Transformers: Sins of future's past
by JupiterJones aka J.A. Franks
Disclaimer: All things Transformers belong to Hasbro and Takara-Tomy. I own nothing but the plot and Ocs.
Setting: G1/beastwars/beast machines continuity, except where it isn't. Divergent time-line, AU.
Chapter 3:
The ride to Earth aboard Astrotrain's cargo bay was long and frustrating, Patchwork thought. The triplechanger continuously annoyed her with questions she did not want to answer until she had made it to Lord Megatron. Thankfully they were making good headway, as the vessel was still slowing down and adjusting its course to be relative to Earth's orbit before it would begin touchdown.
Astrotrain, however, had other worries. If the femme was lying about having important information to share, he surely would be punished. Patchwork, however, seemed disinclined to trust him with the information. She looked to be in rough shape from what he could tell, and her frame lacked any identifying marks or emblems. But she claimed to have vital information for Lord Megatron.. so she had to be a Decepticon right? Well if she wont share information on the massive thing looming behind them, perhaps she'll answer.. other questions, he thought. "So... You're pretty banged up looking.. you know that? Did you lose your Decepticon emblem or something when you patched yourself up? I don't think I've seen a bot with your design before. Are you even Decepticon?"
Patchwork vented in annoyance, even theses questions were difficult to answer without revealing too much. "Yes I know how I look, and I've always been a supporter to the Decepticon cause. Unfortunantly, due to certain circumstances I cannot reveal just yet, I never received a Decepticon emblem. But, I suspect that may change soon." She grinned as she felt the tell tale bump, of Astrotrain hitting atmosphere. "Once I reveal all my information to Megatron, I will be able to answer more questions freely. What is our ETA?"
Astrotrain almost hesitated to respond when she revealed that she wasn't officially a Decepticon. However, she did say she was a supporter, but that would mean she was either a neutral or third faction that had escaped the notice o Megatron. If she was telling the truth, and that was a big if, then this could be an attempt by her.. faction to be recognized by Megatron as allies. But she claimed to be a hitch hiker, so the opposite could be true, and she is a defector. Astrotrain's processor whirled at the possible meanings, only to be jarred out of thought whens he asked what their ETA was. "Just a few moments. Can you at least tell me if that thing back there.. or rather.. up there, is good or bad?"
Patchwork grinned. "When I reveal the information, Megatron will be very pleased."
Astrotrain smiled to himself, letting himself feel reassured by the femme's words at the least, it wasn't long before they had arrived at the extended landing pad and started to travel down to the hidden Decepticon base. He immediately noticed that an extra foot foot of reinforcing had been added to the walls of the elevator shaft, making it that much tighter. "Blasted Constructicons, couldn't they put the re-enforcing plating on the outside? It claustrophobic enough as it is!"
Patchwork chuckled as the doors eventually opened to the hallway, letting Astrotrain lead the way to Megatron. "Its more resource efficient to build up the inside first. Besides, I bet they added an extra layer on the outside too. Though it was unnecessary, since the device isn't a kinetic weapon."
"And just what is this device, femme?" Starscream screeched as he and Megatron loomed at the end of the hallway.
"Astrotrain, you better have a good explanation for your failure to capture the vessel!" Megatron yelled, leveling his cannon at the larger triplechanger.
"If I may, O' Mighty Lord Megatron." Patchwork quickly bowed to one knee. "I come bearing information, and tidings from the future. As per your contingency plan." She grinned as the other bots looked at her and Megatron with a confused expression. Only Megatron seemed to know what she was talking about.
"So, my message had been discovered and decoded, has it? I assume that this means the future of the Decepticon cause had become grim. Tell me, femme. What information have you brought me that is so vital, and why is there no army accompanying you?" Megatron commanded in a strangely calm tone.
"My Lord, there simply are no armies to send. However, instead the descendants of the Decepticon cause have crafted a device that can change the tide of the future once it is activated." Patchwork paused a moment to glance up Megatron before speaking, he seemed to be patiently waiting for her to finish. "A great many things had come to pass since the fall of the Decepticons, however it is most clear that it was the assistance of Earth's pathetic little organics that somehow tipped the balance of the war in the Favor of the Autobots. This device shall remedy that by eliminating all the organic life on this planet, Cyberforming it entirely and potentially turning it into a new Cybertron. The Humans, as we know them will cease to be.. though what they will become is unknown. The one who claimed your name and had conquered Cybertron, only to be deposed by the Autobot Decendants, seemed to believe that they would go mad from the conversion. Unfortunately, he had no pure organics to test it on... let alone sentient ones. Reguardless, the course of history shall be changed, and the Decepticons will have their second chance!" Patchwork rose to her pedes as she spoke. "All hail Megatron!" She cheered, grinning widely at the impassive Lord Megatron.
"Lord Megatron." Starscream whispered. "If what she says is true, we'll have more than just Energon, we would have an entire planet of resources to plunder. Surely the Autobots would falter when their beloved organic friends are converted to technomatter."
"Enough Starscream, I know what this could mean for us." Megatron narrowed his optics at Patchwork. "Fix this femme up, and give her the emblems befitting a proper Decepticon. The rest of you, prepare to defend the craft from an Autobot assault! If they figure out what its actual purpose is, they will stop at nothing to prevent it." Meatron began to turn away before stopping to ask, "What is your designation, femme?"
"My designation is Patchwork, Lord Megatron." She responded, bowing her head to him once more.
"Patchwork..." Megatron held back a smirk at how fitting the name appeared to be. "When you are repaired, come to the conference room, there you can tell me.. about this future that will be soon undone."
"As you wish, Lord Megatron." Patchwork turned as a bot she assumed was Mixmaster beckoned her to follow him.
"Hook and Knockout are this way, they'll get you patched up properly." Mix master commented as patchwork hid her grin. Everything was going according to plan!
::Line::
Meanwhile, on the Ark. Wheeljack and Perceptor were looming over a view-screen with the latest data brought to them by Jetfire. Most everyone else in the base had sequestered themselves away to prepare for a possible disaster. Even Spike and Carly where nowhere to be seen. Optimus frowned as he entered the lab and approached the two. "Anything to report?"
Wheeljack shoo his head, his fins flashing in annoyance as he spoke. "It looks like a mining probe, but I can tell its been stripped down to the essentials and then armored up. No gun emplacements on the hull, and if I didn't know any better, I'd say the mining beam was removed and replaced with something else."
"The design defies logic for an offensive device. It has a massive energy signature, and clearly capable of speeds that would decimate the planet with impact. Instead it appears to be attempting a landing." Perceptor added in his emotionless voice. "Its purpose remains unknown."
"Jetfire's investigation revealed the hatches were all sealed shut and barricaded. He was unable to get inside to learn more. My guess is that maybe it was meant to slam into Earth, but is malfunctioning? Because it would seem to be following the basic programming of the mining probe it was made out of." Wheeljack stated as he pointed to its altered orbital path. "We won't know until it lands... and according to this.. that should be Jasper, Nevada."
Prime shook his head. "Have the people been evacuated from this town?"
"Unfortunately not, Prime." Wheeljack's vocal fins glowed a pale blue. "Attempts to communicate have been increasingly difficult. Our own comms are safe for now, especially while inside the Ark, but only land line communication is working, and only if there isn't a wireless break between land lines."
"We'll dispatch a team to try and evacuate the town. How much time do we have?" Prime asked.
"ETA is twelve hours, 42 minutes and 5 seconds." Perceptor responded.
Prime grimaced behind his faceplate before tapping into the comms. ::Attention all Autobots. Prepare to transport to Jasper Nevada to begin evacuations. We have 12 hours to evacuate the city. Leave for jasper As soon as you are ready, understood?:: Prime mentally ticked off the rplies as they flowed in through the comms, then loocked to Wheeljack and Perceptor. "You two stay here and try to see if you can find out anything else about the craft." He then turned to leave the lab. "I pray that this is unnecessary."