Disclaimer: I own nothing except my OC Siren and any alterations to the original storyline plot her presence creates to various readers amusement everywhere across the globe.
Transformers One: Siren Chapter 4
True to form Darkwing's fury is truly a fearsome sight to behold in the face of his ire.
Darkwing's revenge for Orion and D-16 costing him triumph in the race is swift, uncompromising, and without mercy.
Completely ignoring Orion and D-16's protests and Sentinel's directions on where he wanted them to go, Darkwing delivers them to the lowest sublevel possible in Iacon.
Waste incineration.
Darkwing is using each hand to hold Orion and D-16 by the back of their necks as he flies them below. Siren is over Darkwing's shoulder, having been tossed there and dragged along after she'd launched herself at his back in a vain attempt to stop him from taking them. Guilty by association Darkwing has declared she'd share in their unified punishment.
Darkling takes the trio to the deepest and darkest sublevel at the end of the line.
Sublevel 50.
As soon as they get there Darkwing tosses all three of them into the cramped chamber.
D-16 and Orion land harshly on their stomachs and Siren on their backs.
Frantically whipping around, D-16 said "Wait, wait, you don't understand. We were supposed to go to Sentinel Prime's service pod!"
"You two dolts aren't going to see anyone ever again! I'll make sure of that," snarled Darkwing.
"Wait, Darkwing! If you want to punish us, go ahead, but let Siren leave. She hasn't done anything wrong," appealed Orion.
Technically, Orion is correct. Siren hadn't committed any infractions against Darkwing so she shouldn't be stuck in this situation with them.
"She tried to save you! That's reason enough," growled Darkwing.
Activating his thrusters, Darkwing shoots out of there in a way they couldn't follow.
"You're making a mistake! Ask Sentinel," begged D-16.
D-16's pleas when unheeded and unheard as the doors slam shut with an ominous resounding boom.
"Well, that happened," said Orion, dryly, slumping backward. "I really hate that guy."
Siren buried her face into her servos, spark sinking, a devasted sob escaping her lips as D-16 wrapped an arm around her shoulders with a grim frown on his own as he tried to console her.
By Primus's grace, Siren was finally going to be allowed to sing to her sparks desire and now it was all stolen away from her at Darkwing's whim.
Orion cast a remorseful glance at Siren. He can't help but feel he's solely responsible for this predicament, it gnaws fiercely at his spark. This demotion was meant for him and D-16, and she got dragged along with it.
All three of them are pulled out of their wallowing stupor when they hear crashing from behind them.
Various pieces of garbage are deposited from a chute in the ceiling onto a conveyor belt and into a broiling incinerator. Peering through the grates, they see, on one side on the far right, a lone mech wearing a visor helmet, carefully monitoring each piece of scrap metal rolling by.
Sensing potential danger, the trio keep low as they crawl closer in order to get a better look and understanding of who they're dealing with.
Orion and D-16 take the lead with Siren shielded behind their broad shoulders, keeping a hand on D-16's back at the rear.
Their presence wasn't kept under wraps for very long.
Noticing them the mystery mech's head slowly turns in their reaction. It does a doubletake and stares at them without reacting for a few seconds.
And then…
Suddenly, the bot aggressively charges at them, forcing D-16 and Orion to hastily scramble away until they hit the back wall. Siren shrieks, shutting her eyes and clutching D-16's arm as they form a protective barrier over her.
"You! How did you get down here?! There's no access to this level! There's nobody here but me! No one…No one…," said the mystery bot, speaking in a booming and echoing voice. The visor on the helmet snapped up revealing the face of a young and energetic bot. Hopping up and down in overexcited disbelief at the same time, laughing boisterously. "You're real! You're others! You're not me! You're here! And you're not me!"
Awkwardly, Orion said "Uh…yeah."
"Awesome," yelled the mystery mech.
This startles all three of them.
Reining it in a little, the mystery bot said "I am so sorry. That must've been weird for you. I just haven't had a lot of company since they moved me down here to sublevel 50."
Wait a minute, sublevel 50?
"50," said D-16. "But there are only 40 sublevels."
"That's what I thought," said the mystery bot. "Turns out there are 10 more and they are not pleasant. Probably why nobody ever really talks about them."
"How long have you been down here," asked Orion, sympathetically.
"How long have I been here? Somewhere between a long time and forever," said the mystery bot.
"What," exclaimed Siren.
"It's okay. I mean, I had other jobs, but I kept getting reassigned because I'm so good at what I do," said the mystery bot, emphasizing the last part.
More like he was so bad at what he did that he was assigned to this sector where he couldn't make any mistakes or annoy anyone with his chatter where it matters.
"Oh, I'm B-127, by the way. But you can call me B. I'm actually working on some nicknames. The one I'm floating on right now is 'Badassatron'," said B-127, deepening his voice humorously. "But if you have any critiques-."
Siren had to hold in a laugh at how ridiculous it sounded.
This B-127 is very weird. Funny and very chill with a refreshing attitude yet weird.
Interjecting, D-16 said "Great, great. How do we get out of here?"
"Great question. You don't," said B-127.
Stunned, D-16 said "We don't?"
"Nope. We have limited access to the waste management area, but the new shift manager does not like distractions. No, they prefer we stay here on the task at hand," informed B-127.
"Which is," pressed Orion.
"Oh, the scrap comes in from the chute there onto the conveyor belt. Our job is to look for anything that might be worth salvaging before it hits the furnace and gets smelted," said B-127, grinning.
Slowly, D-16 said "So, you watch garbage burn?"
Nodding, B-127 said "Yes. It is so great that you're here now. I can't wait to learn everything about you and then tell you everything about me. I have a lot of hopes and dreams that I am just dying to share with two or three new best friends."
Siren can get where he's coming from. Being down here for who knows how long probably had him longing for the company of any kind. So, it's understandable he'd be a little bit happy to see new faces.
Remembering himself, B-127 sees fit to introduce Orion, D-16, and Siren to the rest of the smelting crew. He pushes open a side door leading into a neighboring room and reveals.
Three sculptures were made from trash that somewhat resembled bots.
Beings that B-127 crafted himself so that he'd have someone to talk to down there.
Siren pities him even more.
Things are looking even more bleak as Orion, D-16, and Siren don't know how to take that.
Just by chance one of the pieces from B-127's makeshift friend is an old, discarded beacon.
As soon as it hits the table it activates and what's revealed on it is truly priceless.
It carries an urgent SOS message from Alpha Trion. One of the legendary Primes is said to have perished at the end of the great Quintesson War. Alpha Trion's final act appeared to be calling for immediate assistance from the High Guard and sending coordinates to his location. The line had cut off right after that, leaving nothing else.
For Orion, this is the breakthrough he'd been searching for to locate and retrieve the lost Matrix of Leadership.
And a second chance to show all out there that they are far more than what others tell them to be.
D-16 is initially against this. Not only is the surface perilous for a reason, but he doesn't want to get into further trouble that'll make things worse for them.
Secretly when he means worse, he speaks in regard for Siren.
Siren was already brought down to her knees distraught after the most recent downturn of events and the last thing he wants is for her to be in even more pain from a breakdown like that again.
D-16 is determined to remain there, convinced Sentinel will come searching for them once he learns they aren't where he intended for them to go.
Orion understands D-16's meaning more than anyone else, but he can't just let this go.
So, he gives D-16 a little push.
Orion brings up the fact that they'd have to stay around B-127 and his endless prattling, which is already driving D-16 crazy, forever. And what Sentinel's reaction would be if D-16 is the one to personally present his idol with the Matrix of Leadership?
Those factors are what D-16 is in, and he quickly switches gears.
Orion's flawless use of reverse psychology worked perfectly, like a charm.
And there's no way in hell they're leaving Siren behind in this desolate place so she's coming along for the ride, too.
B-127 ends up being inadvertently conscripted into breaking them out and taking them to the surface.
B-127 informs them that there is a way, but it's not going to be pleasant.
Yeah, no kidding.
Basically, the plan is to climb all the way up the garbage chute through all 50 sublevels.
Apparently, there's no other way out.
The line begins with B-127, then Siren, D-16, and Orion at the back.
As they start the climb a boatload of trash comes through directly onto them.
"Gross," said Siren, shuddering from so much garbage falling onto her.
"Why is there so much trash," spat D-16, disgusted.
Gagging, spitting out specks of garbage that accidentally dropped into his mouth, Orion said "Warn me next time. My mouth was open."
Keeping a positive attitude, B-127 said "Only 49 sublevels to go."
All of this does have a purpose.
B-127 sneaks them to the cargo trains that transport garbage to the surface for disposal. The trains are autonomous so once they're onboard then there's no risk of anyone catching them until they get to the surface layer.
A sound plan except for an unexpected hitch.
None of them had been expecting to encounter Elita-1 during this very foremost unsanctioned excursion outside protocol.
The five of them conceal themselves amongst the crates, keeping as quiet and still as possible until Elita-1 departs.
Just as it seems like Elita-1 is about to leave on her own a complication arises to snag them.
Elita-1 spots the partially open hatch they slipped in through. In an instant, Elita-1 knows there are intruders here. Intruders that don't belong in this place. She shows great pleasure upon the prospect of turning all of them in and being promoted back up the chain a little.
When her back is turned toward him, D-16 charges Elita-1 to take her out. She knocks him flat and B-127 comes out to try and talk her down without success. He receives a brutal knee to the chest for his attempt. Orion's turn is next and he doesn't fare any better than the first two.
Orion gets a well-deserved and longtime coming punch to the face.
The jig is up. No use hiding now.
After Elita-1 took out Orion everyone else emerged from the woodwork to subdue Elita-1.
Spotting Siren, gapping, admonishingly, Elita-1 exclaimed "You, too, Siren!"
Recoiling at the accusation in Elita-1's tone, Siren said "I'm sorry."
Elita-1 rushes to alert security and sound the alarm, but the automatic doors on the train slam shut before she can.
That's what Elita-1 gets for engaging the lockdown system before confirming everything was situated and ready.
Elita-1's not tolerating any of this. She led them on a merry chase through the length of the cargo train, weaving in and out of the magnetized crates until she reached an open hatch where she could escape to the outside on her way to the engine to turn it around.
But Orion, D-16, Siren, and B-127 wouldn't give up. Even when the train went completely vertical they kept after Elita-1.
Although when they left the relative security from into the train cars Siren did get a touch woozy when she saw how high up they were. Sure, Siren used jetpacks, but she'd never once gone to such levels before. At one such point, Siren almost lost her grip and would've tumbled if D-16 hadn't had the sense to steady her in time.
"Thank you," said Siren, shakily.
"Hold on," said D-16, swinging Siren onto his back.
Siren wraps her legs around his waist, arms around his neck, and face pressed against his shoulder.
Good thing for D-16 that Siren wasn't facing him right now or else she would've seen the flaming red sheen to his face.
Siren did just that with one hand on his back the entire climb.
Orion manages to catch up to Elita-1 as soon as the train breaches the surface. He refuses to be thwarted in this endeavor and grabs ahold of Elita-1's leg to keep her in place.
In order to get him to release, Elita-1 goes to punch Orion off of her and suddenly stops.
What stops Elita-1 in her tracks is the same thing that catches everyone else.
They've reached Cybertron's surface, and, by Primus, it is beautiful.
The stars sparkling in the sky, the sun shining over the horizon, the radiant aurora borealis, and the breathtaking landscape reforming all around them.
"Ah, the surface," whispered D-16.
"I am…speechless," gasped B-127.
Must've been such a first for the young bot.
"It's…beautiful," breathed Siren, awestruck, so overcome by the bewitching beauty surrounding her that tears glisten in her optics.
Unlike down in the mines none of this is superficial and make-believe.
It's all real.
Speaking in a softness that Siren had never heard from him before, D-16 said "Like you."
Siren's cheeks flush and she averts her gaze, the corners of her lips upturning in a small smile.
D-16 gingerly takes her hand and intertwines his fingers with hers. Siren doesn't pull away, spark fluttering in her chassis.
"Awe," gushed B-127, noticing how sweet they are, optics wide and innocent.
Completely unnecessary.
D-16 goes to cuff B-127 upside on the back of the head, but the smaller bot dodges.
Seeing he only has a small window to plead their case to Elita-1, Orion shows her the map and their purpose to find where presumably the Matrix of Leadership behind it. He relayed to her everything, not leaving out a single detail.
Elita-1 finds everything Orion is saying to be irrelevant, refusing to go along with what he allegedly believes as she assesses all this brought to the forefront. Given all the trouble Orion in particular has caused her in the past she doesn't want to believe that anything he tells her has any viable merit.
Shaking her head, Elita-1 said "No, no, no, no. I'm not going to get demoted again because of you. I'm turning this rig around and notifying the proper authorities."
While Orion is working to persuade Elit-1 that this is a good plan, D-16 turns his attention over to a distracted Siren.
"How are you with all this," inquired D-16.
Siren smiled, and her optics lit up nearly as bright as the stars and aurora borealis glimmering in the sky.
Wistfully, marveling in astonished marvelment at all around them, Siren said "For so long, I've only dreamed what the surface would like. To see real stars and everything out there the surface has to offer."
"Well, now you do," said D-16, softly. "That's one of your wishes you can check off the list now."
Lightly giggling, Siren wraps her arms around him in a hug and D-16 puts one around her slim shoulders.
Their joy is cut short by B-127.
Warily, gesturing behind them, noticing it first, B-127 said "Hey, guys, guys, what is that?"
Behind them, a massive wave of ever-growing rock formations is heading their way at rapid speeds.
Squinting her optics, Elita-1 said "Or closer?"
B-127 makes a break for the door at the front of the train. Easily figuring out that it's safer inside than out. Reaching the same conclusion, the rest bolt.
Unfortunately, sensors catch the oncoming danger on radar the door inside automatically shuts to protect the cargo.
Locking all five of them out.
Frantically, they tug at it in every which way they can, but it won't budge an inch.
"Oh, now I know why no one comes to the surface," said D-16, eyes wide.
The train's mechanical systems try to outmaneuver the oncoming wave, but it is no use. The wave soon overtakes them.
The five of them struggle to hang on to no avail.
The impact from the wave onto the train sent all five of them screaming, hurdling into the air limbs flailing desperately as they tried to catch themselves.
The actual fall and landing were not pleasant on any level.
Siren was lucky enough for D-16 to catch and lessen the impact on her.
The others aren't so lucky.
B-127 plunges headfirst into the ground with his waist and backend sticking out and Elita-1 is briefly knocked unconscious.
Orion scrambles to check on Elita-1 and D-16 and Siren goes to pull B-127 out of the hole.
"Help! Can someone get me out of here, please," said B-127, voice muffled in the terrain.
"Ha. Ha. Serves you right," chuckled Siren, amused.
Siren grabs one leg and D-16 the other.
Elita-1 comes to and punches Orion hard in the face much to his chagrin.
Orion's been punched a lot lately.
Elita-1 quickly searches for the cargo train, their only means of getting back to Iacon safely.
It's heading away from them in the opposite direction.
All remaining semblance of calm control for Elita-1 vanished.
Elita-1 belts out an enraged scream so powerful it travels for miles over the surface. Her tantrum, while justified, is worse than the one Siren had on the racetrack. Elita-1 swears and shouts obscenities that Siren didn't think she knew.
Orion goes to try and cool Elita-1 down, but Siren doesn't think that's a good idea. Not in the furious state, Elita-1 is currently in.
As clever as Orion is he doesn't know the meaning of the word "tact".
Placing a restraining hand on Orion's arm, Siren said "Let me talk to Elita-1. If you go over there right now, then you'll end up dead."
"Siren's right. Right now, in Elita-1's eyes, you're incorrigible. Elita-1 is so angry at you right now she'll tear out your spark," agreed D-16, knowingly.
Orion wisely lets Siren take over from here. Be aware that cooler heads will prevail.
Siren cautiously approaches Elita-1 where she's maliciously taking out her frustration on some nearby rock, punching it over and over again.
Siren strongly suspects Elita-1 is probably imagining it as Orion's face. She wouldn't blame her either.
"Elita-1," said Siren, calmly.
"What," snapped Elita-1, breathing heavily.
"I know this looks bad, but what Orion told you isn't false. The Matrix of Leadership might be there and if it is then the energon can be restored. The meager supply available isn't going to last forever and when that's gone there'll be nothing left. Elita…this could save everyone," said Siren, the sincerity in her face and voice bore testimony to her feelings on the matter.
Elita-1 doesn't speak, merely throwing another infuriated punch into the rock.
Elita-1 just needs to be inspired to be bothered to take the leap.
"Elita-1, please, I know you've followed rules all your life. I have, too, and it's difficult to break away from that, but there are some cases like this one where it is okay," argued Siren.
"There's a code that I believe in," said Elita-1, stubbornly.
"But every choice you're going to find, even this one, has some shades of gray," said Siren.
"There are rules for a reason," insisted Elita-1.
"But there's some good here that even you cannot deny," said Siren.
"Like," challenged Elita-1, doubtfully.
"If you're good then things will come to you and finding the Matrix will bring about gigantic amounts of good karma your way," said Siren.
"My demotion and being treated as nothing shows me that's not true," said Elita-1.
"That's not fair," grimaced Siren, flinching at the reminder.
"But that's how it's going with me. You're a nice girl, but your naivety is showing," said Elita-1, flatly.
Siren purses her lips into a pout, puffing out her cheeks cutely, and solemnly sighs.
"Elita-1, you'll never know until you give it a try," said Siren.
Elita-1 wonders just how far this should be taken. If she should compromise on her ideals on a mission where success is slim to none. If breaking all rules of protocol really is worth it in the long run. Should she cross that line?
Siren can't stand by and do nothing, not when everything might be riding on this. Her spark tells her that this is the right path to take. Worth the risks. If her spark tells her it's right like it is now then nothing would stop her from saving a life.
Glancing back the way they came, Elita-1 can't help but think about what Siren mentioned to her and the implications behind her words. Yes, the energon supply is already thin enough as it is. Sooner or later, it's going to run out and when it does, they're all lost no matter what station they're at.
If they do somehow, against all odds, find the Matrix of Leadership and restore the lost energon to its proper place then there would be no need to mine anymore. No other bots would be lost to the hazards that come with working deep underground. And the threat of starvation would be out the door.
She'd be saving so many lives.
Not only that, but as a reward for her hard work and heroism then more doors would be open to her as options for good positions up the chain.
Elita-1 can no longer deny the logical sense behind that.
Closely watching Elita-1's change of expression, Siren smiles as she sees her efforts in convincing her this is paying off.
"Alright," said Siren, clasping her hands together in prayer to Primus, looking at Elita-1 hopefully.
Nodding resolutely, grudgingly conceding, Elita-1 said "Alright."
"Yes," said Siren, raising triumphant fists in the air and bouncing up and down on her heels happily.
D-16, Orion, and B-127 are observing all of this from a safe distance.
"Huh," said Orion, smiling in satisfaction. "Looks like Elita-1's joining us after all."
D-16 hums under his breath, crossing his arms skeptically.
Pumping a fist in the air, cheerfully, B-127 said "Alright! Fantastic! Another new friend to add to the team!"
Their conversation was done and over with, Elita-1 and Siren had back over to the boys.
Meeting them halfway, patting a hand on Siren's shoulder in appreciation of her efforts, Orion commended "Nice. Job. Thank you."
Cheekily bashful, Siren said, "It was nothing."
Continuing onto Elita-1, holding out his hand in a peace offering, Orion said "Glad to have you on the team, Elita-1." He then brings up the map, pointing at a specific spot. "This is us and if we follow the path to-."
Yeah, Orion may be pushing things a little too far by acting all friendly as if nothing has changed here.
Not in the mood, punching him in the shoulder and claiming the map from his wrist, bitterly vehement, leaving no room for him to object, Elita-1 said "Now, you listen to me, Mr. Zero Seconds since my last accident. I'll go on your little quest because I don't have a choice. But I carry the map, I navigate, and if this leads to nothing, then I'm dragging you and those other two idiot go-bots back to Iacon City, into the first supervisor depot we see. At which point you will explain everything that's happened using words that reflect me in a very positive light. Got it!"
Instinctively balking in a visible cringe, hastily nodding his head in apparent compliance, Orion said "Yeah, okay. Deal. All right." He then becomes curious about something. "Wait a minute you said the other two. What about Siren? You didn't mention her?"
"Unlike the rest of you, Siren's never caused me any problems," said Elita-1, teeth gritted.
"Makes sense," said Orion.
With a huff, Elita-1 switches on the map and starts heading off in the direction it indicates where they should go.
"Let's go," she said.
The other four obediently follow Elita-1's lead.
Subtly leaning closer to Orion, speaking quietly as they walk, Siren advised "You might not want to do anything to irritate her on this trip."
Something he always did effortlessly down in the mines on a regular basis.
"Got it," said Orion, acknowledging the danger of him getting killed at Elita-1's hand.
B-127 eagerly makes an official introduction to Elita-1 in earnest.
Meanwhile, this leaves Orion, D-16, and Siren trailing behind at the rear.
Exactly how they like it.
Shaking off the effects of Elita-1's anger toward him, speaking directly to D-16, Orion said "Hey, you're thinking about what you'll say to Sentinel when you hand him the Matrix, aren't you."
Faceplates breaking out in a broad grin, D-16 cackled "I can't help it."
"D, we're really doing this," said Orion, mirroring D-16's grin with one of his own equally as big.
Warmly clapping a hand on Orion's shoulder, D-16 said "So glad I'm out here with you. This was a great idea."
Returning the gesture, Orion shakes D-16's shoulder unable to contain his exhilarated joviality.
They're back on track. On their way.
Authors Note:
The song that would've been here is Get Your Hands Dirty from the movie Descendants 4: Rise of Red with some changes here and there to better fit in with our girl. Siren would've used it to convince Elita-1 to join up with them. If you haven't watched Descendants 4: Rise of Red yet then you should. It is beyond exceptional.
I hope you all like this one! I certainly did while writing it for your vast enjoyment! ;D
For those of you just starting out with my stuff there are other works on my profile that may catch your interest. I highly recommend you take a look as soon as the opportunity presents itself to you. Who knows, you may be pleasantly surprised by what you discover.
Stay safe everyone. Especially with all of these crazy natural disasters occurring a lot lately due to global warming and climate change everywhere for sure. I swear it's like they're getting worse and worse all the time and it's like officials are simply just ignoring it or pretending it doesn't exist entirely just to go on with their daily lives. Especially those in multi-million dollar companies that rely on certain elements of our planet that we rely on to naturally keep us safe instead of adapting and finding new safer ways to keep in business. There are so many options out there where they can adapt, but they just refuse to see it because all they care about is money. Climate change is altering so much faster than anyone can really keep track of.
So, in light of all this, it is important to live life to the fullest as much as anyone can.
I know I am. ;) See you guys next time.
