First story, apologies if it's cliche in any way.
Set in the Transformers Prime universe, Post-Darkest Hour. No shipping- thus far that is.
Brisk winds swept across the deathly quiet desert. Sand particles were carried by the wind through the abandoned town of Jasper, Nevada. Ever since that dark day, the town had been completely empty. Not even the wild animals dared to be so foolish as to enter that town. They feared the towering fortress looming overhead that cast a long, black shadow over the once-peaceful place.
Yet, even though the ground was empty of all activity, something was approaching from the heavens. Some kind of craft that had traveled throughout the vastness of space had taken interest in what had partaken that day. It had sensed the spike in energy from halfway across the spiral galaxy and had doubled back to investigate. But whose curiosity was leading them to the little blue marble?
Ultra Magnus thought this part of the galaxy seemed familiar, not as in that he had seen it before, more so that he had heard of it. Unfortunately, he failed where it was that he had heard of this location before.
Azure optics scanned over all energy readings that the craft had picked up, taking notice that this tower was sitting upon the source of the sudden energy spike. Something was awfully odd about this structure, for it seemed to be far too out-of-place. In fact, it seemed to be relatively new. Could this be Decepticon work?
In addition to the sudden energy spike, something else had persuaded Ultra Magnus to cross an entire galaxy to find this planet: his Spark. An unknown, yet familiar force was tugging ever so gently against his Spark, as if someone were calling out to him. However, Magnus could not decipher who it was that reached out to him. From his Spark came the nearly overwhelming sense of urgency, which in turn made the great Autobot proceed in his journey to discover its source as well.
Now that he had arrived, what is it that his Spark was attempting to tell him?
Another yank caught his attention as he scouted around the area near the structure - he thanked Primus that no activity was stirring about the towering spires of the fortress. Something in particular too caught his attention, smoke pillars that rose out of what appeared to be a destroyed mountain of some kind. What sort of weapon was used in the leveling of this structure, and for what purpose? He steered the ship into the direction of the smoke with many questions cycling through his processor.
Ultra Magnus took the chance and landed nearby the smoldering wreckage. From the look of the rubble, something been housed inside of the mountain's walls. Fires burned hotly, causing whatever metal it licked to melt like ice. Many things that had once been there had either already been plundered or completely destroyed, Magnus began to question why he was here if the place was abandoned, but the strengthened tug at his Spark told him otherwise. Something here wanted to be found.
Magnus gripped his famous hammer with a single servo, ready in case anything should even think of sneaking up on him as he surveyed the wreckage.
He stumbled upon a sight that caused him great shock, and a sense of dread: The Autobot insignia that had decorated the flooring of the structure. This place had once held Autobots and not that long ago from the looks of things. Had his Spark dragged him all the way here on a mission to find the charred remains of Autobots?
No, there had to be more to this. He decided to take a chance.
"I am Ultra Magnus, former Commander of the Wreckers! Are there any other Autobots here!?" his powerful voice boomed.
Another powerful yank grasped at his Spark and pulled him towards a pile of twisted metal and other forms of rubble. Magnus' optics scanned the area, and to his surprise he found another beating Spark, albeit extremely faint.
There was no time to hesitate, whoever was buried beneath the rubble needed immediate aid. Ultra Magnus threw large debris to the side and swiftly dug through the layers of metal and rock that had caved in upon its victim. The large Autobot worked with such great haste, giving himself no break whatsoever from the heavy lifting. He would not permit himself to let this Spark fade after he had come all this way, he still didn't even know who it was that he was in the midst of saving.
Reaching downwards, he felt his digits brush against something that felt familiar. Exploring further, he discovered what he assumed was another servo. Ultra Magnus quickly grasped a hold of it and pulled it back hard; whatever this was connected to must be big if even he was struggling to get them out. A few tugs later, Magnus had freed the servo from the wreckage.
He studied the black servo, as well as every limp digit that was attached to it. Then he proceeded to peer downwards along the arm and to the shoulder where an Autobot insignia had been welded. Once more Magnus heaved the limp body upwards so that he could finally get a good look at what he had found.
The realization of his discovery would then hit him like a ton of steel.
"Optimus Prime, sir!" Magnus gasped in shock when he laid his optics upon the Prime's miraculously unscathed faceplate.
Now an even greater responsibility had been placed upon the shoulders of Ultra Magnus. The former Commander tossed his hammer to the side so that he could grab hold of Optimus' torso and free him from the wreckage completely.
The Prime's frame was littered with gashes and dents, the windows that had adorned his chest were completely shattered. His smokestacks, antennae, and one of his legs were all bent and battered. Energon had leaked out of severed fuel lines, and his other arm had been completely severed from the rest of his body. Yet the Prime's Spark still pulsed behind the Matrix of Leadership, albeit faintly.
Magnus carefully moved Optimus over to a cleaner spot on the floor, a small area free of the debris where the Prime would have a chance to lie down and rest while Ultra Magnus planned their next move. The former leader of the Wreckers could just make out the sound of Optimus attempting to speak, the most the Magnus could do was hold his friend to calm him.
"Easy, old friend…" Magnus spoke softly as the sun dipped below the horizon for the night to arrive.
That voice, Optimus thought to himself, I'd recognize that voice from anywhere.
The Prime tried to move, but he was severely weakened from the attack that Megatron had waged upon their once-called home on Earth. Optimus onlined his optics to see for himself if it was true - that Ultra Magnus had appeared from nowhere to rescue him, or what humans would have called a 'deus ex machina'.
Sure enough, the large mech was right there beside Optimus just like the old days, save for the fact he was injured.
"It's good to finally see you again after so many years, Ultra Magnus. " Optimus said quietly, but meaningful to his friend.
"Likewise, Optimus." Ultra Magnus gave a smile that could only be seen once a millennia, "But it's not safe here, I need to get you someplace where we can get help. Are there any others on this planet, if so, where are they? "
"They are," Optimus paused and gave a groan of pain, "They are scattered on this particular continent after the Decepticons attacked… Understand that I had no choice, old friend, I had to split us apart, and I do not know where they've gone. "
Ultra Magnus was somewhat disheartened with the knowledge that the Autobots on Earth had been separated, especially since one of them was in dire need.
"I understand perfectly, Optimus. No matter, we'll just have to go out and find them ourselves. "Magnus assured the Prime.
Optimus had opened his mouth to say something more to Ultra Magnus, but his jaws almost immediately clenched shut as another wave of pain spread throughout his frame. The very sight of the Prime suffering made Magnus' Spark sink with anguish. He had to find help for Optimus soon.
Trouble loomed overhead in the clouds that swirled around the highest points on the towering fortress. The sound of one hundred Seeker engines could be heard from miles around, at least Ultra Magnus assumed that they were indeed Seekers, a fact that would then be proven as one hundred jets came thundering out of the clouds like an unforgiving hail storm. Luckily enough for them, the Seekers seemed to be flying in the opposite direction that they were in, most likely on patrol about the perimeter of the fortress. However, this still posed as extremely dangerous to both Autobots. If the Seekers were to return in their direction, they would undeniably be captured unless they found some way to shield themselves from their radars, which was unlikely.
Magnus would have to take Optimus and run as quickly as possible. His optics looked in the direction of his ship and concluded it to be the fastest option. But was it the safest? The former Wrecker would have to take the gamble while the team of Seekers was preoccupied.
With great haste, Magnus gathered up his hammer and Optimus before making his way back to the ship. Currently, his hope was that the craft was large enough to hold both the Prime and himself. If that wasn't the case, then they'd have to drive.
Metal from Optimus' limp pedes scrapped at the ground as Magnus carried him to the safety of his craft. A grunt escaped from the large Autobot's vocalizer as he gently set his leader back down onto the desert sands, then he proceeded to enter the ship and place his trusty hammer next to his seat, against the console. Ultra Magnus turned to face where he had placed his friend – He was still there. Once more Magnus strode over to Optimus' side and knelt down to inspect his broken frame.
He listened to the sound of his leader slowly venting and sensing the pain that he was feeling at that very moment. Ultra Magnus placed his servo delicately on the Prime's chest where the soft, blue glow of the Matrix of Leadership resided. Perhaps it was because of this relic that his friend survived the defeat at the hands of the Decepticons and why he still clung tightly to whatever strand of life he could grasp.
"Primus, if you are really watching us from afar, then please permit me to ask one thing of you; I beg you, please watch over Optimus Prime. He is our last hope of surviving – of winning this seemingly endless war. It was you who chose him to guide us through our darkest hour, and he has so far done that very deed. But our war is not yet over. We still need him, Primus, and I would rather be tortured by Unicorn himself than watch my leader perish while Megatron still functions. Optimus has fulfilled his task thus far, at least grant him the chance to finish it. "Ultra Magnus prayed softly.
Night crept in on the two Autobots, shrouding them in darkness with the Matrix of Leadership and the Prime's Spark the only objects that offered light. Once more Ultra Magnus lifted Optimus off of the dusty ground and carefully hauled him onto the ship.
In the distance, Magnus could swear he heard the distant sound of an unknown, feral creature - A sound that lingered eerily from the Decepticon fortress.
Reviews and other comments are welcomed! Perhaps I will continue if anyone is interested. :)