#44 - Broken Spark

Life went on for the Maximals and Predacons. The Maximals were growing restless and the Predacons anxious, Megatron more so. Fortunately, something happened to break the tension. A stasis pod was discovered, but not just any stasis pod: protoform X.

Optimus, Cheetor, Starfeather, Blackarachnia, and Silverbolt were attempting to move the large pod from the bed of energon crystals it had crashed into in the middle of a river bank that was currently dry. It appeared to have been down for some time, as the pod was covered in muck. The group was attacked by Tarantulas, who had sort of defected the Predacons at this point. He tried to confront Blackarachnia, but his violent actions caused the energon around the pod to explode. The explosion activated the protoform inside and he went on a rampage. The others were able to stop him for a little while.

Silverbolt, realizing the true origins of the stasis pods, hence himself, wished to return with the Maximals and tried to get Blackarachnia to come with him since she had once been a protorm. Not to mention that he was growing sweet on her. She curtly refused and they parted ways.

When Megatron was told of the seemingly immortal protoform, he got an idea. With the aid of Moonscope the Darkside's computer, an energon blade was used to sever the protoform's spark in half. Now, unwillingly under the control of Megatron, he was named Rampage.

-x-

Tundra was pacing around her quarters, tail lashing as she thought. Why would Silverbolt just up and leave? It didn't matter which base they stayed at, did it? They were ultimately working with the Maximals, right? So why did he leave? Blackarachnia hadn't been much help in determining any answers. The white wolf growled and snapped her jaws in irritation at her own reflection.

"I guess I'll have to figure it out the old fashioned way," she muttered and stalked out of her room and down the dark passageways of the base.

-x-

Silverbolt felt much more at ease among the Maximals than he did with the Predacons. He felt like he truly belonged. If only he could convince the others that had been protoforms, especially Blackarachnia. Something about her drew him to her. He had to convince her that she was on the wrong side.

-x-

Another stasis pod was discovered and, as usual, Megatron wanted it and Optimus didn't want him to have it. Not trusting the majority of his men entirely, the Predacon leader sent Rampage and Inferno to recover it. They encountered Rattrap, Cheetor, and Silverbolt while searching. The fire ant was distracted with trying to incinerate Silverbolt for treason so Rampage easily bowled past the rat and the cat. It didn't take him long to find the stasis pod. It was partially buried in the face of a cliff. Rampage studied the pod critically. It was already damaged, he could see that. Perhaps if he just yanked it out...

The crab took hold of the stasis pod and braced himself. He pulled, but found that the pod was stuck tighter than he had realized. Not daunted, he shifted his weight and heaved again. This time the pod fell free, a few stones dropping with it. Rampage caught himself and set the pod down to inspect it. It was heavily damaged, but his pulling only caused scuffing on the exterior. He could also feel that this protoform was powerful. He tilted his head to one side curiously.

"What are you?" he wondered aloud. "Another like me, perhaps?" He reached a hand out to touch the hatch. Suddenly, purple electricity arched over the scarred surface of the pod. Rampage stepped back.

"DNA scan: malfunctioning. Data tracts not recoverable. Cancel! Cancel!" the pod's computer blared. He narrowed his optics and moved to kneel before the pod to see if there was anything he could do to repair the damage.

"Stop!" an unwelcome voice ordered. It was Silverbolt. "This one is not for you. I will not let Megatron twist another innocent to his evil designs."

Rampage smirked (an interesting feat considering that his mouth was sideways) and stood to face the fuzor, but he stayed close beside the pod.

"Fire on me if you like Maximal," he said lightly and waved a hand toward the pod. "But I'm afraid that you would also destroy what you seek to save."

The pod continued to writhe with bolts of electricity.

"Warning: system overload. Deconstruction: imminent," the computer declared. The crab was right; he couldn't shoot. Silverbolt didn't know what to do. Rampage turned his attention back to the pod.

"Yes, I feel your pain, your desperation. Your spark is indeed powerful," he said. The small spikes adorning the sides of his head twitched as he spoke. "Fight your way free. Fight!" he urged. Silverbolt watched in horror as the electricity began to branch off from the pod and flail. A strange noise began to sound, almost like a scream. Without warning, the pod exploded. Silverbolt was knocked back by the blast, but Rampage held his ground.

When the dust cleared, a mismatched robotic form stood before him. The protoform was tall and painfully skinny. None of the limbs seemed to go together; one hand had only three fingers while the other was some sort of weapon, one leg was bent forward while the other bent backward. The head was helm-less and supported by a long and thin neck. The face was virtually featureless and smooth. The optics were large and sunken in. The protoform looked around, confused. Rampage was the first thing it saw. It stared at him curiously. Rampage stared right back.

"Magnificent," he breathed. To him, it was magnificent. It was indeed a powerful spark, though quite the opposite from him. It was... strange. It was pure. He was pulled from his thoughts as he heard someone coming. It was the Maximals that he and Inferno had come across earlier. He narrowed his optics and turned back to the mismatched protoform.

"They are your enemies," he explained calmly. "We must destroy enemies."

"He lies! He is a Predacon! The Predacons will only use you!" Silverbolt called and took a step nearer. "I am a Maximal. Maximals will extend you a hand of friendship." As he said this, he extended his own hand and mustered a smile.

Confused, the protoform looked helplessly from Rampage to Silverbolt. Before anything could be said or done, a slightly damaged Inferno flew up behind the Maximals, shouting madly.

"That creature is the property of the royalty!" he declared and took a shot at the bird dog. Naturally not wanting to get hit, Silverbolt dove out of the way. However, the protoform was in the path of the blast. It wasn't injured badly, but it was mad. Opening its mouth, it screeched at a painful pitch. The air around it became distorted with pinkish colored waves of energy. Everyone around was affected by the sonic scream. Inferno fell from the sky while the Maximals fell to their knees, mostly paralyzed. Rampage was affected as well, but he was able to keep his footing.

After several seconds, the protoform was satisfied with the damage it had caused and stopped screaming. The Maximals were left unconscious and Inferno was nowhere to be seen. Rampage shook the static from his vision and stared in fascination at the downed Maximals and the twisted protoform. It turned back to him, still curious.

"Hush now," he coaxed, coming nearer, and carefully placing a hand on its shoulder. "No one will hurt you. Come." He began leading it away. He didn't want Megatron to have this one. It was too... different. Much like himself. "I will protect you," he vowed. "I am your friend."

The word was strange on his vocalizer, but fitting. Rampage had never had a friend before, someone to watch out over rather than consume or destroy. It was certainly... different.

"Yes... your only friend."

His new friend looked up at him with innocent admiration. Lips moved uncertainly and a deep but distinctly femme-like voice spoke.

"Friend." She smiled.

-x-

But just like that, she was gone. Rampage was kneeling before her broken body, cradling her battered head in his hands. Why had she done this to herself? A little ways away, the Maximals stood, watching him closely. He paid them no mind as a strange feeling threatened to overwhelm him. He had never felt this way before. He had never truly felt much of anything before. He couldn't understand. Frankly, he wasn't sure he wanted to understand.

From the cliff, Terrorsaur had seen everything. He didn't completely understand what had happened, but he could see that Rampage was affected strongly by it. He watched the Maximals back off, then dared to move in closer. He knew that the crab was no one to be messed with, so acted cautiously. Rampage didn't move as the pterodactyl approached. Terrorsaur wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not, but he kept coming forward. He came close enough to reach out and touch Rampage if he chose to. He looked down on the crab and felt a sense of empathy. He knew what it was like to lose someone that meant something to you. He wasn't sure what exactly the twisted transmetal femme had meant to him, but he could tell that it was obviously quite a bit. Rampage knew full well of the red mech's presence.

"If you are trying to sneak up on me, you are failing miserably," he said darkly. Terrorsaur was uncomfortable about the dark tone, but he needed to make this work.

"I had no intentions of sneaking," he replied evenly. "I just want to know... if you would be interested in being free from Megatron."

Yes, he would love to be free. If he had been free of Megatron, Transmutate would not have been destroyed. He did not answer though. He wanted to hear more. Not exactly picking up on his vibe and growing nervous at Rampage's silence, Terrorsaur lightly gulped and continued.

"I... For several weeks, I've been trying to get everyone together to form an organized revolt. So far... nothing real has come of it, but maybe if you joined us..." He trailed off, hoping that he got the point. Rampage did. He wasn't sure how it would work, but he longed to regain revenge and to get the rest of his spark back. He had his answer, but told Terrorsaur something completely different.

"Leave us," he said, dangerously quiet. Not wanting to disobey, the pterodactyl did so. He hoped that he was going to think things over. More importantly, he hoped that he would agree.