Never Was
Disclaimer: A bizarre idea that came to me shortly after I watched the new Transformers Animated episode on Saturday on March 13th. I'm not so sure if it is a... "realistic idea", to begin with, but I will make it as "real" as I possibly can. This idea was bugging me so much, I had to put it down. So if you feel this isn't the best, you can tell me. It won't hurt my feelings, honest. This fic takes place before the events of Animated.
"Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming dreams no mortal ever dared to dream before."
-Edgar Allan Poe
"The utmost extent of man's knowledge, is to know that he knows nothing."
-Joseph Addison
By: VampireQueenAkasha
"Your reasoning is highly illogical."
-Shockwave, G1 Episode
Chapter Six: Hidden Feelings
Unknown Planet
Shockwave was glad to be rid of the nuisance of the alien Tec. And he was even more relieved to know that Tec had revealed that there was a space bridge not too far from here. That meant they were going to get off of this planet soon.
Tec gestured to the distant mountains. "When I used to do some tradin' with your guys, I would take the bridge all the time," he said, "Not sure of it still works. I ain't been up there in a LONG time." He smiled. "Ahh, but a good kick to it might get it started up."
Shockwave tsked slightly.
"Well, we thank you for everything," Red Alert told the alien, smiling and shaking his hand, "When we get back, I'll be sure to put in a good word with the Autobots for you."
Tec grinned. "Well, sweet!" he said.
Shockwave shook his head. "Don't make him promises he'll regret."
Red Alert gave Shockwave a bizarre look and then, she returned her gaze to Hot Shot. "Alright, are we ready to go?"
"Yup." Hot Shot replied.
The three robots began their trek toward the mountain where they would find the space bridge. Red Alert stayed quiet for a while, lingering behind the two mechs and studying the coordinates that Tec had given her. Hot Shot glanced back at her before looking up at Shockwave.
"Hey, can't you just say something to her?" he said, "I think she's kinda mad about what you said last night."
Shockwave shrugged his shoulders calmly. "She'll get over it in the time being." He looked down at Hot Shot. "She's going to have to. Behaving like that of an irresponsible child does not give me license to apologize for that in any regard."
Hot Shot scowled at him and Red Alert glanced up sharply at that. "You can't really believe all that. Not after everything we've been through. Not after the way she's been helping you," he insisted, "Primus, I gave up my fragging torch for your sorry butt!"
Shockwave stopped long enough to look down at him. "When you weren't busy trying to kill me." he pointed out.
Hot Shot, for the first time, felt guilty for this and sighed.
"If we continue through the night, we should not have to walk much further to reach the bridge," Shockwave continued, changing the subject, "I don't think I have to tell you twice to keep up."
Hot Shot scowled and mocked him as they continued on.
O
The sky darkened and bizarre animal sounds filled the air. Shockwave was keeping watch while the other two Autobots slept. Of course, they had argued with his logic of walking through the night. Little weaklings. He knew that he could have walked the night, but they could not.
At least they would not complain once they awoke and continued on with their journey.
Something rustled the trees behind him, a shape that was moving slowly and slowly toward him. Shockwave could sense it almost immediately. Reddish eyes were watching him through the shrubbery. Eyes that flickered between red and yellow. Deep snarling sounds filled the air.
Red Alert slowly came online after hearing the sounds and looked around, rather sleepily. "What's going on?" she asked.
Suddenly, the trees shattered around them, jolting Hot Shot sharply out of his recharge just the same and a massive form came charging out of the darkness. Shockwave ducked out of the way, inches before he could be crushed.
The three robots switched on every available light source and gazed in shock at the creature before them. It was huge, towering over them. It's body was thick, like that of a walrus and had hooves for limbs. The alien had large, gnarled horns and tusks, tusks that resembled an insect's pincers. Thick, matted fur covered its entire body.
The alien leered down at them before letting loose a loud, bellowing roar.
The creature dove for the weakest one first.
Red Alert.
She was frozen there, stunned and unable to move. Just then, Shockwave jumped between the two and seized the massive creature by its horns, forcing it back. The creature's hooves slid uselessly against the dirt and it roared angrily, struggling against Shockwave's strength.
Red Alert stared at him, stunned. "Shockwave?"
He grunted sharply at the beast. "Tough little alien, aren't you?" he hissed, "No matter. Consider yourself extinct." He began to twist the creature's head, in an attempt to snap its neck. The animal snarled until its back shuddered and thin, slippery tentacles slithered out from fleshy pockets.
Shockwave gasped slightly in surprise and one of them wrapped around his right arm tightly. And then, it tore his arm off completely at the shoulder.
"AHH!" he shrieked.
Red Alert and Hot Shot acted fast and took both sides of the creature. Hot Shot seized its tentacles in one tight fist and laughed as it attempted to violently buck him off. "Whoa! Get along there, little doggie!" he hollered, like an idiot.
The alien had forgotten all about Shockwave and was now focused completely on these two new enemies. It roared loudly, attempting to toss them from its massive body. Shockwave winced, body trembling from the pain. He raised his arm cannon from his good arm and grunted.
"Both of you, move!" he commanded.
They looked up with gasps of surprise. Shockwave did not give them a chance to move. He fired a powerful beam of energy right at the alien's head. It erupted and burst in an explosion of blood and gust and the two other robots yelled, falling from their height and onto the ground.
"OW!" Hot Shot cried, "Slag it, that hurt!"
Shockwave moved over to his dismembered limb and picked it up, visibly shuddering. Red Alert rushed at his side and quickly fitted his arm into place for him. She held up her soldering tool and began work on reconstructing his arm.
Shockwave tilted his head at her. "Why would you help me?"
Red Alert smiled up at him. "Why would you help me?" she countered.
Shockwave looked down at the remains of the alien and shrugged. "It was in my own interest to stop that creature from harming you," he replied, calmly.
Red Alert nodded and smiled. "Yeah, well it's in my interest to help anybody who needs it."
Shockwave tilted his head back slightly at that, but remained silent. Hot Shot looked at him with a sigh. "I think you're right," he muttered, "We should walk the night."
Red Alert walked alongside Shockwave and glanced up at him. With his single lens-like eye, it was hard to tell what expressions he was wearing. She chuckled softly and Shockwave glanced down at her with a soft sound of confusion.
"And just what is so funny, Autobot?" he asked.
Red Alert continued to smile. "In the end, Shockwave, it's true what I thought," she replied, "Deep down, in the pit of their Sparks, Decepticons still have good in them."
The two Autobots continued walking and Shockwave stopped in his tracks, taking in what she had just said. A low, trembling sound echoed from him and he continued walking, pacing himself so he would stand in front of them.
He was watching Red Alert, confused. That was something that did not happen too often. What was it about her that confounded him? He wasn't sure. A part of him felt...tainted by such confused emotion.
Tainted...like...
Shockwave began to plan something. Something that he knew would benefit the both of them.
O
Note-This story is going to end very soon. I know people were hoping for a longer version, but in truth, it was not intended to be long. I visualized it being "episode-length" at best.