Author's Notes: This chapter features none of the characters I was hoping for. Because it just struck me this way. Exactly where I'm going with this is anybodies guess, but since I'm picking and choosing some things at random from the Comics, the Films and the Toy Bios I can imagine we're going to have one messed up Decepticon-centric story once the third movie comes out. *Snickers*
This is why we tend to avoid taking on forms of disguise that can lead to… potential problems. Being a Decepticon infiltration specialist I should have known better than to sign up for this mission, even Soundwave was against it. Sadly when you're instructed to do something by Starscream and Soundwave actually backs you up.
Well I wasn't exactly left with much choice in the matter. And then I had to undergo painful exoskeletal alterations at the hands of Flatline. That slagger could take a lesson from the Autobots' Ratchet, or hell even Hightower was a better field medic than him. And Hightower is a Constructicon, not exactly known for their finesse or dexterity, even before Flatline started cloning them to create his 'Project Devastator'.
Basically I was grafted with a new form of transformation systems. They were designated as 'Pretender Tech', whatever that meant. And after I was jacked up and nearly eviscerated – losing half of my size in the process – they sent me to Earth.
My protoform scanned a suitably attractive member of the human female sub-culture and I began my task of infiltration. The first objective was learning where the human Samuel Witwicky would be attending college.
Utilizing a few techniques Frenzy taught me and taking advantage of our implanted virus, which the humans still had no hope of purging from their systems, I managed to get myself enrolled under the pseudonym 'Alice'. It was the only name I could respond to after scanning the animatronic unit which gifted me with my female exo-form.
Once Samuel Witwicky arrived I began my mission. To extract the AllSpark data from his mind. Being close to the cube when it was used to eradicate Megatron it was only natural that the backwash of energy unleashed would infect the primitive carbon based insect with a glimpse of pure nirvana.
As such my specially modified probing tool proved most useful – unfortunately his bitch of a girlfriend showed up and spoiled everything. After our clash, which took me through several buildings on campus, I finally cornered them. Due to another unforeseen development however I was left damaged.
Fortunately in all the fury and the insanity of being captured by Grindor the humans neglected to eliminate me. Their fatal mistake. Blending once more into human society and vacating the premises of the college I made my way cross country – searching once more for the elusive human male dubbed Samuel Witwicky by his parents.
The camper smashed through the police barricade and continued through downtown Seattle with reckless speed. At the wheel Alice continued to drive while the 'good samaritans' who had picked up a lonely hitch hiker on the side of the road cowered in terror.
Ignoring the mewling fleshlings I continued to make my way to a location that kept driving me onwards. While unable to complete my primary mission, I did manage to absorb some small snippets of data from the Witwicky boy during our brief tonguing session.
Trying to cut me off the annoying Autobot twins Skids and Mudflap weren't going to prevent me from reaching my intended destination. Nor were they about to prevent me from achieving a great victory. Something on this planet – something unrelated to our failed mission for The Fallen – was driving me with a reckless determination that some might have considered to be a glitch in my central processors.
But I had to find it. I had to…
Alice didn't even scream when Sideswipe's blades cut through the window and terminated her spark. She simply collapsed in her seat her remains left for NEST to pick up and eliminate.
Screaming in sheer agony the protoform sealed within the glowing green Energon filled pod writhed about as limbs began to tear at the weak outer casing of the pod. In a matter of seconds a new unit had emerged optics glowing an evil red as she surveyed her new surroundings.
"Where am I?" I demanded. The last moments of my previous life returned to me in a flash and I reached out to strike at the wall of the Nemesis. Another memory came back to me as well – the urgent drive that had beckoned in my central processor demanding that I reach it. "I have to go back there!" I proclaimed marching towards the exit.
The door flew open and Flatline calmly entered the room. "Not so fast, Alice, you've experienced a traumatic event," he explained in what he believed was a soothing tone.
"Listen you spark glitched excuse for a medic!" I shrieked crawling up his body so I could literally glare into his optics. "I found something while I was with the boy… I was trying to reach it before… Before I got slagged. How the pit did I get back here?" I asked beginning to sense a strange double vision. I could see Flatline directly in front of me, but I could also see myself and him from somewhere above us.
Flatline chuckled. "An experimental procedure I originally attempted with the Autobot Arcee, my dear, fortunately you proved a more willing participant once you realized what it entailed." He indicated the ceiling above us.
Glancing up I was disturbed to discover several more pods all connected to the body I'd originally possessed. Faintly glowing in the center of my chest was my spark – my complete spark. Reaching down I began to realize that somehow Flatline had splintered my spark and installed a piece of me inside of these other forms. These Pretenders.
"You insufferable spawn of the dark one!" I screamed sensing something change once more inside of me. I had changed my exo-form and seemed to have gained some height.
"Curious." Flatline slowly circled me. "Tell me, Alice, what exactly were you trying to reach?"
"I… I can't remember!" I admitted frustratedly. "I knew when I was in that other body, but I only have part of the equation here. None of the experiences pertinent to that information survived the transference. How can I even remember what I did while I was there?" I wondered confused and beginning to feel annoyed.
Flatline took me by the shoulder and started to lead me away from the main room.
"All in good time, my dear, but first things first. I need your help with a patient of mine," he said.
"What makes you think I'm just going to play nurse for you?" I demanded shaking free of his grip.
"Because you have a vested interest in this patient," Flatline stated grandiosely pushing aside a hanging twisted bit of debris to reveal his repair bay.
Lying on the table was one I knew well. One I had eternally been bound to since the day of my creation. "Mother," I blurted approaching the badly twisted and maimed form of Fracture.
"You see, Alice?" Flatline smirked.
"Forget that annoying moniker! And get your slagging carcass over here to get her back in working order!" I commanded stomping up to the operating table. "And my name is Flamewar, Flatline, and don't ever forget that."
Doing his best to hide his bemusement Flatline moved to once again resume his work on repairing Fracture. "Of course, my dear, after all I did name you. Daughter."
Glaring up at my father I was itching to tear out his spark – casing and all – and crush it in my five fingered hand. Unfortunately I needed him to get Fracture back to full operating status. The time on Earth had infected me with baser emotions. Emotions not best served for one such as I, after all I was a Decepticon.
Fracture and Flatline had both built me originally during one of their more lucid moments. When they realized that we might never reclaim the AllSpark. An experiment that proved a success and served to drive a wedge between them. Not that mating was a necessity among my people.
Even less so when it came to Decepticons. But in those darker days – before we discovered this planet – in the interest of furthering our race some were willing to go to extreme lengths.
Fracture and I bonded on some strange level. She taught me how to fight and get by and in turn I kind of like to think that I softened her world view just a little. She was still the bitchiest femme in the Decepticon ranks, but she was always kinder to me when none of the others were around.
So if I had to I'd do anything to ensure she was safely repaired and returned to us. I may be a Decepticon. But even Decepticons have feelings towards their parents. Just ask Frenzy or Ravage sometime, they could tell you. If they didn't eviscerate you first.
"Frenzy!" Flatline turned at my outburst.
"What about Frenzy?" he demanded.
"I remember now what I was trying to get to… The virus Frenzy implanted into the humans' mainframes," I explained excitedly.
"I don't understand, that was simply a means to eliminate their communications systems before Soundwave arrived." Flatline studied me mystified.
"Well it's not just a simple little virus anymore," I informed smugly. "It has evolved."
Flatline's optics lit up excitedly. "Hurry up in assisting me with your mother, Flamewar, I believe the two of you have a new mission to undertake."
The End?