Spike the Tenno
Note: Revised Version of this chapter.
Chapter One: Quick Reveal, Long Term Consequences
It was a normal day for Spike… well as normal as it could be for a teen that hangs out with an alien race from space.
With the Decepticons routed the day before and school out for summer, Spike is free to spend the rest of the day with his best friend Bumblebee and the other Autobots.
Instead of an awesome fun day; however, an announcement is made to come to the rec room to see a new invention.
"Wow Bee, Wheeljack really seems proud of his invention this time", Spike observed, staring at the large cloth covered object while the 'mad inventor' bustle around it.
Sunstreaker (who was seated next to them) snorted, "Until it explodes"
"Well, he claims that he got all the bugs out this time", Bumblebee reasoned.
"And how many times has he said that and then the object explodes", Sideswipe questioned in agreement with his brother Sunstreaker.
Just as the two friend start to mount a defense for the well-meaning scientist, further conversation is stalled by the excited inventor…
"Okay, we're ready to begin", Wheeljack gleefully calls.
As one, everyone leans away from the mysterious object as it suddenly becomes even more terrifying than before… the confounded contraption is about to be turned on.
"As we all know, even with Red Alert's high level of security, Soundwave's pit spawns still get in and steal classified information… here is my answer to the problem", Wheeljack said, the Autobot's head fins lighting up with pride.
He reveals a silver cube, "This is the Subspace Intruder Defense Enforcer or S.I.D.E for short".
Silence reigns over the room as Wheeljack continues to proudly beam at his waiting audience.
"How does it work you glitch", Gears finally roars in exasperation.
"S.I.D.E is a prototype for traps that can be tuned to Decepticon signatures and automatically capture Cons by forcing them into a special subspace compartment using transwarp technology", Wheeljack explained.
The room erupts in a combined scream of outrage.
"Transwarp technology? Is your slagging processor glitching", Cliffjumper spat venomously in outrage and disbelief.
"You have outdone yourself this time Wheeljack", Ratchet seethed, clutching his favorite wrench for throwing in one hand.
Upset as well, Ironhide prepared his flame retardant; certain that the device could explode at any moment.
Confused Spike turns to Bumblebee, "I don't understand why everyone is so angry, yeah it's Jack, but I have never seen you guys act like this"
"Spike, it's one thing to experiment with weapons, but transwarp technology is another thing entirely; especially with Wheeljack's track record…"
"Enough", Optimus commands, Prowl and Jazz by his side; their authority quieting the rowdy Autobots.
Perceptor steps forward from where he had been quietly standing by the machine, "I collaborated with Wheeljack on this project and the possibility of S.I.D.E exploding is a trillion to one".
Some Bots relax at this, but others like Cliffjumper and Sunstreaker disagree vividly, "Not with Wheeljack around"
"Oh stop with the grumbling, let's get this show on the road, I have a concert to go to", Blaster said annoyed.
The test is anticlimactic as the two geniuses proceed to use the Sky Spy as a replacement for Soundwave's cassettes. Instead of exploding, the cube simply sucks in the mini satellite by hitting it with a silver colored laser beam.
The Bots are stunned into a disbelieving silence, while Spike grins at Wheeljack's victory.
Suddenly the device makes a sound like it's powering up.
"Wait, don't panic, S.I.D.E is detecting something", the inventor calls out as Preceptor starts to examine the data readings coming from the cube.
A low hum can be heard as the cube powers up, its beam firing up towards the ventilation shaft at the top of the ceiling.
The shaft shakes as large holes form from the powerful laser storing parts of the vent as it attempts to get at whatever is inside.
One well-placed hole reveals, S.I.D.E's quarry as Laserbeak tumbles to the floor, a beam barely missing him by the tip of his wing.
Laserbeak starts make a quick getaway with his lasers as a distraction only to be quickly forced to abort; repulsed by the sheer rapid fire of the cube's laser.
Pure pandemonium results, with Bots scrambling to get out of the way as hotheads like Ironhide trying to help out by firing at the agile Decepticon bird, whose corresponding furious dodges result in innocent bystanders nearly being hit.
"Perceptor, the two of you need to turn off the cube, at this rate; the ARK will be full of holes or worse fellow Autobots stored into the cube as well, Optimus orders sternly.
Unfortunately, the pair's efforts to turn off their project are in vain as the commands causes the machine to malfunction, only serving to allow the cube to power up more than it is designed.
"It is not responding to commands anymore and is in the process of massive calefaction", the microscope transforming scientist dutifully reports.
"In other words, it's overheating", Wheeljack explains, his panic causing his head fins to light up and down rapidly.
As the cube continues to power up and overheat, a strange ear piercing whining noise begins to emit from the device; its calm silver color changing to an ominous dark red.
The frantic dodging and shooting gets closer to the door, blocking Bumblebee and Spike from the exit; the boy in the yellow Bot's hand in order to stop him from getting trampled accidentally.
Finally overheated to the point of no return, S.I.D.E explodes; the remaining transwarp energy combining with its final shot at the cassette to form a massive red beam.
However, Laserbeak is not idle and dodges the deadly looking beam by flying back towards the damaged vent.
The death ray continues on its path homing in on the two best friends who have the utter misfortune to be behind Laserbeak while leaving through the doorway.
Bumblebee quickly moves out of the way, but not quickly enough; Spike is hit directly in the chest and appears to disintegrate in front of his very optics.
"NOOOO", Bumblebee cries.
He falls to the ground in agony; if he had been just a little faster his friend would still be here.
Bee shudders as another horrifying thought came to mind: what would he say to Sparkplug?
Before everyone can fully register what happened, a weird humanoid being appears in the center of the room.
It has the same body shape as Spike, bipedal with slender arms and legs; the being having a large torso in proportion to its appendages, black lines and orange lights morbidly shaped to look like human ribs.
The being is clad in a weird almost fleshy gray armor, its head triangle shaped with large overlapping black plates to form a pointy tip. The humanoid has triangle pointed elbow guards and strange triangle rings on its two legs.
The stranger is faceless and the overlapping tip forms a hard plate over the forehead with two glowing dots that could serve as eyes; the lower part of the face forming a two square section shaped T where the mouth would have been.
Unlike a human, it has a thin spike near each pinkie and instead of five toes, it has two per foot.
Immediately half of the guns raised at Laserbeak changes direction to point at the mysterious being in their base; unsure of this bizarre development.
Especially since said 'development' has a box shaped drone with an eye floating above its head and is clearly harboring weapons on its back…
It carries a bow in its left hand; a sword magnetically connected to its back, and a gun strapped to its thigh.
The Decepticon takes advantage of the situation and fires a laser at the ground for cover, making a break for it.
Only to be hit by the humanoid's bow in the joint connecting the cassette's left wing to his body; the lethal arrow cutting through Laserbeak's armor with vicious ease.
The bird hits the floor with a painful thud; his left wing barely connected to his body, but the stranger isn't done yet…
Ignoring the raised guns and wide optics, the stranger punches out a red ball of energy that flies straight at Laserbeak.
In pain and unable to move, the Decepticon can only watch the last sight that he will ever see… a red ball of fury headed straight for him.
The ball hits him silently, the sheer power of the blow breaking the cassette into pieces; the force so sudden and quick that Laserbeak doesn't even have time to scream before dying.
His spark is forced out of his broken body like a missile, blasting the wall with a fiery explosion.
Open mouthed, the Autobots could only stare, their collective shock summed by Gear's crude flabbergasted question: "What the frag?"