TransHuman: Rising Storm- Stormtread Origin
Rain poured throughout the city streets, his blonde hair sticking to his forehead as his glasses became blurred through the water soaking them, thunder roared as he neared his apartment complex his heart pounding after running for so long. As he ran through the front gate a large hand slammed in front of him sending him skidding across the asphalt, skinning his arms and side as he looked up at his assailant. He looked upon a massive metal man with red eyes glaring right at him, the blood drawn from his broken glasses cutting his forehead dripping and stinging his eyes as the behemoth raised his foot to crush him.
It can't end like this he thought his eyes trying to focus on the massive metal giant about to kill him.
"Now Human you are no longer a concern for lord Megatron." The machine said as he brought his massive foot down.
{Xx Three Weeks Earlier xX}
Lenniham High, Birmingham, Alabama JROTC building 13:00 hours.
He sat waiting for the squad leader to finish his debriefing, his mind wandering slightly as he flipped the pencil around his fingers barely drumming it against his desk, the clock ticking down to his summer vacation. He sighed heavily as the sound of his squad leaders voice rambled on about how this was this and that was that, nothing really of importance. Suddenly a loud clap snapped his attention back to his squad leader who was now standing over him with a stern look as he gripped the sides of the desk.
"Private Matthews is there a reason you're being insubordinate?" the man said staring him down.
"I apologize sir, I've got a lot on my mind it's almost that time of year again." Matthews said as his voice took a grim tone.
"Its fine son I fully understand we have all lost someone, but the best thing you can do is live on and honor there memory by doing so." his squad leader said nodding as he stood and walked back to his desk as the final bell rang. "Now then enjoy your break and Private Matthews stay put for a little while longer."
"Yes sir." He said saluting the rest of his classmates as they left the room his friend nodding at him letting him know he would be outside.
XxxX
"Sir why keep me after class if its within my bounds asking sir?" He said looking at his squad leader who was messing with the computer at his desk.
"Yes private sit down," he said gesturing at the desk in front of him. "how are you liking the program?"
"It's a rigorous program sir but I believe it to beneficial." Matthews said only to have his squad leader hold his hand up stopping him.
"Enough with the 'sir' crap its just too weird coming from you now that its summer vacation," he said with a smirk, "now then Jett tell me again how do you like it here?"
"Well enough, and I'm getting plenty of 'other' work done how about you Max have you found anything new?" Jett said leaning forward propping himself on his elbows smiling slightly through the memories of the phone call.
"Just these pictures that show something that seems to match what your brother was saying in his last phone call, that and some survivors that you could talk to but I don't know how well that would go." Max said closing the site as the printer whirred to life spitting out three sheets with pictures and addresses.
"Either way they're worth a shot," he said grabbing the pages and flipping through them quickly before grabbing his pack and turning for the door. "thank you Max you're a true friend, and I'll pay you back for this all of it."
"I know you will, maybe sooner than you think." Max said under his breath as Jett ran from the room.
Jett ran out of the building tucking the papers into his bag before meeting up with his friend next to a small 2004 Dodge Dakota he had left by the curb that morning. His buddy had already tossed his hat and uniform for a pair of jeans and old beat up t-shirt with his combat boots, noticing Jett's arrival he waved him over.
"Hey Jett Squad Leader finally let go of your leash?" his friend said walking over and slapping him on the back.
"Yeah but Max ain't has bad as you make him out to be he helps me out a lot, and we have a locale for our search." Jett said tossing his bag into the bed of the truck before hopping in the driver seat and cranking the truck as his friend hopped in the passenger seat. "We're heading to Ocean Heights to talk to a person named Riley Ashton-Bishop and her family they managed to survive the Mission City Incident where my brother didn't."
"This again are you really gonna waste our summer by-" he said before being punched in the jaw "OW! What was that for!?"
"I don't call it wasting a summer vacation by finding out what that was that killed my brother Jase!" Jett said gripping the steering wheel tightly causing his knuckles to go white.
"Fine whatever lets just go." Jase said reclining back in the passenger seat rubbing his jaw.
As the two drove down the highway Jase surfed the radio stations slowly irking Jett's nerves as he did, Birmingham soon was just a little blip on the GPS. The silence between them after Jett slugging him finally broke as Jase asked an all to important question:
"Do you even know where these people live I mean even the report only says 'Residents of Ocean Heights' no set address!" Jase said looking at the reports.
"Not really but from what I understand it is just a small beach community," Jett said closing the file in Jase's lap without taking his eyes from the road. "In other words while I'm getting leads about my brother you can be chasing the beach bunnies, sound good to you?"
"Beach Bunnies? What is it the 1970's they're actually know as hotties babes there is a ton of other terms that would potentially get me slapped down if they ever actually heard me say it." Jase said smiling as he tossed the file in the back seat before reclining it back. "But still man you had me at beach but I didn't bring no trunks or nothing."
"Its cool punkin neither did I plus they're sure to have a shop that you can buy ya some." Jett said fake flirting making his friend scoot closer to the window.
Jett laughed at his friend as they got closer to the next town on the map, looking at the signs that popped up on the sides of the road he could tell his next six and half hours would be a long drive but would be worth it to find out any new information that could possibly help in figuring out what exactly killed his brother in Mission City. The night sky was riddled with stars and planes passing over the top of him considering he seemed to be one of the only few cars still on the road at this hour, time was flying by and so was he as he drew closer to his first stop being closer to midnight now and he could feel the sleep deprivation getting to him. He had to rest and soon, Jase was already out and he really didn't want to have to spend any unnecessary cash on a hotel room when he was only a few hours away. Suddenly a light flashed overhead before a truck similar to his drove past him, he looked at it again blinking at the license plate that seemed to match his exactly and every sticker right down to the Dodge Ram symbol in his back glass.
"Sleep really must be getting to me," Jett said as he tapped the GPS for the next available motel. "ah there it is Motel 6 should be just fine."
A few more miles down the road Jett turned in at the glowing Motel 6 sign and woke Jase up letting him know about the stop. Jase nodded and stumbled towards the front desk and grabbing the room key as Jett grabbed the bags and mulled over what he had seen even going as far as checking the license plate.
"Had to have just been my mind playing tricks on me again," He said as Jase opened the door to the room and instantly headed for the bathroom. "What do you think Jase?"
"About your insanity? Simple we should probably have you institutionalized before you finally kill somebody." Jase shouted from the bathroom.
"Very funny jerk-wad," Jett said laying back on his bed as he flipped through the phone messages that had yet to be deleted. "Looks like you aren't the only one who's still disapproving of my little adventure about six messages from the folks already."
"You gonna call em back or not?" Jase asked flopping onto the opposite bed and throwing his hands behind his head.
"So they can chew me out and tell me to come home? Id rather not and just finish up things with Ocean Heights before they get a chance to take away my files." Jett said as he reached the message.
"Still haven't erased it yet have you." Jase said as he watched Jett's eyes grow dark and felt his best friends mood change quickly. "You seriously gotta stop listening to that message its gonna drive you insane before you ever figure it out man."
"Shut up! I know I haven't figured it out and you and everybody else keeps reminding me of that every single person but Max he is the one that helps out while I only get negative crap from you and my parents who just wanna pass it off as a freak accident by the military but what I heard on the message the last thing that played through I cant help but feel that there is something else to it." Jett shouted before throwing the pillow he was laying against at Jase's head.
"What do you think I'm doing here?! I'm here because you needed me to help you this summer, and now you're saying all I do is complain but NO! I'm here because I'm your best friend and I refuse to let you do something stupid on your own and you know it!" Jase shouted slinging the pillow back at him.
Jett rolled over and stared at his phone again before playing the message as he drifted into a sleep that had been pulling at him for days now.
{Xx Somewhere in North Dakota xX}
"Lord Megatron!" A large mech shouted running to a larger one sitting on a massive throne in the main base of operations. "We found traces of Cybertronian voices on the human communications device again."
"Good Starscream now play it back so we may understand who it was that was caught on their recordings." Megatron demanded as Starscream bowed and called for the voices to be played again.
The human on the line screamed at someone named Jett he was apologizing for something that interested the large mech none as he waited to hear the Cybertronian voice of none other than Blackout the mech had long since been dead since Optimus had killed him while they pursued the human Sam Witwicky back a few years ago.
"Even in death that worthless scrap heap still causes me to anger." Megatron said smacking Starscream across the massive room. "Now I suggest that you take care of this Shockwave and Starscream if these humans wish to follow the trail then show them exactly what we are and how insignificant the maggots of this planet are."
"Yes Lord Megatron," they said together as they walked through the large doorway and took off through the air.
"Shockwave what is the status on the signal of that device?" Starscream said as more mechs flew up next to him. "What are you slag heaps doing here?"
"Megatron's orders we're to apprehend the All Spark signal while Shockwave has his fun with the human tracking our movements." The first jet said as they continued their flight.
"You heard him Shockwave you get the Human we will take care of the All Spark." Starscream said firing his massive engines to full blast towards the All Spark signal.
Shockwave slowed down as his map showed the two signals in rather close proximity the com link opened instantly as the same intelligence went to the others of the group.
:Looks like we're headed in the same direction after all Shockwave but for now I have some new orders for you Lord Megatron doesn't need to know about.: Starscream said as Shockwave listened intently. :Observe the human until we can have some fun with killing it so we can allow many more to witness his demise.:
Shockwave made a noise in agreement before flying over the road below and locking onto the signal from the primitive human communications device known to them as a 'cell phone'. He would observe from this distance since he didn't need the human spotting him just yet he would have his fun then the human shall make an interesting experiment.
{Xx Alabama Florida state line Town of Ocean Heights xX}
Jett sat up in the passenger seat his friend had been driving the remainder of the trip since they had left the Motel 6 early that morning, he looked out at the sign they had just passed announcing that they were nearly at their destination. He laid back again as he thought over his brothers final message:
"Jett I may not make it back from this mission so if I don't then I have no choice but to make this my final message and I want you to be the one to hear it." his brother said on the message, "We have been pinned down in Mission City the enemy is definitely not what we expected we have multiple casualties and nowhere near enough fire power the military lied about this mission! Wait it looks like we have a black hawk coming in for evac after all this time I thought they had forgotten-"
A loud crash sounded along with a scream of pain as multiple shots rained down on the area a skidding noise showed that his phone skipped and bounced against the asphalt, his brother had been hit or nearly hit. He heard a loud unmistakable scream as the sound of machinery grinding against itself and a strange metallic voice spoke an unknown language as his brother screamed out just a few more words repeatedly.
"I'm Sorry Jett, I'm So Sorry Jett!" he shouted before the phone was finally destroyed in the battlefield.
Jett sat up abruptly as his brothers last words and the mysterious noises echoed through his mind before Jase jumped at the sudden motion before the truck came to an instant stop squealing the breaks loudly.
"What's your Problem dude!?" Jase shouted holding his chest. "besides were here I took the liberty of asking around the town to find out about your survivors, the Ashton-Bishops do live here and their daughter happens to work at this little café' type deal here."
"Sorry about the scare but at least we can eat before we talk to her." Jett said as he exited the truck as a blue and white Ford F-250 sped past them. "wonder why they're in such a hurry?"
He shrugged it off as yet another crazy driver as he entered the small restaurant with Jase not far behind. Jett found a small booth over to the side as a rather colorful man stood up behind the counter screaming about the two of them entering his secret hide out as a brunette walked over to them instantly peaking Jase's interest as she spoke.
"Sorry about Lennox boys, he's a little off his rocker if ya catch my meaning." she said as the one known as Lennox continued his rant about intruders in his secret lair in a heavy Scottish accent.
"Names Jase and how bout you sweetheart you got a name?" Jase said extending his hand as the brunette giggled.
"Sunny if you must know but sweetheart works too." She said taking his hand before he placed a quick kiss on her knuckles, "so does your friend have a name or is he just 'friend of hottie?"
"Its Jett and we're in a hurry so can ya just take our orders already?" Jett said obviously impatient at his friends womanizing when they have something important to do.
"Well then how bout I just bring you the special and call it a day then, jerk." Sunny said turning on her heel offended the way she had been spoken to just for being friendly.
Jase looked at Jett then back up at the dark haired waitress who looked back and smiled at him before slapping the order at the kitchen order window.
"Whew that was close Jett, you are so lucky my looks and charm kept her interested or else I would carrying you outside to beat you to a pulp over that one." Jase said as he watched her move around the café'. "and what's this we thing you said I could chill at the beach while you talked to the Ashton-Bishops."
"What about them?" Sunny asked as she brought over two burgers and two drinks. "Do ya'll know em or something?"
"Not really but my friend Jett here is needing to speak to them about some incident in Mission City-" Jase started as Sunny dropped the drink in her hand spilling it all over him. "HEY! What's the big idea!"
"I'm sorry its just I thought you said you were gonna ask them about Mission City where they nearly lost both of their children during a military mishap." Sunny said cleaning the spilled drink before looking over at Jett who rolled his eyes, "but you couldn't possibly have said that right."
"Wrong that is exactly what we wanted to talk to them about namely this Riley girl file says she sustained the worst injuries of the group." Jett said eating a fry before she slapped her hand on the table getting both his and Jase's attention.
"I don't mind you poking around here but I swear that if you get anywhere near Riley I won't hesitate to call the law on you for harassment, Do you catch my drift?" Sunny said standing up and walking away.
"Man I like em feisty but whew doggy she is spicier than a ghost pepper." Jase said shaking his head and focusing on his burger. "hopefully the food is good."
"I'd rather not eat mine fraid she might have spit in it." Jett said eating his fries before taking a sip of his drink.
Jase rolled his eyes before eating the burger in front of him, moaning a happy moan before smiling his chipmunk face at Sunny who rolled her eyes obviously still mad at Jett and his blatant disregard at her friends predicament. The guy has some serious anti-social tendencies, after all since his brother had died the only ones able to get close to him were Himself, and Max not even his parents really knew him anymore. It was really kinda sad, Jett finally noticed his friend staring him down mid chew.
"What?" he said snapping his friend back to this reality.
"Nothing man just got lost in thought for a minute." he said swallowing the food in his mouth before setting the sandwich down and waving Sunny over.
"Yes?" She said crossing her arms over her chest and staring at Jase before turning her glare at Jett whose burger remained untouched. "Something wrong jerk? Was our burger not to your liking?"
"I'd just rather not eat some bratty girls saliva just because she decided to get upset at a soldiers comment." Jett said pushing the plate away not looking at her.
"Soldier!? What are you talking about?" she said still glaring him down.
"Private Jett Matthews and I really don't take kindly to people who get in my way during things involving Mission City." Jett said standing up and slapping a few bucks on the table before storming out. "Jase lets go we have stuff to do."
"What you little!" Sunny said before Jase grabbed her arm lightly causing her to stop and look back at him. "What!?"
"Don't let the act fool you he lost his brother in that fight, Lieutenant Adrian Matthews, he was one of the last bodies found and he was clutching his rifle with a picture of him and Jett when he was younger in his pocket." Jase said letting go of her arm and waiting for her response. "He just wants to know if anyone saw what it was that killed him, he doesn't believe that the military would really send such good men to die over combat training."
"Oh." She said looking back at Jett who stood outside looking at his phone.
Jett looked down at his phone his wallpaper had yet to change from the picture of him and Adrian when he was just 13 years old. After seeing his friend talking to the waitress he just shook his head before closing the phone and walking towards his truck and taking off looking for the nearest motel he could get a room at. He shook his head again wiping the tears from his eyes.
"No more crying no more." he said cranking the truck and flooring it down the road.
{Xx In the Sky above Ocean Heights xX}
:Starscream: Shockwave said opening the com.
:What is it Shockwave: he said responding with hostility in his voice.
:The human, I have a name for both him and the All Spark signal.: Shockwave said his voice even more metallic than the others.
:Where is the human that you're supposed to be tracking?:
:A local nourishment station he is trying to contact the All Spark so I suggest you get her before AutoBots that are on their way.:
:Shockwave you slag brained scrap why not inform us of AutoBot scum at the start of this!: Starscream shouted into the com link.
:Commencing recovery of the human before he can make contact, Shockwave engaging:
As the com shut off Starscream looked at the others around him nodding that they had to get the All Spark before those slag heaps got to it. Suddenly Starscream's holoform noticed the platinum haired human All Spark running past toward the dwelling of her family, before she and the younger male ran from the house watching as she floored it away from the building.
Shockwave focused down at the café' below him his plasma cannon revealing itself as he hovered closer to the gray vehicle below him a small mech removing itself from his shoulder and forming itself into a bird.
"Laser Beak follow the human and send word when he is annihilated." Shockwave said as the bird type mech flew down to a small area behind a building.
Laser Beak flew up into the hotel window taking on the appearance of the TV as Jett stepped inside and fell onto the bed.
{Xx Ocean Heights Seaside Hotel xX}
Jett stepped through the door of the hotel room falling onto the bed before playing his brothers message again. Jett rolled to his side as a man walked through the door uninvited.
"Hey buddy the rooms Occupied if you can't already tell." Jett said jumping up only to be pushed back down by the large man in front of him.
"Listen you slag head! I'm trying to help you here and you need to stop looking into Mission City's events okay, its some stuff that you can't even begin to fathom in a million years ya little slag." the man said his eerie blue eyes staring Jett down.
"Who are you to tell me that!" Jett said standing back up and grabbing the man by the shirt only to be flipped over and slammed to the ground.
"You've been warned slag." he said stepping over Jett who bowed up coughing trying to get his breath back.
Okay Authors Note: Okay first time writing for this fandom so yeah definitely need the feedback also thanks to JB Tarrant for letting me use her characters in this origin story of a new character that you fans of her work may enjoy if you need another relatable human character in Jett Mathews/Stormtread just be patient and you can see how he comes to be the helpful character that he is soon to become along with how he will come to be a big player (hopefully) Riley/ Metal Frost's battle with the Decepticons. I hope ya'll enjoy reading this as much as I am enjoying writing it.