Hey guys, Chauseures here. I have to admit, it's really weird being an adult and rewriting something from highschool... I had honestly thought I had escaped the Transformers fandom a few years ago... but nope, it's hit me full force again. Anyways, as always, reviews are always appreciated
"There is not much I can tell you that you do not already know." Vertigo crossed her arms, staring at the ground. "He was was second in command to Megatron, and is captain of the command trine and commander over Megatron's air forces. He is powerful, cunning, manipulative, and ambitious though can in some situations be considered cowardly. He is selfish, egotistical, and he cares for no one but himself. What else is there to say about him?"
Optimus nodded, optics watching her carefully.
Arms crossed.
Head down, avoiding his optics.
Wings straight along her back.
Stereotypical closed off posture. The triple changer was withholding something. He only needed to nudge her in the right direction.
"You served under him," It was almost imperceptible, but he caught her flinch, the minute twitch of her face plates, the way her claws barely clenched for a microsecond. "Your knowledge is crucial to ending this war, Vertigo."
The way her face fell at his words, expression now doleful rather than simply stoic, told him that it wasn't malicious.
"I am sorry, my Prime." Vertigo still did not look at him. "You have my word that I will do everything in my power to defeat him, but you have been fighting him for longer than I have even been alive. What I can tell you is that he is not alone in the struggle for power within the decepticon ranks… Not everyone is willing to fight for him. It might be possible to exploit that."
"Thank you, Vertigo. I appreciate your efforts." Optimus placed a hand on her shoulder but withdrew it when she flinched, no longer concealed. It wasn't everything she could say, but it was enough for now.
"I will do my best to be of service to you and your cause, Optimus Prime." She bowed to him.
She didn't need to, but he understood how hierarchy among the decepticons frequently worked, and he knew how obsessive Starscream could be with it.
"Will you accompany us, Vertigo?" Optimus asked her gently after a moment.
Vertigo straightened her posture, looking confident. "Yes." She seemed determined, but the Autobot leader could see the anxiety and doubt gnawing at her processors. For a split second he wondered if he was making the right decision asking her to come along. As he had told her, the Prime had been observing her actions from the moment that she joined the Autobots on Earth. At the mere mention of Starscream her optics would become unfocused and her movements skittish. Optimus trusted her. But there was a war going on, he could not always shelter her. Vertigo was attuned to Starscream's movements, reasonings, and, now that Megatron was gone, could hold to be a deciding factor in ending this battle. This war.
His decision was the right one.
"We will be leaving for Zambia at 0400 hours." He placed a large silver armored hand on her shoulder, avoiding the scars lurking beneath the surface. She flinched again, trying but failing to be discrete, and he quickly removed the offending appendage. "Go recharge, you'll need your energy."
She managed a smile, cerulean optics locking with his own. "Yes, sir." Her voice was soft, deep flanged tones carrying with them weariness.
Optimus blinked, nodding to her in turn. Then the Prime turned, leaving the young femme to her own devices.
Vertigo stared after him for a moment… feeling a vague discomfort; Something itching just under her dermal plating. She was doing the right thing… wasn't she? After all, how could she prove her loyalty to the autobots if she didn't fight against the current leader of the decepticons.
wondering where she would be able to find a quiet place for an unbroken rest.
Transforming into her terrestrial alt mode she headed over to the corner where Ironhide had begun to stockpile the synthetic energon that Ratchet had created from whatever he could, fossil fuels, solar, and hydroelectric power were the mainstay on this island though everyone knew Ratchet was hoping to have access to nuclear soon. "Would you mind if I stay here until we leave?" She asked the weapons specialist.
"I don't have a problem with it," Replied the older transformer, casting her an apathetic look as he took a swig from the cube in his hands. With any luck, she would be able to rest unperturbed.
The femme shuddered, settling down as best as she could; finding the prospect of stasis to be welcome. However her processors were still reeling, refusing to let her body recharge as fully as it should have. The mere thought of facing Starscream again sent a wave of dread through her. The thought of him even seeing her, feeling her presence was enough to make the black siding of the mustang ripple with her fear. Why hadn't she refused to accompany them on the mission in the first place? Optimus would have understood. He always understood... even when she couldn't. That was why they all followed his instructions.
But, she hadn't refused and now she had to deal with her decisions. All of them. This was the path that Vertigo had chosen for herself and whatever happened she promised herself not to fail the Autobots, Optimus, or the humans that she had grown fond of….
"Again." His voice was sharp.
She grasped her sword tighter, taking a low stance, talons digging into the ground below her as she watched him warily. Circling around him, she analyzed him for any weak point. Sword raised in her right hand, blade outward, tip pointed toward him, side facing to create a smaller window of opportunity, wings folded neatly along her back, she looked poised for a fight. His posture in turn was relaxed, swords pointed toward the ground, arms loose. It was infuriating.
He sighed and rolled his optics. "Are you waiting for me to rust, Virigo? That'll take you out of schedule adherence and we can't have that now can-" She lunged at him, aiming for his knee joint. His blades met her own in a flash, optics filled with vicious delight, "-we."
He shoved her back, retaliating with a jab at her shoulder.
No. A feint.
She moved to parry the one blade, twisting to avoid the second. It barely skimmed her waist.
He was close now, and she went to headbutt him. He jumped back but she followed, gripping the sword with both hands and swinging it in a wide arc. His blades met her own, bracing himself against the momentum.
Virigo took the opportunity and spun, sparks flying from the swords as they grated together, leg coming up to smack him in the middle of his chassis. He was thrown momentarily off balance by the impact.
But his recovery was quick as he grasped her leg and pulled her closer. His elbow came crashing down in the middle of her back, knocking the femme face down into the ground.
She groaned, bracing her palms against the floor to get up, but he rolled her onto her front; one foot came down to press on her chest, sword at her throat.
"Better, but your movements are still too large. It makes them clumsy and easy to predict. It might work on some of the opponents you've faced, but I've been at this for millenia. Most of those tactics won't work here." He let her up, hoisting her to her feet. His clawed hand closed around hers drawing it up to his chassis, mouth curling into a smirk. "You're going to be buffing this out later as a prize for improved performance."
Virigo stifled her snickering behind her other hand, "That sounds more like a prize for you, Starscream."
He just gave her a cheeky grin, "Well I did win."
A nudge from Ironhide jolted Vertigo from her slumber. She unfolded herself, a shudder rippling through her servos as she took a moment to orient herself. The memory had only been of battle tactics she could use against him… It was the only reason it had come to her.
"Time already?" She asked anxiously, helm twisting up so that she could gaze at the large mech.
Ironhide nodded, letting out a deep grunt. "The C-17s will be here momentarily."
Her optics widened, frown claiming her sharp features. "I am not flying?"
"No," Replied another voice from behind her. The triple changer spun around to face her leader, visor plates rising in confusion. "You will need to conserve your energy. You know that Starscream is a worthy opponent. Also the likelihood of other decepticons with him is extremely high. It is best that you do not fly there unaided."
"Oh... right..." Just hearing the words issuing from his mouth was enough to make the seriousness of the situation hit her like a punch from Devastator. The sound of wheels hitting the runway made the gravity of her situation settle in even more, and the darkly armored femme began to fidget; shifting her weight from foot to foot. There was no turning back as she approached the C-17. Optimus followed closely behind her, doing his best to transmit a sense of confidence to her. She cast a glance at him, "I will be fine." Murmured the femme softly, doing her best to smile... she knew it must have looked strained.
He nodded.
Refolding herself into her terrestrial alt-mode she entered the large aircraft. The muscle car pulled in, parking parallel to the barrier opposite the opening, and the Autobot leader slid in after her, followed by Ratchet, Ironhide, Salvage, and Beachbreak.
"I hate cramped spaces..." Vertigo stated as the boarding ramp lifted back to close the gaping entrance to the aircraft's interior.
"It will be over soon enough," Reasoned Optimus. He noticed her mirrors twitching. Again, the question ran through his processors: Would she be able to cope with this mission? Vertigo was strong and nothing less than valiant in her efforts. She had dealt with much more than anyone should have. But how much would it take to throw her over the edge? To make her crack? Of that he was unsure.
It was silent for a moment as the crew checked and rechecked the transport. Vertigo took that time to analyze the area. There were four humans on board with them. She could name only two of them: Lennox and Epps. The other two were complete strangers to her. A blond haired, fair skinned male and a darker haired Asian female. She could tell that the female seemed to be quite interested in her.
"Hello," The human said to her in an accent Vertigo recognized as Japanese. She walked closer to the femme, "I don't believe we have met. I am Dr. Ishihara Kaminari."
"I am Vertigo." Replied the Cybertronian. "Not to sound rude, but why are you joining us? I do not recognize you."
Kaminari laughed, "My government sent me here to study the Autobots. I am part of NEST."
"I see," Vertigo responded.
"Would you be offended if I were to ask you a few questions?" The human inquired, dark eyes lighting up with her curiosity. The femme could see the intrigue rolling off of her human counterpart in waves.
"Probably not," admitted the transformer. "Proceed."
She seemed ecstatic, barely containing her excitement. "Thank you! Your species is so fascinating! Your voice is more feminine than the other Autobots that I have worked with. Does this mean that you are a female in comparison? Do you have defined sexes, or is it more of a coincidence that some of you sound more feminine than others?"
Vertigo was stunned by the human's boldness, but supposed it made sense. "I am a femme... and gender presentation itself is a choice for everyone, but this was how I was created if that is what you are asking. But from the question you have asked I believe you are asking me if my biology is different from those of my 'male' counterparts, am I correct?" When the woman nodded, Vertigo continued. "It is not quite so simple as that… There are some differences, but the biological differences between fliers and nonfliers is far greater than that of mechs and femmes as a whole I suppose."
The human female's eyes widened, smile threatening to crack her face. "Fascinating!" Kaminari exclaimed. "Does this mean that you reproduce sexually?"
The question struck Vertigo off guard and she hesitated. "Um, there are a couple of different ways to reproduce... We can clone ourselves which was, and still is, a common occurrence among the Decepticon ranks in order to increase numbers. Genetic degradation is, unfortunately, an inescapable outcome of this and why it is not a particularly sustainable method. The main method of reproduction for our species was when a wave from the Allspark ignited hotspots to create sparks and in turn bring forth new life. It is much more difficult now that the Allspark has been destroyed. There were those who were constructed cold; bodies built before being brought to life with a cultured spark as well…." That was how he had been created, and he had made sure Vertigo knew it. She felt Optimus tense beside her. "Under very certain circumstances we can be recycled, but, again, without the Allspark that will be virtually impossible now... Or..." She trailed off, trying to find the right words. "As you stated before... yes, for all intents and purposes we can reproduce as you humans say... sexually." The femme winced as the words slipped from her vocal processor. Dear Primus, why would the human seek answers from her instead of Ratchet?
The foreign scientist was enraptured, oblivious to the embarrassment radiating off of the femme. "Does that mean that you could essentially reproduce with any of the males on base? What do the offspring look like? How does mating even work in a mechanical species such as the Autobots?"
Vertigo decided that she should have just remained quiet and ignored the small organic when she'd had the chance. Today was not her best for decision making.
She could tell that the questions had put Optimus on guard; which was understandable considering the condition in which she had first arrived in. "Sparklings are our offspring. They are small and particularly fragile. Mates... how do I explain such things...?" She paused, accessing the internet for information before continuing with, "It's a little more complex and much rarer than your reproductive tendencies…." Rare because not everyone could do it. A carrier was needed. Only a carrier's spark could collect the correct information during a spark merge to properly create a fragment… And without the Allspark…. Vertigo's spark sank.
"I do not feel comfortable explaining explicit cybertronian reproduction. Please direct any further questions on the subject to our Chief Medical Officer Ratchet." She stated simply. She owed nothing to this human.
Kaminari seemed to realize the awkwardness of the situation, "I'm sorry if I offended you. I was just very curious after hearing that there was a distinct male and female-"
"It is fine... though the distinction is vague at best." The triple changer sighed, trying to forget that she had just had this conversation. "Ratchet is much more qualified to explain about sparking and sparklings than I am. I would prefer not to discuss that matter further."
"Of course." The scientist jotted down some notes on her tablet, before looking at Vertigo once more. "But one last question... may I ask how were you created?"
Vertigo was taken aback. That was highly inappropriate…and asked in front of others no less.
"I think that is enough questions for one day, Dr. Ishihara." Optimus cut in gently. "That is a very delicate question in our culture."
One that had determined social class.
One that had caused wars.
The scientist's eyes widened, mouth agape. "Oh! I did not realize that. I did not mean to be impolite." She bowed fervently, "If I had known I would not have asked, please forgive my rudeness."
"You are forgiven." Vertigo replied after a few moments. "You could not have known unless told."
It was something that she thought about often… she knew how she was created, but she wondered how that would have been received before the war. Would she have been considered cold constructed… or something worse?
Vertigo tried to suppress those thoughts, changing the subject in an attempt to lighten the tense atmosphere. "So, who is your companion? I do not remember seeing him either."
The woman looked over to the man that Vertigo had mentioned. "That is Petr Andronov. He is a leader in mechanical and artificial intelligence from Russia."
"I find it amusing how humans often count mechanical intelligence to be artificial as if they are the only sentient beings out there. Our species predates yours by billions of years..." Vertigo remarked blandly. "Is not your DNA the same as any other code, simply written in carbon?"
The human smiled knowingly, "I can understand your contempt for such a thought. I would certainly be upset if someone were to consider me lower than themselves."
It was quiet once more, allowing Vertigo to analyze her thoughts. She perused through whatever information came to her about Zambia; a rural area of Africa. What would Starscream want there? The geography of the place did little to aid her processors in solving her problem. There was a large river there, the Victoria falls, safari, very few towns and a large dam.
What does Starscream want more than anything right now?
The answer was simple. Security. He wanted to cripple the Autobots... render them incapable of functioning. To do that he would need followers powerful enough to defeat a Prime; or at least he would need to handicap the Autobots and force them into hiding, into a position where human governments would deny them refuge. To do so he would need to produce something that would damage the general public and make it seem that the Autobots were unable to defend the humans or stop the Decepticons. But what...?
You were created for a purpose.
Vertigo pushed that thought from her mind, taking in a deep breathe. She was in control now, not him. Not simply a creation to be flaunted, but someone with thoughts and desires beyond her initial programming. A desire to prove herself worthy of her Prime's trust.