This is a 'fic to explain how Mohenjo came to be in my fanfics w/ Ben and the others.
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Year: 1982 A.D.
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Autobot command had sent the Archangel Ben on a reconnaissance mission to explore a new planet newly found in Sector U.
"Tubububu!" Ben grumbled, folding his arms. He and Optimus were at the Ocean City Seabase in the Atlantic, as Ben was to be launched into deep space.
Optimus patted Ben on the shoulder. "You need a break as it is. Besides, you'll get to see a new planet, and meet new life." He said cheerfully.
Ben feigned a smile for Optimus and got on the ship, but before it was to lift off, Optimus paused the launch. Leaning into the cockpit where Ben sat, he placed a small Transformer next to him.
"His name is Shellback, and he'll be your partner on this mission. Don't worry, Eris already downloaded all relevant information about you into him." Optimus said cheerfully.
Looking at the Shellback, Ben was surprised; the 'bot was only 11 feet high (tiny for a Transformer) and the looks were what surprised him the most. The face was humaniform, for the most part, but shielded like Optimus's face. Looking at Shellback again, Ben noticed many similarities between the two. Though he could not figure out what Shellback transformed into, it certainly wasn't a truck; the armor on the back proved that.
"Thank you." Ben said quietly, and closed the cockpit.
As the ship was driven by AI, Ben had no controls, save the emergency ones. The ship took off quietly, and immediately jumped into Under-space, an alternate dimension through which one could much faster than the speed of light. In fact, the speed was exponentially higher than Light Speed.
"So…you looking forward to this?" Shellback asked in a voice that sounded like a mixture between Ben's original voice and that of Dr. Onishi, a scientist that knew the Transformers, and was supposedly a 'great friend' of them.
Ben simply gave Shellback a sarcastic glare.
"What? Why are you so cranky!" Shellback asked rhetorically, knowing from Ben's history that it would be pointless to expect a normal answer.
To his surprise, Ben actually answered.
"Why do you think? I'm getting taken out of action to investigate a grass-covered rock while Dr. Onishi lechers my friend Eris!" he said, obviously frustrated.
Shellback sighed. "Is it really your concern?" he asked quietly.
Ben's face flushed bright red, but he was silent.
"Is it?" Shellback asked again.
"YES! IT IS! NO DEMON WILL TOUCH MY FRIEND! LEAST OF ALL HISAO ONISHI!" Ben roared, with a crazed look in his eye.
Before Shellback could say anything, the AI interrupted.
"We are about one hour from our destination. Please prepare for jump back to normal space. Thank you."
Relieved by this, Ben looked at Shellback sideways and casually asked, "What do you transform into?"
Shellback smiled under his faceplate. "Hovercraft."
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The ship neared Ettifenine, the new planet the Autobots discovered in the previously lifeless Sector U. As it did, Ben could hardly help but notice the general color of the planet.
"Shell, why is it white?" he asked in his helium voice.
Shellback tapped some codes into the AI and got a look at the Solar System of Ettifenine.
"The planet is further away from its sun than Earth, so its plants are white as to soak up light of all colors and intensities." The Autobot said in a monotone.
"Oh." Ben said. "WAIT. What about Oceans!"
Shellback shrugged. "I guess the plankton-like life is also white."
"Prepare to crash land in two minutes. Thank you." The AI said in a cheerful voice.
"Does anyone but me hate that voice?" Ben hissed under his breath.
"You and me both." Shellback said.
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After a delightful crash into the Equivalent of the Rain Forest, Ben and Shellback got out with no injuries.
Shellback looked at Ben and laughed. "You don't plan to meet the natives like that, do you?"
Ben frowned, looking at his puny, half-bat body.
"No. I plan on enacting the Energon growth unit Prime gave me, thank you." He said in a grumpy tone. Flipping a switch on his suit, blue Energon flowed into his bloodstream and turned a vivid green, making the half-bat Archangel glow green for a moment until a green flash engulfed him.
From that flash stood a 6'2" version of his Archangel self, no longer looking like a child, but rather, an adult with large angel wings and bat wings under his arms. Also, the ears were still those of a long-eared bat.
"Whoa." Shellback said, looking at Ben.
To his surprise, Ben spoke in a regular voice. "What? We can't sit here and gawk at me all day. Come on!"
Stupefied, Shellback did as told.
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As the two cut through the forest, Ben was curious about his ally's background.
"So, how were you made?" he asked, not even looking at Shellback, but rather cutting through a tree.
Shellback smiled as he followed. "Well, I'm the new form of a previous 'bot named Dion."
Ben turned his head around sharply. "Really? I knew Dion. I knew him well. He was a bit of a gambler, but otherwise a great 'bot."
Shellback sighed. "I know you know. Eris sort of…copied your memories and put them in me. That's how I know about you so well."
That made Ben stop dead.
"WHAT?" he asked calmly.
"Do you remember that Cranial exam you had to take before going to space?" Shellback asked.
Ben nodded.
"Well, that was a sham. Eris thought it ideal that your companion should be someone who knows you inside and out." He finished.
Ben was silent, but he ripped a tree out of the ground and threw it to his right.
"I know how you feel." Shellback said quietly, following Ben at a short distance.
Ben turned around and glared hatefully at him. "You may have my memories, but you'll never understand me!" he snarled.
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R&R! Bot quite to romance yet, I know, but it's coming!
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