Awakening (Chapter 1)

Sideways

Ten years after the fall of Bruticus, Megatron witnessed his new, more powerful war machine come to life. He watched intently as each circuit was connected and each slate of metal fused with another slate. Bit by bit, this monster was built before his optics; and Megatron had ten years to plan out his vengeance. This new Beast was his way of revenge. But on the opposite side of the planet, the Autobots were also planning revenge, for they had lost many valuable allies to the old Bruticus. They had improved over the short amount of time and were ready for anything Megatron had prepared for them…almost anything.

Back at the Autobot's headquarters, Prime, Ratchet, Ironhide, and Inferno were discussing their fallen Cybertronian guardian. "How is Metroplex, Ratchet?" "He'll be fine, Prime. It's a good thing that we got to him when we did. If he was offline any longer we might have never been able to bring him back to working condition." "Well you're the best medic we have, and if we didn't have you then this war would've been lost centuries ago." "That's a nice compliment," Ironhide interrupted, "But compliments don't win wars, large weapons and teamwork does." "That is true, old friend." "Optimus, Skydive is returning to base." Inferno looked up at the moniter. "Thanks for the heads up, Inferno. Lower the defenses, we don't want to lose anymore soldiers." "Yes, sir." Inferno pressed a few buttons on the console in front of him, which led to the turrets outside the base to fold up in themselves. The large, heavy gate slid open on its massive hinges. The skillful flyer zoomed through the base and all the way to the communications room, where his leader was located. When he was hovering before Optimus, the legs dropped down from the bottom of the jet and flipped up to the nose. The entire front of the plane rotated to the right and folded down, splitting the jet in half and revealing the head. The whole back of the jet then collapsed and connected to the back of the waist. His shoulders slid forward and locked into position. Now in full robot mode, he raised his hand to his head in a saluting motion. "Skydive reporting for duty, sir." "What did you find out there soldier?" "Still no Decepticon activity." Inferno interrupted and gave his opinion, "Prime, I'm a little scared. There have been no Decepticon sightings in ten years; they didn't just give up did they?" "No, I know my brother and he wouldn't give up without a fight, neither would most of his men." "Could they be demoralized by the loss of Bruticus and other men?" Ratchet asked. "Megatron would not allow his men to be demoralized. Something else is happening and I'm sorry to say that I agree with you Inferno; I too am a little frightened as to what Megatron has planned. But we don't know where their base is located, so our only option is remain on the defensive and patiently wait." "I can't wait; I need to kill some 'cons!" "I know, Ironhide, it's difficult to wait ten years for the enemy to make a move, but we have no choice." Inferno looked back at the moniter, "Sir, unidentified Transformer approaching." "Bring up the external speakers." "Already on it sir. You're good to speak."

As the figure came closer to the base, his physical characteristics became more apparent. He was an average sized robot and was mainly purple with some yellow detail. This alarmed the Autobots for the Decepticons signature color was purple. He walked closer and Prime noticed that he had a gun installed in each arm, his chest was large and rounded, and he had two large wheels sitting next to each other on his back. "Stop where you are or we will fire." The unknown Transformer froze in his tracks, his head still looking at the ground. He slowly raised his head, revealing the details on his face. "Inferno, zoom in on his face; check the database for any Autobots or Decepticons that match." "Let's see…hmm…no sir, no files match. I've checked all files even the ones created in the beginning of the war. The only other thing I can think of is if he was recently created." "Could this be what the Decepticons were working on all these years?" Ironhide anxiously asked. "There's only one way to find out." Prime returned back to the mic, "Who are you?" The figure looked up at the base and raised one optic, "I'm coming inside." He did as he said and continued to walk forward. Inferno was eagerly waiting to press the button that activated the automatic defenses, "Do you want me to do it Prime? I could get rid of him right here right now." "No! Let him come inside, but send my men at the interior entrance." "…yes, sir." Inferno spoke through the internal speakers and ordered all Autobots to the front gate. He opened up the huge sliding doors and the mysterious Transformer stood in the outside light. As he entered the base, Autobots had formed an orderly line completely surrounding him; to the left of him, to the right of him, and even above him, all had their weapons up, aimed, and ready. At the end of the line stood Ironhide. The arcane robot kept his optics straight ahead as he approached the Autobot General. "Take me to Prime." He said. Ironhide responded by giving him a hand motion, signaling to follow him.

When they came upon the communications room, Optimus was sitting in his throne waiting for the covert figure. The moment he saw the Autobot leader, he fell to one knee. "Who are you, soldier and who is your allegiance to?" "My name is Sideways, and I am aligned to the Autobots." "Then why do you not bare our insignia? And why are you not in our databases?" "To answer your first question, I am a spy and I always remain undercover. I was one of the first Transformers ever created. I existed before Metroplex, before Landmine, even before you Optimus. And now to answer your second question, I am not in your database for the reason that I erased myself from such things." "Why?" "One of the basic concepts of being a spy is that you erase all traces of your identity. If you cannot find me, neither can the Decepticons." Ironhide stepped in, "How do we really know you are who you say you are?" "You'll just have to trust me." "Prime, listen to this! He could be working with the Decepticons." "If I was working with them, I would have already obliterated all of you. My skill surpasses even your best warriors." "I'm sure it does." Ironhide said with a sarcastic attitude. "If you don't believe me then I'll show you sometime, but now we have other matters to attend to. Prime, the Decepticons have something…something big and dangerous. Something deadlier than that Bruticus you fought back on earth." "How do you know all this?" "Because I was there for it all, watching both sides play their part. I've always been there since the beginning of the Transformers." "Ok, so what did you have planned?" "I know where the Decepticon base is located and I can take you there so you may destroy the menace before it awakes. Now hurry, ready all your men; this is going to be an all-out attack." "Wait! If you knew where they were all this time, then why did you not tell us ten years ago when they were weak?" Sideways merely looked over his shoulder at his leader, then continued on out the door.