Authors Note- And at long last I am finally back with another chapter to Victims Of Fate. Sorry, it's been a long ass while, life y'know? But I'm finally back. And as you can gather by now I don't own Transformers Prime. That belongs to Hasbro. I do however own Joyride, Vortex, Killshot, Lunatic, and last but not least Max. Now that we got that out of the way here is Chapter Five! I hope you enjoy.
Chapter Five: When Joyride Met Max.
Oh, this was not good. Max thought as he stared up at the looming blue and silver titan staring down at him remaining eerily silent. And to think he had been so careful hiding from the alien menace since the Autobots first attacked Earth. Decimating Earth's armies as if they were nothing. There had been nothing humanity could do against the far more advanced species. And by the time the Decepticons had arrived to help it was far too late.
Humanity had been all but wiped out, and any survivors were taken to the camps. Now Max had no idea what exactly happened at these camps, but he really didn't want to find out. Hence why he had escaped, leaving what remained of his life behind. Living in the shadows, scavenging for food and other such necessities. All while avoiding the groups of Autobot troops and Decepticons alike. And to think, when he and his friends used to get together for drinks and joke about what they would do if they suddenly found themselves in the middle of an apocalypse.
Unfortunately for them they had always thought they would be fighting against zombies, not giant alien monsters. And now it seemed like it was the end of the line for him.
RIP Max its been fun. Max thought, as he continued to stare up at the mech. That being said he wasn't just going to roll belly up and give up either. He would make this Autobot scumbag work for it. Gritting his teeth the turned on his heel and moved to run.
"H-hey! Wait!" A voice called out, the Autobot was moving towards him now, this spurred Max on as he didn't want to waste another minute waiting around, and ran. Darting around the corner, the ground shaking as the Autobot chased him. "Now hold on, I just want to talk, human." The Autobot called out to him.
"Trust me." Max called back, looking over his shoulder as the mech continued to chase after him. "The last thing I want to do is talk with the likes of you." As Max said that he pulled open the door to a nearby building, and darted in, knowing that it would do nothing to hold his pursuer back.
And Max half expected the wall to come crumbling down all around him. And yet, nothing as he climbed the stairs, lungs burning. If his luck continued to hold out he would be able to slip away without the Autobot catching him. He hoped his luck would hold out for that long as he raced through the halls. However, unbeknownst to him was that things would go from bad to worst as he reached the emergency exit. Shoving the double doors open, and darting out, and came face to face with several Autobot Vehicons. All optics settling on on him as he skidded to a halt, Max's eyes widening as he looked up at them.
Great, he thought. Out of the frying pan and into the fire it would seem. He thought, as he pressed himself against the brick wall of the building he had just come from. As one of the Vehicons reached down for him...
Joyride heaved a sigh as he watched as they human disappeared into the building, leaving a frustrated Joyride in his dust. Biting down on his bottom lip he continued to stare at the pair of double doors the human had disappeared through, as if half expecting the human to suddenly appear before him once more. And yet nothing.
And why did you chase after it? He asked himself, as he turned away from the building, and heaved another sigh. What good would a puny human do for you? However, before he could move on and find a place to lay low for the night he heard a bloodcurdling scream from behind the building. Damn near jumping out of his plating when he heard it. White optics widening as he slowly moved around the building, and bit back a curse as he saw several Vehicons. Obviously that small group of Vehicons he had stumbled across hadn't been the only ones in the area. As he saw another group of them just standing around. And as he continued to watch them as they stepped out from behind the building Joyride noticed that one of them was holding something in their hand.
And as Joyride looked closer he could see that it was the same human he had encountered. How...ironic the little human had done all he could to escape him, and was now in the clutches of the Autobots. And for some reason, despite himself Joyride found himself unable to walk away. He knew he should he was unarmed, and he knew if he was caught it would be the end of the line for him, and everything he did would be for nothing. Gritting his denta Joyride pressed his back against the wall as the group of Vehicons passed him. Completely unaware of the Neutral so close to them as the blue and silver mech watched them. Waiting for the right moment to act.
He couldn't put his finger on it, but something told him he needed to save this human. Perhaps it was because the humans of this planet were nothing more than innocent victims of Lord Prime's tyranny much in the way the Cybertronian's were. And Primus knew that if Joyride had been in the humans position he would want someone to save him. Joyride pushed himself off the wall, and disappeared into the shadows, trailing after the group of Vehicons. Biting down on his bottom lip he wracked his processor for an idea. And was coming up empty. But, despite that Joyride knew he had to do something. Clenching his jaw he waited until the Vehicons backs were turned, thankfully there was only three of them, should be easy for someone like him right?
Shoving away any doubts aside Joyride charged at one of them, fist slamming into the back of the first Vehicons head. Knocking it to the ground, kicking up dust as it did so. A pained groan coming from it, as the other two whirled around to face Joyride. The human still struggling in the grasp of the Vehicon on the right. Least the little human still had some fight left in him Joyride thought. However, he was soon jerked from his thoughts as the one on the left fired his blaster at him, forcing Joyride to leap out of the way. The blast missing him, and hitting an abandoned car. The car going up in flames at it did.
But that did not deter the Vehicon as it turned its blaster on Joyride once more, and fired. This time the blast struck Joyride square in the chestplate, sending him flying. Grunting as he crashed into the wall behind him.
"Well, what do we have here?" One of the Vehicons asked, as it moved to loom over Joyride.
Pain radiated from the wound in his chestplate, energon spilling from the wound as he struggled to his feet. Only to have the Vehicon standing before him knocking him back down. "Never seen you before, and you ain't no Autobot. I know most of the Autobots under Lord Prime's rule, and you ain't one of them." The Vehicon crouched down, gripping Joyride's chin, forcing him to look up into the bright blue visor on the Vehicon.
"And I don't think you're a 'Con. You aren't branded with their insignia." The Vehicon continued on, jabbing the open wound in Joyride's chest. Making him cry out. "So, I'm going to venture a guess and say that you're a Neutral."Joyride was silent as the Vehicon looked him over.
"I'm right, aren't I?" The Vehicon merely sighed when Joyride continued to remain silent. "Not really talkative, are ya? No matter I'm sure Lord Prime will reward me handsomely for bring you in. After all..." The Vehicon trailed off, moving to whisper into Joyride's audio. "The Autobot cause could always use more Autobots."
As those words reached Joyride's audios his energon went cold. No, Joyride thought, as he struggled to his feet, fist connecting with the side of the Vehicons head, causing him to stagger back. Biting down on his bottom lip as he looked for something he could use to defend himself. As the Vehicon that taunted him closed in on him.
Joyride's optics settling on a street lamp, racing over to it he yanked it out of the ground, and turned to face the Vehicon once more. Just as the first Vehicon was joined by the other two as they charged at him. Three against one? These Autobots don't like to play fair, do they? He thought, as his optics settled on the human clutched in the right Vehicons hand. Letting out a growl, Joyride swung at him, catching him in the arm, causing the Vehicon to cry out, dropping the human. And how Joyride not caught him at just the right time, the human would have ended up splattered on the ground below. Backing away from the trio of Autobots Joyride placed him on the ground.
"Run!" Joyride ordered, before turning back to his attackers. Just as the Vehicon that had been taunting him. The one Joyride was certain was the leader of this little group, charged at him.
And Joyride wasted no time swing at it. Catching it right in the faceplate. Its visor flickering slightly as one of the others fired on Joyride. However, Joyride had grown wise to them by now, as he leaped out of the way, just as another Vehicon charged at him. And ended up taking the shot that was intended for him. The blast tearing through its chestplate, its visor growing dark as it dropped to its knees before falling face first onto the ground, dead.
And then there was two. Joyride thought, as he glared at the remaining two. Charging at them Joyride tackled one of the Vehicons, knocking them to the ground, and landed blow after blow on its faceplate. Joyride crying out as a blast tore through his shoulder, causing him to drop onto the ground, smoke billowing from the scorched plating. Pain radiating from the wound. But Joyride knew that if he gave up now it would be the death of him. Gritting his denta Joyride drive his fist once more into the Vehicon underneath him, cracking his visor. He would not die here, not now. And he most certainly wouldn't be one of Prime's puppets. Continuing to rain blows down on his victim he didn't stop until he saw its visor dim and it go still before getting to his feet. Albeit a little shakily. Only to be knocked down once more.
"Well, I'll admit." The last Vehicon said, moving from the shadows, blaster trained on him. "As fun as that was I think it's time we call it quits. And I want to say, for some cowardly Neutral you sure did put up quite the fight. But sadly I think it's time for you to just give up. And come with me."
"I would rather die." Joyride choked out, clutching at his wounded shoulder, optics narrowed.
"That can be arraigned." The Vehicon said, aiming his blaster at Joyride, as Joyride offlined his optics, awaiting death. When... Nothing.
Onlining his optics Joyride saw that the Vehicon moved off of him, and was currently pacing a few feet from him. Obviously someone was talking to it via the comms, and now seemed distracted.
Might as well get out of here while it's distracted. Joyride thought. Getting to his feet he slipped into the shadows, leaving the Vehicon behind.
Well, this was certainly a change of circumstances if Max ever saw one. As he peered out from behind the building he had taken refuge behind. He saw that the blue and silver mech he had ran from slink into the very same alley he was hiding in. And looking a tad worst for wear as he, Max assumed it was a he, he never really gave much thought to whether these monsters had genders or not. But until he knew for certain he would refer to his unlikely savior as a he, watching as he slid down to the ground, looking exhausted and hurt. A strange blue liquid trickling out from his wounds.
And against his better judgement Max slowly made his way to him. "You..." Max spoke, startling the mech, as it turned wide, white optics on him. "Saved me?"
Silence fell over the two of them for the longest while.
"I did," the mech spoke, voice soft. "Didn't feel right to turn a blind eye to what the Autobots were doing. And I thought I told you to run?"
"Well, I did, but something told me to stick around...I'm guessing you're not an Autobot?"
"Not a Decepticon, either."
"I heard that part, I guess you're what they all a Neutral?" Max asked.
The mech nodded. The silence once again falling over the two. Max knew he should move on, but found himself unable to do so. This mech, whose name Max did not know had been hurt trying to save him, he had to do something to repay the favor. Gnawing at his bottom lip he looked around, noting that the Vehicon had disappeared, and Max hoped they wouldn't run into it again. Though he knew that wasn't the case.
Turning back to the mech Max continued to chew on his bottom lip. The mech had saved his life, it would be wrong to leave him as is. Sure, he knew absolutely nothing about these aliens, but it would be the least he could do, right?
"Can you...can you walk?" Max asked.
The mech was silent as he struggled to his feet, stumbling slightly before offering Max a reassuring smile. "I think I can manage. Um, do you have a name? Er, do humans have those?"
"The name's Max. Max Williams, recent college graduate turned survivor. And you are...?" Max asked.
"Joyride. A Neutral just trying to escape the Autobot/Decepticon war...Turns out I chose the wrong planet for that." Joyride said with a chuckle.
That caused a faint smile to form on Max's face. "So," Max spoke, running a hand through sweaty black hair, green eyes looking up at the metal titan before him. "Can you do the thing where you transform into a vehicle?"
At this Joyride shook his head. "Sadly, I have no scanned a vehicle mode, and to be honest..." Joyride trailed off, looking around at the ruined remains. "I don't see anything that would fit me, you know what I'm saying?"
At that Max had to chuckle. Joyride had a point, but he had an idea. Looking up at the mech he placed a hand on Joyride's leg. "Follow me." He said softly, "I know a place where we can both hide out. And I think I might have something that will suit you."
Joyride looked down at Max, saying nothing he limped after the human male. Wondering just how things would go from here. He didn't know, but one thing he did know was that he would no longer be alone...
Authors Note- And thus concludes Chapter Five of Victims Of Fate. I'm really proud of this chapter, and I hope you like it to. That being said this is The Exhausted Writer signing off. Have a good day.