About Four Million Years Ago. . .
The deadline approached. He was only young but he was the best trainee he had left. It had been difficult to infiltrate Decepticon-held territory but he felt his trainee was up to the task. It wasn't as if he had sent someone so young into the heart of the Decepticon Empire. This was only a minor province on the outskirts of their influence. It was, in fact, the nearet Decepticon base to the Autobot city of Iacon. The most recent reconaissance mission had revealed the Decepticons were using the base for small-scale shipbuilding; not a weapons depot or an artillery testing complex. Security would have been tighter at such an installation. The construcion of armored courier shuttles was not considered to be a high security risk.
SoundEffect looked away from the building but was keenly aware of the squadron of jets that had been routinely patrolling the airspace of the shipbuilding complex, as well as the pair of Battlechargers guarding the main entrance. Checking his internal chronometer, he verified for himself that it was almost time. As the Autobot's surveillance director, SoundEffect was responsible for those precious few infiltrators they had left. The School of Espionage was still a smouldering memory from the most recent attack. The Decepticons had a few terrorists among their ranks and SoundEffect was clandestinely gathering information on those responsible for killing twenty-seven of his students.
The planetary Energon supply was never before at such a critical level. It had been a grave risk, not to mention a slight bending of Prime's instructions, that he discovered a small cache of high-yield energy rods in the shipyard's auxilliary hangers. He had had Rewind and Eject with him at the time. Both were efficient warriors, but they made even better spies. They had located the facility's communications center and had recorded a conversation between Dirge and Reflector that indicated something unprecedented and large was under construction at this facility. There were also indications that the Decepticon leader, Megatron, was on an inspection of the facility not long ago. Something important was definately going on. If the Decepticon leader himself was on an inspection tour of a low-security shipyard on the outskirts of the Decepticon Empire, it was every indication that the Autobots should be concerned. The fact that the energy rods were there rather than the Decepticon standard Energon cubes reinforced his concern.
Since the bombing of his school he had wanted to give his best trainee, Bumblebee, an assignment that would reinforce his self-worth. SoundEffect was trying to alleviate Bumblebee's self-persecution at not being able to save more of his friends and fellow students. SoundEffect had always preached about how clear heads were needed in this business and giving this assignment to Bumblebee would do wonders for him. The capture of some energy rods would boost the spirits of all the Autobots.
SoundEffect had discussed his proposal to Optimus and Prime agreed to the operation. Prime had had a personal discussion with Bumblebee regarding the danger of breaking into any Decepticon base, but Bumblebee always felt he needed to prove himself to the others and accepted the job without further discussion. Bumblebee didn't seem ruffled by the inclusion of Wheeljack to the operation. SoundEffect simply justified to Bumblebee that Wheeljack had more cargo space to carry energy rods. He just cleverly left out that Wheeljack was an expert driver, seasoned warrior, and, well, 'inventive' when circumstances demanded it.
SoundEffect glanced skyward as the main fighter group, led by Starscream soared overhead. Not long now.
SoundEffect's audio microprocessors whirred. Bumblebee's signal! SoundEffect took one last visual scan of the area. He signalled the All-Clear to Bumblebee and Wheeljack, then activated the equipment he had set up. It would only interrupt the electronic detector grid of the Decepticon duct system for a few astroseconds. The grid in Section 6379 buzzed briefly, then faded. He then noticed a pair of grey hands lift a section of the ducting and slide it out of place. SoundEffect's energon pump skipped a cycle. Wheeljack had climbed out of the grated duct and was handed several energy rods. "Success!" SoundEffect intoned to himself. Bumblebee was all right and had secured the rods! SoundEffect was relieved to see them both functional. Stealing the rods from the hangar would have been tough enough but navigating the supply ducts must have been challenging. The ducts were all electronically protected but were not illuminated. Bumblebee and Wheeljack would have been sneaking through the ducts with only the natural light of the energy rods to guide them. They would not have been able to touch the ceilings nor the walls. The energy rods they aquired would last about a quartex, under normal conditions. It was the same story...the Autobots had only been finding Energon in miniscule amounts over the centuries, always needing more than they could hope to scrounge for. The war had taken its toll on this planet's inhabitants.
Wheeljack transformed to his vehicular form and opened the rear hatch. Bumblebee placed the rods inside, shut the hatch, and transformed to his roving saucer mode. They had had a conversation going but had not waved or made any acknowledgement that SoundEffect was in the area at all. It would have been futile anyway, even if they had known where to look... SoundEffect had a way of concealing himself that made even Mirage envious. SoundEffect had been known to leave a room of only ten Autobots without any one of them aware he had left! It was just part of the job.
SoundEffect kept track of Wheeljack and Bumblebee's progress out of the Decepticon province, yet kept an optic sensor on the base as well. "What are they building in there?" he wondered aloud.
Bumblebee and Wheeljack were out of sight when the trio of fighters led by Starscream appeared on the horizon and headed for the yellow and white ground vehicles fleeing Decepticon territory.
Oblivious to the abrupt change in his protege's luck, SoundEffect transformed into his vehicle mode and hovered over to an accessway not dissimilar to the grate that his comrades had fled moments before. He switched his external sensors to high gain and reverted to his robot form. There were three Decepticons who were very adept at locating individual Transformers: Soundwave, Ratbat, and Reflector. They had their own talents for sensing when a specific Autobot or Decepticon was near. SoundEffect had that talent as well. By analyzing energon signatures and engine vibrations for certain Transformers he could indentify with certainty many individual robots. Soundwave was by far his deadliest opponent. He could not detect him though, nor could he identify the presense of Ratbat. Reflector was in the base someplace though.
SoundEffect walked steathily for some distance through the deadened tunnles that ran under the base. He stopped short for an intersection and took some readings. SoundEffect spoke softly to himself:
"Power surges to the left. . . seems there are more energy rods than they could possibly use in a facility this size. Energy readings from the right jump off the scale."
SoundEffect walked at a quicker pace than before down the corridor to the right. He quietly opened a hatch to the main halls of the complex. Making his way along the aft end of a construcion bay, he ran behind at least nineteen armoured shuttles in various stages of completion. SoundEffect noticed that the further into the structure he travelled the more sturdy the bulkheads and braces in the rooms appeared. He ducked into the shadows of the next room. There was darkness to hide in here. Braces and load-bearing pipes were radially distributed through the room as if to protect the base from a large explosion just beyond the next room.
"This can't be a weapons-testing site. Our aerial recon would have discovered it by now."
SoundEffect quietly stepped up to the airlock's control panel, rerouted the security alarm to another junction and forced the airlock open. Before him was a large open pit, circular, with portable computer consoles and several Decepticons at a cluster of consoles at his immediate left. SoundEffect saw Rumble on the way out of the room. After he left, SoundEffect accessed his audio file on Decepticon: Rumble. He raised a small pair of speakers from each of his shoulders and activated his voice modulator circuitry. Speaking into a comm-set, which was part of his robotic helmet, he spoke in Rumble's voice:
"Hey, Ramjet, I can't get the airlock open. It's not respondin' to my security codes. Get yer tail-fin over here."
SoundEffect was pleased with his performance. The directional speakers made it appear the voice was actually coming from the area of the airlock. Rumble was something of an dim-wit anyway. . .Ramjet shouldn't have expected to hear anything different.
"Idiot. You probably deserve to be here when this thing goes off, Rumble. Just give me an astrosecond and I'll be right over."
After tapping a few commands into his console Ramjet moved over to the corridor that led to the airlock Rumble presumably could not exit. As soon as Ramjet was out of sight, SoundEffect made a break for the circular opening in the floor which dominated the vast room.
"By the Matrix!"
SoundEffect almost suffered a momentary shutdown when his optics gazed on the impossible; a starship the likes of which he had never seen before. Decepticons were first with flight, but actual starship technology had eluded them. Only the Autobots had been able to construct power drives to propel a ship of substantial mass. "The only energy source capable of powering a ship that size . . ." SoundEffect's voice trailed off, still awestruck from the angular lines and forbidding color of what was probably the first-ever Decepticon starship. And the size of it. . .
At that moment, Shockwave entered the room with twenty-six Sentinel robots who split into two protective rows of guards as Astrotrain entered, walking from the hatchway to the elevator system outside the starship, between the even rows of Shockwave's drones. Astrotrain carried a small container which had an eerie green glow near the semi-transparent lid. From SoundEffect's viewpoint he knew immediately what it was.
"The Decepticons are planning to power their starship with the Heart of Cybertron!"
Every Autobot knew what the Heart of Cybertron was. It was the most stable, near-limitless supply of energy known to Transformer science. It was nearly worshipped by Autobot elders as being a genuine artifact from the fabled Primacron.
What was undisputed was the fact that the Heart had been used for millions of years to provide power to the formerly majestic Crystal City. Crystal City had been the Autobot's most beautiful and prosperous city on Cybertron until it was destroyed by its own protectors. Somehow Megatron had altered the Constructicons personality circuits and turned them to the Decepticon cause. They plundered the city after destroying much of the city's crystalline beauty. Megatron instructed them to retrieve the Heart of Cybertron. Megatron had been in possession of it ever since.
SoundEffect watched in futility as Astrotrain descended to the very depths of the complex and installed the crystal in the engine drive system. The crystal provided a stable flow of energy, but the crystal structure itself was not as stable. It required special care to transport it.
SoundEffect lamented to himself, "One good rifle shot at that crystal and the entire complex, starship and all, would be gone. There are some high-ranking Decepticon troops here. The war would no doubt be over shortly afterward. But I can't make a move until Shockwave calls off his Sentinel puppets," he uttered in frustration.
The Sentinel robots which formed a protective path for Astrotrain were all facing outward. Although they didn't realize it many of them were looking at the area SoundEffect was concealed in. 'If I so much as twitch, a few Sentinels will see me, and Shockwave will have made his personal quota for the day.' SoundEffect remained still until Astrotrain had returned from below and the Decepticons had filed out. He returned to his entry point in the city without further examination of the starship. Too many Decepticons were milling about now that the main drive and onboard computer were powered up.
Runamuck and Runabout were no longer at the main gate. They were on active patrol now, approaching SoundEffect's position. Replacing the hatch he had exited he activated his positionable speakers again, this time making the sound of an Autobot hover engine. The projected sound was apparently coming from the other end of the compound and was fading in pitch to imitate a vehicle that was leaving in a hurry.
Almost faster than his optics could register, Runabout had switched to vehicle mode and sped off after his prey. Runamuck still had his back to the unseen Autobot. SoundEffect took aim and fired at the remaining Battlecharger. Runamuck shook violently for a moment and was rendered inert.
"Prime's got to hear about this place," SoundEffect said as he transformed and rapidly left the complex behind.
The glorious dome of Iacon was slowly rising against Cybertron's metallic horizon when the deafening sonic shockwave nearly buffetted SoundEffect off his thrusters. SoundEffect halted and transformed to robot mode to face whatever had found him. Thundercracker, still in flight mode, roared skyward again as Skywarp had his turn for a strafing run. Laser bolts screamed from the energy barrels of Skywarp's gun, impacting SoundEffect in the upper torso.
Receiving a signal from the antenna on the right side of his head, SoundEffect bravely stood to challenge the jets that had now transformed to their robot modes. They approached their easy prey with an evil gleam in their optics.
"You do realize you're in Autobot held territory now?" SoundEffect commented civilly.
"All I see is a coward who seemed to be fleeing our territory, am I right Autobot?" Thundercracker challenged.
"Come on, Thundercracker, let's teach the little pest not to step on our turf," Skywarp said with his usual malice.
Thundercracker raised his rifle and aimed it as SoundEffect. "I don't suppose you were prepared to get caught today, huh, Autobot?"
SoundEffect responded to Thundercracker with a tap of a panel on his forearm. "Never accuse me of not being prepared!"
At that moment, a shriek from the sky screamed downard, a blue and white Cybertronian jet dove toward the metal surface. At the same time, a pair of augers erupted from the planet, toppling Skywarp and Thundercracker onto their backs.
The two surprised Decepticons looked up as Topspin and Twin Twist transformed. The stunned warrior's optics could barely register the split-second transition between vehicle and robot.
"I appreciate your punctuality, brothers." SoundEffect retained his calm demeanor, knowing full well he now had the upper hand.
Skywarp and Thundercracker slowly got to their feet, but made no overt hostile action. Instantly, Twin Twist had his blaster leveled at the two Decepticons. Neither plane had seen him move. His gun arm had immediately twitched from where it had been to where it was now. Skywarp glanced over at Topspin and realized that he too had his weapon aimed but had not witnessed the move.
SoundEffect briefly considered having some fun. but having noticed Twin Twist's head and left arm twitch spasmodically, he knew the Jumpstarter probably hadn't had the opportunity to pound a Decepticon in, oh... an hour. The information SoundEffect had recorded regarding the Decepticon starship was more important than bumping two more warriors out of the war, though.
"I'll need you two to cover me on the way back to. . .ahh!"
SoundEffect and the Jumpstarters were strafed from behind by Starscream and Blitzwing. All three Autobots were knocked to the ground, not having heard the approach of the two new arrivals. Not even slowing down, Starscream and Blitzwing zoomed off in the direction of the hidden starship with Skywarp and Thundercracker changing modes and streaking off after them. At four to three, the odds were in the Decepticon's favour, but the Decepticons had come across the Jumpstarters before and wouldn't press their luck for a third time.
The rest of the trip to Iacon was uneventful. SoundEffect hovered back to Iacon on one of Cybertron's highways, the Jumpstarters at left and right flank positions a short distance off.
Inside the city, SoundEffect greeted Bumblebee and congratulated him on his successful mission. Bumblebee was just being discharged from the medical bay following some minor repairs. First-Aid was the only medic SoundEffect could see in the medical complex. Hoist and Ratchet must have been on board the Ark, finalizing equipment and supplies checklists. The Ark's mission wasn't going to be a long one, but Ratchet was very particular about the tools he needed to have, no matter what the duration of the journey. In his med bay, Ratchet was king.
"I'm sorry I couldn't cover you on the way back, Bumblebee," SoundEffect spoke matter-of-factly, but some of the sincere regret he felt at his pupil's misfortune was evident in his voice.
"Think nothing of it. We got back all right - I even made sure Wheeljack made it back in one piece."
SoundEffect felt better that Bumblebee was still his jubilant self. "Sure. Good going, little guy. Have you seen Optimus?"
Bumblebee motioned down the hall. "Prime's giving his talk to the assembled Autobots here in Iacon right before we lift off."
Bumblebee and SoundEffect walked down to the open assembly area. There were hundred of Autobots assembled there, many more than the room was designed to accomodate.
Prime's lecture had mostly to deal with assigning mission specific tasks to certain high-ranking Autobots as well as warrior volunteers.
The Chief of Operations for Optimus' group was named Jazz. Optimus stepped back to let Jazz take care of a few minor details. Prime walked over to where a small band of female robots had been loitering near the stage. Elita-1, Chromia and Arcee were there, along with a few others SoundEffect didn't recognize. Optimus addressed his long-time mate, Elita-1. "Ready to go, Elita?"
"Ready, Optimus. Chromia and I have finished equipping the Ark's defensive systems."
"I'm heading over now. May I walk you there?"
"Of course."
SoundEffect saw Prime and several Autobots heading toward the ship. He hated to interrupt the Autobot leader, but this information demanded top priority.
"Optimus Prime, excuse me. Could I speak with you? It's urgent."
Prime looked over at SoundEffect and back to Elita. He held his mate's hands. "Go on ahead. I'll join you shortly." Prime gestured SoundEffect to a hall entrance to speak privately.
SoundEffect decided not to keep the busy leader waiting. "The Decepticons have a fully armed and powered starship ready for takeoff."
"What!!!" Prime was not usually one to lose his composure. The volume of his exclamation had turned a few Autobot's heads. Prime spoke softly, " You have seen this then?"
"Yes, Prime, while Wheeljack and Bumblebee were returning here I was able to sneak inside. The Heart of Cybertron is being used as the fuel source."
"Megatron has probably recieved data that we are on a search for energy off-planet. Our time-table has moved up if you're sure that their ship is ready to go. Thanks for the intelligence report, SoundEffect." Prime pondered a moment then added, "Find Ultra Magnus and tell him that the Ark will require protection. He is to assemble and coordinate the remaining warrior contingent of the city to secure our departure. When you're done report to the Ark; we're leaving very soon."
"At once, Prime," SoundEffect added while already on the run to find Magnus.
Prime called to Prowl, one of his trusted advisors. "Prowl, I want you to go to the Ark's control room. We need to lift off immediately. The Decepticons are on to us and are ready with a starship of their own."
Prowl displayed as much of a look of surprise as his faceplate could manage. "A Decepticon starship?"
"Right. Tell Chromedome he has ten astroseconds to finish downloading information into the new computer system."
"I'm on my way, Prime," Prowl said while transforming into his vehicle form and zooming off.
Optimus now headed for the Ark himself, the thoughts of the Decepticons' intentions weighing heavily on his mind.
Prowl transformed as the elevator opened up onto the Ark's bridge. "Chromedome, you're done."
The Autobot's expert computer programmer stared at Prowl, not believing the tone.
"I haven't finished downloading the Galactic Archive yet. All I've had time to install is the Cybertronic Database."
Prowl was not apologetic. "Change of plans, Chromedome. Prime wants to take off immediately. You'll have to leave some data disks behind and we'll download them when there's time."
Chromedome was a respectful Autobot, especially to orders from Optimus. He left the console, bid a silent farewell to the Ark's onboard intelligence, Teletran-1, and headed back to the resident computer that controlled Iacon, the original Teletran.
Ultra Magnus had gotten his troops assembled outside the perimeter of the circular-shaped domed city.
"Autobots, we must protect the Ark's departure. Prime's search for energy may be our only chance of survival." Magnus was confident of all his warriors' abilities to drive off an attack that they all knew was imminent.
When Prime reached the Ark he took the elevator system to the engineering compartment. Huffer had been informed by Prowl of the emergency and was yelling orders to everyone within audio range to get the engines ready for the impending order.
"Seaspray, Cosmos, you were supposed to clamp down the plasma manifold by now. Is Powerglide still flirting with Moonracer? Warpath, radio Powerglide and tell him to get his tail rudder up here. Skids, do I have to tell you a third time to balance the reactor vectors?"
"I'm still recalibrating the plasma temperature controllers," Skids remarked in frustration. He was a theoretician, not the hands-on dirty-work type. He realized however that everyone available was needed for many unusual tasks.
Huffer was exasperated. "That was Beachcomber's job. Where is he, anyway? Grapple, you have two more astroseconds to weld that shut or . . .," Huffer trailed off on that last order. He turned around and noticed Prime standing near the doorway. He didn't so much as say 'hello'.
"We're doing all we can, Prime, you don't need to keep badgering me!"
Prime was slightly amused. "Easy, Huffer. I'm sure you have everything under control. I'll need you on the bridge to handle engineering functions when we lift off."
"Be right up, Prime."
Optimus left for the bridge. As the door swished shut Prime could hear Huffer ranting again. "Whirl! Roadbuster! Willl you two quit yapping and get. . ."
Prime was thinking about the Decepticons imminent attack when it happened. A hollow sounding echo rang through the great ship's corridors. Prime braced himself against one side of the hall. Regaining his balance he headed for the entry ramp at the bottom of the upright starship. There were several Decepticons who had made it inside the protective walls of Iacon. Megatron had sent all available Decepticons in the area who were not onboard his ship already. Runamuck, Runabout, Ratbat, Octane, Barrage, and Ransack were causing the majority of the damage to the city. Several Sentinel robots were there as well.
Megatron had picked a fortuitous time to attack his hated enemies. Only on rare occassions were there so many Autobots in one place.
Ultra Magnus and his soldiers had heard the fighting inside the city and called his troops to re-enter Iacon to drive the Decepticons out.
Many Autobots were caught by surprise while trying to board the Ark. Many were driven back to find protection from the attack or bravely ran forward to make it to the spacecraft.
"Trailbreaker! SoundEffect! Provide cover fire. We have to get the Autobots caught out in the open to relative safety." There was a distinct note of panic in the leader's voice.
SoundEffect looked around. Autobots were fleeing for the outer walls. Iacon was ironically safer outside the city walls than it was inside. Trailbreaker seemed to be shooting skyward. Looking in that direction himself he could see that the main attack force was staying on upper scaffolding around the wall or flying at a constant height. Sentinel drones were the ground troops of this operation, advancing at a steady rate leaving half-functioning Autobots in their destructive wake.
It was a grisly scene. Limbs were broken off; some Autobots were lying half transformed, having been denied an effective escape. RatBat was gorging himself on the fuel of some hapless Autobot, greedily drawing the Energon from the fallen warrior. SoundEffect spotted RatBat. He quickly took careful aim and fired. RatBat was struck dead-center. The pulse blast reset RatBat's equilibrium controls to their startup mode. There was no hope of flying. RatBat crawled on the ground, twitching violently. Finally, practically immobilized, a stubborn wing unit spasmed momentarily and RatBat collapsed to the cold metal ground.
Trailbreaker activated the ramp to the Ark. The large lumbering slab of metal slowly retracted into the ship. The Ark began to hum as the primary systems came online. The Decepticons hadn't ceased their attack. Many Autobots were behind safe cover now and those with weapons were now fighting back. SoundEffect could see that Ultra Magnus, in vehicle mode, had rammed the Decepticon blockaded door, smashing several Sentinels. He dislodged a dozen vehicle Autobots before transforming back to his robot form. The Decepticons regrouped to take care of the new offensive though they didn't let up on the weapons barrage on the Ark itself. Smouldering craters were the legacy of the Decepticon's wrath. The launch area around the Ark was scorched.
Prime had given SoundEffect orders to clear the remaining Autobots. SoundEffect raised two speakers from his shoulders and began: "Autobots, we have no choice but to launch immediately. We will rely on your valiant efforts to make sure that the Ark can get safely away. We'll have to lift off with the crew we have on board now." SoundEffect switched his speakers to stand-by and turned toward Prime, who was taking pot-shots at the high-altitude Decepticons. "Any message from you would be appreciated Optimus." Prime understood all too well the respect he was granted by all Autobots. He wouldn't be gone for long, but a few inspired words could make all the difference on a day like they'd been having.
"Very well, SoundEffect, put me on." SoundEffect reactivated his speakers and produced a microphone from his right forearm. Prime's voice was easily heard above the din of war. "Autobots, we will return to Cybertron soon with enough energy to revitalize the planet. Peace is worth fighting for. Never give up what is your birthright since the Decepticons began the First Cybertronian War. Freedom is the right of all sentient beings, and we'll have freedom for all no matter the personal cost. 'Til all are one!"
The Autobots cheered their leader as well as the Ark, Cybertron's new saviour, wishing them both a prosperous journey. Trailbreaker headed back toward the bridge of the ship now. SoundEffect was about to head back as well when he noticed Prime was still at the open doorway.
Optimus had seen Elita-1 trying to get to the Ark but the explosions ricocheting around her and the other female Autobots prevented her from nearing the great ship. Prime had a hand outstretched, in obvious futility, to somehow reach her.
"I want to go with you!" Elita pleaded as loud as her vocal volume would allow.
"Stay back, it's too dangerous!" Optimus cared deeply for his mate and wanted more than anything to help her get to the ship. The good of the many demanded the Ark take off while it still could.
SoundEffect loathed himself for what he had to do. He reached out to grab Prime by the shoulder to gently coerce him to step back from the hatch. Just as Prime and Elita were saying their farewells a blast much closer than the Decepticons had been aiming for impacted the area between the Ark and Elita-1's position. To Prime's optics, the blast caught her full force. Optimus felt a tremor in the Matrix, but could not be sure that it was Elita-1 he felt or whether something larger was at work.
"She's gone. . . ," Prime was softly speaking aloud. SoundEffect moved him clear of the hatch and closed the door just as the air below the Ark's fusion drives began to heat and blur. Iacon began to shudder, not only from the ignition of the Ark's five powerful fusion plants, but also from the large winches which fought to retract the transparent dome at the edge of Iacon's outer semi-circular wall. The Ark's engines were brought to full power and it began to lift off of it's housing into the sky. From a distance the Ark appeared as a golden jewel being hurled upward by the volcanic mouth of Iacon.
Elita-1 gazed upward and made a silent wish for her commander and mate as the great starship faded from view.
Not far away, the Decepticons had their ship ready for take off. Megatron had one last glance around his bridge at the group of warriors he was bringing with him. ' All efficient and loyal,' he thought to himself, 'Except that incompetent, power-crazed Starscream.' Megatron gave Soundwave the order to lift off and gave his navigator instructions to plot a course for the Autobot starship.
The Ark travelled for many astrohours. The Autobots were starting to settle in. Many were busy with tasks repairing damaged systems. Others strived to get the fledgling computer, Teletran One, up to its peak operating capacity. They were supposed to lift off with a crew of two hundered and one, but only a few dozen had made it on board.
SoundEffect had been manning the perimeter sensor system. The was no sign of the Decepticons, but he had a nagging spark in his circuits that told him they would soon be along. SoundEffect kept glancing in Prime's direction and was disturbed by Prime's pacing around. To many of the Autobots, Prime was walking around to the different stations, checking systems status and such. SoundEffect however had a keen insight into what drove the Transformer's spark of life. He fancied himself an amateur in cybernetic psychology. SoundEffect worked up the nerve to approach the leader of the Autobots in a personal conversation.
"Optimus, may I speak with you?" SoundEffect tried to sound professional. "There's a matter I wish to dicuss, time permitting of course."
Prime stepped away from the console he was at and motioned towards the bridge's rear hatch. SoundEffect followed. Once the hatch door slid shut behind the two robots, Prime spoke up. "What is the matter you wish to discuss?"
SoundEffect summoned all of his courage for his reply. Very matter-of-factly he stated, "You."
Prime's expression instantly became distant. SoundEffect was sure Prime would end the discussion before it started. Prime surprised SoundEffect by his next words. "Go on."
"Thank you, Prime. I'm aware of the conversation you had with Elita-1 before we blasted off. I saw the explosion."
SoundEffect could've sworn he saw Prime's optics flicker. "It goes beyond Elita-1." Optimus remained silent for a few minutes. SoundEffect was a definite comfort to have around. The mantle leadership sometimes distanced a leader from those around him. Prime had heard on many occassions how some Autobots had confided in SoundEffect to help them with their problems. Prime decided to give SoundEffect a chance. "I don't want you to repeat what you hear, SoundEffect, please," Prime sincerely said.
"Of course not Optimus. I'm here to help if I can."
Prime remained silent a moment, then began. "You were right about my being distracted at the loss of Elita."
"Apparent loss, sir," SoundEffect interrupted. "We don't know that she was hurt."
In his anguish he must have rerouted his reason center for he had not considered this as an outcome. Prime decided he would try to keep a more objective mind about such things in the future. 'No point in dwelling on the unknown,' he thought. Prime continued. "Thoughtful point. I'm glad one of us doesn't have a clouded viewpoint right now. Anyway, my concern is as much for Cybertron as it is for Elita."
"For Cybertron? I don't understand why." SoundEffect was genuinely puzzled.
"For as far back as our recorded history dates, no Autobot leader as ever left Cybertron. The war we're in now has depleted Cybertron of its once plentiful, abundant energy. Never before has the planet or its inhabitants been so vulnerable; so near extinction. This mission of ours to search for an energy source is of unparalled importance but it was not right for me to lead it. Cybertron and the Autobots need their leader. My responsibility is to Cybertron." Optimus didn't realize how much he needed to say this out loud.
SoundEffect searched for comforting words. The scope of what Prime had just said had his head reeling with ideas and scenarios he had never conceived of before. "You're needed here, Optimus. You left Iacon in the capable hands of Ultra Magnus. If what I witnessed at the Decepticon base is accurate, they'll be launching a ship to intercept us. Our mission is Cybertron's only hope for vitality again. I know I speak for all Autobots here when I say you are needed here with us."
"I appreciate that, SoundEffect." Prime placed a hand on SoundEffect's shoulder as a silent 'Thank you' for spending this time, for allowing Prime to get a few things off his mind.
"I need to get back to the bridge," Prime said, and strode onto the bridge ahead of SoundEffect.
The Autobots were manning their assigned stations. Prowl had taken over for SoundEffect at the perimeter sensors.
A light began to flash on Prowl's station. SoundEffect stood poised for the news he fully expected to hear. He glanced over at Red Alert to see if he was going to beat Prowl to the punch. Red had a thing for detecting enemies seconds before sensing equipment. According to the 'blip' on Prowl's screen it was much larger than the Decepticon starship could ever have been.
SoundEffect was both relieved and alarmed at the same time. Neither he nor the other Autobots needed the computer's assesment now - a large fragment loomed into view of the forward viewport. Prowl was still the first to comment, "Look! An asteroid!"
"There's another one!" Mirage beat SoundEffect to that one.
"They're going to collide!" Optimus finished.
The two spaceborne meteoroid fragments collided at an oblique angle, causing the resulting large shattered chunks of rock to fly directly into the Ark's flight path. Massive, dense rock began pummeling the Ark's outer structure causing visible damage to the foreward-most areas. The resounding thuds and shakes were toppling the Autobots on every level of the ship. Jazz was thrown clear of the pilot's chair, Trailbreaker had fallen near Hound, and SoundEffect had been slammed back into the bridge's aft bulkhead. On the bridge, only Prowl had been able to hold on to his station.
Injuries were also occuring on the bridge. Cliffjumper and Brawn both had minor dents. Ironhide had sprung an oil leak in his shoulder joint. Windcharger had been knocked offline and was lying in a small puddle of his own fuel.
Prime called Ratchet to the bridge to see to Windcharger. If Windcharger lost too much fuel he could perish. Prime was now issuing orders from the helm console. Jazz was offline as well.
Impact after impact damaged the Autobot vessel. Prime ordered Ironhide to fire the forward laser cannon. Ironhide got up off the deck and gripped the trigger.
"Fire!" Prime ordered.
A widespread laser blast shot from the Ark, volatolizing the asteroid fragments in the flight path. The Ark stopped shaking as the constant hammering abruptly ended.
The Decepticon ship was still quite a distance from the Ark, flying all this while in a calculated sensor blind-spot preventing the Autobots from detecting it. Their ship was about as badly damaged as the Ark and a few of the Decepticons were in rough shape from the unrelenting barrage of meteor impacts.
Megatron looked up to the main viewport from the chaos around him and saw the Autobot ship's laser blast ploughing a path in front of the vessel. The Decepticon leader leaned forward in his command chair to speak to his pilot, Soundwave. "Follow them!"
The Decepticon ship shot forward, up to the same vector as the Ark travelled. Megatron had made a decision to move from their concealed location in order to save his ship and warriors. There was every reason to believe that if the onslaught of boulders hadn't destroyed the Autobot's sensors, maybe the mini-asteroid in their wake would confuse the sensors enough that the Decepticons could remain hidden.
The Ark's laser system was draining the energy reserves of the ship. Prime had already given instructions to Hoist down in engineering to tap power from any system necessary so that both shielding and the laser could function as long as needed. Hoist made his usual series of complaints about performing 'impossible' tasks and how some energy should be reserved for propulsion.
Prime was adamant. He cut the comm-link and then looked over to Red Alert.
"Red Alert, I want you to begin a damage control assessment - stem to stern. SoundEffect, I want you and Perceptor to get to engineering to lend a hand down there."
SoundEffect and Perceptor looked to each other in acknowledgement and left for the bridge hatch without a word. Red Alert made a mental map of the ship so he could better prioritize the repair efforts. Most of the repair team he would need to assemble from those below. He called to a few Autobots who were still on the bridge.
"Inferno, Hot Spot, Groove, follow me, we have much to do." Red Alert led the way to the hatch. The others obediently fell into line but were forced to stop short of the door as Red Alert had come to a sudden halt with one hand against the rear wall, and the other cradling his head in what seemed like a spasm of pain.
"Red, buddy?" Inferno was one of Red Alert's best friends and was concerned about what amounted to a robotic headache.
Red Alert tried to compose himself but answered in a weak voice, "Just a strange sensation. It's passing, thanks." Red Alert walked slowly through the hatch followed by Inferno and the two Protectobots.
Every Autobot on the bridge had their diodes seize up a little knowing all too well the source of Red Alert's brief attack. Prime looked over to Prowl and raised his chin as a silent instruction. Prowl swivelled in his seat and activated the Viewtrex perimeter alert system. Teletran 1 did not have active scan software installed as yet. If Chromedome could have remained on board the Ark, Teletran 1 might have been able to surpass its forbear. The ship was now clear of the asteroid field.
The active scan only made one circular sweep of the area around the Ark. A large 'blip' appeared on the scope. Prowl bolted around in his seat. "Viewtrex report; we are being followed."
"Decepticons," Prime said with obvious loathing in his voice. Prime was still at the helm and proceeded to put the Ark through every evasive maneuver he could remember.
Down in engineering, Hoist had his hands full trying to keep the fusion plants online. He called over to Grapple, "Grapple, we need to strengthen the vessel's structure. I don't know what the bridge is doing up there, but they're going to tear her apart." Grapple moved to carry out the order but was muttering to himself as he sometimes did. "I really liked the design of this ship." Grapple seemed to think that things were made only to be destroyed. He was an efficient worker once motivated, though.
Perceptor and SoundEffect walked into engineering at that moment.
"Prime sent us down here to help, Hoist," Perceptor said, always eager to assist.
Hoist wasted no time. "Perceptor, can you get the laser working again? We just had a perimeter alert and Prime may call for weapons."
"I'll do my best," Perceptor said.
SoundEffect started to walk behind Perceptor. The scientist had assumed SoundEffect was there and shouted over his shoulder, "If the problem's not with the laser activator, the system controller may have shunted power to the rendundant collectors making a simple bypass to the backup power junction our best way to alleviate the crossover.
SoundEffect was sometimes too much like his best friend Ultra Magnus in that he understood Perceptor about half the time. In a voice that belied his confusion SoundEffect carefully said, ". . .so. . .you want me to head to the computer vault and reroute the system to the primaries again?"
"Of course, SoundEffect," Perceptor almost sneered, "Isn't that what I just said?" Perceptor was now at a run. After the hatch closed SoundEffect stood staring at the closed door.
"No," he said aloud to himself and headed toward the computer's main vault.
The Decepticon ship had tried to keep up with the evasive action of the Ark. Soundwave was a brilliant tactician in addition to all of his other mysterious and plentiful talents and was able to not only hold his course with the Autobots but to close the distance between them to only a few hundred kilometers. Reflector had reported the fuel reserves were nearly gone so Megatron orderd a full throttle blast of propulsive power to catch up to the Ark. 'We'll have to commandeer their ship if we ever hope to make it back to Cybertron again,' Megatron thought to himself.
Megatron ordered Starscream to prepare the tractor beam. This meant Starscream had to take a forward station to the right of Megatron. Megatron felt uneasy when Starscream was out of visual range. He called down to Shrapnel and Ramjet in the engine room.
"Full throttle now!"
The Decepticon starship jolted forward until it was directly off the Ark's port flank.
Everyone on board the Ark heard and felt the virbation throughout the ship as the Decepticon's tractor beam locked onto its target. A panel on the opposing vessel's exterior lowered and a cylindrical tunnel emerged from the ship and traversed the distance making an unbearable 'clank' against the port wall of the Ark's bridge. At the end of the docking collar, a rotating diamond blade bit into the outer hull of the now hapless Ark and cut open a large-scale breach.
The hull construction of the Ark had a built in safety feature devised by one of the Autobot's securty agents, an Omnibot known as Downshift. As soon as the Decepticon diamond cutter sliced through a certain layer of circuitry, emergency bulkheads automatically lowered in place, isolating every component of the ship. This design had two benefits: it would prevent explosive decompression of the entire ship. In this way, damage could be confined to only one or two compartments. The secondary benefit of the system was to prevent hostile boarding parties from penetrating more rooms than their point of entry. The isolation doors would only be released by command codes from the vessel's commander.
Hoist looked around in futility as four isolation doors locked into place.
"Blaster, can you rig an open comm channel so we can hear what's going on up on the bridge?" he asked.
Blaster never seemed to have an 'off' day. "No problemo, Hoist, just give me a few." Blaster typed in some commands on his console, then informed Hoist, "Here it comes!"
The Autobots in engineering could hear the speakers abuzz with 'clunks', 'thuds' and laser fire. Shouting of both Autobot and Decepticon warriors could also be discerned above the din of the confined battle.
The Transformers were not aware that their relativistic speed had sent them into the midst of a star system. The ships had slowed considerably since being linked together and unwittingly passing by the average yellow star in the heart of the system. The mated ships now fell into an unstable orbit of a naturally occuring blue, green, and white planet. This planet occupied the third orbit of nine in this particular system.
The ship shifted violently, lurching to one side causing most of the battling robots to lose their balance. Prime left his opponent and reached for maneuvering control thrusters to stabilize their orbit.
"G-forces! They're dragging us down!" Prowl yelled above the noise. In the computer vault SoundEffect heard Prowl's statement and activated a nearby monitor in time to see the periphery of outer space fade from the screen's edges. A large rock-like world loomed defiantly in the current path of the Ark and it's Decepticon leech.
SoundEffect wasn't sure what the outcome of their current plight would be, but his programming could not allow the Decepticons to gain control of the ship. He quickly devised a command routine to initiate a controlled shutdown of Teletran 1. He glanced briefly at the stack of data disks that still needed to be installed. 'We'll get you up and running, Teletran. Don't you worry.' SoundEffect gave a brief glance back at the closed isolation door. He was definitely trapped in the room. Everyone on board was trapped wherever they happened to be when they were boarded by the Decepticons. SoundEffect's thoughts drifted to young Bumblebee. Last he had seen, Bumblebee was on the bridge. 'He'll be all right,' SoundEffect thought, trying to console himsef. 'He's a tough little guy.'
SoundEffect, resigned to his fate, was determined to watch to the bitter end. He reactivated the monitor. He grabbed for the side of the computer console as a sudden shudder rippled through the Ark.
"The tractor beam. . . the other ship has been released!" he said aloud. He switched on the monitor as the Decepticon's magnificent yet ominous starship spiraled away from the Ark. The Ark was now entering the upper atmosphere of the planet, picking up speed as it descended. SoundEffect knew someone was at least partially controlling the ship. They were going down but they weren't out of control.
'Ironic,' SoundEffect thought while facing his own demise, 'A controlled crash.'
About half the Decepticon force had stayed on their ship. The engines had tried to save energy , but the reserves were out and with the last flicker of energy the gravitational pull of the nearby planet had won the tug of war for the Ark and ripped the Autobot ship away from the grip of the tractor beam. So as not to damage the Heart of Cybertron, Scrapper disengaged all supply routes to it. As long as the crystal didn't shatter upon impact, Megatron would at least have the power source. Looking around him, Scrapper noticed the seven Insecticons on board running to the escape pods. Shrapnel and his warriors in one pod, Venom and his group in another. The Predacons were already in an escape pod. For some reason, most of the animal-like robots had more of an imprinted survival instinct than some of the other Transformers.
Scrapper was an intelligent Decepticon though. He ordered his fellow Constructicons into a nearby pod and joined them. Dirge and Thrust had just arrived in engineering from the weapons batteries to a room with four escape pods missing. They traded confused glances and ran, arms outstretched, toward the only remaining escape pod on that level of the ship. They both reached the pod's entry ramp at the same time. With the width of their leg wings on either side, it would have been a comedic sight to watch the two Decepticons fighting for the pod's front row seat, had their impending deaths not been so predominantly in their minds.
SoundEffect gazed more carefully at the out-of-control Decepticon ship. Tiny reflections were visible near it's aft section.
"Escape pods," SoundEffect murmured.
The Decepticon ship was soon out of sight and the strange terrain of this new world was rapidly passing beneath the Ark at an unbelievable velocity. SoundEffect noticed a large rocky structure that dominated the view. The Ark was finally on its way to its resting place. There was no altitude left, nor was their maneuvering power to avoid the gigantic mound of rock.
With the sound of a thousand explosions detonating at once and the unbearable crunching of metal as the ship excavated it's way into the mountain, SoundEffect's existence faded to darkness.
4 Million Years Later, Earth 1985 A.D.
Darkness.
SoundEffect could begin to feel sensations again. Diagnostic systems were responding to his mental commands. He felt he was in touch with his own spark of life. He could sense the energon flow travelling to the remote regions of his framework, down to his hands and back, down to his feet. He still could not see anything; his optics were stil waiting for the diagnostic system to check the rest of his vitals. 'Ah, audio,' he thought to himself. He could hear the voices of Optimus Prime, Sideswipe, Brawn and Ratchet. Another sensation registered: altitude. He was being lifted off the floor. He could tell he was being carried but still could not see where he was going. Diagnostic equipment revealed he was capable of speech and was going to speak to his friends but he decided to check the rest of his systems. He took a reading of his internal atomic clock and registered the amount of time that had passed.
'Great Primacron! This can't be,' he thought, running the test again to see if it read the same. It did. 'By the Matrix, what happened to us?'
SoundEffect could now sense that Ratchet had a panel in his chest and one in his head open. Ratchet was undoubtedly trying to fix the rest of his damaged systems. As Ratchet closed the panel in SoundEffect's head, the weary robot began to receive visual information once again.
From the Autobot's point of view, a healthy blue glow began to illuminate the optic-visor of SoundEffect's head.
"SoundEffect, can you hear me?" Ratchet said, leaning over his current patient.
"Ratchet?. . . Prime?" SoundEffect said slowly, his vocalizer not fully lubed after its long slumber.
Ratchet spoke again. "Just lie still. We're going to have Teletran 1 re-energize you and provide you with an indigenous vehicle form."
SoundEffect heard and saw a SkySpy satellite on Teletran 1's main monitor. It was in a large constructed city, similar to some structures on Cybertron. The SkySpy was approaching what appeared to be a multi-vehicular accident at the entryway of a bridge structure. There were many damaged vehicles present, along with a hundred or more other vehicles in the area. The vehicles were controlled by organics. As the small SkySpy probe descended upon the scene of chaos, SoundEffect noticed it had locked onto a target. A crew of organics had recording equipment there, presumably to document the event. Prime would later explain that it was a television news crew. SkySpy located the news crew's vehicle, a blue van packed with recording equipment, satellite-linked with a 1.4 meter receiving dish on the roof.
"Explore. . .Explore," recited the audible 'voice' of Teletran 1 as the probe hovered above it's target. The mini-satellite engulfed the van in a holographic container and began sending back a plethora of three dimensional visual, structural, and performance data of every system of the vehicle. Teletran activated a repair scanner beam once all of the data had been collected. "Repair. . .Repair," the computer verbalized again what it had begun to do.
SoundEffect could feel energon flowing into every one of his systems at once. It was a euphoric feeling. . . almost a separation of intellect from form. He was only peripherally aware of the major structural changes taking place inside his body.
When the repair beam had terminated, SoundEffect came back to reality. It took him an entire astrosecond to realize he was no longer in his robot form. He sent out mental signals throughtout his body just to get used to the new shape he found himself in. He then decided to activate his new transform circuits and made the transition into his robot form.
"Welcome back to the team, SoundEffect." The still dazed Autobot whirled around to see his former pupil, Bumblebee.
"Thanks, Bumblebee. It's great to be back. . ." SoundEffect turned in Prime's direction, ". . .after so long a time."
"I would like to talk with you if you're feeling up to it," Prime said.
"Of course, Prime, I've never felt better!"
SoundEffect and Prime walked through the command area of their new headquarters, which was formerly the bridge of the Ark with some consoles and all of the chairs removed. SoundEffect looked in horror at some of the Autobots still lying in ruins. Skids was next up on the repair table. Red Alert and Powerglide were in rough shape but were now at least cognizant. Grapple had suffered worst of all - he had been cut at his midsection by one of the emergency isolation doors. He would undoubtedly require the most extensive reconstruction.
In Teletran's attempt to disguise the Autobots, and, mistakenly, the Decepticons, (Teletran was, of course, still missing some pertinent files), into Earth vehicle forms, it had taken an automated non-sentient equipment mover robot, called Hauler, and changed it into an Earth crane. Ratchet decided that they would take that drone apart in order that Grapple's surviving intelligence could be placed into it. His own body was too damaged to be worth repairing.
Some of the recently unearthed Autobots had already been repaired prior to SoundEffect. Tracks, Hoist, Beachcomber, Whirl and Warpath had already been converted to Earth forms. Optimus had ordered that the newly-found batch of Autobots, found in the engine room and forward compartments of the Ark, be retrofitted to Earth-style disguises though not for the same reason Teletran 1 altered Prime and the bridge crew Autobots one Earth-year ago. Prime knew the Decepticons could recognize even these newly found Autobots if they didn't blend in with Earth vehicles. It wasn't a disguise against the native intelligence of the planet like Prime's group.
There were only three exceptions to the Earth-mode conversion. Cosmos required his Cybertronian mode in order to achieve orbit. Earth technology did not have a compatible vehicle for this purpose. Prime was also forced to forgo alterations to the mechanisms of the Jumpstarters, Twin Twist and Topspin. Their mysterious quickchange transformation technology had baffled many medical Autobots for centuries. Ratchet basically decreed that they would have to retain their Cybertron modes or sacrifice most of their robotic mobility.
Prime and SoundEffect walked through the remainder of the ship. Prime was bringing each repaired Autobot up to speed with the events of the past few hundred days to facilitate their inclusion into this alien world and their renewed fight with the Decepticons. SoundEffect learned from Prime how the Dinosaur cave had been discovered. That had led to further excavations to try to uncover other Autobots and Equipment in the buried sections of the Ark. They had spent too much of that year fending off Decepticon attacks to really get any productive work done. Further excavating revealed a parts storage facility behind the lower repair center. Everything from transformation circuitry to full Autobot body shells were found there along with repair parts of every description.
Prime recounted that just a couple of weeks prior to SoundEffect's revival, one of the Autobot's human friends, Sparkplug, had taken an assemblage of spare parts and created what he hoped to be a new Transformer. The human was a mechanical wizard but had no conception of the intricacies of cybernetic intelligence. The project ended in failure but the discovery of the storage facility had yielded the lower computer vault where SoundEffect had been discovered, deactivated.
"Although we have the reluctant help of the Dinobots, whom you'll meet later, we had been severely understaffed with warriors. We really needed some of the special functions of those Autobots we have uncovered recently. The Decepticons have been looking for escape pods which may have been jettisoned four million years ago, as well as their starship," Prime explained as both he and SoundEffect made their way to the Ark's entrance.
"There were escape pods, Optimus. I saw four of them launch before the Decepticon ship struck the upper atmosphere of the planet. My last sight was a monitor image of our ship striking the mountain. The room I was in crumpled rapidly and I lost consciousness," SoundEffect solemnly spoke.
"The Decepticons must have found one of their escape pods a few months ago then. There are three new additions to Megatron's forces: Bombshell, Kickback, and Shrapnel. They only appeared a short time ago and have ended up being a nuisance. On the good news side of things, we discovered that a few escape pods of ours were missing just the other day. I'm going to send Roadbuster, TopSpin, Twin Twist and Whirl on a long-term planetary reconaissance to track down where our pods may have landed, and see to the viability of the Autobots within."
Prime could see that he was beginning to lose the attention of SoundEffect. They had made it down the ramp to the outer entrance of the Ark and SoundEffect was peering around Prime at the foreign landscape that lay beyond. Every Autobot was forced to deal with their existance on Earth in their own way. Some immediately preferred the new vibrant planet to their energy-depleted Cybertron. Others were homesick for the planet they had called home for millions of years. Optimus had to grant each Autobot their own opinion of their surroundings. They did not exactly have the choice of either staying of leaving. As long as the Decepticons remained interested in the resources of the planet, the Autobots would have to remain.
Optimus resigned himself to being able to say any more to SoundEffect. "I am calling a general meeting in about ten Earth-hours. You have until then to explore the area and get used to your new home. Enjoy!" Prime turned back to the ship and headed back toward the repair bay.
"Thanks, Prime, for everything." SoundEffect gave a quick visual scan of the area through all his normal scan settings and leaned backward as he began the transformation to his vehicle form. He then gunned his engine and took off in a cloud of dust and gravel driving along the Autobots' beaten path away from the ship to explore for himself his new home.
THE END