Forever Is a Long Time Coming
Disclaimer: I don't own Marvel or Hasbro entertainment.
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Chapter 2: Contention
Cybertron, Kaon, Arena complex
114 Stellar cycles since Cold Construction
FO-03426
The sounds of buzzing electronics and whirring machinery surrounded me. I didn't let it distract me from the disassembled Energon battle pistol on the table in front of me. Looking at the parts, I let my interest in the weapon grow.
Though it is called a pistol, it was more akin to a sniper rifle. It is also quite unique in the manner it is installed on a Transformer. Integrated weapons are a rather fascinating thing in this setting. Something that had confused me when looking at both media and comics, was how exactly the weapons worked. You see, they weren't actually made from the arms of the transformer using them, but rather they were constructs kept within their subspace. When needed, they would materialise within the desired limb which folds open and attaches to its components.
It's also the reason why most transformers only have two or three weapons at maximum. Their subspace can't accommodate for more than that after all. Other than that, cybertronian weapons technology was ironically quite similar to what humanity had. Energon was used as an explosive component with various metals being used for the bullets.
Of course, there were differing weapons, with much more esoteric effects, but for now, I only have this model to experiment with. Other than that, I also had a neutron assault rifle, and scatter blaster available. In all honesty, when I travelled to the arena with Demolisher, I didn't expect to end up working as a mechanic for the arena part-time.
Of course, I do actually attend and have attended some fights. Demolisher would have been rather depressed if I hadn't after saying that I would. The fights were….Something else. They were lethal, untethered and unrestrained. The audience, who themselves can barely cope with day-to-day life, goes into a frenzy as the bloodshed unfolds.
It was a surreal experience, and even if it didn't really mean anything, it gave me…. Something else. And ironically, it is where I got my …My proper name. When I first began fighting, I still had that Cobbled together Prosthetic for an arm. It was quite hilarious when some wires had come loose and lightly tased one of my opponents. It gave me the moment of time I needed to knock him on his ass and smash his face in…
I thought of the tactic and how I could use it. I soon began tinkering with my shoddy limb to repair the damage on the one part but to also weaponise the concept. My grand idea culminated in a modification to the Mining laser permanently part of my arm. But I needed knowledge for that, the kind that simple tinkering would not necessarily give me.
But Cybertron had something for that. It was also quite interesting. You see, knowledge could be and was usually taught, but it could also be transferred. High-value Data cores with full directories pertaining to all fields of science exist, but due to their high material cost and difficulty in production, they were not a standardised means of education.
But…they were still available. Especially on the black market. I purchased quite a few datapads pertaining to physics and engineering with my savings in order to accomplish this idea. I was essentially broke at the end of it, but it soon proved to be a worthy investment.
When I repaired my arm…I did so much more. Having knowledge and expertise is one thing, but imagination? That is priceless. And the humanity I came from had boundless imagination. Why come up with a great concept when someone else made something better. So, I started to modify my arm, or specifically, the mining laser.
And what I ended up with was a decently functioning Electrolaser. It is a type of electroshock weapon that is also a directed-energy weapon. It uses lasers to form an electrically conductive laser-induced plasma channel. A fraction of a second later, a powerful electric current is sent down this plasma channel and delivered to the target, thus functioning overall as a large-scale, high energy, long-distance version of the Taser electroshock gun. Thank god that Cybertron had an atmosphere, or this idea couldn't have worked.
But yeah, my use of this weapon to stun my opponents was noticed and my lack of a face cemented the fact that I should get a menacing name…Terrorvolt. That is what was chosen for me…and in all honesty? I don't mind it.
The arena… Played for keeps. At the very least for the newcomers and lowest gladiators. The top dogs were obviously protected as they made the most money. But for us at the bottom of the rankings? We weren't worth as much. It drew a unique parallel to our actual life situation, but unlike there, we could earn our place in the arena.
And that's what we did. Demolisher and myself usually grouped up and were decently popular. I was getting a minuscule amount of the earnings made by the bookies, but every night it gave me more than what I made in a year by working in the mines.
Let that sink in…
I also had a habit of betting on myself. (Betting on the opponent was forbidden as it would then be assumed that I would throw the match) and the money flow was good.
My success in the fights was also based on the fact that I used Autobot-Police Data-cores that contained techniques for Close Quarters Combat and localised gunfights. Just the kind that was surprisingly useful on self-taught arena fighters
Wouldn't be any good against the higher ranks, but I wasn't gunning for that. I was happy with where I was. In all honesty, my main focus was on researching Cybertronian technology and making use of the concepts I still… remembered. When I ran diagnostics after undergoing Empurata, I noticed that some memories were corrupted…Well, it mainly affected the memories I had before being reborn.
And that…worried me. My mind was my greatest asset and foreknowledge of a setting like the one I find myself in is invaluable…but so far, I hadn't found any issues or gaps…But how would I really know that?
I don't think I had any serious issues right now really…well, other than the fact that life is shit. But I'm better than before.
And I will fully admit, tinkering on tech was a newfound passion, and I don't think I'm ever going to stop. The weapons, the systems, how we interfaced with the world and the people around us. These were all such fascinating concepts.
And the Arena ironically helped me out in that regard. When Clench (the bot who ran this whole operation) approached me on earning some extra money, I was afraid of what he intended. I'm glad my negative expectations were dashed when he asked me to give another gladiator some extra repairs as the usual mechanic had been caught stealing Energon.
I guess it was a common issue really.
But yeah, I accepted the deal and was tasked with repairing the other bots (that actually survived) and did a decent job at patching them up. I had actually considered quitting my job to work for the arena full time, but that wasn't really an option. Cybertron essentially had anti-truancy laws when it came to jobs and you were only allowed to be unemployed if the government decided so.
So quitting would only end up in trouble, the kind that I couldn't afford quite yet. So I've been working on the side and even managed to meet some interesting bots.
Most of them were future Decepticons or bots I never heard of, but some…or well one, was someone completely unexpected.
Looking up at a nearby holoscreen, I quickly turn up the volume of the current Arena broadcast.
"It was a close match tonight dear members of the audience but we finally have our winner! For the first time in over 40 Stellar cycles, the champion of Kaon has been defeated! I present the new bearer of the title! Coming from the great city of Iacon, a veteran of the Cybertronian war for independence…I give you!.. The great war hero!... GRIMLOOOOOOCK!" The crowd erupts into applause at the sight of the new champion.
And what a champion it was. It was a metallic beast in the shape of a goddamned Tyrannosaurus Rex. Kind of interesting as our species doesn't even know about the Earth.
But yeah, the future Autobot Grimlock was here. His entire team was actually here. Apparently, they were something of a spec-ops team sent on the most dangerous missions. But when one mission went wrong, they gained new Alt-forms that were seemingly inspired by earthen Dinosaurs. The council had them quarantined at first, as the new alt forms presented quite the issue to them.
The "Dynobots" wouldn't have any of that and promptly broke out before eventually ending up here. Taking my current position into account, it was to be expected that I would get to meet some of them. Grimlock was ironically the first one. His new alt form has given him quite a rage problem which causes him to be a bit shortsighted during fights.
Of course, he won his fights with no issue, but his injuries did accumulate with his matches. Soon enough, he ended up on the floor of my workshop with Energon spewing from all his wounds. He was a ball of anger and rage, but once I got him strapped to a (very reinforced) table, I was able to get him to calm down.
I won't pretend I was able to befriend him, but I can say that we have something cordial. I will admit though. I was a curious mind, so I did try to learn what I could from the Dynobots. When it came to cybertronian physiology, there was the so-called Rossum's Trinity. This contained the spark, the brain module and the transformation cog. All three components are absolutely vital for a cybertronian to function and if one part was sufficiently damaged, one could end up shutting down the other two.
But the interesting bit is that some still manage to survive without one or scientists are able to work on them without too many permanent changes. Hell, I myself was a perfect example of this.
When the Empurata was done to me, someone had to transplant my brain module without killing me.
But let's get back to the Dynobots. Their T-cogs have been heavily modified. Note that this also affects their entire body configuration as every shape has different aspects. For the average bot, you needed to stay in your weight class when changing your alt form. The new form you took had minor changes in functionality and major changes in the cosmetic variety. That's how it was for everyone.
What happened to Grimlock though? That was something that could literally break the caste system in half. Being able to change class like that….Changing the build and mass of one's body…even if I was allowed to dissect them, would I be anywhere near cracking it?
In all honesty, just getting data from my scanner was good enough for now. I can work through the data in my own free time when I can.
Another interesting project of mine was the supposed mat- "Are you the one doing repairs here?" A deep and powerful voice questions. I rip around and see a mech standing in the door frame of the workshop.
The bot had an incredibly imposing figure. Mainly due to the fact that I only reached his chest even though we were both Tank sized transformers. His blazing red eyes…I didn't want to spell it out, but I did have my suspicion as to who this was…
I get up from my workbench and gesture towards a nearby gurney. "That is correct…You here for repairs then?" I couldn't see any visible damage on his body, but I couldn't be certain when it comes to his internals.
His optics never leave me, and if I still had a face, I would be making quite the uncomfortable expression.
"You've been forced to undergo the Empurata?" He questions and his face visibly forms a grimace. I was unsure as to how to answer that…as …well, it was kinda obvious.
He moves closer and takes a look at my previous workbench before approaching it as well.
I guess he isn't actually here for treatment then. He stares at the disassembled gun on the workbench before stating, "I wanted to thank you... A good friend of mine had been damaged extensively before arriving here. Your services were…are... greatly appreciated"He holds out his hand to me. He was even kind enough to give his left hand as my right was….
I let the light of my visor dim in response, before grabbing his hand with my own, "I'm FO-03426 or…Terrorvolt as I'm called these days."
A light smile grows on his face, "I have no such… illustrious name, but I'm glad to meet another who realises the importance of a name. Serial numbers are just a means to rob us of identity and we cannot let that abide…Though I will admit, I have not made much progress in that regard... For now, I am still D-16"
While I couldn't properly show it, my flickering eye light indicates the fact that I very clearly recognize the name, "Wait a second…That 'D-16'? As in…the ideological theorist?"
His eyes widen before narrowing with a hint of annoyance, "So that is what I'm being called now? I'm just…I just wanted to share my thoughts for a greater future….In all honesty, you shouldn't put too much value into what I've written." He says before looking around the workshop once more.
I on the other hand process his words and eventually ask, "I'm guessing you've lost faith in those ideas…I don't wish to intrude. But I guess something has happened that changed things for you?"
He gives me an apprehensive look before turning away, "Peaceful protest and collaborative reform has been proven to be…Ineffective. Any dissenters have their lives ruined at best and are shot on sight at the worst. The council will have no resistance to their "sacred Taxonomy"…In all honesty, the only progress I've ever made on the matter was…achieved with satisfactory means…"
He turns back towards me before making for the door, "My stay here at the Arena is only until I…Until I know what to do."
Before he can completely leave, I quickly ask, "Before you go, do you have an idea for your name?"
He stops in his movement before lowering his head, "I've thought about it…when I spoke with other miners like us, we often spoke of the 13 primes and their legend…And the supposed golden age that we are supposedly living in. To me, they serve as a reminder of what could have been, what should have been. Among them, one stood out to me more than the others."
My singular optic widens an understanding as I finally grow certain of who was standing in front of me. "Megatron…"
He looks at me with an expression of confusion but also... Something happier. He lets out a small chuckle for saying, "His name was actually Megatronus. He was one of the original primes…I personally think the name fits, and considering your lucky guess, I believe you think the same…I think I have taken more than enough of your time now. Until I or one of my comrades end up on your gurney at least… Till all are one, Terrorvolt ."
He turns back towards the exit and leaves my workshop behind.
That… Was something else. I didn't believe in destiny… Or at least not in a good one. My fate was to die working in the mines. My actions and my choices have led me here. It was always the case that Megatron would be here in the arena of Kaon. I just… I just expected things to be different. In my mind, megaton is supposed to be this… Well, the tyrant, a monster and a dictator. Now I meet one that doesn't even want to properly engage in violence. And the fact that he was D-16 only confused me more.
In all honesty, I was just worried as to what it meant. The fact that I…Considered him a kindred spirit. His ideas, his ideals, his beliefs and his theories. They were all things that I thoroughly supported. Does that make me a bad person? Or does it just mean that the Autobots were always just a bunch of cruel hypocrites?
All these things were going through my head, and it culminated in one question. Where will I stand?
Based on my history, who I've been and what society has deemed me to be, there is only one choice really. and it is a choice but no one has the right to fault me for it.
I look towards a nearby window and see the reflection of my inhuman face stare back.
"Freedom is the right of all sentient lifeforms."
Author's note: Hello again everyone. Due to my exams coming up, I won't be publishing for quite some time. But I still want to try and write in whatever freetime I have, so I will be trying to publish some smaller chapters like this one instead.
Not much happened in this one, but things are finally ramping up with the civil war arc soon approaching.