Into the Breach

Author: Sylenttails

Rating: FR-T

Disclaimer: I do not own transformers (any Continuity). They Belong to Michal Bay, Hasbro, and associates!

Pairings: Blitzwing/Bulkhead (TFA), Swoop/Bluestreak (IDW).

Warnings: Violence, TF Swearing, mech/mech implied

Prompt: 80. Words

::Blah:: Com talk

Chapter 4: Explanations

Why do these pitiful beings have thought? Why do they have speech? Does speech give more importance to their incomplete thoughts? Do whatever passes for prose among such worthless insects give importance to their miniscule lives? I cannot understand why those Two had given such useless abilities to their creations and expect them to rise in greatness. To be greater than Them. I don't understand, nor do I wish to understand. Mere thought does not give right to sentinance, nor does speech give right to free thought. They are impractical by products brought about by ever warring fools.

Simple minded creatures.

No thought, no words can bring them the understanding need to comprehend what is to happen to them. I shall combine them into one and there will be no such need for thought. Thus no need for speech nor rights. Those worthless creatures exist only for me to make them One. Only in that way will they ever be greater extensions than themselves could ever be as a race. Mindless. Wordless. Thoughtless.

Useless creatures.

Organic or mechanical, I care not for their differences. There is no challenge to them. They are simple and completely useless. They struggle like trillions of races before them. And for all their thought and prose they are remarkably mindless in some of the same aspects. Such as living. In doing what needs done to continue that existence. In this they amuse me greatly.

I enjoy watching as they are consumed to join the One that is myself.

oOoOoOo

One day later:

NEST HQ – Earth

Jazz and Prowl sat facing Optimus from across his desk. Both officers wore blank looks on their faceplates. Not even Prowl's doorwings fluttered. Neither one showed an ounce of emotion to this version of their beloved and mourned for leader. Both were certain that in typical Optimus fashion; the Prime died in an attempt to give his fleeing mechs time to escape. Jazz had told Prowl Megatron had agreed with the Prime, and nearly frizzled his logic circuits. But that didn't matter now. What mattered was establishing a home in this dimension and safe place for Spike to grow up in. Prowl had left the golden youngling with Mirage while they talked to Prime.

An Prime who seems somewhat less impatient yet more understanding of their circumstances than they had any right to expect.

Optimus settled deep into his chair, bright blue optics on the two black and whites, "Tell me what you can." He requested softly, "I can understand if the memories are too painful for you right now. I need the basic situation."

Prowl flicked his doorwings, "Very well sir. Unfortunately if we only gave you the basics you would be constantly asking questions throughout the telling. So it would be more expedient to tell you all that we can." Prowl locked gazes with the semi truth, "Can I assume you are at war with the Decepticons in this dimension?"

"Yes."

"So were we. Nearly three Earth solar cycles ago we received reports about a race able to take down a Decepticon. A race who have bred their warriors to be as large or larger than us. This race is powerful enough for both sides to combine their might in hopes of defeating them. But even combined we where loosing. We managed to hold out for a while, but the Enemy destroyed stars and planets around us. Cybertron was consumed, all forms of alien life was obliterated. "

"As in all around us the night sky went dark. Every star was killed by something we've never seen before. Preceptor and Skyfire watched as every single star died, sometimes in ones and twos in a joor other times thousands just seem to wink out in an instant."

Optimus shuddered, unable to contemplate such an occurrence ever happening.

We saw bits and pieces of them show up in newer more disgusting variations the Enemy threw at us. Their defining characteristic is in the mishmash of organic and mechanical parts that make up their forms. They are considered horrific abominations able to rip Bruticus apart with ease. We have identified a few types but we know there is more. Swarms of insect like flying creatures the size of our hands able to rend into nearly anything."

"Fer some reason they hate us Spec Op types. They go after us like a sparkling after an energon cookie." Jazz chirped up mournfully. Remembering how most of his ops mechs met a grizzly fate at the teeth of the swarms.

Prowl gave his fellow black and white a comforting squeeze and continued on, "A large warrior cast made up of hundreds of identified organic species augmented with plating made by dozens of strange mechanical species. We call them warrior abominations. They tend to have high attack and defensive capabilities but in equal measure. Very little of our weaponry can penetrate their armour. Then there are the frontline shock troopers, whose armour has proven impenetrable by conventional weaponry. Nothing short of kinetic orb cannons could even dent their plating."

"Wheeljack was working on a way ta combine rail gun and plasma beam technology. He figured that would do da trick. Punch a hole through those fraggers large enough ta kill them instantly he said." Jazz shrugged, "Those things tore all of our frontliners and Seekers apart."

"The humans had taken to calling them Dreadnaughts. Conversely the enemy doesn't seem to produce many of those despite how effective they are at tearing us apart. They also happen to be the same size as Trypticon. They have a space viable version easily able to overpower Omega Supreme and Metroplex. Subsequently, the humans have taken to calling the large space variations Superdreadnaughts."

Optimus' optics became wider with each description and horrifying fact. The Prime kept his silence; he needed to hear everything the pair could tell him. Just in case his own people ever encountered this race in the future.

"Before they died, our scientists discovered something of note. This race if you want to call them that did not originate from our dimension. There was evidence that they traveled through many dimensions. At last count there were approximately five billion different energy flux signatures. There may have been more but Wheeljack, Preceptor, and Skyfire had been assassinated by those swarms before much else could be discovered about them." Prowl finished, control of his emotions slipping a little at his own reminder of the losses; doorwings drooped to their lowest point. Prowl leaned into Jazz's side as his fellow black and white wrapped an arm around him.

"How we got 'ere is by accident. Prowler, Mirage and I had been ordered to evacuate Spike to a safer area. Our Optimus and Megatron deemed it necessary ta get him to safety. Only those fraggers know why, but since they've stepped foot on planet they've been gunning for the youngling." At Optimus questioning look Jazz vented, "We may not know the reasons but those things have done everything in their considerable power ta kill Spike. Ya see originally, Spike was a human."

Several kliks went by before Optimus could speak. The Prime didn't know what to say. That golden youngling had been human?

"How?"

"Early on in the invasion, Spike had been gutted by a Warrior. His organic shell couldn't sustain him anymore thanks to the trauma. Somehow Ratchet and Optimus used the Matrix of Leadership to give Spike a Spark and put that spark into a protoform. He's been considered our Prime's and CMO's sparkling ever since." Prowl explained quietly, "We've known him since he was a human youngling."

Jazz took up the explanation, "I met up with Prowler in med bay and we slagged some of the weaker Warriors before hightailing it to 'Jack's lab. There was an emergency exit there. Met up with Mirage and I set the place ta explode. Frag if I know all of what 'Jack had going on in there but the result'en blast sent us to yer sunny doorstep while killing anything that was trying to stop us."

Optimus sat back in his chair and regarded his counterpart's top officers for several kliks.

"All of you will be assigned quarters near to each other. Spike will of course remain in your collective care. I very much doubt he'll be comfortable otherwise. I'll give you an orn which is equivalent to eight planetary rotations to get used to life here. If you need more, please let me know. Our facilities here are not the best as we've only been on planet for four Earth years. Ark-19 is headed this way with Grapple and Hoist on board." Optimus sighed a little, "The war cost us our own scientists so I do not know if we will be able to return you to your own dimension."

"Prime, I doubt we have a Earth to return to." Prowl interrupted.

"I don't understand. How did you come to this conclusion? Surely your worlds..." Optimus asked surprised.

Both officers shook their helms, "Sir, the sky had been steadily turning black. No stars lit the night sky. Communications had either been lost or cut off. Several survivors had come to Earth to get away from the thing that literally ate Cybertron. Those things even consumed who we believe to be Unicron and His heralds. They came reporting to Command of these abominations that couldn't be killed, of beings that consumed the very planet they landed on to conquer. The last report to cross my desk before the attack on our Ark was Hound's. He reported those things had landed on Earth to begin consuming the planet..." Prowl explained in pained tones.

"At this time there is a ninety seven percent chance that our dimension is no more."

oOoOoOo

Ratchet completed his last scan on Spike with a hum. "Alright youngling, there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with you. You're cleared to leave med bay but I want you to come back within the next orn. Understand me?"

"Yes Ratchet. I do but is another check up really necessary? I feel fine!"

Ratchet nodded, "More necessary than you know. I have no idea how those energies could affect your systems. Until I do, I'll need to run regular scans to be sure nothing will be permanently damaged." Ratchet smirked evilly, "Don't worry youngling; you're not the only one getting repeated scans. Your caretakers will have no choice but to come in as well."

Mirage made a sound of protest from his spot against the wall, "That is not necessary!"

"Yes it is. My report to Prime and your Prowl will reflect that. How much are you willing to bet that he won't haul your afts in when the time comes? Since these scans are for your continued function?"

Mirage kept his mouth components shut. He knew the medic had a valid point but he hated being in med bay. But then every Ops bot did.

Ratchet's systems purred in satisfaction, "I guess you can't."

Before Mirage could come up with a witty reply, Ironhide burst through the med bay doors grumbling in irritation. Spike quickly left the birth and ran to the spy, who scooped him up to hold in his arms ready to disappear at the first sign of violence. Ratchet turned a mild glare at the weapons specialist.

"And what are you doing in my med bay when I'm dealing with patients Ironhide!"

The black mech rumbled lightly, "Prime asked me to escort the arrivals to some quarters and to familiarize them with our base and a few humans."

"That's still no reason to burst in here like your aft is on fire and scare the youngling again!"

If Ironhide could have rolled his optics he would have, "I know how you work Ratchet. There is no other efficient bot in the whole fragging army. Now," He turned to Mirage and Spike, "Jazz and Prowl will join us after their briefing with Prime. After that you lot have time to yer selves to get used to staying. We certainly don't have the knowhow to send you back yet."

Ratchet vented in agreement, "If only Wheeljack or Preceptor had survived."

oOoOoOo

Sam finished saying goodbye to his roommate and cheerfully left the dorms. It was the first day of summer vacation. No homework, no end of term projects, nothing, nadda! Three months of doing absolutely nothing but relax and get to know the Autobots better. Sam resisted the urge to chirp like Bumblebee when happy or excited, which he was. To top all of that, he was getting picked up by one of his Autobot friends. What more could a guy ask for? Besides spending some time with his human friends of course! With luck they would already be at NEST HQ.

Miles had found out about the Autobots by accident. His blond friend had been introduced to the minibot weapons specialist's cannons when Miles had accidently insulted the red camaro. That had been an interesting situation. Later Miles had been introduced to Sideswipe and the rest of the landed Autobots. Sideswipe and Miles took to each other like a house on fire. Now a day's those two had become thick as thieves. People and mechs shuddered when the two were seen together. You just knew they were plotting their next prank. Sam and Mikaela had broken up six months after Egypt. They cared for each other deeply but any love they have for each other had transmuted into love of a sibling. Since both are an only child in their individual families, they clung to that love with Miles being the crazy younger brother.

Sam was startled out of his thoughts by the blast of a car horn. In the front parking lot sat a red camaro. Sam grinned cheekily at Cliffjumper as he quickly made his over to the impatient mech. Carefully tossing his stuff into the back seat, Sam slid into the driver's side. Seat belts slithered their way across his body to buckle him in. Still grinning, Sam patted the steering wheel softly then pretended to start the car and drive away from the collage.

"Hey buddy! I thought Bumblebee was picking me up? Not that I'm unhappy to see you of course it's just I know Bee was looking forward to seeing me."

"What no how are you?" Cliffjumper snarked lightly, "I should be offended if I wasn't so jealous."

"How are you Cliffjumper? I hope the sunny day is too your liking, your botness!" Sam chirped back not all insulted by the red bot's abrupt snarking.

"I suppose." Chiffjumper replied without bite. The red camaro turned onto the highway.

"So jealous of who Jumper?"

"Bumblebee. Lucky glitch had gotten a surprise mission which is the reason he couldn't come to pick you up today. The mission came straight from Optimus else Bee would have fought the orders." He grumped picking up speed.

Sam snickered lightly, "Oh I see. Possible con sighting and you're stuck playing escort!" Sam patted the seats in mock comfort, "I'm sure that as soon as Bee gets back your cannons will be called upon to slag a con or three."

"They had better! 'Hide and Bee have been getting all of the good missions lately." Cliffjumper's pout was clearly heard in his voice.

Sam just laughed.

oOoOoOo

IDW "war within" Verse – Omega Supreme

Springer cursed virulently at the screens. More and more star systems had been vanishing with alarming frequency. Just now one star looked like it had gone supernova with how bright it looked before suddenly flashing out of existence. One star that had hopefully gone down fighting instead of being consumed by those disgusting abominations of technology and organic flesh. With luck who ever supernova'ed the star took down one of those blasted Superdreadnaughts. Xantium had enough to deal with in assisting evacuations to have to battle space worthy shock troopers.

The Wrecker was shaken out of his thoughts by the tred of light ped steps. Of all the bots on board only one mech had light steps. He swung the command chair around to see Bluestreak step onto the bridge.

"Hey Blue. What's up?"

"Came for my shift. Where do you want me?" Bluestreck replied.

Springer pointed at the helmsman's chair. "Over there; out of all of you've got the most experience piloting ships this big."

"You've never piloted the Xantium?"

Springer snickered in amused fondness, "Nah. Wouldn't dare pilot a classy Femme such as the Xantium. She would have made my days the living pit if I did! I hear congratulations are in order! But did you really have to pick a Dynobot for a mate?"

Blue laughed at Springer. Everybot knew of the intense rivalry the Dynobots and the Wreckers had with each other. The two teams always fought over who would get the hardest missions. "Thanks for that. I know I shouldn't be carrying but I wasn't about to terminate it after finding out about it. As for Swoop," Bluesteak grinned unrepentantly at the Wrecker, "I'm not sure who pursued who in our relationship but I can't see myself without him now."

"Lucky glitch."

Bluestreak sat himself at the controls with a smirk and started booting them up. The gunner frowned as some of the readings he got back, "Springer, Omega might be too damaged to make the jump Grimlock is hoping for. Omega should be awake for this."

"He's taken too much damage to wake from stasis lock Blue. I wish we wake the big guy but since we can't we have to rely on Grimlock's calculations." Springer grimced when he said that.

Blue nodded turning back to his controls. They still had time before blast off. Until then he would put what he learned from First Aid and Ratchet to good use and fix any glitches he found in Omega's systems.

oOoOoOo

Destroyed Space

There was none left. All but one of her mechs had been deactivated by the enemy. They stayed and did their jobs in hope of getting at least some of the Autobots away and paid the ultimate price. In doing so they took out the Superdreadnaught that had targeted her and it's accompanying troops. The Humans had named the giant space faring versions of those heavily armoured shock troopers aptly since not even pulse cannons nor hyperwave blasts could hope to penetrate they're armour. The only weapon to take out a Superdreadnaught was a Singularity Bomb. Such bombs had been outlawed long ago for containing unstable singularities sources that could wipe out entire solar systems.

She had no idea where Topspin and Twin Twist had managed to get one but they had. In an insane plan that only Topspin could come up with, they had her bounce them blindly aboard the Superdreadnaught when the other Wreckers had taken down the ugly thing's shielding. In a few kliks the singularity bomb detonated creating such a large and all consuming blast that it not only killed the Superdreadnaught everything else in the system.

Except her.

Unbeknownst to her, Scoop had uploaded a program in her systems that would make her engage her warp drives as soon as the bounce was complete. Xantium had struggled uselessly against the virus but in the end she still entered hyper just as the explosion's wave reached her position. Two different energies combined into some strange and purple wormhole. Throwing her into a swirling vortex that she couldn't find her way out of; no matter how much she struggled the virus in her systems held her to predetermined co-ordinates.

Suddenly she was tossed out of hyper, hull shuddering as sensors finally came back online to assess her damages. She wasn't bad off, repair drones could fix most of her damages within three orns. But that didn't matter at the moment. What did matter was the gravitational pull of the planet she had come out of hyper by. A blue green world that seemed terribly similar to another planet she had visited once before. Yet that was impossible as that world had been consumed by the Enemy a deca-cycle ago. She hadn't the power to resist the gravitational pull of the planet. Tiredly she resigned herself to landing. With luck she'll find another living bot to communicate with. Then maybe she would be able to go in search of her lost mech.

Somehow she knew Springer was still alive.

oOoOoOo

Armada Verse – Earth:

Rad watched wide optics as a large red ship crash landed in an area near the mountain housing the Autobot HQ. The very large ship was bright red and looked worse for wear yet still intact. Keeping his lessons with Jetfire in his processors, Rad hankered down to wait and see how the situation unfolded. He knew better than to get close while there was so much dust in the air.

::Jetfire to Rad. Please tell me your not near that crash site bitlet?::

Rad winced at Jetfire's semi pleading tone, ::I can't do that Jetfire. The ship crashed right in front of me!::

::Stay put then. I'm on my way to check it out.::

Rad's optics widened excitedly as the dust began to clear from the air, ::Get here quickly Jetfire! There is an Autobot logo on the ship!::

Jetfire didn't reply but did increase speed as much as he was able. He kept his com line open, listening to an excited Rad rattle off what he could observe from his position. Surprisingly the descriptions coming from the youngling were very detailed. Leading Jetfire into thinking that Rad would make an excellent scout one vorn.

The Cybertronian jet flew over the ruined landscape quickly. Seeing the additional damage done by the ship crash landing made him cringe, at least the ship hadn't hit his charge. Jetfire was thankful to Primus for that. His scanners pinged the ship's location. He angled himself down to make a quick fly by, confirming the details Rad had given him. What the SiC picked up worried the jet. There seemed to be only one spark source in the entire ship. If this ship was from Cybertron surely there would be more spark sources on board?

Oh Jetfire's next fly by, he spotted Rad waving at him. He flew down to hover over the youngling's position. "I want you to remain here Rad."

"But wouldn't I be safer with you?" Rad pouted at the Jet, "I mean we don't know what might happen if I'm left on my lonesome and you didn't bring any of the Minicons!"

Jetfire internally sighed. He could understand his charge's wish to explore the ship but he had reservations in letting the youngling do so. Who knew what would be found onboard. Evidence given from the amount of sheer damage the ship sustained would suggest that deactivated shells of his fellows would be found. Yet Rad had point but...

:: Jetfire to HQ, can you read me Concordance?::

:: Yep. Whats the word partner?::

:: Downed Autobot ship. Only one life sign. I need you and the others to bounce to these co-ordinates ASAP. Rad is here and I'm not going to take him in with me.::

:: Who knows what you'll discover. Aye we're on our way. Concordance out. ::

The jet vented, "Rad, I want you to stay with The Minicon's while I go take a look. If it's all clear you can come in but not until I check out the ship."

Rad's pout was on full blast, "Jetfire?"

"I mean it Rad. Don't follow until I give the all clear. I don't want you to see anything that might scar your processors even more." Jetfire rumbled gently at the youngling, watching as Rad's shoulder plates fell in disappointment. Just then four beams of rainbow coloured energy appeared nearby then vanished to leave behind four Minicons.

"Thanks for the speedy response my bots. Stay with Rad and wait for my signal."

The Minicons nodded in acknowledgment. High Wire and Sureshock made their way to Rad's side to make sure he was alright. Concordance and Grindor took up observation positions on the small ridge. Feeling somewhat relieved, Jetfire took off towards the immense ship. Scanning the ship again, he found an area on the hull that had been blasted open. The opening was large enough to fit him through. Once in Jetfire switched to bipedal mode and landed as softly as he could, drawing his blaster from subspace. Scouting the ship took two hours yet he couldn't find the bot the spark signature was attached too. Every time he tracked the signature, he was led to what he assumed was the bridge of the ship. He didn't find any deactivated Cybertronian shells, nor enemy bodies. Absolutely nothing was found which didn't make sense. The damage done to the ship looked too recent. Jetfire knew he was missing something, but what. The spark signature was here on the bridge yet there was nothing to be found. Unless...

Jetfire's optics widened in sudden stark realization as all the evidence finally assembled into one neat package. Jetfire was standing in a impossibility! Could one have survived Megatron's first wave of attacks? The jet reached for the controls suppressing his excitement and worry to begin inputting a few queries. If this was a living ship then what happened to her crew? His scans indicated that she was a destroyer class cruiser, more than large enough to fit at least fifteen bot crew. The Second in Command's systems started to purr in delight as he finally got a reply from the ship.

I am Autobot Xantium.