Blast Off's Journal Entry, Stardate 2035:

To the unwashed masses, and indeed to my closest friends (that is, if I have any), I suppose I must appear as cold and distant as the far reaches of the galaxy that I so effortlessly soar through. But I have my reasons. In fact, you could almost say I have two lifetimes worth of them.

...

The Distant Past.
A very long time ago, long before the war:

Blast Off soars through space, quite alone- and enjoying himself. This is his element, after all. It's what he was built for. The shuttle speeds along- but only as fast as he *must*. For he is truly not in any hurry at all. There are so many amazing sights to be seen out here, after all. And his job is to chart galaxies and potential resources for his fellow Cybertronians. He's a *space shuttle* after all…. One of the few, elite Cybertronians who can achieve orbit on their own volition. It's a shame there are so few, but he's special- and he knows it. It's too bad he doesn't get to spend more time with his fellow space farers, but they're busy with their own jobs. He does enjoy the moments they share back at home- or when they happen upon each other out here. Special times that no planet-bound mech could understand.

The eager explorer flies past a planet, taking readings for later analysis by scientists. Hmmm… looks like more of those odd "organic" creatures he sometimes comes across. He doesn't feel strongly one way or another about the strange biological organisms… just completely neutral, as an explorer and science vessel ought to. He stores the data as he makes long-distance scans. The odds are these creatures are inferior to mechanical life, but still… they're part of the galaxy Blast Off loves, so he simply accepts their existence for what it is.

A few quartexs later, the shuttle is leaving that solar system and heading into a new one with a giant sun in the center and and thirteen planets in orbit. His mission has been going well so far. It usually does. The galaxy is vast, but Blast Off feels secure in it. He is meant to be here, after all. Sure, he gets a little lonely sometimes and it's nice when scientists can come with him. He doesn't overly mind anyone riding inside. He doesn't love it either, since it does feel a bit odd, but even if they scuff his flooring or make too much noise with their scientific equipment the company is welcome. Yet sometimes there are excursions that need to be made and not enough people to send out on them all.

That's when it works better to fly and chart things out alone, and he has yet to run into any problems. He's quite fast, skilled and he's always had good luck. Each Cybertronian shuttle gets equipped with some basic defense weapons, and he carries some side laser cannons, but he's never really had to use them in earnest.

Blast Off's luck is about to change.

A space ship appears on Blast Off's long range scanners. Once Blast Off detects that the ship is not sentient, but is instead piloted by mere organic creatures, he ceases to pay it that much attention- though he does keep track of it, of course. Over the course of several dozen breems, it closes the gap between the two craft. His scanners soon tell him the ship's creatures come from that organic planet he passed by earlier. Their ship is surprisingly fast, managing to gain on even him- and he is exceptionally fast already. He's not sure he likes this.

He likes it even less when they hail him. ***Unidentified alien shuttle. This is Krylaxxian Ship Interceptor. Identify yourself and state reasons for intruding on Krylaxxian space.*** His language program has to run an analysis on their speech, but he eventually reaches an understanding thanks to a vast database of algorithms and information.

For now, the Cybertronian shuttle simply ignores them and continues on. But they continue to close the gap, still hailing him. Blast Off eventually gets tired of this, and, with a small huff, responds. ***Krylaxxian ship. This is …Cybertronian Blast Off. I was unaware that this was "Krylaxxian space". I am simply traveling through the area and shall be on my way shortly.***

The ship gets closer. ***We are unfamiliar with Cybertronian ships. Please slow down and prepare for inspection and boarding.***

Blast Off huffs again to himself. As if he's letting them board him! He fires up thrusters to full and rockets off in response. ***Negative. I am merely passing through. I shall be gone shortly.*** In the meantime, he starts warming up the laser cannons he has mounted on the sides of his fuselage.

Unfortunately, the ship is slightly faster than he is, and is soon close by- too close by. He aims his side lasers at them, and repeats, ***I said, I am merely passing through. You may "escort" me from a distance if you like, but do not interfere with Cybertronian business. I will fire if you do not back down.*** All the ships Blast Off had encountered so far had either been reasonably friendly, completely indifferent- or intimidated once he fired a few laser blasts at them. Or he's simply been able to outrun them- his speed is usually far superior. Not this time. Instead, the other ship responds by firing off a shot of its own- one that connects and rips into the sides of his fuselage. Rocked by the surprisingly powerful hit, the shuttle's systems begin emergency repair as he immediately engages in evasive maneuvers.

This isn't good. Blast Off is out here, completely alone- and under surprisingly powerful attack. He *does* have superior agility on his side, however, and though the enemy ship (and yes, it certainly appears to be one) is a little faster than he, it is not as maneuverable. Now fully on alert, he evades shot after shot. If he can just exhaust their fuel reserves, perhaps they will realize the futility of their attacks and…wait, what's that?

A wide flash of electrostatic beams suddenly reach through space and immediately put the shuttle's systems on the fritz. Blast Off suddenly finds himself unable to function well…. The beam of charged particles nearly short-circuits his navigation and targeting controls. Struggling to regain that control, he doesn't have long- because a second blast finishes what the first attack started. Blast Off cries out in surprise and pain as every circuit in his frame feels like it's on fire- then is plunged into a cold as icy as the empty space he now simply coasts through, unable to fight or flee.

Soon, the Krylaxxian ship pulls alongside the crippled Cybertronian. He receives another radio message, ***You should have just listened to us. Now, we will inspect your ship- and you! Prepare for boarding. Do not resist further or we will meet you with deadly force.*** A hatch opens, and a smooth-skinned, space-suited organic alien launches himself at Blast Off's cargo bay door, attaching a tube-like device. Soon, several of the organics have joined him inside the tube. They force open Blast Off's door, and step inside- guns drawn and expecting to meet a crew. There is none, of course. The shocked Cybertronian simply remains silent.

The alien crew runs through Blast Off's cargo bay, then split up- one group heading up to the flight deck, or cockpit, where his control panels are while the other group starts rummaging through his cargo. He carries multiple samples from various planets he's charted. They've been carefully catalogued and represent months of work, placed inside the bay with a shuttle "arm" he carries in his alt mode. Slag it, this isn't good. But what can he do? The shuttle is at a loss. He isn't really equipped to deal with intruders INSIDE him. Certainly not while as damaged as he is now.

The leader of the Krylaxxian crew seems to be with the group heading towards Blast Off's flight deck. He commands the others to search out every nook and cranny for the "missing crew"- and they do so by kicking doors open, then swinging their guns as they step through and prepare to fire…. Only to be met with nothing. The leader snarls, "Where IS he? Or THEY, most likely… They can't have just disappeared…." Blast Off marvels at their presumptuousness. They aren't even considering that HE is the life form, are they? What truly primitive creatures they are- primitive, but also a great threat. And up close and personal, they seem much more aggressive than they originally let on.

Blast Off isn't capable of much now, but he does what he can. His first response is to lock doors and compartments as best he can- at least until they start blasting those doors and locks open and he decides to come up with a different strategy. Then he runs his ventilation systems as cold as he can without damaging his cargo outright, and blasts a scratchy static over his internal loudspeakers. It irritates the Krylaxxians, who become noticeably uncomfortable, shivering and glancing up at the speakers. Blast Off watches back with internal cameras. The leader points at the cameras. "See? I bet they're in the cockpit, watching us from those." He points his gun at the camera. "You can't hide forever, you know! Let's go!"

Meanwhile, the aliens in his cargo bay are kicking open some the carefully packaged crates, then rummaging through assorted panels and any compartments they can find. They search for the "missing" crew as well, to no avail of course. When Blast Off turns the heaters down, they begin to shiver as well- but one heathen rips open a vent cover to start trying to crawl inside and see if the crew is there- or maybe at least fix the heater! UGH, NO. Organic aliens crawling in his ventilation systems, blasting open doors, damaging his walls, floors, sophisticated circuitry, and his cargo… this is too much. His engines rev weakly in protest, and he lurches to the side, sending some of the cargo- and aliens- ramming up against his side walls.

Hmmm. He decides to go all the way. This will damage more cargo, but he doesn't have much of a choice now. The shuttle turns off his internal gravity systems and opens his cargo bay door again; knocking aside the alien's ship boarding tube and sucking most of his cargo bay's contents back into space. This includes several very shocked aliens. The ones who were foolish enough to remove their protective helmets are dead as soon as they try to take a breath of air. The others still fully suited up will be fine… more or less, as long as they make it back to their ship relatively soon.

This leaves the group heading to his flight deck. The sudden lack of "gravity" disorients them temporarily, but they are much further in and already past a few doors and hatches, so they continue to make their way by kicking against walls, floor and ceiling. Blast Off is desperate to prevent them from getting to their destination, but… how? He's running out of options- and functioning systems. He decides to ramp up the level of noise coming from his speakers- suddenly blasting a Cybertronian symphony he enjoys listening to as loudly as he can. The aliens clutch at their helmets in pain, and one shoots at the speakers, too, before the leader stops him. "We'll get there soon enough, then they'll find out we are not amused by their little games!" The shooter blinks at him, and yells, "…WHAT DID YOU SAY?" The leader rolls his eyes and just points in the direction of the flight deck door.

Slag it all…. What can he do? Blast Off is usually quite calm, but this…this is humiliating and unacceptable…. How dare these organic, inferior thugs invade his personal space like this!? A growing anger- and even a little fear- join his pain. He wants them OUT… NOW. Get out of his flight deck, out of his cargo bay… stop tromping around in there, messing everything up and hurting him. There is one last thing to try, it just better work. They think he's just an inanimate object, do they? He begins a very robotic sounding countdown, static still crackling loudly.

***Commencing ship destruction sequence Alpha Sixty. Program continues as long as intruders on board. Commencing countdown. 60… 59… 58… 57…*** He starts a slow countdown, trying to give the aliens time to panic and get the pit out of there.

Some of them do indeed panic, but the leader does not. Now looking a bit nervous but determined to continue on, he yells over the countdown, "IT'S PROBABLY A TRICK!" With that, he makes his way to the cockpit door- and kicks it open triumphantly! Only to find…. No one inside?

***45…44…43…42… countdown will continue as long as intruders remain inside… recommencing… 41… 40…***

This bizarre revelation seems to finally unnerve the leader and he stares at the unmanned cockpit with its flashing emergency red lights, completely confused now. "But…but…where'd they go? How'd they disappear? What *is* this thing, remote controlled?" He glances nervously up at the speakers, where the countdown continues… then comes to a decision. "Alright, alright, let's get out of here! Go! Go!" With that, the aliens hustle the best they can back the way they came. Finding the carnage in the cargo bay only adds to their horror, and they launch a cable to connect with the tube and make their way back to their ship- and the shipmates they can still save.

***22… 21..20..19..***

As soon as they leave, the countdown stops, and Blast Off watches- and sighs- with relief as they depart. The thrice-cursed spawns of the pit take some of his cargo, left floating in space now, after they rescue their crewmates. Loaded with their stolen bounty, the Krylaxxian ship heads off… leaving a badly injured, sentient shuttle to continue floating through space. For now, he's too weak to transform or attempt to salvage what is left of his cargo. He tries to start his internal heating systems again but they are now unresponsive. So he is cold, badly injured… and all alone out here. He's been attacked- inside and out. But what is there to do about it? He can only shut down all but (still functioning) essential systems and start his internal repairs again… and wait. It's a slow process.

He will be waiting a very long time before he's even capable of returning home.

The Universe seems less friendly after this.

...

OOC Note:

Hi, this is my first fanfic here, and one of the few I've written like this so far. I have enjoyed reading the many fanfics here and finally decided to join and post one of my own.
I RP as Blast Off on a RPing Mush (Transformers2005 Mush- please, come check us out and consider joining! :)) and have really had a fun time trying to get inside his head. This series will basically be me exploring how Blast Off may have become the mech he is today (well, by the 2005 Mush's world/time, at least). There are some great versions of Blast Off already being written, but this is my own personal exploration. I hope you enjoy, and please leave a comment! :)