Disclamer: I do not now, or ever, claim to own the rights to transformers related names, subjects or places. All rights belong to Hasbro.
Darkest Before Dawn
By Joshua Cochran
In association with Xerios's Transformer fan-fiction: The Dark Side of the Sun.
Chapter 1
With a whoosh of the engines a ship emerged from the recesses of hyperspace in a galaxy many light years from its place of origin. Strange symbols were carved onto the outer hull. One could compare its shape to that of a minivan. Except this alien minivan was the size of a single-wide mobile home. And that it had only one occupant. Symbols bleeped and glowed on the control panel as the biological machine checked his instruments.
This is definitely a long from home, he thought grimly to himself.
If he were to stand, he would tower at an incredible twenty-four and half feet tall. The same symbols that were carved onto his ship lined the visor surrounding his 'face.' He was sleeker in design than some members of his race, but still bulky in a sense. An Energon sword rested on his back, and his left arm contained a powerful energy beam cannon. The war between his people had hardened him into a serious warrior and even now, eons later, he was still doing his job.
After Lord High Protector Megatron had begun his war, Shoujax had not joined a side. It was only after Megatron had destroyed the entire city of Trion that he had made the decision to protect the Allspark on Optimus Prime's side. Decades later after all the fighting and lives lost he was horrified to learn that it was Optimus who made the decision to send the Allspark into space to keep it from Megatron's grasp. He replayed the argument he had with prime before he left on his own to find the Allspark.
"I served you, Optimus, because I knew you had the best chance of keeping your insane brother from the cube. And you go and do this!" Optimus was only slightly taller than Shoujax, but any Autobots watching could have sworn that didn't help any.
"I made the decision so no more sparks would be lost to this war. That is far more important than…"
"It completely destroyed everything we fought for!" Shoujax had always had the utmost respect for Prime, but now after decades of war he had finally begun to question his leader. "Our mission was to defeat Megatron. How are we supposed to rebuild our world now?"
If Optimus could show emotions, the expression he would have made would have been one of sorrow and regret.
"I understand how you feel. Believe me I do, but for right now Megatron does not have the cube, and we have a chance to claim it before he does."
Anger was overloading Shoujax's mental functions.
"And what if the cube is never found?! Did you consider that Prime?!"
Alarms were blaring around Cybertron. Earlier the order had been given for any surviving Autobots to evacuate to any habitable planet they found. The final alarm was a signal that it was safe to leave Cybertron. Optimus looked at Shoujax.
"I know your concerns, but this is our only option for the time. A team and I are going in The Ark to try and find it before Megatron can. I want you to..."
Shoujax held up a hand.
"No Optimus. I will go and find the cube, but not with you. You are my ally but forfeited my friendship when you enacted your foolish plan. I will go my own way and find the Allspark."
Shoujax proceeded to leave but turned and faced Optimus a final time.
"I pray we don't become extinct as a race for your mistake."
With a start he leaned forward to make sure his readings were correct.
There was an energy signature that perfectly matched the Allspark.
He couldn't process it all at once. After several thousand years, he had found an energy signature almost identical to the Allspark.
"It took long enough."
Then another surprise loomed outside his ship. A much smaller ship that looked almost organic in a sense had just veered away from him.
No time to worry about it now.
But he was wrong. No sooner had he processed this, that out of no where several dozen of the dart looking ships appeared and begun opening fire upon him.
First Decepticons now these annoyances, it never ends.
Bringing his ship around he proceeded to open fire upon the nearest ship destroying it immediately.
Good I need some excitement after the past few decades.
He recalled the last galaxy he went through had been much more time consuming in terms of enemy fire. It was then he noticed a planet below him. He processed his options. Stay and fight an unknown enemy, or land on the planet and try to get his bearings. It was unfortunately in this moment his engines were hit.
As he spiraled towards the planet, his memory drives were working overtime. Swearing loudly in Cybertronian, he braced for impact as his ship slowly began to spiral down towards the planet, caught in the gravity.
Primus, if I make it through this, remind me to add this to the memory banks as being another mess linked to Optimus.
He began to change his body into a re-entry form, knowing all too well he would have to leave his ship for his safety. His arms, legs and head began folding with the rest of his body until he resembled something like a large comet. A rock like substance began to engulf his body.
Eject, he told the ships computer and no sooner had he sent this command that he was hurtled out of his ship into the dead cold of space. Firing his thrusters on his vehicle mode, he began to descend towards the blue planet.
