Chapter 2: The Energon Still

Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers. Except for the little G1 Bumblebee sitting above my computer. I own that particular guy, at least.

That night, as they had done for weeks now, the group clustered around the Energon still.

It was their lifeblood; it was the reason for their raids and their reason for functioning. Demolisher had built it, vicariously, through his innate knowledge of engineering - "I am a Constructicon, after all," he'd said, "even if this building is too small for me." The actual assembly had been done by Sideways and Rotary, with Kickstand occasionally coming in to 'supervise' – i.e. attempt to steal parts. The finished product wasn't pretty, resembling a haphazard array of magnets, wiring and plumbing hooked into the nearest energy source.

"Ready?" Sideways asked, holding two industrial-strength plugs.

Rotary carried the last oil drum into position as the game console scurried out of her way. "Explain to me again, Demolisher, why we can't just plug this thing into the power lines out there."

The great steamshovel head, inset with orange eyes, swung back through the open window, silhouetted against the night. The smog of Shanghai was so great that only the light of Venus made it through its choked skyline. "Little ones," he replied, "the still is an accelerator and converts energy-rich matter into Energon. It's engineering. You must make tradeoffs, as well you all know. Were you to draw energy from these crude electrical lines, you would need a catalyst."

Sideways drummed his metal fingers on his hip. "Ready?"

Rotary ignored him. Sometimes, I envy the Constructicons. It would be nice if I could grasp these principles. "Catalyst?"

Demolisher continued undaunted. "Energon exists in a phase between matter and between pure energy – and in order to acquire it from energy, such as how the human insects ridiculously shuffle some electrons back and forth, you would need a catalyst to channel the proto-energon state. Any solid matter will do, but metal works most efficiently. That said, the catalyst then becomes waste, charged with Energon radiation, something not even our suppressors could hide from the Autobots. Would you prefer they come knocking on our door enquiring about our little camp?"

The green-and-white game console was chewing on a wire. Rotary discouraged him with her foot. "Fair enough. Sideways, you ready? What's taking so long?"

Sideways shot her a death glare.

As the plugs were connected, a vacuum pump fired up, draining the oil out of the barrels and into the reaction chamber. Blue light began seeping out, evidence that the containment field was active. A few of the gauges, sprouting from the salvaged furnace at the heart of the machine, began to rattle.

"Steady, now," rumbled Demolisher. "Ease off on the pressure."

Sideways took the reaction speed down and the coolant lines responded, settling back to normal.

The reaction began to change, converting the chemical energy of the oil in the barrels into a different kind of matter/energy entirely, molecular bonds exploited, reshaped and twisted, hovering incomprehensibly (for Rotary, at least) between states of being. The blue glow of the fields intensified, grew violet, then white.

Sideways watched the dial. "Five seconds, Rotary – four, three, two, one."

"Right." Rotary shut down her end of the machine and the light faded in all parts of the machine except for the last barrel, which glowed a faint blue.

Rotary peered in. In the bottom of the barrel, approximately five or so gallons of thick, blue sludge pulsed and glowed. This was crude Energon, far from properly refined. Small chunks of it had attempted to coalesce into malformed cubes – these were higher concentrations of energy, evidence of an incomplete reaction. It didn't entirely matter, however, because this was a matter of survival, and to keep fueled, the little gang of Decepticons would have to make do.

Ugh, thought the thin green robot. Better than usual, at least. We're getting better at refining Energon.

Demolisher nodded his approval. "And that is Constructicon engineering for you. If it won't work, make it work."

Sideways eyed the barrel. "Good thing we didn't have to 'make it work' this time, then."

They divided up the Energon. Demolisher, due to his size and mass, required half of it simply to function. The smaller 'bots, such as the console and the lawnmower, received a tiny cube apiece, which would fuel them for a few days, perhaps a week. Kickstand split a slightly larger share with the forklift, with a correspondingly larger share going to the big desert-tan military robot who slumped in the corner.

"Hey, big guy," said Rotary, proffering a share of the results on a trash can lid. Back at the still, the rest of the robots were refueling, and Sideways was explaining his latest ache or pain to Kickstand and Demolisher, neither of which were paying much attention.

The big robot didn't look up. He was larger than Sideways, approximately the size required to transform into a standard military vehicle, such as a medium tank or an armored personnel carrier. That said, "big robot" was certainly relative, as he would barely come up to the cab on truly massive Demolisher.

"You want your Energon, mate?" she asked, once again offering the glowing mess.

The big robot held his head in his hands, slowly rocking back and forth on a period of several seconds.

Rotary deliberated for a few seconds. Should she take the Energon for herself? After all, her engine wasn't terribly fuel efficient; surely this wreck of a robot wasn't expending as much energy sitting there in the corner as she was. It would be better used in a body that was actually being helpful, after all…

Through some conspiracy of sympathy, solidarity or plain decency, though, Rotary set the trash can lid down in front of him and went back to Sideways.

"What's his malfunction?"

"Him?" said the silver 'bot. "He's been here for a couple months, a bit longer than yourself. I found him on the outskirts of town, kicking off Energon radiation like nobody's business. Autobot patrol would have ganked him for sure if we hadn't brought him back here."

Rotary's blue eyes flicked back to the big robot, still hunched in the corner. "Wonder how he got here."

Sideways blinked and finished part of his Energon, popping a small cube already beginning to melt like a soft caramel into his spark chamber. "No idea. You've seen him; he doesn't talk much, just a few grunts every now and then. Never got his name, nor his agenda. I imagine he got into a big fight with the Autobots, screwed up his processors."

Sideways' gaze flicked to the ground. "That's why I'm just a courier. I'm not built for heavy combat, especially not against some of the nastier Autobots out there. You'd do well do avoid them, Rotary."

She cocked a metallic eyebrow at this. "Why, I think I'd do rather well. They don't seem too tough to me."

Sideways scoffed. "Rotary, you wouldn't last a microsecond against them."

Rotary's blue eyes flared. "What?! How would you know, anyway? Demolisher hardly lets me out of this bloody building. He's had me tinkering with the still all day."

"That's exactly what I mean. You haven't seen combat. Be glad of it."

He toyed with a bit of the Energon sludge. "Also, wipe that look off your face, Rotary. I know what you feel like."

Rotary blinked. "How so?"

"Because I've been there. I was like you, you know. I wanted to see it all – the humans have a term for it, you know. They call it 'seeing the elephant.'"

"What's an elephant?"

"Precisely."

Rotary walleyed him. "Explain."

"It's a big organic beast, something like a backhoe. Big long nose on the front that shovels dirt around."

"Huh. What does this have to do with the Autobots?"

"I'm getting to that," said Sideways. "Soldiers going off to war for the first time often did so to 'see the elephant;' that is, to experience the great beast that is battle and carnage for themselves. Not out of any lust for battle – not like Demolisher, thank the fates he's here – but to sate their own curiosity."

"So it's a metaphor, then. You're arguing that I'd get trampled."

"I'm arguing that you'd run out of Energon, fall, and then get trampled. Or shot. Exploded. Sliced in two while in vehicle mode. Any number of horrific things."

Rotary wheeled on him. "I take offense to that first one. I'm entirely combat capable – my power system isn't that bad. It's not crippling."

"Why do you think Demolisher doesn't send you out? He's afraid you'll overexert yourself, that's why. Rotary, you're a lightweight Cybertronian that burns up as much Energon as I do. I saw you go through two jugs of motor oil once I got back. How can you possibly be that inefficient?" he asked, tilting the trashcan lid that served as a makeshift plate. The raw, glowing gloop oozed from one side to the other, collecting in a lumpy blue puddle on one side.

Rotary's eyes flicked down. "It's not as crippling as you make it out to be, but yes, it is a problem."

"Why, then?"

"It's a long story."

"All aural sensors."

Rotary gave a mechanical sigh. "Fine, then."

Underground Bunker

Border Zone, Novara

Fifth Moon of Gas Giant Atalkos

Approx. 1 Century Before Present-Day

"Cybertronians of the far-flung worlds, your race has been thrown into chaos. For too long we have battled, and for too long needles lives have been lost, and needless Energon wasted. The hopes and dreams of Cybertronians everywhere have been crushed thanks to this needless war, and we now come to you seeking help."

The line of Cybertronians looked at each other. None of them were combat material, being mostly Energon farmers, ore gatherers, plant operators. A few had engineering experience, but that was it.

"You may be the downtrodden, the poor and the unjustly accused. You may be simple Energon farmers, but worry not, for we have need of you. With us, you will be appreciated, you will be home."

A slender green robot watched the screen with hopeful blue eyes. A scientist-type was addressing them, a bulky fellow full of wings and engines.

"And with us, you will be family. For together, we are strong, and we are one. We are Decepticons!"

A cheer went up. "We are Decepticons!"

Author's Note: Hope you're liking it so far! Next time, we explore some of Rotary's past, possibly how she arrived in Shanghai and perhaps resolving the mystery of her fuel problems. See you then!