' At first, M-3.8 felt compelled to destroy the radio. Lord Straxus warned him of this sorcery. He said that it would corrupt his circuits and make him weak. But try as he might, M-3.8 found himself unable to do so, feeling strangely intrigued by the words coming out from the radio. "...I love those dear hearts and gentle people...who live in my home town..." Gently, M-38 placed the radio down before listening to this strange music, enthralled by it's unique rhythm. "...they read the good book, from Fri 'til Monday, that's how the weekend goes. [how it goes]..."

    As he listened to the music, Unit M-38 found himself tapping a foot to the music. It seemed so calm, so innocent. How could these barbarians come up with something so harmless, he mused to himself as he switches off the radio. But just as M-38 got up to leave, he picked up the old radio, curious as to how such technology could exist. Transforming back to vehicle mode, Unit M-38 peeled away from the scene, his radio tucked neatly in a safe compartment. Perhaps he could show it to his fellow Vehicons.
     
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  6. Jus09

    Jus09 Well-Known Member

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    Chapter 5- Growing Pains.

    Driving back to the Gates, M-3.8 then transformed back into robot mode as he entered the gates. Ensuring the radio is safely tucked in his chest compartment, M-3.8 made his way inside the castle walls. Perhaps this device wasn't as harmless as he thought.

    Returning to the Recharging Station, Unit M-3.7 confronted M-3.8. "Brother, your signal dropped from our radar. Where have you been?" Faced with M-3.7's trusting optics, M-3.8 had no choice but to show his discovery. He pulled out the radio before showing it to Unit M-3.7. "Brother, I do not think this device is evil. Listen to the tune it makes." Switching on the radio, M-3.8 calmly listened to the lyrics. '...Somewhere over...the White Cliffs of Dover...where skies are so blue..."

    Nervously, M-3.7 tried to switch off the radio before he replied, trying to fool M-3.8, "I-I did not hear anything, only static." He nervously chuckled before he then whispered, trying to persuade his Brother to heed his advice. "Listen, you do not know what you are doing. Please, dispose of this relic. Destroy it, never think of such a thing again. I will not report this to the Father, but you have to promise me never to bring another relic within these walls." M-3.8 strangely felt protective of the radio, as evidenced when he replied, "Brother...". M-3.7 then tried to take the radio as he stated, "If you refuse to destroy it, than I will. I do not want to see the Father punish you. Please, I ask only this of you." M-3.8 found himself hesitant to disobey his Brother's authority, yet at the same time, the radio he discovered had shown him an outlet for his instincts. Reluctantly, M-3.8 agreed to his brother's proposal, before taking it away.

    However, unbeknownst to either of them, another Vehicon had been eavesdropping on the conversation the entire time.
     
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2013
  7. Jus09

    Jus09 Well-Known Member

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    Chapter 6- Falling from Grace.

    Straxus casted a glance over an unassuming drone before addressing him. 'Welcome, child. What brings you before me?' The Eavesdropper found himself reluctant to speak, hoping to the Gods that his Lord would not smite him where he stood. No-one stood in His throne-room. Then he glibly spat out, "My lord..there is something I must tell you." Straxus raised an eyebrow before asking, "Do tell." The drone answered, "I-I wish to report an incident. One of the M-3 drones has smuggled a Relic into Darkmount. W-with your permission, sir, may I humbly request a reward for my loyalty?" Slowly, Straxus stood up from his throne before walking up to the drone. "Oh, but I have one in mind..." Suddenly, he knocked the Drone into a nearby wall before holding him down with the bladed end of his sceptre. "..Your life. Now bring him here before me, and perhaps I may give you something greater." The drone stuttered, before bowing before Straxus. "You-you flatter me, Father. T-thank you..." The Drone then retreated, letting Straxus sit back in his throne to await the insubordinate Unit.

    A few cycles passed. Unit M-3.8, trying to dispose of the radio, freezes when he hears his name on the intercom. "Unit M-3.8, the Father wishes to speak with you. May the Gods have mercy on you." His spirit sank, Unit M-3.8 reluctantly picks up the radio before hiding it in his chest compartment as he heads for the Throne Room.

    Once Unit M-3.8 entered the Throne Room, he suddenly felt the eyes of the Gods weighing him down. He couldn't move another step, his joints seizing up in terror. Once you have entered the throne room, there was nothing that could help you. Reluctantly, Unit M-3.8 faces Straxus before he asks, "F-Father...wh-why did you ask me to appear before you?" Answering the drone, Straxus replied 'Why, child, that is simple. Do you know why I tasked you and your Brothers to hunt down and destroy Relics?" Surprised, Unit M-3.8 shook his head before answering, "Because of our Forefathers and their arrogance?" Straxus then stood up before walking over to the drone in front of him as he replied; "The Gods punished us for the wickedness of our ancestors. To that end, destroying relics left behind by our corrupt ancestors would merely appease their wrathful desires.'

    Hoping to convince himself otherwise, M-3.8 slowly pulled out the radio before playing it. For a moment, M-3.8 listened to the sweet music, hoping that it could change Straxus' mind. But Straxus' voice cut through the serenity as he knocked the device from the drone's hands. "Enough with this blasphemy.' After Straxus had crushed the device underneath his foot, Straxus' voice boomed as the dark blue overlord pointed a damning finger at the Vehicon. 'By bringing this into our midst, you have damned your family, your friends, and your lord. For this heresy, you shall never be forgiven.' All of a sudden, M-38 screamed as his former Lord sank the bladed edge of his sceptre into the Drone's shoulder. His optics were ablaze with fear of the inevitable.

    As Straxus dragged the still-functioning M-38 to the tip of the Castle, the disgraced Vehicon was paraded before his fellow Drones. In horror, he watched some of his kin backing away in fear.. They couldn't believe one of their own had betrayed their Father. But one question pierced his deep-seated humiliation. 'Why?' M-38 turned to see Unit M-3.7, sharing the same disbelief as the others. Genuinely saddened, Unit M-3.7 then asked him, 'We were Brothers...why would you do this to Us?'

    Finally, Straxus reached the tip of Darkmount. Without a second thought, the tyrant gripped M-38's neck cables before dangling him over the edge, disgust apparent on his facial expression. 'Through your actions, you have dishonoured those who have loved and trusted you with their lives. Give their regards to the Gods you sought fit to mock, traitor.' Then, as Straxus dropped him, M-38 found his whole world shattering before his eyes. Memories came flashing back as his death came closer. This was true hell; having to know that everything he worked for, fought for...was truly for nothing. Then, everything went black.
     
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  8. Jus09

    Jus09 Well-Known Member

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    Chapter 7- Rehab

    Not too far away from the castle gates, a lone cloaked wanderer was busily scavenging raw materials from outside the gates, piling whatever he could on a nearby cart. Cautiously looking around the area, the wanderer sighed before sorting out the junk in his cart. "Let's see...proton accelerator, spare batteries, dead Vehicon soldier, scrap meta-wait, what?" The wanderer than stepped back, startled by the motionless form of Unit M-3.8 sticking out from a pile of scrap metal like a purple and black sore thumb. No doubt spooked by this unexpected find, the wanderer checked the body for life signs before nervously looking around the area, checking for Vehicon sentries. Breathing a small sigh, the wanderer covered the cart's dubious contents with a sheet of tarpaulin before transforming into vehicle mode and driving away from the gates, dragging the cart behind him.

    The next Solar Cycle, Unit M-3.8 woke up on a recliner chair. Startled, the disgraced Vehicon looked around to find himself in the middle of an old bunker. Looking for a way out, he escaped from a locked cell before wandering the hallway, looking for some answers. But in the midst of his escape, he heard a gentle piano sonata floating around the hall. It was the same sensation he felt when he played the radio, or when he discovered the tune in his head.

    Following the music to the source, he walked up to another door before opening it. And inside was a sterile white room, with a slender orange and white mechanoid playing an old piano. M-38 just stood in the doorway, listening in awe to the music. The Cybertronian playing the piano then noticed M-3.8 before walking over to the disgraced Vehicon. "Greetings. Welcome to my Workshop. It's not much, but it's where I hide when it goes dark." Unamused, Unit M-3.8 asked, "Where am I? Why am I still functioning? And who are you?" The Cybertronian than answered "My name's Rung. I take it you have shown an interest in music." M-3.8 then asked, "How...how did you know?" The mechanoid then replied, "Well, let's just say I had a hunch. Most likely has to do with the results I found when I salvaged you from Darkmount. Specifically when I took brain pattern scans and found some kind of internal musical rhythm in your CPU. I take it whoever must've thrown you in the trash isn't a music enthusiast."

    Unit M-3.8 couldn't help but feel annoyed by how Rung addressed his former Leader. "I..I do not understand. I failed my Father's mission, and he showed me mercy." Rung shook his head before answering, "If your definition of mercy involves being tossed into the junkyard, than by definition, your father does not think of you-or more likely the other Vehicon Drones-as children. Rather, he sees you all as expendable shells." M-38 gripped his fist in anger before he snapped, "You lie...it has to be a lie..." Overcome with emotion, the unit knelt down to the ground before covering his faceplate with his hands as he choked, "Forgive me, Father...please...I did not mean to anger you..."

    Slowly, Rung knelt down to the drone as he gently placed a hand on the Vehicon's shoulder before he replied, "Free will is nothing to be ashamed of, my friend. It is what makes every one of us unique. It's what makes that music you've seemed to take a shine to. You have an extraordinary gift." Confused, M-38 looked up at Rung before he asked, curious why his normal dark purple and black exterior was now bright red and yellow. "Why did you repair me?" Rung then answered, helping the emotionally overwhelmed drone to his feet, "I rebuilt you because I wanted to help you. I saw your potential, and how you reacted when you heard the piano. I want to help you realise your full potential as a living being. Compassion. Creativity. Imagination. They were hidden inside of you from the start. And I wanted to bring all of that to the forefront. From now on, you're no longer a number. From now on, I'm going to call you...Blaster."

    M-3.8 took a moment to ponder the wanderer's kindness before he replied, shaking the doctor's hand. "I...I thank you for what you have done for me." Rung sighed before answering, "Don't think of it. Now go back to your seat and rest. You've had a long day, what with being nearly scrapped, being rebuilt and all." Respectfully, Blaster bowed before walking away, just as Rung quietly murmured to himself "That kid'll have a lot to learn. If not now, than eventually. Right now, I'm just worried what this experience must've done to his psyche. Ah well. Once he's had some rest, I'll take a closer peek at what makes him tick."
     
  9. Jus09

    Jus09 Well-Known Member

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    Chapter 8- Growing Pains.

    In the evening, Blaster woke up to find himself isolated in his cell. Standing up from the bed, he gazed at his hand questioningly, before he thought to himself 'Is this what thinking for myself feels like? This must be how the Ancestors felt...it feels so...so unusual. It's like...it's like I can understand how they...." All of a sudden, the emotional shock left over from Rung's words, combined with the realisation that his 'father' was nothing more than a monster, slammed into Blaster's chest with the force of a collision. He then yelled, "Nngh...NO!' Suddenly, Blaster gripped his hand, his mind clouded in confusion. 'The others...they would see me as a freak! I...I am one of His children...why am I thinking such blasphemy?!' In a fit of misguided rage, Blaster punched the wall before he fell to his knees, his trembling servos grasping at his head module as he screamed, "Father! Why?! Why did you take my happiness from me?!" Sobbing, he curled up into a ball before murmuring, "I served you...I trusted you...so why do you not answer my question?" But there was no answer.

    Nearby, overseeing the experiment, Rung heard Blaster screaming in anguish. Dropping what he was doing, he rushed to where the screams came from, feverishly thinking to himself. 'He must've triggered the psychic backlash...I knew I should've kept an optic on him, I just knew it!' As soon as Rung appeared at his cell, he peered into the door, just as he saw the weeping Blaster hunched over a bed.

    Rung's optics widened with shock. Desperately rummaging through a sack, Rung calmly approached Blaster before lowering his voice to a gentle whisper. "Easy, Blaster...it's alright...it's all part of the mind's recuperation..." Blaster than turned to see Rung, optics widened and guilt-ridden as he stammered, "No...you-you are not Father...let me return to His flock..." Rung then pulled out a long grey rod-like device. As he flicked a switch, he quietly whispered, the device humming softly, "Blaster...I'm sorry." Suddenly, Blaster felt his pain receptors overwhelmed by a 20'000 volt shock, before he fell to the ground in an unconscious heap. Quietly, Rung placed the device aside before strapping Blaster to the bed as he muttered, "But this is for your own good."
     
  10. Jus09

    Jus09 Well-Known Member

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    Chapter 9- Road to Iron Town

    Miles away, the ruins of Cybertron gave way to an endless stretch of inhospitable desert. An endless stretch consuming everything in it's path. On the surface, nothing could survive. But at closer inspection, there is still life.

    In the middle of this hostile desert, two cloaked strangers were busy digging away. But for what didn't seem apparent. One of the strangers mumbled to himself, his tone tinged with bitter frustration. "Still digging. We've been digging for over half a solar cycle. There's nothing here in this area, yet we're still digging."

    The other could only grunt in frustration, continuing to dig. Beneath the cape, a harsh red visor flickered, but the digger's strength kept waning, despite showing no signs of giving up.

    The other stranger kept mumbling to himself, writing his thoughts into a diary. "I've got to admire the old 'bot. He knows we're not getting anywhere. Yet he keeps digging anyway. Why? I don't know. Maybe it's his type. Or his age. Perhaps both. But he knows as well as I do that we're a dying species." Even as the stranger put away the diary, his monologue continued through his thoughts as he helped digging. "Hunted down by the Machines, running low on energon...broken? Hardly, but there's no doubt that we're getting there."

    Suddenly, the bulky digger stopped digging, falling limply to the ground in exhaustion. Feverishly, the younger stranger rushes to the old stranger's aid, but the Digger weakly pushed him away, grunting, "No...we keep digging...me sure...energon's here..." Desperately trying to hold his friend upright, the younger stranger stated, "I know, old timer, but you're weak. You need a rechar..."

    Only to be pushed away, as the digger glared at him in barely-restrained anger. "Me Grimlock said we keep digging! Puny minibot...always..urgh..." Grimlock, drained of energon, fell to the ground in a heap. Worried, his companion began to speak into a comlink, requesting assistance from an unknown source. "Scavenger, Grimlock's flatlined! There's no energon here, we have to move now!" The Comlink then answered, "Gotcha, Glide. Sit tight. I'm on my way. Scavenger out."

    Frustrated, Glide took off his protective cape to reveal a light blue and yellow mech underneath, cursing to himself as the comlink went dead. "After the Dust hit, everything stopped working. Energon became scarce. Whole cities turned to deserts. Hundreds of sparks went dim. Then the Machines came." His servos curled up to form a fist, as he continued his monologue, growing angrier with every word he kept saying. "They drove us far away from the cities, exiling us here. We're lucky the elders allowed scav parties to dig for whatever energon's even left on this desolate rock." Then, within cycles, a large green and purple construction vehicle appeared, a stretcher hurriedly deployed for Grimlock. The construction vehicle then told Glide to, "Get 'im on the stretcher. We're moving out." Gently, Glide tried to help Grimlock to his feet, but Grimlock, still defiant, pushes Glide away meekly as he grunted, "Me Grimlock...not weak...keep digging, damn you..." Quickly, Glide helped the old mech onto the stretcher, before transforming into a small motorcycle and helping to keep Grimlock safely level.
     
  11. Jus09

    Jus09 Well-Known Member

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    Chapter 10- Zankoku No Mirai

    As they drove through the wastes, Glide continued his internal monologue as they drove past the ruins of an ancient spaceport. "How quaint- we can't even go off-world, since They've nuked every spaceport from here to Iacon. We can't leave this existence, and I bet They're real pleased with themselves...slaggers."

    At sunset, they soon stopped at a monolithic gate, adorned with the ancient symbol of the Autobots. As the gate slowly opened, they quickly drove inside, Glide maintaining his internal monologue, the alarms blaring at an ear-splittingly loud volume to signal a potential sanctuary. Outside, he could hear shouts of 'They're Coming!', 'Everyone, get inside!' and 'The Gate's closing! Hurry!' ringing from inside the corrugated walls. "Iron Town; home to millions of cybertronians. No-one ever leaves after Dusk. Once everything goes dark, you were on your own." They drove through the slowly closing gate, before parking in an elevator as it took them down to the lower levels of Iron Town.

    Once the Elevator reached the lowest floor, the three scavengers drove up to where a ramshackle medical clinic was located before transforming into robot mode. Carefully, Scavenger carried the unconscious Grimlock into a barely functional medical room, before placing him gingerly on one of the beds. Silently, Scavenger and Glide stood by Grimlock's bedside, helpless as they saw their friend gradually wither away into nothing.

    As Glide held the elderly mech's hand, he kept an optic on a nearby spark monitor, watching his friend's lifesigns dwindling. For once in his life, Glide did not know what to say. Grimlock rested motionlessly on the hospital bed, his lifesigns dwindling by the second. If only he had listened.

    As Grimlock's condition worsened, Scavenger reluctantly placed a servo on Glide's shoulder as he said, "I'm sorry, Glide. But he ain't gonna last long. We have to do it." Glide turned to Scavenger, before reluctantly letting go of his mentor's servo. He accepted the grim reality.

    Slowly, Scavenger placed a servo the tube connecting Grimlock's spark chamber to the life support machine. Then, with a heavy spark, he pulled the plug. Slowly, Grimlock's fierce red optics faded to black as his spark signature flatlined. Glide, guilt weighing heavily on his shoulders, collapsed in a heap. Piteously, he wept as Scavenger watched two Medics wheel Grimlock away. There was nothing either of them could've done.