Transformers:
Battle Core
Chapter 8:
Data Gather
Tom: Sorry for the wait. More Battle Core is coming your way. (He hits the touchscreen buttons.)
TP1
Shockwave's recon drone was running at a fast pace across the wasteland of Cybertron. It jumped over obstacles as well as maneuvering around others. Within it's optics its sensors picked up a number of objects that were around it. It was then it jumped onto an object. A junk statue that resembled Ultra Magnus. The drone began to tear it apart as it bit and clawed it. The other Decepticons watched. Starscream was surprised to what he saw.
Shockwave's drone was incredibly strong. Not to mention fast. Megatron was further impressed at this. He knew Shockwave was compatible of creating devices and other machines. This was further than expected. As if the drone he made was perfect. Shockwave, however, was making recordings of all that his drone had done. Analyzing its strength, speed and power.
"Seems as if you have done it once again, Shockwave. You've made a drone that's speed is even greater than I thought." Megatron complimented.
"It does need a few modifications. From the new data I've gathered. The drone doesn't seem to be affected though." Shockwave told them.
"Then fix whatever problem there is. It shouldn't be that hard." Starscream claimed.
"You should know Shockwave, Starscream. He doesn't play around like you. He's dedicated to his work. Thus putting us ahead. This will be a great gatherer of information." Megatron told Starscream. "What are your thoughts, Soundwave?" Megatron asked.
"More data we gather. The better we have against the Autobots." he replied.
"If you all will excuse me. I have maintenance to do on Laserbeak." Shockwave told them as he went off.
"Soundwave! Assist him. After all, that is your minicon drone." Megatron told him from the corner of his eye. Soundwave gave a nod and followed. Megatron looked to Starscream. "See to it that the drone makes it back safely and get back to Iacon. They can't be suspicious." he ordered.
"What of you master?" Starscream asked.
"I'll return to my tower. I'm always there." he told him due to the fact that the Autobots think he remains secluded there. Megatron transformed and flew back.
Starscream let out a growl. "Return to that city. Yeesh! Ever since that invasion. Magnus has changed everything around." he said before he transformed and flew off. He made sure the drone made it back safe and sound.
Back in Iacon, Kup was doing computer work. Making sure all maintenance was being completed on time, before the celebration. He checked on the energon reserves and saw that a bit of energon was missing. As he saw that Starscrem had returned. Hearing this he looked and saw him. "Hey, Starscream!" Kup requested.
Starscream flinched a bit as he looked at Kup, thinking he was suspicious. "Umm, yes! What is it" he questioned.
Kup turned back to the monitor. "Have you or or anyone been taking energon?" he asked.
"N-no! Why do you ask?" Starscream asked as he sneaked to the doorway.
"Just found out we're missing a bit. Might be a glitch though." Kup claimed.
"Agreed! Must be. Best be off now. Got work to do." Starscream told him and ran off.
"I wonder what's up with him." Kup wondered as he continued his work.
Starscream let out a sigh of relief. "No way I'll tell him I did that." he stated as he walked off. "Now for that drone. I hope it gets here soon." he says to himself as he makes preparations.
Shockwave was giving the drone an update, to be sure everything goes smoothly. As he applies a few things as Soundwave is on the computer. He looks at all the data logs from Shockwave and what happened over time.
Video log: "Log number 52: It's been three years since the Quintessons have arrived on Cybertron! Taking over the planet for their own gain. Diverting energon not only to fuel themselves but for their own luxury." Shockwave said to the camera and moving a bit to his lab. "Even though they've conquered the surface. They have yet to find any of my lab locations. Through this time, I've been hard at work. Taking every safety precaution! Especially with both Skylynx and Darksteel. They have been very useful in my work. As for Predaking! He was captured by the Quintessons and underwent...major experimentation." Shockwave stated in the log.
Soundwave switched that one off and looked up an earlier file. He found one that predates the Quintessons invasion. Video log: "Log number 18: It's been two years ever since Megatron disbanded the Decepticons. I, myself, as well as a fully recovered Starscream. We have gathered some of the bones from he fallen Predacons that were only fossils." Shockwave told the camera. Soundwave stopped that one and looked at another one. This one was about of Shockwave's experiments.
Video log: "Log number 24. Ever since I began my experimentation, it seems as if some of the bones are not as recoverable. Skylynx wasspotted and captured. It is just me and Darksteel. Starscream is in hiding elsewhere, for now." He told the camera. "I have been working on how to get the fossils to grow in my lab; more properly..." he stated. Sounndwave ended it there and continued browsing.
In Iacon, Hot Rod and Hot Shot were doing some maintenance as Bulkhead came up to them. "Okay you two. Back down below." he told them. Both of them groaned, knowing how bad it was down there. "I don't want to do this anymore than you do. But, Magnus needs this to be done." Bulkhead told them.
They followed suit after transforming. As they did, something popped into Hot Rod's head. "Hey, Bulkhead?! Why doesn't everyone do this. You know! What we're doing." he asked.
Bulkhead stayed quiet for a few seconds. "I'm always wondering the same thing. Would make more sense." he said to them. "Instead, he wants to keep this a secret. Hardly anyone else knows." he told them.
"Yet we're down here doing the work. No way we can tell the others! Am I right?" Hot Shot asked.
"We tell them, Magnus will be in an uproar. He wants to keep any form of panic level down." he told them as they arrived. Turning into their robot modes Bulkhead went up to a pipe. "Okay! This is where we'll start." he told them.
As for with Starscream. He made sure that some sensor relays were down for the time being. "Soundwave! The relays are down." he told him. Soundwave heard the message and turned off the monitor. After some time he arrived in Iacon, something on his back. In range he let Starscream know of his location. "Release the drone." he ordered. Bowing forward a bit he launched Ravage. The drone unfolded itself and landed on all fours.
The drone ran to the wall; from all its tests, there was no sign of it, nor did the guards hear anything. Though the clanking sound from its feet would have done that. Yet, no alerts from the guards. Starscream smiled wickedly. "Even with the sensors off. The drone hasn't been caught." he stated then realized something. "Even though that's good. I'm having to sacrifice a lot to keep this a secret." he said to himself. Then his wicked smile returned. "Even so! Doesn't mean that after all of this...I think I know what I'm going to do." he claimed.
Ravage was up and over the wall. On the ground he darted towards the city. Not one bot spotting him, he went into a building. Upon entering, he saw a few Autobots walking about until the area was clear. Ravage ran to a door and it opened. In the room was right where he needed to be. Computer monitors, data storage.
"Don't take too much time." a voice said. Ravage looked to see Starscream. He stood in the doorway, his shadow casting in. "Be sure to collect all you can as quick as you can. The sensor relays won't be off for long." Starscream warned him before he departed. Ravage went up to a storage unit, opened a hatch in his head.
Scanning the unit, he found the port. Jumping onto the monitor he plugged his port into the computer. From there, he began to gather the data he needed. Starscream kept an eye out in the monitoring room, knowing this would take a good bit.
With Ratchet and Perceptor they were currently working on a project. Ratchet was hitting a few buttons on his keyboard. "See if it'll work now!" Ratchet requested.
Perceptor connected a cord to a bot, walked over to another bot and connected a different cord to that one as well. "Ready for these two." He informed Ratchet.
Giving a nod he pulled the connected lever and power jolted to the two bots. They jumped a bit as they were on the table and Ratchet pushed the lever back. Both the bots sat up and looked at themselves. "Well! Anything?" Ratchet requested.
They looked to each other then to him. "I'm afraid not, you two." One of them stated.
Ratchet choked a bit and looked at his data. "That's impossible!" He replied and looked everything over. "This was supposed to work right! We've made more precise calculations and schematics. After all, you're the main one they're supposed to unite with." Ratchet reminded.
"Maybe there's something you possibly missed. Something you didn't account for." the big one said to him.
"Let's look over everything that we've done. Hopefully it'll be there." Perceptor told Ratchet.
"What have we got to lose then?" Ratchet stated and they got to work on it.
After a certain amount of time, Ravage detached from the monitor and ran the same way he came in. As the door opened Starscream looked at the drone as he came out. "Very good. Now get back to Shockwave's lab. He's going to need all that data. I'll inform Megatron." Starscream told him. Ravage darted in the same direction he came in. "Ugh! Why does Shockwave even make these things?" Starscream questioned to himself.
Back with Hot Shot, Hot Rod and Bulkhead. They were still working on the pipes. Hot Rod was currently breaking some pipes apart with the laser from the pipes on his arms. Hot Shot only blasted some pipes at the ends for Bulkhead to look over and fix. As he repaired one pipe, Hot Rod began on welding another pipe.
"You guys might be eager to return to the surface. But I know a we'll be done soon." Bulkhead informed them.
"Why isn't this job done yet? I think this would have been completed years ago." Hot Rod acknowledged.
"Strongly because Magnus doesn't want many of us to come down here with him." Bulkhead told them. "Even though I have tons of experience. He only wants me to remain more on the surface." Bulkhead informs him.
"So then, he keeps his face out of sight. That's in order for everyone else to think he stays more inside." Hot Rod said.
"You got it." Bulkhead confirmed. "If you stay out of view long enough. Others won't know what you're up to. Not only that, but they won't suspect anything of what you're truly doing." Bulkhead stated. "Doesn't make much sense, but it's as close as I can explain." Bulkhead tells them.
The two looked at each other then to him. "I think I gather what you mean." Hot Rod said. "In order for Ultra Magnus to avoid suspicion from the other Autobots. He stays with you guys more and makes appearances with them. That way..." "Okay, okay. Don't get ahead of yourself. We still have work to do." Bulkhead said, stopping him. From there they continued down into Cybertron.
Ravage had just arrived back Shockwave's lab. Shockwave looked back to Ravage and saw that he was ready to give him the information. "Now that you have returned. I have upgraded Soundwave so he can present the data you have." He told Ravage as he pointed to Soundwave. Jumping onto his shoulders, Soundwave opened his chest cavity and Ravage folded back up as he went in.
"Present what Ravage has gathered." a voice commanded. They looked to see Megatron as he came in. "I take it that everything is completed!" Megatron requested.
"It is, my liege." Shockwave informed him. Soundwave connected himself to the computer and the data came on screen. They saw that Ravage managed to gather plenty of data.
This intrigued Megatron as well as Starcream. From what they saw were many secrets Ultra Magnus was hiding. Shockwave looked at the data and noticed codes in it.
"I'll need you to copy from Ravage, into this computer." He told him. Soundwave began to transmit the data. As he did the computer screen switched over and Shockwave analyzed it. Seeing that there were multiple codes. What really got his attention was that Ultra Magnus hid something extra on the planet. Something found on earth.
Megatron went up to him. "What else have you found out, Shockwave?" He requested.
"Simple! It turns out there's more on here of what happened over the years with the Quintssons. As well as why he's keeping it a secret from all the Autobots; that have arrived after the invasion." He informs Megatron. "Including data on your former weapon." He continues on.
That's when Megatron looked up in surprise. "The Dark Star Saber. The opposite and shattered version of the Star Saber." He stated, remembering from what happened last time. Bumblebee had stabbed him with the Star Saber and he released his Dark Star Saber from his grip. Letting it fall to earth. "What happened to it?" He demanded.
"Not for sure. I'm looking through all this data and not much on it." He informed Megatron.
"If there's anything on its whereabouts. Tell me immediately. It shall return to its previous master." Megatron stated.
"I shall, Megatron. And speaking of the Dark Star Saber." Shockwave remarked. He walked over to a table and picked up a jar. Megaron saw this and Shockwave returned to him. Presenting the jar, Megatron saw the little amount of Dark Energon. "I know it's not much. I found this over the years and kept it hidden. Hopefully you can make this into a weapon as well." He said. Megatron took the jar and opened it. Reaching in and grabbing it, something happened.
It was as if his mind jolted from a memory spark. A vision much like from last time when the planets began to align and Unicron began to arise. In this vision though, wasn't anything like that. He began to see Darkness and wastelands. Then two giants fighting each other. Looking like Primus and Unicron. After all that he saw himself, but looking much different and leading troops. Then he saw an image of Unicron's head "Megatron!" He heard Unicron call out.
After all that he fell to the ground, with the Dark Energon in his hand still. He didn't even notice that he lifted it out of the glass jar. Starscream went over to him. "Master!" He cried unto him.
Megatron shook his head and managed to get up, readjusting his legs to give him more stability. "I-I think..." He looked to the Dark Energon in his hand. "Unicron. I heard him call out to me." He stated. "Not only that, but I had a vision. Both Primus and Unicron, battling it out. Me, or what looked like me, leading troops. I have a feeling..." He stated and looked to them. "From this Dark Energon, has unlocked something." He told them.
"What are you talking about, Megatron?" Starscream requested.
That's when Megatron felt another jolt in his head and had two of the same visions, including of earth and what looked like relics. Yet, these relics didn't look like relics. "Megatron! Come to me." Unicron called out.
Megatron managed to stable himself. It was as if he was being called again. How though? Especially by Unicron, even though his spark was contained within the whale of allsparks. This was very confusing to him. He looked around his surroundings to make sure he wasn't dying or anything. "Seems as if something calls." He tells them. "Only for another time." He tells them before he walks off and putting the Dark Energon away in his chest
They watched him and knew something was up. "What's in that Dark Energon?" Starscream asked Shockwave.
"Nothing more than Dark Energon. Even I noticed Lord Megatron's behavior." He stated. Soundwave, however, was hard at work. Working on Laserbeak. Shockwave went over to assist him. "Whatever his condition, I might be able to diagnose it. For the time being, we work on bringing back the Decepticons." Shockwave stated.
"Fine! As you all do, I'll return to my post." Starscream told them. From there he departed.
Back with Hot Rod, Hot Shot and Bulkhead; they continued maintenance down below. As they were working, Hot Rod was welding two pipes together. Hot Shot blasted another pipe that Bulkhead had marked.
"This one's ready when you are." Hot Shot informed Hot Rod. "Just pull it down when you get to it." He told him.
"Much like this one." Hot Rod stated in a sarcastic tone.
"Oh ha ha, very funny." Hot Shot replied.
Hot Rod went over to where the pipe was and was beginning to separate it. That's when another one, a rather large one, broke from where it was sloppily welded. When it did and fell towards Hot Rod.
Bulkhead spotted this, but was too far away. "HOT ROD! WATCH IT." He warned him. That when Hot Rod looked and saw the pipe.
It smashed against him and a lot of the energon splashed on him. The energon that still flowed went through some cracks in his chest where it opened and hit his spark. It was from there Hot Rod was beginning to go unconscious and as he drifted. When he did he saw visions and one of them was of the Star Saber.
"Wh-what the? The Star Saber?" He questioned. He saw that he wielded it and from there another of a battle. Also of what seemed to be of Megatron. In another vision he saw Optimus; then a figure of Optimus. Yet this one was walking towards him. He saw this and looked around him saw what looked to be white with a blue tint. "What the hey" He questioned and still saw the figure.
"Hot Rod." The figure spoke.
"Huh?" He questioned. As he saw this figure, it began to fade away. "Wait!" He requested.
Both Bulkhead and Hot Shot were getting the large pipe off Hot Rod.
"Easy does it. Easy." Bulkhead informed Hot Shot.
"As easy as I can." Hot Shot replied. They managed to get it off of him and to the side. Bulkhead looked to him and scanned his body for any cracks or anything broken. "Is he alright?" Hot Shot asked.
"I think so." Bulkhead replied. "I'm no medic-bot like Ratchet and Perceptor." He remarked as he told Hot Shot.
"Heh! Could've fooled me." He replied in a sarcastic tone as he crossed his arms.
"It's best if we took him to the medics. I know from there they can further asses him." Bulkhead stated. From there he put the large pipe back where it was. "You'll need to fix this while I take him. I big enough and strong enough." He told him. From there he managed to put the pipe in just right, energon still leaking out of it. After that he picked up Hot Rod.
"You sure? After all, you're the Wrecker." Hot Shot reminded him.
Bulkhead stopped and looked to his side so his eye could see him. "I know I'm a Wrecker. But, it's best if I went and told Ratchet everything. He knows me very well and can help Hot Rod. He might speculate you two were rough-housing and make a report of it." He told Hot Shot.
"Understood sir. I'll finish here." He told Bulkhead.
"Good. After that pipe just head to the surface. Don't worry about the others. I'll deal with their questions." He stated and proceeded to walk off.
Hot Shot looked at Hot Rod as he looked down, in a trance. "Hey, Hot Rod!" Hot Shot said to him. Barely hearing him, Hot Rod didn't look. "Hot Rod! Cybertron to Hot Rod. Are you okay?" Hot Shot asked. Hot Rod snapped out of it and looked to Hot Shot. "Are you okay?" He requested.
"Y-yeah. Just in thought about what happened." He explaied.
"What happened when that pipe fell on you?" He asked.
"I'll-I'll..." He looked to Hot Shot. "...Soon. I'll let you know soon." He told him and followed Bulkhead.
Hot Shot looked at he pipe and picked it up. Putting it back into place, he began to repair the damage. Looking back to the both of them, he looked to the pipe. Knowing something had happened when the pipe fell on Hot Rod. "Something happened when that energon hit him. But what?" He questioned. Looking at the color of the energon on the pipe, it wasn't the same as the others. "Where does this go to? What sort of energon is it?" He questioned himself.
Something was going on there and he needed to know what it was. Not only that, but a small drop of it landed on his face. Feeling that, he sensed something from it. From that drop, he felt something was going to happen. Didn't know what it was or when it was going to happen. He only knew he sensed it through that drop.
TP1
Tom: Sorry that took so long Toonami faithful and fanfiction readers. He began this chapter a year ago, forgot how far he got in it and recently finished it.
Sara: We're still hanging in there as much as possible. We're getting back into the flow. Slowly but surely. More of Transformers: Battle Core will be made soon. More stories to make and more to finish.
Tom: This one is catching up with Pokemon: Heroic Heart and Super Soul. Hope you all are ready for more action.
Sara: Don't forget to check us out on twitter, tumblr, instagram, youtube and other areas.
Tom: We're also expanding the stories a bit. There's an idea for a Reverse Falls story coming your way soon. Hopefully you all will enjoy it.
Sara: In the mean time, we're considering on doing a poll. When the poll is up, you all will know really soon.
Tom: Don't forget. If you like the story, follow/fave, comment as well. If you do, then we thank you for doing so. In the mean time. Just sit back and relax; as I push the button. Also, stay gold. Only toonami.
Me: Till next time.
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