Transformers Galaxy Force: Thunder Storm

Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers

Chapter 177

"So, how do you feel?"

Standing and stretching her joints, Storm Gunner smiled at Rodimus, "Back to my old self. How about you?"

"Just waiting for you so we can join Emission and our son," he teased, winking at her. She laughed, but her laughter was quickly cut off when the door to the med bay opened.

Uranium charged through, followed by Emission carrying Datablaze's shuddering form. "Put him over here!" the medic ordered, pointing to a separate examination table while setting up some equipment. "Rodimus, Storm Gunner, help me out over here!"

Storm Gunner was there in seconds, fighting against her anxiety. "What happened?" she demanded, barely noticing Rodimus recover from the shock and start helping Uranium.

"He looked out the view-port and... well.." Emission paused, confused as how to describe what she had seen. "It was as if he was having a panic attack or something. He started grabbing his head and whimpering. I didn't know what else to do, so I picked him up and called Uranium."

Taking a deep breath, Storm Gunner put her hand on Emission's shoulder. "Thank you," she told the Xian before turning back to her son. The scanner moved into position and began to work, and Datablaze cried out in fear. She quickly grabbed her son's hand to calm him. "It's okay," she whispered. "Mama's here. It's okay."

The sparkling's optics snapped to hers in recognition. "Mama..." he whimpered softly, squeezing her hand tight. "Daddy?"

"I'm here too," Rodimus answered, pausing to place a comforting hand on Datablaze's shoulder. "You'll be all right. We'll find out what's wrong, and then we'll fix it. You'll be all right." Seeing his son look at him and nod, Rodimus turned back to the terminal.

Several tense minutes followed. Storm Gunner held on to her son's hand while she stroked his helm with her other hand, keeping him calm and comforted. Rodimus helped out by touching the sparkling on his shoulder whenever he could pause at the terminal. Uranium kept her optics glued to the screen she was at, studying the data that scrolled past it. Emission, unsure of how to help, stayed nearby like an ever-present sentinel, ready to help in whatever task the others needed. The silence was broken when Uranium finally spoke.

"Wow!" she softly exclaimed. "His Theta Waves are off the charts!"

"'Theta Waves'?" Storm Gunner echoed. She looked to Rodimus to clear her confusion, but he only shrugged, just as confused as she was.

"They're a type of brainwave," Uranium explained. "They're connected to emotional responses, especially strong emotions. But I have no idea why his are so high." She paused and looked at the newborn Terraformer. "With how calm he is at the moment, thanks to all of you being here, his Theta Waves should be much lower."

Something clicked in Emission's mind and she gasped in surprise. "He's an Empath," she said, stunned by the realization. Everyone else in the room turned and stared at the Xian, feeling even more lost than before. She ignored them though, still muttering aloud to herself, "But that shouldn't be possible. Empaths are artificial; created, not born."

"Care to bring the rest of us up to speed?" Uranium asked.

Emission stared at nothing in particular as she began to explain, "Back before the destruction of Planet X, devices were created that allowed ancient Xians to sense the emotions of those around them through the use of Theta Brainwaves. Those who utilized these devices were called Empaths.

"The devices were originally created to facilitate communications, especially during times of war. Imagine being able to give an order to someone, but also have them be able to interpret your intent behind your order. Managing that, you also have a nearly unbreakable means of utilizing new forms of code between yourself and others. Even in noncombat situations, it can allow you to tell if someone getting close to you has ill intent.

"The technology was based on a simple philosophy: that every being not only produces emotions or Theta Waves, but can receive them as well. That is how you get things like a 'tick' or a 'tell'. Theta Waves cause not only a physical reaction, but a physiological one as well. Those who are especially good at reading what the philosophy calls 'the sea of emotion' can tell if your hostile or not, even if you don't change your stance. I've also heard Humans calling it 'reading one's aura'. The principle is the same. The devices used by Empaths only increased the ability to detect the Theta Waves of others.

"However, two drawbacks quickly became apparent. First, their ability to feel the emotions of others was equivalent to the physical feeling of a massive sea pressing in from all sides. Many Empaths quickly developed severe cases of hydrophobia. The second problem was that it resulted in high levels of Theta Waves, and strong negative emotions would cause those waves to reach dangerous levels. Most of the time it would cause full-body pain and seizures, but in rare cases, coma or death would result as well.

"For a long time, the use of Empathetic devices was heavily restricted. By the time of the war with Gigalonia, not only were such devices used by almost every Xian, but a means of countering the negative effects had developed, and both had become a part of Xian culture.

"The vast majority of Empath Technology was lost after Planet X's destruction, but some of it still remains, though it is rare to see an Empath, and until now, I've never even heard of anyone being born a natural Empath. However, the means of controlling Empathetic devices remains an elementary part of Xian life and culture, and is also the reason why we think in terms of logic. It's called Metallikato."

"Metallikato?" Rodimus exclaimed in surprise. "The Forbidden Seibertronian Art of Combat?"

Emission nodded, "I noticed that in Seibertronian history it is often referred to as a forbidden form of combat favored by assassins, and was even utilized by the Destrons. However, it's origins are Xian as a multipurpose discipline to command mind and body. During sparring sessions with some other Cybertrons, I noticed similarities between other forms of combat and Metallikato. I believe that ancient Xians once visited Seibertron, not only because Metallikato is mentioned by name, but because it seems that Circuit-Su and Crystalocution are derived from Metallikato's less lethal specializations and skills."

"So that's why Xians think in terms of logic?" Storm Gunner asked. "Because they're taught Metallikato from a young age?"

"Correct," Emission answered. "We are taught not to suppress emotion, but to ignore it entirely; to not let it influence us in any way. However, a true practitioner of Metallikato can take it one step further as well." Emission's stance seemed to shift a bit as she shuffled her feet, and then...

It was as if she vanished. The others could tell she was there; their optics were practically screaming the fact, but their brains refused to recognize that anyone was there at all.

Then she was back, and they could only stare in shock as she explained, "I never left the spot I'm standing in, but by 'shutting off' my Theta Waves, I made it impossible for you to see me."

"So..." Uranium began, "You're a master of Metallikato."

"No," the Xian disagreed. "Not by a long shot. I am simply a practitioner, as is every Xian. I can barely even use Metallikato in combat. I do, however, know enough of the physiological methods that I can teach them to Datablaze; enough for him to protect himself against the emotions of others until he can utilize his ability without risking harm."

"I don't know if I'm comfortable with that idea," Rodimus said. "No offense, Emission, but you're obviously not an Empath. If there is an Empath already alive, I think I'd more comfortable with that, the whole thing about Metallikato being forbidden aside."

"None taken, but I only know of one living Empath," Emission responded. "The Fallen, the leader of the Xians, is the last living survivor from the Gigalonia conflict. As he was the Xian leader during the conflict, he used his abilities as an Empath to reverse engineer what we call 'the Forbidden Technology' that Gigalonia was using to win the war. This technology ended up turning on Planet X, destroying it, and the Fallen was cursed to live an immortal, but unfulfilled life for recreating that which he never should have defiled."

Storm Gunner thought back to her own time on Gigalonia, including when she found a holovid of the conflict with Planet X. She didn't remember any kind of forbidden technology though. "What kind of technology was that?" she asked.

This time it was Emission's turn to be confused, "You don't know of it? You use it all the time." She raised her arm, and the Chip Slot on her shield glowed slightly.

"Planet Force!" Rodimus exclaimed. "The Fallen reverse engineered Planet Force?"

"It's the source of our Force Chip. I thought you knew. Why else were you planning an expedition to fly into the galactic core without the use of Warp Gates or a Space Bridge?" Emission asked.

"There's been some sort of interference that prevents any ship from exploring the core though the use of the Space Bridge," Storm Gunner explained. "Our trip was supposed to find out why and map our course. Are you saying the reason why was because of a fifth Planet Force?"

"It makes sense," Rodimus said. "That's what it was like on Gigalonia before we found the Planet Force there and dispelled the barriers."

"And First Gunner told me that the Destrons used the same tactic to isolate and control Animatros," Uranium inputted, deactivating the scanner and motioning to Storm Gunner that her son was free to get down from the examination table.

"I'm sorry," Emission apologized, hanging her head. "I truly thought you knew after you mentioned your interactions with other Xians before the Alliance formed."

"It's all right," Storm Gunner said. "At least now we know we can go somewhere safe, not only to get Datablaze the help he needs, but also for us to live without being harassed." She turned her attention back to her son, who had snuggled into her arms for comfort. "Until then, we'll just have to watch our emotions, and keep Datablaze away from water, including the windows while we're under the ocean."

"I can expedite the process," Emission offered. "I have the coordinates to my home, which is actually an Xian outpost outside the barrier around the core."

Rodimus gave her a look of gratitude, "That, Emission, is more than we could ask. Thank you."