AN: Character death, but nothing graphic.
It all starts with one of Wheeljack's inventions.
No, actually, it starts with the Decepticons.
Though the Decepticons are there because the humans announced the opening of the 'new and most efficient dam' worldwide. So, it would be better to say it starts with the humans.
Yet again, if they hadn't crashed on Earth, they wouldn't even know what a human is, so—
Alright, no. Stop. It all starts with a Decepticon raid to a new dam, and one of Wheeljack's inventions backfiring.
There.
However, that's when everything stops making sense.
Optimus had taken his mechs to answer the distress call from the dam's workers, and they had engaged the Decepticons as soon as they got there.
Wheeljack, who had been working on some kind of stun ray, had thrown him the weapon to use on their enemies, assuring him that yes, this time it works, really!
Optimus had aimed at Megatron, who was giving orders to Soundwave. Ratchet was cursing at the Prime's back, and he saw Jazz bounce to his side from the corner of his optic to avoid some shooting. But he ignored it all, his attention on the weapon in his servos, and fired.
And then, at the same time, three things happened. Starscream, diving from above, had shot his null-rays to disable the weird riffle in the Autobot's servos. Soundwave had tackled Megatron away from the ray while Jazz had tried to do the same with Optimus and the Seeker's shot. Ratchet had been sent into his leader's back due to a cluster bomb detonating too close.
In the next nanoklik, an excruciating surge had ransacked Optimus' frame, and his wasn't the only voice screaming in pain.
He tumbled down, rocks, dirt, and metal denting and scratching his frame, until he stopped.
It is only now that Optimus realizes the battle between Autobots and Decepticons happened in the plain next to the dam, not the structure itself. Now that he's recovered his senses enough to remember why he's lying faceplate down on a hard surface covered by broken metal parts, glass-metal shards, and a thick layer of rust dust.
That battlefield was on Earth.
Earth has dirt, soil, sand.
Not rust dust.
The only planet with rust dust and this amount of tiny debris is…
Cybertron? But… how?
The sound of approaching engines quickly distracts him, but whatever was done to get him off Earth is still keeping Optimus immobile.
Yet again, maybe Wheeljack's device did actually work, and he's been stunned as a side effect of it backfiring, or whatever.
Even if that doesn't explain the Space Bridge thing.
Maybe I'm dreaming?
Cybertronian do not dream, not in the human sense of the word. However, the defragging of the processor that happens during the recharge cycle can pull up memories for them to 'relive' in their 'sleep'. Sometimes, some of these memories mix with others or with thoughts, resulting in completely new and different scenarios, or perversions of previous events.
This could very well be such a situation. He's most likely in the Repair Bay, with Ratchet ready to give him a lecture about the handling of weapons—which Ironhide will doubtlessly repeat once he's allowed to return to his duties—despite him already knowing it, but that Optimus will allow because it eases his friends' worries.
And because Ironhide gets some kind of smug satisfaction out of that, he's sure.
But, until then, Optimus is stuck in this memory, reliving it as if it was happening right now.
Which means he can't move.
Not that he would move, not until he identifies whoever is approaching, so it works too.
The engines stop, and the muted whirring of transformation fills the air.
Somewhere far over his head.
Right, he tumbled down to where he is now. So, most likely, the newcomers are up a hill, or something, and he's at the bottom.
Optimus hopes he goes unnoticed.
"Well, well. So, this is what the energy spike was about."
Or not.
Ironhide!
Optimus wants to call his friend, but his frame is still unresponsive, even though he's starting to regain feeling.
"You know what to do. And take Soundwave too, Master Prowl will like playing with that one's processor."
That… is not Ironhide.
The voice is his, and the accent, but those words…
The mech Optimus knows would never say that.
Plus…
Master Prowl?!
Optimus' dactyls curl, but while his arms start to shiver, he can't yet move them.
Transformation whirls, engine growls, metal clanging. By the time the Prime manages to sit up, the newcomers are gone.
All but Ironhide.
He can still hear him grumbling at the top of the hill.
"Now, you two… Guess I'll have to drag you back and see what our dear Medics can dig from your processors. You look awfully like those traitors… I'm really going to enjoy ripping you to spare parts again," not-Ironhide purrs, and Optimus forces his legs to move so that he can start climbing. "Get back to activation, you slag-heaps! I don't have all orn!" he shouts, the words followed by a loud clang, and, a moment later, by a groan. "That's better."
The Autobot leader pushes himself harder when he hears Jazz and Ratchet's voices, grumbling and moaning, as clinking indicates they're starting to move.
"Ironhide? Where the Pit are we?" the Head of Spec Ops asks groggily, and Optimus finally reaches the top.
The being standing in front of his mechs not only sounds like Ironhide, but also looks like him.
If Ironhide's color scheme was mainly black instead of red.
"Not back where we should, so get up. I can't carry you both to base," the unknown yet familiar Cybertronian grumbles, resting a servo on the large riffle resting on his hip.
"Base? Where are we?" Ratchet asks from where he's sitting on the ground, optics roaming over the ruins surrounding them, while Jazz gets to his pedes wobblingly. "Is this… Cybertron?"
Optimus finally gets a real look at not-Ironhide when the mech takes a step to the side to face the Medic.
Autobot insignia in Decepticon purple, red optics and sadistic smirk.
"That's not Ironhide!" Prime shouts, his frame refusing to let him do more than take a step closer, but Jazz's visor flashes, one servo twisting to get an Energon blade out of the tiny subspace pocket in his forearm plating—
The black mech punches the saboteur under the bumper with the nozzle of his riffle, making the smaller mech double with a pained gasp—
The silence after the shot is filled with the dripping of Energon bursting from broken lines and the crackling of an extinguishing spark.
When not-Ironhide turns around to face whoever ratted him out, Jazz's gray frame falls to the ground without resistance.
"Now, who dares spoil my fu—iPrime?!"/i the black mech shrieks, Energon-stained riffle almost falling from his servo as horror wipes out his angry snarl.
Without wasting a nanoklik, and pulling out the Energon blade the saboteur managed to sink deep into his shoulder joint, not-Ironhide turns around, transforms, and drives away as fast as he can.
And Optimus lets him.
It isn't just because he's barely able to walk normally, but because he can't tear his optics from the deactivated frame of his Third in Command. Ratchet kneels by Jazz's side, but his servos are curled into tightly-clenched fists on his thighs. His faceplate is twisted by horror, disbelief and uselessness.
"He's gone, Optimus. Jazz is gone," the Medic whispers, voice trembling even more than his frame. "That… That Ironhide deactivated him. He's gone."
The Prime can only nod, not trusting himself to speak as he finally looks away.
Jazz is deactivated. Not-Ironhide has retreated, so hastily that he can no longer see any trace of him amidst the ruins of what once was Cybertron.
Ratchet and Optimus are no longer on Earth. Or, judging by what he has seen and heard, in their own universe.
"We have to move," he finally says, though he manages just a whisper instead of the strong voice he wanted. "They might come back, and we can't be here when they do."
"They?" the Medic asks softly, though he stands up without more trouble than his shaking can account for.
"I heard Ironhide order others to take Soundwave away."
"Soundwave? The one we know, our Soundwave?"
It's weird to call any Decepticon theirs, but since it's obvious these Autobots aren't, Optimus just nods when Ratchet turns to him.
"I believe so. We have to get him back, to rescue him," he answers, and his optics once more drop to the lively mech now lying deactivated on the dirt. "We can't leave him in their servos."
"Slagging right we can't. But we need a plan first. Resources, information. We don't even know where we are!"
"I know who their leader is," he says, voice finally stronger, and Ratchet stiffens with his optics paling pleadingly. "You won't like it."
"There's nothing I like about this place."
"Ironhide said they served Master Prowl."
"… Now I like it even less."
Optimus takes another look around as Ratchet tries to put himself together, avoiding staring at his immediate surroundings and what is there, before turning to the Medic.
"We need to move."
"Yes. Yes, we… Alright."
Slowly, Ratchet starts descending the hill, going for one of the clearest paths that will allow them to drive away.
Just before following, Optimus kneels down and grabs the blue-stained Energon blade.
"I'm sorry, my friend."
Without another look back, the two Autobots get to ground level, transform, and drive.
Their destination?
Anywhere but here.
UPDATED 15/06/2019: Corrected Grammar.
AN: Believe it or not, this one isn't actually my fault. I've been trying to get my humanformers (and some of my AU!formers) drawn for ages, but I can't draw robots and I can't draw humans. However, I'm stubborn, so I decided I just needed to practice some more to get things done. The best way to practice? Fill some of those expression and situation memes that are all over the internet.
One of those just happened to be Nestly's Amazing Character Art Mad-Lib (nestly . deviantart (.com) / art / Amazing-Character-Art-Mad-Lib-92820799), which is really interesting and nicely done in that it makes sure the character that ends in each situation really is random.
Plus, I was using a randomizer. So, I got the names from the randomizer, added them in their respective slots after randomizing them according to the meme's instructions, and got to do some sketches for each situation. Which was fun and fine up to the point I got to... Well, I won't spoil things, go check if you're interested. Thing is, the idea of this story was actually given to me, literally given, when I filled the meme.
And, my brain being what it is (and my drawing skills still too pathetic for me to be brave enough to post them), it came up with this.
And what do I do with a plot? I write it and develop it. So, there. Have fun (or not).
Also, it should be about seven chapters long, and I've already got five written up, so, at least in the updating area, we're covered *knocks on wood*
Title and summary from Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll.