That's it. A new story. This is a pre-war AU that is set in the G1 universe and contains elements from IDW and TF:Prime. I have the storyline pretty much planned out, though random ideas and changes can occur, I know where I want to take it. As university/college (I don't know which you call it) is starting soon, and I want to write That Thou Art Mindful of Him as well, updates will be irregular and can be long apart. I am sorry for that.
I have thought up a long description, but I already forgot it. xD I hope you will enjoy. :) Copyright is, unfortunately, not mine.
~I.~
This way of execution was rare to be found nowadays in a civilization that considered itself advanced beyond such things. The so-called Golden Age would not see the use of these methods, especially not something thought to be the remains of a more savage era that they had evolved above. Yet, when a public execution, reserved only for the most dangerous criminals, was announced by the Senate, many bots came to see the event. Some out of curiosity, some because it was necessary, some because they were afraid and some just wanted to give the robot in question some consolation for the last time. It happened every time like this.
Jhiaxus' execution was no different.
The older Cybertronian, once Dean of Science at the Academy of Mechanical Sciences, stood upon the stage in front of the crowd. His spark chamber was opened, his soul bared for everyone to see, yet his face remained devoid of emotions. Some of his old students objected to this humiliation, but their request eventually went unheard. Jhiaxus was subjected to spark suffocation and the de-fusor had already been positioned to his back. A service drone stood behind him, one hand on the switch, waiting for the sign to start the procedure.
Shockwave did not see it. Did not hear the background murmur of the crowd, did not hear his former fellow students talking quietly next to him - he couldn't tear his optics from his old teacher. He stood frozen, features just as straight as the other scientist's except for a small, worried frown that crept onto his faceplate. Despite how long they had known about the judgement, he could not make peace with it, not to the extent his master did. No matter that almost everything had been arranged, that they had talked through it several times, Shockwave yearned for nothing more than to talk to his master one last time.
But even Jhiaxus' comm. link had been disabled ever since he had been put in prison. The last time they spoke was deca-cycles ago, before the Senate made its final decision. Being judged by the Senate itself meant a serious crime and huge punishment, generally made quickly and reminded suspiciously of the martial law of histories. Jhiaxus' crime was, in fact, rightfully serious to make many Cybertronians side with the senators for once.
At first, it started out as a theory on Jhiaxus' part. He was the one to put into words what he had seen and analyzed from stellar cycles spent as a genetical igniculicist, examining their species. The Cybertronian race, in its current state, was an evolutionary dead-end, he said. Stagnant without much of an improvement for the last hundreds of vorns - even though a lot believed there was nothing more to improve, however, such societies could not last long. It would soon start to degrade and fall into chaos, vulnerable against outer dangers by the illusion of perfection and confidence they gained from it. The need to develop, to evolve, to become better had somehow got lost from the collective conscience. Such civilizations would soon become stuck, unable to move on and that would result in further tension.
The only logical outcome would be rebellion.
He only received some threats for this, and his publication about the matter was soon prohibited. The Senate, putting forward its image of constructive functionalism, of course, started keeping a close optic on the Academy after that and sent enforcers to investigate several times. It was during one of these surprise visits that it was discovered Jhiaxus had already began experiments on how to improve the Cybertronian race; with transformers, supposedly volunteers, as his subjects.
He did not let them know that the crime was not only his. The old scientist had a mnemosurgeon change and rearrange his memories and took the blame. After all, they theorized with Shockwave... someone had to continue his work.
Only Shockwave knew. He was the one Jhiaxus entrusted with this secret. He was his best student, his mentor always said, and more than eager to follow in his footsteps. He promised his master he would never give up his beliefs. After all, science held the answer to every problem. And logic was the key to achieve them.
The whole Senate was there, with Sentinel Prime at the front. Lots of them wore satisfied expressions, and Shockwave failed to notice the few who were frowning or fidgeting in discomfort. Distress was evident on their faces, but their presence were required - not for any specific reason, just to strengthen the view in the crowd that they were all doing something good for them by eliminating this threat posed under the name of science by the otherwise renowned mech. Rich and common were separated, police officers kept order as the moment grew closer, and Shockwave just watched.
Jhiaxus offered him a small smile. Nothing more passed between them. Shockwave could not hear the order, just see the drone suddenly come to life behind his teacher and move to the de-fusor. He did not want to watch, yet his optics were drawn to the older scientist's spark as the device started working and the life-giving energy, the physical entity of his soul shrank in its chamber.
Jhiaxus' optics flickered and his vents heaved a last, shuddering breath before his body went limp and collapsed on the stage. It was clean and fast - already over right after it started. Yet, despite himself, Shockwave's own blue optics widened in terror and his intakes hitched, his digits quickly curled into fists to stop his hands from shaking. He willed himself to remain strong, for his master, but he couldn't help the tremors that ran through his chassis.
A hand landed on his shoulder.
"Shockwave..." his friend's voice brought him back to reality and he quickly tore his gaze from Jhiaxus' lifeless body to look at his former partner. Wheeljack's optics were wide, too, a trace of coolant shining in them and he pulled the other mech into an embrace. Shockwave buried his face into his shoulder and tried to calm down his ventilations. It must have been just as hard for Wheeljack, too. They were both students under Jhiaxus at the Academy and graduated in the same class, but only Shockwave stayed there to continue working.
"What's going to happen?" Wheeljack's quiet question followed their separation.
"The Academy was allowed to function... under stricter supervision." Shockwave answered in an equally hushed tone, "I will be the new Dean. My inauguration will be in two deca-cycles. Will you come?"
Wheeljack just nodded, seemingly lost in his thoughts, "They questioned me, too... even came to my lab once to take me to a questioning." he murmured, glancing carefully at the enforcers escorting away the leaving senators and advisors. The crowd was slowly dispersing around them.
"But you didn't know anything." Shockwave stated, his voice once again seemed calm and collected, now that his back was to the stage, "You should be safe at the Kimia, 'Jack."
"And what about you?" Wheeljack asked his former classmate and finally turned to the third member of their small group, a young femme. She was still just a intern in her final year, but she became good friends with the two mechs while they still studied at the Academy, all three students of Jhiaxus - and she seemed to be the most broken of them. Her intakes were hitching softly and coolant streamed down her silvery faceplates, causing Shockwave to wrap an arm around her slender shoulders.
"We'll do our best... to take care of ourselves." he whispered, and, refusing to look at the body of their former master, he pushed the femme gently, "Come on, Flamewar. Let's go back to Tarn."
Wheeljack stayed behind and watched them go. He heaved a great sigh and rubbed his optics. He knew Shockwave was suffering under that cold coat and calm mask of his, he knew him better than that. He swallowed it all down, trying to drown his emotions in logic, but it wasn't that easy to erase them. As Shockwave walked away, Flamewar's smaller chassis pressed to his, inside his spark a raging fire of fury coursed around, like magma in a sleeping volcano, just waiting, waiting for the moment to erupt.
And the eruption would be catastrophic.
"Welcome back home, Senator Starscream! Shall I–"
Starscream quickly hushed the jet with a wave of his hand and the mech backed away with a bow. Thundercracker followed him inside the tower with a sigh and even Skywarp saw it better to stay quiet as they made their way towards the personal quarters. Everyone bowed on the way and stood aside to let the senator and his trine pass, except for one flyer, whose wings lifted slightly when she caught sight of them.
"Starscream!"
The red Seeker looked up when he heard his name and forced on a little smile before spreading his arms to hug his sister. Slipstream melted into his embrace, even though she could feel how tense her sibling's frame was. Before she could have said anything, Starscream broke it and with voice only a murmur, he said, "I'll be in my quarters."
And with that, he left the other Seekers and was soon gone behind a pair of doors. He was quiet, too quiet for Slipstream's liking, and even though she knew the cause of this uncharacteristic behavior, she did not expect it to have such a huge impact on Starscream.
"Was it really that bad?" she whispered, only to receive a huff from Skywarp.
"Well, seeing a spark extinguish before your optics is not a pretty sight." the purple flyer muttered, "And you know how fragging sensitive Screamer can be."
"But it's just because he agr-"
Thundercracker quickly hushed the younger Seeker and moved closer to them, "Not here, 'Stream. Scientifically, he may have considered some of Jhiaxus' theories, but I have to agree with Skywarp. Starscream is too sensitive for such things."
Slipstream sighed, "Alright, but we shouldn't leave him alone. Not in this state."
"I'm calling Skyfire." Thundercracker offered, "He's usually the only one he listens to. And maybe we should follow Starscream's example and return to our quarters. It is late."
Slipstream gave a nod and they shared a quick kiss before turning away to walk to their separate quarters. Thundercracker did not miss the expression on Skywarp's face when their optics met, no matter how he wanted to hide it, and he let his gaze linger on the other flyer just a moment longer than necessary before entering his room.
Starscream took a deep vent from the crispy air of the evening over Vos and leant back carefully. After Jhiaxus' execution, he insisted on flying back to Vos instead of using a ground bridge and his trine mates agreed, to let his head clear a little before returning home. Gazing at the darkening sky from the top of his tower never failed to calm his nerves, yet now they kept boiling inside his head. He frowned unconsciously as he watched the faint light of an orbital station pass through the sky, nothing more than a steadily moving star from this far and while intent on letting his mind wander with it, Starscream found his thoughts always returning back to the events of the afternoon.
He was distracted so much, that he didn't even hear the - surprisingly - quiet steps of the space shuttle and the larger mech smoothly lying down next to him.
The Senator of Vos turned his head to the side to gaze into Skyfire's tender optics. The other did not ask him anything, knew him well enough not to. They lay in silence for a while and it was Skyfire in the end who broke it.
"Queen Nacelle wants to see you tomorrow."
Starscream let out a snort indecorous for a noble like him, "Looking forward to it."
Skyfire allowed a small half-smile to his lips before continuing, "In fact, she wanted me, too, but..."
"But?" Starscream turned to him to give his full attention to his intended Endura.
The space shuttle took a deep vent, "She wanted to ask me to be Minister of Science."
"And you declined." Starscream raised his eyebrows, already expecting Skyfire to nod. Now he sighed, too, "But why? You've been head of the Astronomical Division for stellar cycles. You're good, Skyfire, and she knows it, too. You would be perfectly fit for that position."
After a moment of silence, he added, "I don't see why you won't jump at the opportunity. It is great tribute, and you deserve it."
"But I'm not the leader you are, Starscream." Skyfire turned to him, "You're great as a senator, but I... don't think I could take such responsibilities. I'm not as strong as you are."
"Believe me, I don't feel strong right now. I did not vote for this to happen." Starscream stopped again before he went on, "You're just not as ambitious. You're satisfied with your lot. It was me who wanted more."
"And are you satisfied now?"
Starscream looked at him deeply, letting all the exhaustion and sadness onto his faceplates as he slowly shook his head.
"No."
Kaon was just like he imagined.
Of course, when he was still working at the InfoCore, Soundwave had access to many files about the city states of his home planet, but Kaon was not of particular interest to him. Soundwave liked to course through data from the various places, and sometimes he did catch interesting conversations from Kaonite transmissions, but he kept them mostly to himself - he was concentrating on other things, that was just something to pass his free time. However, nowadays he did not have those connections. He just had to rely on what he had collected over those lost stellar cycles when he still had his job.
Kaon was not an ugly state. Not like how the news and gossip portrayed it, though they held some truth as well. But Kaon had its beauty, too, with its rounded, ancient buildings and narrow, quiet little streets with hidden fuel stations. When he and Frenzy stepped out from the ground bridge onto the station, it looked like any other big city; nice and cultured. Even as he walked the main streets, he could not feel many differences. Just when they crept further did they see what had generated all those rumors.
Soundwave was ready for this. He knew all about Kaon from the InfoCore. But seeing it all with his own optics, first-hand, was a different experience.
"Creator," Frenzy's quiet voice reached his audios, the mini-mech leant against his waist, "rest, please."
He was right, Soundwave thought. They had been wandering for joors, walked from Stanix, and even with the ground bridge it must have been thoroughly tiring for him in his condition. Soundwave sighed and looked around. They were in a more abandoned area, just a few 'bots lingered here and there, all seemed to be unkept, homeless transformers - just like them. Soundwave finally found a lone bench and guided Frenzy there, helping the small mech lie down on it.
"Maybe we should stay here for the night." Soundwave muttered and searched in his subspace. He picked out a small energon cube and gave it to Frenzy. His creation took one sip from it and gave it back, Soundwave put it away. He himself was low on energy, too, but they had to make rations in order to save more. He would still have to feed his other creations who currently resided in his chest compartment, and the credits he had would have to be spent on energon, too.
They were getting used to sleeping on the streets anyway.
Soundwave opened a small panel on Frenzy's chest to check the mini-con's temperature. He was overheating a bit, but Soundwave decided not to activate his cooling fans yet. He was resting now, and it would go back to normal - even drop too low, maybe, as the evening grew chillier around them. It had been routine for them now; it had been quite some time since Frenzy's processor ceased registering the changes in his temperature, among other things, and his thermostat and fans had to be activated manually.
"You really think it'll be better than Stanix?" he heard Frenzy whisper and Soundwave looked deep into the smaller, duller optics. They had talked through it with his other creations as well several times.
"We have to try, Frenzy." he answered, and added in a murmur, "At least no one knows me here. Tomorrow, we'll go to the DataNet nexus and I'll look for–"
"Hey, mech, what are you doin' here?!"
An unfamiliar voice bellowed from the side, and Soundwave was surprised he did not sense them. He must have been too preoccupied...
The dual-spark stood up and eyed the three mechs. They weren't much taller than him, but just one glance at them told Soundwave they must have been a part of a street gang. Their paint jobs - what remained of them - were blistered and various scars adorned their chassis. They wore hostile expressions and their thoughts were none the less tamer.
Luckily for Soundwave, he knew their kind.
"I apologize." he spoke calmly and relished in the shock that struck them, "We weren't aware we were trespassing within your territory."
"What's with the fancy-talking?!" another of them exclaimed, "Are ya one of those elite scum?"
Soundwave felt Frenzy's anxiety grow in their bond, but he soothed the young mech.
"No." he answered politely, "We are just searching for a place to recharge."
"Well, you ain't no doin' it here!" the first mech spoke again and took a step towards Soundwave, raising a fist, "Tell your brat to get his aft up or else–"
However, before he could have struck, with precision he had mastered over the deca-cycles, Soundwave grabbed the mech's wrist mid-air and squeezed it as strong as he could. The mech gasped in pain and the other two also took a step back in surprise. Soundwave could sense their shock at the move and the dark expression on his face as he leant close to the first mech, never loosening his grip on his wrist.
"You will not touch my creation." he said, his tone the lowest and most menacing the three Kaonite had ever heard.
A sickening crack was heard and the mech screamed in pain when Soundwave released his wrist. He held the broken joint to his chest and stumbled backwards, terror plastered all over his face as he looked up at the looming figure of the dark blue mech before him. Soundwave's features were hard and he raised his scorching amber optics on the other two, daring them to advance closer.
"Go." that simple word, spoken in that cold, emotionless voice and a telepathic push, strengthening the fear they felt was finally enough to drive the three mechs off. Soundwave took a deep vent. He did not like to pick fights, but when one walked the streets cycle by cycle only for a place to recharge, they had to be ready for everything. This Soundwave had a hard time learning among other things. This was an easy round.
After all, no one could threaten his creation.
"Elegantly delivered."
Another voice, this one much calmer, deep, and carried no intention of fight. That was also the first thing Soundwave checked among his thoughts when he saw the mech the voice belonged to. He was standing by the side of a building and watched the dual-spark with delicately contained curiosity. This mech was taller than him, bulkier and looked much stronger, intimidating, yet Soundwave did not feel the same hostility from him that he felt from the previous ones. He wore thick armor and a helmet that reminded Soundwave of the energon miners, and had a code written on his chest which was hard to make out among all the scars.
The mech walked slowly up to them. Soundwave stood firmly in his place, shielding Frenzy from the stranger when he stopped a few steps from them, eying both of them up before speaking calmly,
"You have a Stanisian accent," he said, "and from the way you talk, you're not one of these wastrels here. You scared them away quite nicely. You must have experience."
"What is your intention towards us?" Soundwave finally asked, still trying to see more inside the stranger's mind. It was apparent he had quirked his interest, and the mech saw something in him, but his thoughts were faint, as if they were carefully shielded...
"I heard you were searching for a place to recharge." he gave the straight answer, "And as I see, your companion could use medical attention, too."
Soundwave turned back to Frenzy who had since stood up from the bench, but leant heavily against it. The cassette was shaking, wide optics darted from his creator to the stranger, intakes in deep ventilations. Soundwave crouched down next to him to steady him.
"Are you making an offering?" he asked, turning back to the large, grey mech.
"You obviously mean no trouble, and you don't seem like you have been out on the streets for long. I know a place where you can reside, at least temporarily. My designation is Megatron."
"Soundwave." the tape deck nodded, "Where is this place?"
Even before any words could have left his mouth, a thought crossed his processor that Soundwave managed to detect: the arena. From what he knew of Kaon, there was only one place that the citizens called arena, and there was where the gladiatorial combats were held. Kaon was one of the few places where an officially registered gladiatorial arena could function, granted because it was almost like tradition for its people. Within a nanoklick, Soundwave understood why the mech wore that armor; he was a gladiator.
A small smile graced the mech's - Megatron's - lipplates and he turned around to point at a tall, round building. "See that one over there? That is our arena. We can even give you a job, until you can stand back up a little."
"Creator," Frenzy spoke up quietly, "a-are you sure..."
"You need to rest." Soundwave replied, and activated his comm. link, ::And we're in no position to refuse right now.::
::Have you read him? You think he can be trusted?::
::For now, yes.:: With that, he stood back up and turned to Megatron, "Alright. We'll go with you."
Megatron nodded and led the way, slowly to give time for Soundwave and his creation to catch up. When Frenzy stumbled, Soundwave saw it better to pick him up; he did not have the strength to walk any more. Soundwave thought about letting out his visor and switch to night vision as the evening grew darker, but they soon reached an area where the street lights were actually functioning.
"Do you work there, too?" Soundwave asked quietly, and even though he knew the answer, he had no intention to reveal his telepathic abilities just yet.
"Yes, I am a gladiator there." Megatron turned towards him, his optics glowing a deep red as if he, too, wanted to read the other mech, "Does this make it any less favorable to you?"
"Not at all. You have been the first to offer shelter for us, for which I am grateful." Soundwave nodded, "You also mentioned that I could... get work there. Did you mean... fighting?"
Megatron hummed, turning back to the road, "Do you want to fight?" he asked casually.
Soundwave did not answer immediately. He had read about these gladiatorial combats, and they usually ended with at least one of the mechs dead. They were brutal and ruthless, much more complicated than any of those small fights he had to partake in with agressive street punks, and Soundwave didn't think it would be wise to engage in such bloody sports. Even with his telepathy, he could sustain serious injuries, and he couldn't afford to spend the credits he earned on medics for himself. Frenzy needed them more - and he had to be there for his creations.
But if he could get credits... He didn't have much choice.
"I do what must be done..." Soundwave murmured, "until, as you said, I can stand back up a little."
Megatron gave a nod. They were nearing the building now, and it was also what Soundwave expected from the informations he had about the Kaonite Gladiatorial Arena; it was quite clean, a colossal, rounded building with another, smaller, square one next to it that was part of the complex. Megatron now pointed to it, "That is the gladiators and staff's personal quarters. The medical ward is located behind it. I have already comm.-ed the owner of the arena, he is willing to receive you."
They stepped into the square building. It was dull on the outside and just as dull in the inside as well. The walls were dimly lit in the evening and no one lingered around as they passed through the doors and reached an elevator. On the first floor, they stepped out straight to the first door, the biggest so far and Soundwave assumed it was the owner's office.
"You are not alone in this situation." Megatron said still back on the way, "Many robots come here either because they lost their jobs and became homeless, because they won't or don't want to find anything better... Here, they get a home, energon and credits if they fight well. Of course, what you get to hand is not that much; half of the amount you earn you have to pay back to the Master for your quarter and energon, another part for the medical care you need. The mechs who were sold to the arena are in worse position, because they cannot leave until they pay back all the credits that have been spent on them. But the better you are, the more credits you earn. It depends on the audience, they put their credits on you. It takes time, but you can eventually make a living."
Soundwave was aware the gladiator was coaxing him to join in the fights. He must have impressed him with how he made those three mechs run, and thought he might help with this offer. Soundwave let the words circle around his processor. It was an easy opportunity, too easy, and the price was written all over Megatron's frame. He must have been one of the better fighters to have survived so much.
The door whooshed open to reveal a mech as tall as Megatron, but he did not wear armory. His paint job contained green, dark blue and grey and even though he wasn't armed, he looked equally strong as the gladiator. He wore a frown, but it straightened immediately when he saw Frenzy in Soundwave's arms.
"Come in, all of you." he murmured and ushered the dual-spark into his office. He pointed to a chair for Soundwave to sit Frenzy down, the mini-mech looked somewhat calmer now and wasn't shaking anymore, his dull optics looked up nervously at his creator, silently asking him if he was still sure about the whole thing. Soundwave gave him a curt nod to reassure him before turning back to the robot he assumed was the arena's owner.
"Should I call a medic?" the mech asked as he eyed up Frenzy, but the mini-cassette shook his head slowly.
"No, thank you. I was just tired." he mumbled and looked up to see the gladiator named Megatron walk up to them.
"Master Onslaught," Megatron spoke to the other mech, "I told Soundwave and his son they could stay for at least a cycle until they decide about their further plans."
"I see." the owner, Onslaught said, turning to Soundwave, "I can lend you a quarter with two berths and personal wash racks for one night cycle. Of course, if you want to join the combats, the place is yours. That is, if you are good and can make it out alive. You'll have time to decide."
"If I join, I can stay as long as I want?" Soundwave asked carefully, "Can I resign and leave if I want it?"
"If you are ready to face the risks. The first fight, if you survive it, will decide whether I can take you as one of my gladiators."
"I accept your terms." the dual-spark turned towards Megatron once again, "And I challenge you to a fight."
Frenzy's optics widened and Onslaught raised an optical ridge at Soundwave's statement. Only Megatron seemed unfazed and their optics locked, not even broken by the master's voice as he started to protest, "Now, that's not that simple. Megatron is our champion, your first fight must be with a weaker gladiator and-"
"I think we can make an exception this one time." Megatron interrupted, his tone even and calm, a smile hiding at the corner of his lips "I accept your challenge."
"Creator, don't!" Frenzy pleaded quietly just as a ping from the door told them someone asked for entrance, "You don't have to do this!"
"Ah, Crasher," Master Onslaught turned towards the newcomer, another mini-con. She bowed her head slightly and gave Soundwave and Frenzy curious glances, "These are our newest residents. Lead them to room 103, please."
"Yes, master." she said, knowing well enough not to question her superior's decision, and looked at the two mechs again expectantly, waiting for them to follow her. Soundwave helped Frenzy down from the chair, the mini-mech could walk by himself now and glared up at his creator as they left the office to their new quarters. Megatron and Onslaught stood in silence for a moment after the door closed, and it was the dark blue mech that spoke up first in a hushed tone,
"Lord Megatron," he whispered, "do you really think he will make it?"
"He's brave." he answered, still looking towards the door, "And he is a creator. He is willing to do everything in order to give his creations his best. He did not reveal much about himself, but from our conversation, he seems to come from at least a middle-class. Another victim of the system."
"You want him as a new recruit, don't you?"
Megatron gave a nod, "He is a dual-spark. I have met a few before - they are usually experts at communications, and we could use that. But, of course, this is all Soundwave's choice. The most important thing for him at this moment will be his sick son, and we cannot push him into something he doesn't want. For now, we must give him the freedom he has been robbed of to choose his own fate."
Notes: the word "igniculus" is latin for "spark, flame". Igniculicist means an expert on sparks. I also made Nacelle female because... well... that name just sounds too feminine for me. xD And we don't really know much about him, so I thought I'd use him in this characterization.
Also, time:
Klick - second
Breem - minute
Joor - hour
Solar cycle (simply: cycle) - a whole day
Deca-cycle - week
Mega-cycle - month
Stellar cycle - year
Vorn - decade, all in Cybertronian equivalents.
I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. :) Much more is on the way. :)
