Misadventure In Outer Space
Rearlight POV
I hate my life, I really do. It is not exactly horrible just so agonizingly boring. I have considered suicide but my life is so uninteresting that not even death seems particularly eventful.
My name is Rearlight, I am a one among millions of factory workers. Day in and day out for the last four million years I have gone to this factory band hammering bolt after bold after bolt. No, wait I forgot. I used to make bolts for droids, now I make bolts for spare parts or was it the other way around.
Then came the day, I never thought would come. It was a day of dread and lost…well for most people. It all started with my factory band shutting down with no warning. Not that I mind I just wish I got some sort of heads up.
"Dear factory workers. I regret to inform you that Generic Bolt Factory has been closed down due to the ongoing civil war cutting our incomes. Have a nice day." My faceless boss said over the loud speakers.
I stared up at the loudspeaker in the ceiling as all my co-workers emptied the building. I was numb, unmovable. My uneducated brain module could barely comprehend what had happened. I have worked in this factory my entire adult life and now it is all over. I stood still on my spot until night rolled in.
A vehicon working as a janitor walked over to me. "Hey, the factory is closed man. Time for you to go."
He shacked my shoulder and I snapped back to the present. "Huh, yah, I'll go. I see you around um…"
"Steve."
"Yah, right."
I walked down the streets of Peptex. What should I do now? I guess I should try to find a new job. Sounds awful. Trying to willingly find and indulge yourself in something as awful as a profession.
I walked into Swerve's. A bar owned by one of my oldest friends, Swerve. He is a nice guy until he starts to talk, then you just wish he leave. The bar was empty with the exception of me and Swerve at the counter. The theme song from Cheers was playing in the background. Xal, save me this depressing.
"Hey Rearlight. Why so gloom?" Swerve asked as I took my seat at the counter.
"Life Swerve, my life has gotten me gloom."
"Oh yah, the guys told me the factory has been closed because of the war."
"I didn't even know there was a war." I muttered.
Swerve slapped his face. I hope he dislocates his jaws so he shuts up. "You haven't heard about the war! How? Do you live in a cave?" So much for hope.
Swerves questions almost made me wanna tell him how I spend my days. I wake up in the morning and goes to work. The sight of that factory building makes me want to cry. I work long hours until I get to go home. I watch some porn and then I recharge. That's my routine every day. Wake up, go to work, watch porn, recharge. Wake up, go to work, watch porn, recharge. Wake up, go to work, watch porn, recharge.
Okay that's not entirely true. Some days after work I hang with my friends at this bar but that's not very often. If my little circle of friends were the Avengers I would be Hawkeye, if we were The Simpsons I would be Maggie, if we were the Extreme Dinosaurs (yah, you totally forgot that show existed didn't you?) I would be Hardrock. I am the guy that no one noticing when he is gone.
O yah, I am in a conversation with someone aint I. "I just don't keep up with current events." I sighed.
"Well, let me tell you. The war was started by a group of rebels called the Decepticons. They want to usurp the senate and put a stop to the cast system."
"That's good."
"They have committed acts of genocide and terrorism all over Cybertron."
"That's bad."
"But a new independent group have risen to fight em. They are called the Autobots. They are the good guys." Swerve said and held up an Autobot symbol to my face. "I am closing this bar and joining."
I just huffed in annoyance. "Why would you do that?"
"For all the adventures and celebrities I'm going to meet of course. Both Blurr the racer and Ultra Magnus the general has joined. Star-dome here I come." He gives me a hopeful smile that freaks me out. "You should join."
"What? Why?" I asked startled.
"Well, now that you are unemployed you should join me with the Autobots. It will be so much fun." He said enthusiastically.
"Nah, I don't want to label myself. Once you got a badge people start judging you. I need a new job. Sigh, the problem is that I have never done anything else but work in a factory." I lamented.
"Well, what did you wish to do before you became a factory worker?" He asked.
I started remembering what my dad told me before he died. "Be careful with that blaster son, I don't think the safeties on." More than that he told me I should stop daydreaming because the cast system has already decided a career for me.
When I was a sparkling I dreamt of becoming an adventurer, what sparkling doesn't? I daydreamt of finding long lost secrets in the depths of Cybertron and buried treasures on other planets (not for any academic reasons, just for the thrill of it). Maybe fight some bad guys and make love to some strange exotic femmes.
Suddenly it hit me. A missile. It struck the tavern and I was hurled out by the explosion. I could hear Swerve screaming in horror. Poor guy didn't even get the chance to take my order. As I laid on the pavement, looking up at the smoke covered sky I had an epiphany. Now, that war ravage the planet I can bewhatever I want to be. I could be the mech I wanted to be as a sparkling. I could be an adventurer.
I spent the next three months in the hospital. They had to replace one of my arms (fortunately I am of such a generic type that almost any arm fits). They also said that a piece of my brain module had been blown off but I don't feel any different.
Once I was healed I went to the last open library on Cybertron and checked out a digital book called Maps to Buried Secrets. I think this makes me the last Cybertronian to ever loan a library book. Great, one title already claimed. I also bought some weapons and junk if I would need it.
Unbeknownst to me this was also the day of the great exodus.
Now, I could spend hours talking about all the plot elements to this like the drama, the dilemmas, the conflicts, the sacrifices but I don't think anyone would be interested in that.
At the end of the day I sat in a space shuttle with hundreds of other refugees around me. I was the lonely smile in a sea of crying, moaning, sighing, brooding faces. Why? They act as if it is the end of the world or something…oh right, it is. Good riddance I say. What a boring planet.
A real sourpuss of an Autobot walked into the room. "Hey, my name is Dipstick. I am here to inform you that we will be landing on Barbern's moon in one solar cycle. On landing we will start setting up a colony. So congratulation, you're all now moon people."
Barbern! There's no interesting secrets to be found on Barbern. I can't go there. I walked up to Dipstick. "Um, excuse me. Do you think you can drop me of at Weisdamm on your way to Barbern?"
The snot green soldier scowled at me. I don't know it is me or if he just always looks like that. "What are you talking about? We don't do any stops and even if we did Weisdamm is light-years off our course."
"But…" I managed to say before he pushed me back into the crowd.
"Sit down! This aint no freaking vacation tour." He shouted before leaving.
I stood up and dusted myself of. I can't stay here. Too many bad vibes and a boring moon doesn't sound very good for an up & coming adventurer. I walked to the escape hut were the escape pods where. A white & red Autobot stood guard (his name was Fastback I later learned).
"Hey, what are you doing here?" He asked stingily.
"I am going to take one of those escape pods and blow this joint. The later part should not be taken literally." I answered.
Fastback walked up to me. "I won't let you." He snarled.
"Look, I really just want of this dull-fest. I don't want any trouble." I said.
He pressed his finger at my chest. "Back of cretin. You better follow orders or I'll put you in one of those pods and sends you flying into a supernova."
He threaten me, the perfect excuse. I curled up my fist and smacked him in the face with a clean right hook. He blacked out immediately.
I was about to climb into one of the pods when another voice spoke. "You got quite a swing in ya." I turned around and saw a red/orange Autobot with flames painted on him. Is there seriously a bigger neon sign for a giant ego then a flaming paint job?
I rolled my optics. "Look, I am no Decepticon, I don't want any trouble. I just want to get out of here."
"I believe you and if you really want to go I'm not gonna stop you." He said. I sighed in relief and stepped into the escape pod. The flame painted Autobot walked up to me. "But I don't think you should." He said causing me to arch an eyebrow at him.
"What's your name dude?" he asked.
"Rearlight."
"Rearlight. I know that going on your own might seem exciting but without comrades or a cause you will soon find it very futile. You got spirit kid, I can sense it and your fellow bots might need that. You have a responsibility blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah…"
Okay he really didn't say that last part but I just couldn't listen to his blabbing anymore. I decided to rebottle his point with the five words that always wins every argument. "Well, that is your opinion."
I pushed a button and the pod's doors closed, jamming the Autobot's fingers in the process. The escape pod launched into space with a SWUSH. I grinned and waved at the Autobot on the ship.
My adventure has begun. For once I don't know what will happen to me and I am so glad for it.
THE END.