Transformers Fall of Cybertron: Joining the Exodus

by bigvic150

Corvowing and his army of Autobots are preparing to use his foreknowledge of the Fall of Cybertron video game to make sure that some things are changed. With Shockwave and the Insecticons as Autobots in this timeline, it's only a matter of time before the Ark leaves Cybertron. Will Corvowing's efforts ensure the arrival to Earth? Rated T. Autobot Starscream and Shockwave AU.

10. Roughstuff's Betrayal

Transformers Fall of Cybertron: Joining the Exodus.

Chapter 10: Roughstuff's Betrayal.

(Author's notes: In the next chapter, Grimlock Smash, we will see what happens to Roughstuff when he wakes up during the time that Shockwave's Space Bridge tower in Kaon is destroyed just after Shockwave opens a Space Bridge to Aquatron long enough to warn Optimus and Corvowing while also keeping Earth hidden for a longer duration of time. It'll also give us insight as to how Starscream in the chronological timeline got his Primeverse body frame and how Roughstuff in this timeline got almost the same one.

Enjoy chapter 10.)

A Decepticon Soldier stands tall and proud as he admires the security towers in Kaon.

Suddenly, the alarm blares to signify that someone tried to hack into Shockwave's data logs.

The Soldier marches back inside the primary tower and knocks another Decepticon Soldier off his chair to get him to do his duty.

The exact same dialogue was as follows: "On your feet! Someone's trying to hack into Shockwave's data logs!" "Yes sir!" "Go check out the main server and make sure that it still functions! I'll lock down the main entrance! What are you waiting for?! Move!"

The two Decepticon Soldiers turn on their servo-mounted flashlights.

The first Soldier asks, "The lights are out again, partner?"

The second Soldier answers, "Probably another one of Shockwave's so-called tests."

The second Decepticon Soldier initiates the security scanning process and mumbles, "I hate these scanning systems..."

The P.A. recognizes the Decepticon Soldier and announces, "Access granted."

The door leading downstairs opens and the two Decepticon Soldiers head inside to see the control panel for the server room is sparking with moderate damage.

The second Decepticon Soldier states, "It's sparking again! Let's get that fixed."

He observes the damage to the memory cores and continues, "Memory cores are fried; gonna have to find some new ones. Shine your light over here; my optics are fuzzy."

The first Decepticon Soldier shines his flashlight for his partner to work on the console's memory cores.

The second Soldier manages to do the job correctly and the twosome head inside.

The second Soldier remarks, "I thought I saw someone down here."

The first Soldier replies, "Ahh, it's nothing. The main server's just up ahead."

As the two Decepticon Soldiers approach the main server, the second Soldier asks, "Hey, did you hear about Roughstuff?"

The first Soldier replies, "Hah! That idiot finally got what was coming to him."

An invisible Roughstuff sneers, "Do tell!"

The two Soldiers jump in surprise before an invisible Roughstuff punches the second Soldier twice, throws him against a wall and stabs him with one of his swords.

The first Soldier cries out, "Whoa! Who's there?!"

Roughstuff decloaks behind the remaining Soldier and the Soldier turns around.

The Decepticon Soldier asks, "Roughstuff?! Hey! Wh-what are you doing here?!"

Roughstuff backs the Soldier against the scanner for Shockwave's data logs, deploys his sword and replies, "I hear this is where all the idiots hang out."

Roughstuff swiftly executes the Soldier and remarks, "Hmph. Fool!"

The scanner recognizes the deceased Soldier as a friend and shows Roughstuff Shockwave's latest data log.

Roughstuff states, "There! According to these data logs, Shockwave's latest experiment is in the central tower. I can access it through the rear maintenance shaft. Megatron will rue the day he made a fool of me. He can keep his precious Decepticon army – I will build one of my own."

Roughstuff marches out of the room into the command center and quietly accesses one of the data logs.

The Teletraan 1 voice announces, "Alert. Space Bridge testing will be conducted periodically. Terminals may suffer from temporary power loss."

Roughstuff quietly theorizes, "Shockwave continues to obsess with the tower from the Sea of Rust. He's built a full-scale replica of it here in Kaon. No matter. If there are any treasures to be found using it, Roughstuff will claim them!"

Roughstuff tiptoes towards the Decepticon Soldier in charge of the other two that he killed.

Just as the Soldier was gonna say something, Roughstuff planted a Thermal-Core Detpack onto his back plate.

The Detpack starts counting down as the Soldier begins to panic and Roughstuff laughs maniacally.

The Detpack detonates and blows up both the door and the Decepticon Soldier just as Roughstuff activates his cloaking shield.

While the Decepticon troops investigate, Roughstuff uses an EMP Detpack charge to reprogram the sentry guns, allowing him to kill the Decepticon troops before they could even survive to report him.

Roughstuff transforms to his jet mode and makes his way to the first security tower as he states, "I must overload Shockwave's defenses with an EMP charge at each security tower."

Roughstuff makes his way to the first tower without being seen, quietly transforms back to robot mode, and activates his cloaking shield long enough to hack the security consoles.

Once the security consoles started firing on the Decepticon troops, Roughstuff snuck his way into the tower and planted an EMP Detpack charge on the console.

The EMP charge detonates and Roughstuff remarks, "There! The first security tower is down. Only two more to go."

Roughstuff decides to kill the remaining Decepticon troops, which he did.

Roughstuff takes a little detour to reclaim his crown and continues on to the second security terminal.

He used the same tactic: land and transform quietly without being seen, activate his cloaking shield, hack the security consoles, and sneak inside to hack the defenses.

Roughstuff hacks the security consoles without being detected and heads into the security tower.

After disposing of a Decepticon guard, Roughstuff finds himself having to avoid being detected by a Decepticon Guardian.

Eventually, Roughstuff manages to quietly take out the Decepticon Guardian and the remaining Decepticon Soldiers in the room.

Roughstuff makes his way to the second tower console and plants an EMP charge on it.

The EMP charge detonates and Roughstuff hides himself just as the observation windows open.

Roughstuff quietly remarks, "Shockwave's network of defenses can't take much more after that! There's only one security tower left!"

Roughstuff tries the same tactic one more time and actively hacks all five security terminals.

Every last Decepticon troop in the area is immediately decimated by the dozens.

Roughstuff successfully overrides the defense network at all three security towers.

Roughstuff states, "That's that! Now, all that's left is to overload the main terminal!"

Roughstuff transforms to his jet mode and flies over to the main security terminal.

Along the way, he is besieged by multiple Decepticon troops, including some of his own Seekers that are loyal to Megatron.

Roughstuff theorizes, "Well, it looks like THAT got their attention!"

Roughstuff takes care of the nuisances, with a little help from the security rocket turrets he hacked.

Roughstuff plants a final EMP Detpack and remarks, "This should do the trick!"

The EMP Detpack detonates and the rear maintenance shaft opens.

Roughstuff remarks again, "Excellent! The power surge disabled all shielding over the tower's maintenance shafts."

Roughstuff flies into the maintenance shaft and notices several wire cablings flowing with Energon.

This signals Roughstuff to the fact that Shockwave had backup systems to bring the network back online, slowly but surely.

Roughstuff grumbles, "The network is coming back online faster than I had originally thought! I have to reach Shockwave's laboratory quickly!"

Roughstuff continues flying until he reaches an entrance that immediately closes.

Roughstuff grumbles, "Not that way."

Roughstuff shoots a hole in a destructible floor cover, transforms back to robot mode, and jumps down the hole.

Roughstuff immediately spots Shockwave and the fifteen original Insecticons known as Bombshell, Shrapnel, Skrapnel, Hardshell, Sharpshot, Kickback, Shothole, Salvo, Zaptrap, Bombshock, Punchjumper, Grenadeclaw, Hard Shop, Chopshock, and Springshell.

Shockwave knew Roughstuff was there, so he said, "The subject continues to resist every test we did. I highly suspect that they were administered incorrectly."

Sharpshot replies, "I assure you, Shockwave, the tests were done precisely as you instructed!"

Shockwave replies back, "We shall see, Sharpshot."

The door closes as the sixteen secret Autobot spies enter Shockwave's laboratory.

Roughstuff transforms back to jet mode and flies through a vent to Shockwave's lab.

Roughstuff hears several subjects growling and remarks, "Always tinkering, aren't you, Shockwave? Must be quite the test."

Roughstuff progresses to an open door in the floor and jumps down quietly into Shockwave's laboratory.

Roughstuff conceals himself as Shockwave states into a recording device, "Shockwave's Log, 77839 – the subject's core functions are operating within tolerable levels despite complications encountered during micro-surgery. The subject's power readings have increased tenfold, and so have the likes of the subject's teammates, thanks to my rerouting partial Energon feeds from all but the most basic of cerebro-circuitry."

Shockwave then says, "However, it is paramount that the information of my experiments stay out of the servos of... rivals."

As Shockwave says this, a Decepticon guard grabs Roughstuff and throws him into the laboratory while saying, "Nice try, Roughstuff!"

Roughstuff makes impact in front of Shockwave's pedes.

Shockwave punches Roughstuff so hard that he blacks out.

As the Insecticons drag Roughstuff's frame to the wall to be thoroughly restrained, Shockwave guns down the Decepticon guard and then he says, "Grimlock, it is time for you and the Dinobots to destroy the remaining Decepticons here in Kaon."

Grimlock reactivates and he is freed from his restraints.

Grimlock rumbles, "Something... feels right. It's much easier to think."

Grimlock rips the exit door off its hinges and draws his sword as the P.A. announces, "Alert! Alert! Test subject is mobile."

The Decepticon Soldiers pound on the other exit door as one of them shouts, "It's escaped!"

Grimlock snarls, "Let's get going, Autobots."

Grimlock slices up the two Decepticon Soldiers before any of them can ask any questions.

Grimlock then slices through the exit door.

A Decepticon Soldier in the room calls out, "Call for reinforcements!"

Grimlock slices and dices the Decepticon Soldiers in the room.

Shockwave accesses a console to activate a bridge.

As the bridge opens, the P.A. announces, "Warning! Breach in containment cell '1G.' Subject is prone to violent outbursts. Please escort subject back to containment area."

A Decepticon Soldier appears, but Hardshell kills him with a shot from his Gear Shredder.

Grimlock smashes through the next exit door.

As the seventeen Autobots enter the next room, the P.A. announces again, "Initiating lockdown."

As Grimlock smashes through more and more Decepticon Soldiers, several of Shockwave's "assistants" – aka more Corvowing and Firefest clones – salvage the corpses to create more Autobot military frames and to create more body shells for new sparks that Flashtide and Corvowing create through their respective connections to the Allspark without any side effects.

Grimlock smashes his way through more and more Decepticon Soldiers as they keep coming in.

One of the Decepticon Soldiers calls out, "It's escaped!" while another one calls out, "We need reinforcements!" and another one calls out, "There it is! Open fire!"

Of course, none of the Decepticon troops seemed to notice that Shockwave and the Insecticons were helping the Dinobot leader.

The seventeen Autobots enter the next room and another Decepticon Soldier calls out, "There it is!"

Yet another Decepticon Soldier finally asks, "Wait! Is that Shockwave and the Insecticons?!"

The Decepticon forces then opened fire on Grimlock, Shockwave and the Insecticons.

Of course, none of the Decepticon troops could be prepared for Shockwave's newest invention: an AstroMag Cannon that fires singular cannon shots, multiple rockets, and reprogramming harpoons.

The reason why Shockwave was firing reprogramming harpoons at the Decepticon troops and it was working is because Shockwave secretly came up with a new breed of reprogramming harpoons that can target even most Decepticons that were immune to Firefest's harpoons, naturally and unnaturally.

Soon, almost every Decepticon troop that came into the room – including the ones that Megatron and Roughstuff respectively killed, only to be revived – were instantly reprogrammed into Autobot troops.

Shockwave destroys the next exit door leading to a balcony that led to Swoop's holding cell.

Sharpshot switches to flying insect mode, flies over to the other side, switches back to robot mode, and activates the bridge for everyone else to cross.

As the Autobot team crosses the bridge, the P.A. announces, "Caution. Approaching containment cell '1S.'"

Grimlock theorizes aloud, "All of this security... we must be getting close."

Grimlock rips the doors open.

The seventeen Autobots enter Swoop's holding cell, and they find another Autobot Dinobot by the name of Blowburner. He looks like a combination of Swoop and his Animated counterpart.

Swoop asks, "Grimlock? Is that you with Shockwave and the Insecticons?"

Grimlock replies, "Yes, Swoop."

Shockwave immediately turns off the restraints keeping Swoop locked up.

The P.A. announces, "Security deactivated."

Swoop and Blowburner are immediately released and they transform to their flying dinosaur modes.

Swoop and Blowburner fly around the room and remark in unison, "That's more like it!" "That's more like it!"

Swoop bumps into a pillar and transforms back to robot mode at the same time as Blowburner.

Grimlock asks, "How'd the two of you manage to do that?"

Swoop answers, "We don't know, but we like it!"

Blowburner then asks, "You can't transform, can you?"

Grimlock tries and accesses his dinosaur mode.

Grimlock roars in victory, asserting his dominance as king of the Dinobots.

Shockwave then says, "Now, if you fellows don't mind, I need to maintain my cover to prevent anyone from informing Megatron about my true allegiance. Insecticons, follow me."

Shockwave and the fifteen Insecticons leave to the Space Bridge tower.

Grimlock then says, "We need to find the others."

Swoop asks in response, "So, where do we start?"

Grimlock replies, "I don't know. Start looking."

Grimlock, Swoop and Blowburner go outside, only to be fired upon by two Decepticon Soldiers.

One of the Soldiers calls out, "There they are!"

Grimlock brings up his shield and says, "Blowburner, Swoop, take them out!"

Swoop and Blowburner change to their flying dino modes and throw the two Decepticon Soldiers out of the platform, thereby sending them to oblivion.

Blowburner opens the bridge for Grimlock.

The P.A. announces, "Alert. Alert. Approaching Dissection Lab '7B.'"

Grimlock rips open the door and puts his sword away.

Swoop remarks, "Blowburner and I don't remember you being THAT strong!"

Grimlock replies, "That makes three of us."

The three Dinobots enter the dissection lab.

Swoop asks, "What is all of this?"

Grimlock answers, "More... clean experiments."

Blowburner then inquires, "Is this partially what Shockwave did to us to make us more powerful?"

Grimlock inquires in response, "Neither of you happens to remember?"

Swoop answers before asking, "No. Do you remember, Grimlock?"

Grimlock replies, "Yes..."

Grimlock accesses a terminal and Shockwave explains in the log, "As Cybertron's core continues to shut down to resume purging itself of Dark Energon, more and more subterranean lifeforms emerged to the surface in search of Energon. These 'Insecticons' come in many variations. This one is but a simple drone."

Grimlock accesses another terminal and Shockwave explains, "Insecticons communicate on a specific ultrasonic frequency. I have found I can manipulate eighty-five-point-seven percent of their species through this method, the only exceptions being Bombshell, Shrapnel, Skrapnel, Hardshell, Sharpshot, Kickback, Shothole, Salvo, Zaptrap, Bombshock, Punchjumper, Grenadeclaw, Hard Shop, Chopshock, and Springshell. Those anomalies appear to be more evolved, and they require a lot more finesse in their manipulation."

Grimlock accesses another terminal and Shockwave explains once more, "My research has revealed that the majority of the Insecticon species has the capacity to ingest ninety-five percent of every form of known matter, and reshape it into a crude form of their choosing. Although they cannot sustain themselves through this process, it allows them to build structures of massive proportions."

Grimlock accesses yet another terminal and Shockwave explains the next topic, "By far the most dangerous Insecticon in existence, Sharpshot enjoys torturing his prey with electricity."

Grimlock accesses another terminal again and Shockwave explains, "My research indicates Kickback may be another of the 'original' Insecticons. However, his mind and thought processes have proven to be psychotic and unpredictable."

Grimlock accesses the next-to-last terminal and Shockwave explains again, "Looking to improve upon their simple design, I've augmented the strength of select Insecticon Swarmers. I call this new breed 'Bruisers.'"

Grimlock accesses the last terminal and Shockwave explains the last topic, "Hardshell prefers advanced combat strategy and advanced weaponry as opposed to relying on his natural Insecticon instincts in battle. Hardshell should prove to be a formidable opponent indeed."

Blowburner then says, "Grimlock, this room, Swoop and I were in a room like this with Slug and with Victoryrock."

Grimlock asks, "Slug? Victoryrock? Where are they?"

Swoop flies up to the top platform to open the door and replies for his teammate, "I think I remember distinctly. Follow us!"

The door opens and the three Dinobots enter the next room.

Blowburner remarks, "We got new Triple Changer bodies. We are definitely Dinobots. Lightning Strike Coalition Force never sounded right for our team name."

The three Dinobots enter the next room and they encounter a large enough force of Decepticons sent to stop them.

But before either side could even lift a digit, Shockwave's defenses reprogram the Decepticon troops into Autobot troops.

Hardshell arrives with a set of Ground Bridge portals to transport the new Autobots to Iacon without being transported to the Shadowzone.

Hardshell accesses the optical scanner to allow the three Dinobots passage to the next section of the base.

The P.A. announces, "Optical scan confirmed."

The door opens, and Swoop and Blowburner fly ahead as Swoop advises, "Come on, Grimlock! We think Slug and Victoryrock are this way!"

Grimlock follows them, only for the enemy bashing shields to activate, much to the Dinobot leader's surprise.

Grimlock calls out, "Swoop! You and Blowburner triggered the shield!"

Swoop replies, "Stop whining! Hit the trigger with me; we can disable it long enough for you to pass through it."

Swoop and Grimlock get ready and Swoop counts down, "Alright now, on three! One, two... three!"

The two Dinobots hit the trigger switches in unison and the shields start disappearing as the system reboots.

Swoop advises, "Shields are coming down, Grimlock! Get ready!"

Grimlock safely sprints to the other side before the shields can trap him.

Swoop remarks, "See? Not bad, for a walking tank."

Grimlock replies, "Shut it, Swoop."

Blowburner adds, "If Swoop and I remember correctly, Slug and Victoryrock are just beyond this door!"

Grimlock rips the door open and the P.A. announces, "Approaching surgical unit '2D.'"

Blowburner and Swoop fly ahead and activate a bridge for Grimlock to pass.

Blowburner states, "This is the place! Swoop and I are sure about it!"

Grimlock remarks, "It's empty."

Grimlock crosses the bridge and Swoop and Blowburner transform back into dino mode.

As the two fliers observe the damage, Grimlock retracts his sword and approaches a terminal containing the total amount of data about Slug and Victoryrock in terms of their Triple Changer bodies that have their original vehicle modes and their new dinosaur modes.

Swoop remarks, "This place is a mess. Maybe Slug and Victoryrock escaped?"

Blowburner replies in thought, "A more logical explanation would be they were tasked to obliterate Shockwave's entire Space Bridge tower to avert suspicions about his true allegiance."

Grimlock replies as well, "Makes sense to keep a low profile."

Blowburner states from his perch, "Grimlock! Something big tunneled through the floor from the bottom here."

Grimlock descends down the hole while safely using his sword scraping against the wall to slow his fall.

Grimlock retracts his sword and roars loudly.

To be continued...

(Author's notes: In the next chapter, we will be introduced to new Dinobots: Knocksting, who resembles a combination of the Beast Wars Dinobot and the Age of Extinction Grimlock and transforms into a Bogolubovia. Bladebuster, who resembles a combination of the Beast Wars Terrorsaur and the Beast Machines Airraptor, and transforms into an Aerosteon. Twisterlance, who resembles a combination of the Beast Wars Megatron and the Age of Extinction Grimlock, and transforms into a Brasileodactylus. Stonesaw, who resembles a combination of the Beast Wars Transmetal Terrorsaur and the Classics Hacksaw, and transforms into a Cacibupteryx. Hackdown, who resembles a combination of the Classics Knockdown and Beast Wars Dinobot, and transforms into an Afrovenator. Sawknock, who resembles a combination of the Beast Wars Dinobot II and the Age of Extinction Gnaw, and transforms into an Angaturama. Steelgripper, who resembles a combination of the Generation 1 Grimlock and the Beast Wars Grimlock, and transforms into an Arcovenator. Cutbreaker, who resembles a combination of the Age of Extinction Grimlock and Hangnail, and transforms into an Australovenator. Brontodrive, who resembles a combination of the Generation 1 Sludge and the Age of Extinction Slog, and transforms into a Baryonyx. Howlclaw, who resembles a combination of the Age of Extinction Scorn and the Animated Grimlock, and transforms into a Becklespinax. Bullhound, who resembles a combination of the Age of Extinction Nosedive and the Animated Swoop, and transforms into a Berberosaurus. Freezesaur, who resembles a combination of the Beast Machines Terranotron and the Age of Extinction Strafe, and transforms into a Caelestiventus. Naildive, who resembles a combination of the Age of Extinction Strafe and the Beast Wars Transmetal Terrorsaur, and transforms into a Caiuajara. Roughnose, who resembles a combination of the Beast Wars Transmetal Terrorsaur and the Beast Wars Transmetal Airazor, and transforms into a Camposipterus. Slicerblade, who resembles a combination of the Age of Extinction Slash and the Generation 1 Slash, and transforms into a Bicentenaria. And Bombstrike, who resembles a combination of the Generation 1 Swoop, the Age of Extinction Strafe, and the Beast Wars Transmetal Terrorsaur. And he transforms into a Campylognathoides.

See you all in chapter 11: Grimlock Smash.)