What Makes No Difference Is No Difference: (WMNDIND 16)
-0-In the mix
They flew furiously onward as the enemy ship arched over and began to run for the system humans called Tau Ceti. There were a lot of planets there, some of them uninhabitable for even their species if they stayed on them too long. The Autobots followed furiously with Impactor's ship finally appearing to fly alongside Prime's.
Optimus Prime watched the ship through the view ports, a sleek weapon of war pointed at the fleeing Decepticons like the blade of a knife. Inside it, inside a ship covered with kill icons and insignia of their side, a violent and able leader of hard mechs waited for the fight.
Impactor gave Prime nightmares. He was the flip side of the crusade to save Cybertron. From the straight forward fights which were bad enough, there were those that needed stealth and guile, a furious rage and no scruples. He, himself had ordered them to happen because there were no other pathways open to him at the time. He didn't hold it against Impactor so much as himself. War was a stinking business.
"Prime."
"Prime here."
"We're going to push them to that planet ahead, the big one to your starboard side."
"Understood," Prime said, then watched as the ship flew into overdrive heading after the 'Con vessel with even more speed. He was gone from view in seconds. It was at that point that Hound with three ships appeared all around Prime's vessel.
"Hound to Prime."
"Prime here."
"What's the plan, Chief?" Hound asked in his usual upbeat manner.
"We follow them down and try to prevent them from combining into something worse," Prime replied.
"On it," Hound said, then they stepped on the gas flying ahead to follow Impactor.
"Step on it, Magnus," Prime said quietly and they, too, disappeared into the night of space.
-0-Base, Jasper
"What's happening now?" Miko asked.
"Nothing. They're in pursuit. Just like ten minutes ago, Miko," Ratchet replied with exasperation.
The other bots in the room grinned, then the sound of a car driving in caught their attention.
A small blue nondescript sedan rolled in, then parked nearby. A femme wearing a green outfit that appeared to be work clothing stepped out, then paused to look at the bots staring at her, all of them new additions. She'd been working longer shifts lately due to motorcycle accidents and the like so the newbies were known to her, if not introduced. "These are the newcomers?" she asked with a smile.
"Hi, Mom. We have new bots," Jack said as he hugged his mother. "This is Mirage, Nosecone and Perceptor."
They stared down at her, then nodded almost as one. "Nice to meet you," she said.
"This is my mother, June Darby," Jack said.
They nodded again, grins on their faces adding a strange gloss of relatable familiarity to what were alien beings. It was silent a moment, then Miko ran to up to her. "THERE'S A SLAGGING GOING ON OUT IN SPACE! OPTIMUS AND IRONHIDE WENT WITH ULTRA MAGNUS TO SLAG SOME 'CONS WHO HAD THE NERVE TO FLY THROUGH OUR SPACE!"
June glanced at Ratchet who rolled his optics, turning back to his station while the others snickered. "Well … that sounds … interesting."
-0-Out there
They pursued the bad guys as the planet ahead began to loom larger and larger. On the human star chart it read as Tau Ceti e, a massive rocky planet four times the size of Earth and very dry given its proximity to the star, Tau Ceti which held it in captive orbit. It was in the 'Goldilocks Zone' … a place not too hot or cold, but just right.
Maybe.
It was very hot and dry, rock ribbed with a pockmarked surface and a thin atmosphere made thick with the shimmering heat radiating off the surface of the planet itself. No one of any consequence lived here but for a few scientific stations maintained by a species not yet detected. Those stations were automated and none of their creators would know of the presence of the bots heading their way at top speed. They were on the other side of the planet from where everyone seemed to be heading.
Magnus threw the ship into entry, slamming into the heat waves of the atmosphere before compensating. Holding onto the straps on the wall designed for such events, Springer and Ironhide rode it out on their feet. The blinding light was compensated as well as they burned their way into the lower atmosphere.
It would be a bumpy ride to the first layer as they pursued Impactor, Hound's group and the first combiner of all, the mechs who made up the terror, Monstructor.
-0-On the ground
They flew low over the ground as they searched for a place to either hide or fight. None of them were unwilling to fight and given their 'special feature' they knew they had the advantage unless facing a battalion or another combiner itself. They skimmed along, then found what they needed, a crater with eroded sides that would allow them to hide their ship and themselves for that matter if it came to that. They headed in, then slid into a dark crevasse with sharp overhanging ridges. They powered down, then climbed out watching through the slits in the upper ridge for anything that might be following.
Impactor's ship came careening in, falling through the atmosphere swiftly under the expert control of Roadbuster. It blazed a red streak until it slowed, flying along the ground with speed. Behind them came Prime and Hound's group in hot pursuit.
"Prime to Impactor and Hound."
"Impactor."
"Hound here, Prime."
"Link sensors so we can find them. They might go to ground."
The ships did, moving off in different directions with speed to look with a net that could penetrate the rocky surface and its sub levels up to three miles. They spread out over a great distance and began to track. As they did the 'Cons saw that their cover was about to be blown.
"What now? Run? Give up?" Slog asked with fury rising through him. He'd volunteered for an experiment but this endless slag wasn't his cup of tea. Shockwave had lied to him and the big mech was on his hit list on space #1. Every time crappy inevitability overtook them it lit his fire for revenge anew.
"We fight!" Bristleback said. "There's no way I'm going to surrender to Prime."
They stared at each other, then almost as one nodded. Turning to the entrance of their cave, the group ran out to fire up their connective software that would make their personal hardware do something almost unbelievable.
"THERE THEY ARE!" Hound said as he leaned over his sensor officer. "Prime! They might be powering up! We're on our way!" They careened around and began to head back after nearly reaching the equator on their search pattern.
"I see it. Take us in, Magnus!" Prime said as they put the metal to the pedal to beat the six before they became the Apocalypse. They flew swiftly but would not be in time to take them on without a fight.
Flashes of lightning, bright arcing lights burst out and bounced off each of them as they gathered closely, their bodies trembling as the power slammed them. Scowl and Icepick transformed into towering pillars, their bodies shifting as the others did as well.
Slog seemed to explode but before he did, he leaped into the air and landed on the towers as they completed their transformation. Two powerful legs bent at the knees as Slog finished his transformation, slamming into place with a huge flash of light and energy. It crackled in the air, bits and pieces snapping away until they disappeared.
Beside them climbing up the half figure before them, one to a leg, Bristleback and Wildfly clambered. They reached the top, then leaped into the air transforming with a blast of electrical energy. The energy drew them into the parts of the rising beast that would be considered arm sockets by a human. Massive energy shimmered downward engulfing everyone as Birdbrain began to climb upward also. The headless beast was bent half over so he scrambled and swung himself, transforming in mid swing to land four squarely upon the top of the torso.
Big arcing flashes of light and electricity engulfed him, powering upward and outward as the beast began to straighten. Clenching and unclenching his massive servos, he roared into the sky a bestial cry of blood lust. Nothing now would swerve this individual from the purpose for which he existed. Nothing the Autobots brought short of death would undo what Shockwave had wrought.
This was the first one, the prototype of a figure that Shockwave intended to be not only invincible in battle but intellectually superior as well. He only had it half right. There were others but this was the first and among them, he was considered just about the worst. His mere touch brought death and no one was spared his wrath when he rampaged.
Monstructor. Monster.
They flew in and arced around Monstructor as he sorted out his wits. Roaring from other parts of the world, the others were returning. Flying in low, then landing rough, Impactor was out of his ship before it stopped sliding, the rest of his team following with their weapons blazing.
Prime flew past, then turned to come around with powered up weapons. "IMPACTOR! GET OUT OF THERE! TAKE YOUR TEAM OUT OF THERE! NOW"
:Sorry, Prime. This one's for Max: came over the comm system as the Wreckers ran forward to Monstructor.
That menace turned to watch them come.
"Shoot him in the knees, Magnus. Try and break their link," Prime said as Magnus came screaming in. Magnus fired along with Ironhide and Springer at the guns they manned along the hold. The fire found their mark but didn't break the linkage.
Monstructor turned on them and tried to grab the ship. They flew past his reach, then made a tight turn to come back. It was then that Impactor and his team reached the big monster and ducked between his legs as he began to power up his weapons. Monstructor didn't see them a moment, then turned to try and stomp them.
Magnus turned hard and came around enough for Ironhide to lace into Monstructor. He got him in his weak spot, the join at the shoulder structure where his helm attached. It struck him hard and he staggered as masses of electrical energy flashed everywhere.
"Come around, Magnus. Hit him again in the same place," Prime said tensely.
Magnus began his turn as Hound and his ships appeared in the horizon. One of them targeted and blasted Monstructor in the back staggering him. He felt to his knees as that ship flew over and the other two landed. Mechs poured out of them firing hard and fast at the big shuddering beast. It appeared engulfed in electricity as the joins began to fail.
Impactor ran behind the combiner and aimed his harpoon upward. It flew out of his wrist launcher and buried itself into Monstructor's helm. The beast grabbed at it as Impactor reeled himself upward. When he was close enough he put a round into the joint Ironhide had struck. That was when the gestalt failed and everyone fell to the ground as individuals.
Impactor landed on his back and lay still a moment before rebounding to his feet to race for the mech bearing his harpoon, Birdbrain. That mech was stunned and attempting to rise when Impactor's big gun in his face put halt to that. Other members were subdued, then gathered together. Prime who had joined the melee with his team walked to where Impactor stood with Birdbrain. That bot was hurt and pissed in equal quantities. "You are our prisoners."
"Frag you, Prime."
A fist to the face took care of Wildfly.
Ironhide turned to Prime. "These slaggers are here for a reason. Want me to pull parts off until they tell us?"
For a moment Prime was tempted, then he shook his helm. "I will leave that to Prowl's tender mercies."
The mayhem that induced was enormous.
-0-TBC 2-17-16 edited 4-14-16 01-23-2021
