TFP: Legacy
A/N: I'm not gonna post multiple chapters on this one. Instead I'm gonna just make the entire story one whole chapter and divide it into multiple "Episodes" separated by the line and a marker. I have way too many files on the fanfiction storage to sort out things. Or maybe I WILL make it like chapters who knows…I'm weird…
Also, if you're wondering why I'm not updating Fury at the moment, it's because I just can't come up with the right words for the chapter. I've literally written 1,475 words for the upcoming chapter but my goal is at least 2.5k and I haven't even delved into the main point of that chapter yet! So, yea 5 months and I'm stuck in one chapter while coming up with MULTIPLE OTHER stories….. Some author huh? THE RANT IS REAL!
P.S: This is after the whole Vector Sigma shindig…
Episode I : Change
It was a simple energon raid. All they had to do was scout out the area, see if any 'Cons were in the area or if the mine had already been cleaned out, the usual. As the Autobots luck would have it, they'd run into an untapped mine ripe for their taking. However, that was where their luck ran out. What seemed like an unoccupied energon mine turned out to be a Decepticon trap, led by the pompous SIC Seeker-Starscream.
The ambush would have been easily dealt with considering it was poorly executed, if not for the two humans who had stowed away-one of whom-Jack-tried to get the other*cough*Miko*cough* to NOT follow the Bots through the groundbridge- with the Bots. Needless to say Starscream took advantage of the two humans, grabbing the two and threatening to crush them in his servos, just so he could fly off like the coward he was.
Upon trying to make his escape while the Autobots held their fire in fear of harm befalling their human company- family, the cowardly yet deceptive seeker tripped on one of the many lifeless Vehicon shells that littered the mine from the battle, and accidentally released one of his missiles, sending it straight into the cavern ceiling causing the whole cave to collapse on itself.
At this point, Jack and Miko had been thrown out of the seekers grip during his not-so-graceful moment, sending them rolling, the formers receiving multiple cuts and small lacerations over his arms and face and coming to a stop in a pool of energon (which unknown to anyone present seeped into some of his wounds) right next to a deceased Vehicon. Whereas Miko was knocked unconscious upon her tumble, colliding with a sizable boulder.
Getting to his feet, panicking now that he lost his hostages, Starscream hastily transformed and skillfully flew through the falling debris, showing just why he was the Decepticon Second in Command AND Air Commander. This left two injured humans and the four Autobots in a collapsing mine. Summoning a groundbridge and retrieving their human comrades the team hastily mad their escape, without the energon they desperately needed.
Autobot Base: Omega 1
Miko had awoken shortly after returning to the base and was greeted to the sound a screaming.
"Wha….Wha's goi'n on?" Her words were slurred possibly due to a concussion she could have received upon collision with the boulder…rock (WHATEVER YOU WANNA CALL IT IDGAF). Everything was wobbly at best.
"Hey…hey easy Miko" came Bulkhead's voice, gentle yet oddly stern like a parent to a child. Odd since this was Bulk, con smashing Wrecker! "You got a concussion...A really hard whack to your noggin'" He said receiving a sleepy yet confused look from the normally energetic girl. Another scream, making bulkhead avert his gaze towards the med bay, the source of the screams…
"Wha' hap'nd?" She asked drowsily getting a sigh from the green bot. "Screamer took you and jack hostage, drooped the two of you. You received a concussion, and Jack…..He somehow managed to get energon in him…possibly from falling into the energon from the Vehicons."
In the med bay
"What's wrong with him?!" shouted Arcee worriedly as she could only watch a Jack screamed and writhed about on the medical berth.
"I don't know!" exclaimed Ratchet as he struggled to strap Jack down to the berth "I don't know…This is a completely different reaction to what Rafael suffered when hit with Dark Energon. Even when injected with Energon he hadn't been behaving like this."
"The readings I'm getting from him shows that the amount of energon that went into his system is literally eating his insides out slowly and very, very painfully. (Ok that part seems slightly sadistic) Even if we were to somehow remove that much energon from his body, it would likely be too late! On top of that, he seems to be emitting radiation of some sort, the kind I can't identify due to these Primus slagged low grade human technology!" He roared out the last bit in pure frustration
"Remain calm Old friend, for young Jackson's sake…And that applies for you as well, Arcee…"The Prime moved to place a comforting servo on the Medic and femme's shoulder but was interrupted by an old yet familiar voice.
"Young Prime…"it said. Turning around towards the source of the voice he came face-to-face with one Alpha Trion. "The human, Jackson Darby…will not survive in this form much longer. No matter what the medic should attempt." Form, he said "form", thought Optimus as he listened to his old mentor and friend.
"Forgive me Master Trion, but what do you mean by 'form'?" Questioned Optimus
"The boy, he is destined for greatness. He is your successor Optimus Prime, the next Prime…He will need assistance in his change. The energon coursing through his veins and the residual energy from his time with Vector Sigma has triggered his change….albeit early but it has started nonetheless…He requires the energy from the matrix to complete his change…" Spoke Trion as he disappeared in a ghostly fashion.
The revelation did not surprise the Prime as much as it would've since he had noticed the boy having the makings of a Prime. It reminded Optimus much of himself during the days of Orion Pax, even with the boys short comings and faults. But they did not matter, what mattered was that Jack was worthy of being a Prime, his successor.
But in changing him, he would no doubt end the boy's normal life. Stripping him of many of the things he once was. He would have to bear with watching the death of his friends and family due to old age while he would've lived for eons longer…He was shaken out of his musings as Ratchet's hand connected with his helm.
"Prime! Were you listening to an-"he was cut off abruptly as Optimus moved towards the boy (who did not cease his screams of pain) and knelt, opening his chest plate and brought the matrix closer to Jack's writhing body.
The effect was almost instantaneous, his screams started to die down into soft, barely audible moans of pain; he stopped struggling in the berth calming down to the point he laid still; the only indications of him staying alive being his painful moans and labored breaths.
Smooth translucent tendrils of energy could be seen flowing from the matrix of leadership in Optimus' chest to the human child's chest, right where his heart would normally be placed. It was a bizarre sight, one that no-one had truly seen before.
Soon the tendrils stopped and the Prime stood up to his full height, chest plate closing. Ratchet and Arcee could only stare at the Prime as he calmly backed away from Jack's berth. "What…what did you do?" Asked Ratchet finally finding his voice, his tone confused and full of awe and wonder. "All shall be explained when the process is complete Ratchet. This is something that will forever change the boy's life…For better or for worse…" The Prime's voice showed no emotion what so ever. "Ratchet place Jackson in the medical chamber, he may need it" He wasn't actually talking about Jack but Ratchet and Arcee. They did not need to witness what was to become of jack. (Sounds dark, don't it?)
Wordlessly Ratchet did as he was told and activated the medical chamber and stepped back as the doors to the chamber closed. Moments later Jack's screams began anew, more painful than the last time. Arcee moved to open the chamber and get her partner out of there, but was blocked by Optimus arm. Shooting him an enraged yet look which did nothing to phase the Prime, Optimus simply said "It is necessary, trust me"
Inside the chamber (This maybe a tad bloody and horrific. Based out of my nightmares…literally, every one of those kind nightmares I've had to get therapy for.)
The pain was astounding. His heart felt like it was burning, skin tearing apart. He felt himself slowly becoming heavier. The few moments he could open his eyes, he only saw darkness though he could feel blood pouring out of his skin and eye sockets. His bones elongated, a sick squelching noise produced the entire time. His skin started to tear revealing grey metal alloy beneath it. It was covered in his blood and energon.
His head felt like it was being split open. Flesh ripping, skin tearing, head breaking, heart burning pain coursed through his body like never before, worse than being burnt alive and he could do nothing, absolutely nothing to stop it. But then, the pain just stopped and Jack lay deathly still as if dead.
Booting…
Systems check: Initiated…
Spark Status: Normal
T-Cog Status: Functional
Alternate Mode level: 2 slots available
Energon levels: Low
Oil Status: Low
Optical sensors: Functional
Sensors: Functional
Weapon systems: Online
Shields: Online
Systems check: Complete…
And from the darkness, Jack slowly opened his eyes, letting them adjust to the lights inside the medical chamber (not that he knew he was in there of course). And when they did, he finally noticed what appeared to some kind of HUD in his Field of Vision. He felt different, he could tell. He felt heavier. Gingerly he lifted his hand in front of his face and what he saw next left him scared and confused. He thought back to remember what had happened, flashes of him running after Miko into the groundbridge, nearly getting crushed by Starscream and whole lot of pain.
He was knocked out of his thoughts by the sound of the medical chamber's doors opening, revealing a stoic Optimus, grim looking Ratchet and distressed Arcee coolant in her optics, which honestly surprised him, since the femme was usually levelheaded to a certain degree and almost never looked so…stricken…It broke his heart…If he still had one..Which he didn't. But when they laid their optics on him they (except Optimus) looked shocked.
"What happened?" He finally spoke. His voice did not change much. It was still the same but with a slight metallic undertone like all cybertronians. It caused him to wince slightly.
"Jackson, what I am about to tell you will no doubt be a lot for you…But please bear with me…Can you do that?" His answer was a slow hesitant nod from the boy...er...Bot?
With a sigh Optimus Prime spoke "You received multiple injuries in the energon mine. None of which were too serious. However, when Starscream dropped you managed to end up in a pool of energon, most of which seeped into your wounds. It was killing you…Or so we thought" Prime received confused looks from the others namely Ratchet who spoke up slightly aggravated. "What do mean Optimus!? What do mean 'or so we thought'! If I recall correctly he was dying!"
"Let me finish old friend" said Optimus trying to calm down the medic, before continuing "During your visit to Vector Sigma, you had absorbed some of the energy emitted by Vector sigma itself. As it turns out to be, it was intentional, part of your destiny." He paused "Because, Jackson Darby of Earth…You have been chosen by Primus and the Thirteen to be my successor…The next Prime when the time comes…Hence why you are now Cybertronian like…like us…" And with that said Ratchet promptly glitched out and fell face first onto the floor while Arcee let out a 'gasp' and Jack had a look of shock plastered onto his face…plate…
"So you're saying that I'm now one of you guys. But not only that! I'm your successor. I'm to be the next Prime…Well isn't that just great…"he said putting a hand to his face. (Kinda getting annoyed using terms like 'servo' and 'faceplate' so I'm gonna stick to the usual hand and face...) "Mom's gonna kill me…Miko's probably gonna be all crazy now that I'm one of you…My life just keeps getting better and better, doesn't it…?"
"Are you alright Jackson?" asked Optimus and although he'd never show it, the guild of this weighed heavy in his spark "Alright!? Alright!? Jack just turned into one of us! He's no longer human for Primus sake! Does he look alright!" exclaimed Arcee in rage. However Jack spoke up
"'Cee! I'm fine! This will take some getting used to but I'll be fine…Honestly I expected something worse to happen, like losing a limb or something. At least now, I don't have to worry about being useless when you guys are off fighting 'cons…At least now I can protect the people I care about…Now I can at least protect you…"he said the last part softly though Arcee jus managed to pick it up causing her rage to simmer down slightly.
"Jackson, you and the others have never been 'useless' as you put. Each of you has proven to be valuable allies in this fight and have earned our respect. Your greatest help has been us knowing you are safe. It helps to know that we are at least able to protect your planet the way we need to." Optimus spoke up.
"Thanks Optimus…"Jack sighed giving a weak smile "Can anyone, uh….help me a bit here…kinda in a new body here…heheh..." Shaking her head in amusement Arcee walked up to her partner (who was not trying to sit up) and placed her arm on his back to support him while helping him lift himself up. Jack slowly brought his legs around so it was now off the side of the berth (It's a Bot sized bed NOT human sized if you were wondering. I mean come on! A human sized berth would be squashed under him by now!). He pushed himself of and if not for Arcee holding him up, he would have been kissing the floor.
"This is weird…"He said as shakily stood on his feet. He moved a leg forward in an attempt to walk and could not hold back a smile as he managed to do so. Smile became a grin as he slowly took baby steps out of the medical chamber. He froze.
"Who are you?" Came Miko's voice in front of them. She had slowly recovered while Jack had been…changing…"You look familiar…Hey Bulk! Doesn't he look familiar!?" She asked the green Wrecker, who for the most part looked on with confusion. But that quickly went away when he noticed the lack of screaming and Jack…
End of Episode I
A/N: I'm not really pleased with this but...I'll continue later (if there actually is a later. I need to get this story out of my mind so I can actually focus on Fury again. Cuz every time I try to write Fury I come up blank and something else comes up.) Just remember I have a life outside this site and doing this is only something of a hobby of mine…among other things…Just be patient…Also, STOP TELLING ME TO UPDATE PEOPLE! I HAVE A LIFE…Sorry, too many followers pestering my to update, it's kinda annoying but I'm sorry….I'll try…
Retro out..