Transformers: War for Survival
Summary:
With the Allspark Launched into space, the Autobots presumed dead, and Cybertron withering away, the Decepticons have no choice but to leave their home in search of a new one. As the 'cons drift hopelessly through space, Starscream encounters the many consequences of his treachery, taking them with as much stride as a bot can, and inadvertently becoming a beacon of hope. As tensions rise aboard the ship and supernatural events disrupt the balance of power, Starscream must confront his past and embrace his true place in the universe.
Continuity and Context:
This version of Transformers does not take place within a specific continuity, but takes inspiration from many different shows and movies. As a vague reference for the timeline, the main part of this story takes place between the events of the beginning of War on Cybertron and the Decepticons' arrival on Earth. Prior to joining the Decepticons, Starscream, Soundwave, Shockwave's backstory is based on what we see of them in Transformers One and partially of their individual backstories from the IDW continuity. Megatron and Optimus' backstory is a mix of Transformers One and IDW continuity. Basically, cut Bumblebee out of the movie and add in Megatron being a gladiator in "robot fight club" after working hours (this is what he's up to while Orion is busy breaking into libraries).
Without further adieu, please enjoy chapter one of Transformers: War for Survival
Transformers: War for Survival
Prologue:
In an effort to stop Megatron from using the Allspark to reprogram Autobots to be loyal Decepticons against their genuine will, Optimus Prime and the Autobots launched the Allspark through a portal and into the vastness of space. Without its core, the planet Cybertron became a barren wasteland, and soon all of its resources were drained. The Autobots followed the Allspark in their ship, and are presumed to be dead due to the questionable stability of the space bridge. With no other choice if they want to survive, Megatron pooled his resources and built an ark to take what remained of the Cybertronian race off- world in the hopes of either finding the Allspark or finding a new home with plentiful energon.
Chapter 1: The Nemesis
The arena was silent. Standing in the center, where great warriors had once stood, he couldn't even feel the echoes of the past pierce his spark. Though this place had a rich history; had seen slavery, gladiators, war, and rallies of unimaginable attendance and vigor, now it witnessed nothing. Not victory nor defeat, but something that the bot had not wanted to confront. The only other option that neither side of the war had hoped for. Even though their adversaries were long dead, the Decepticons had not been victorious. With the Allspark- the beginning and the end for all Cybertronians- launched into space, there was no life to live and there was no death to hope for here on this desolate rock their race so desperately clung to. There was absolutely nothing left, and that terrified the seeker much more than losing ever could.
"Lord Megatron. I- I suggest we use our limited resources to begin searching for Energon deeper than the pre existing mines."
"Starscream!"
Megatron whipped his head around and glared menacingly over his shoulder at his tense commander.
"I will NOT return to those dastardly mines. I refuse to go back to how things were, toiling away… endlessly… pointlessly." Megatron returned his gaze to the dark stands. Only one so close to him could hear the solemnity seep into his usually commanding voice. "There is nothing left here, and the only solution is to recover the Allspark and restore our planet before it is too late. Optimus Prime has fallen, but in death, he reaches out to drag us down with him. He has killed our world, and now, we must save it…at any cost."
He took a deep breath. Then, he clicked a button on the remote in his hand that Starscream had not noticed. The arena lit up one final time.
When one is alone, it is not uncommon to feel watched, however illogical. Despite the dark, empty space, this natural phenomenon had strangely not occurred. But one small click of a button revealed to Starscream why he had felt so unsettled in the absence of it. They had not been alone.
Lightning arced through the sky illuminating incarcerated bots, decrepit and near deactivation. This arena, which had once sported passionate speeches of freedom and justice, was now a prison. An atrocious sight Starscream had not seen since the war against the Quintessons. He adjusted his optics to see who these poor sparks were and recoiled. He scanned face after silently screaming horrified face and fell to his knees. Loyal Decepticons- all of them. Some who had worked under him and beside him, some who he knew the names of, others he had seen in passing. Cyan energy moved through thousands of wires embedded in the slaves' chests. And all Starscream could do was freeze and watch as their life force was drained away, leaving behind corpses as dead as their planet.
In the chaos, he swiveled his head between Shockwave and Soundwave. Once, they had been partners and near equals. But now, more than ever, it was apparent that things really had changed after all this time. Shockwave stood there, not a hint of emotion or concern written anywhere. Not in their body language, not in their face, not even in their spark. They were unaffected. Shockwave had eliminated their emotions several cycles ago, but it was only now that Starscream really truly believed his old ally was gone. Soundwave shifted his weight from one leg to the other. If he felt anything, he did not announce it.
Out of surprise and horror, disgust and rage emerged. Megatron had kept this from the only one in his consul that would dare call him out. Draining bots of their energon for the sake of a greater purpose, one they would never benefit from, one they'd be doomed to die for. How was that any different from the slavery most Decepticons had yearned to escape from? And before he could stop himself, he jumped at Megatron's shoulder, forcing the bot to turn around. Then, the seeker lifted the former gladiator off the ground. Megatron did not struggle against the seeker, and if he had not been dangling above the ground, he would appear as the warrior he had once been, arm raised up surrounded by the corpses he had made.
"Murderer! Hypocrite! You vile piece of scrap! Turn around and face me! Have you forgotten who you are; what you've spent your life fighting for? Their lives were not yours to take! They were yours to lead, to empower, to enrich! And here you are stealing from them all they have left."
Starscream's shrieks echoed around the now, truly, empty arena. All eyes were on him.
"I can't believe this." Tears welled up in the seeker's eyes, and he went from seeing red to seeing blurry nothingness. "Leaders must face hard decisions, but this has crossed a line. You're no better than the ones you have claimed to liberate us from. WHAT could be so important that you would slaughter our people? This is an abomination!"
Megatron allowed the end of Starscream's spiel echo off the walls before tiredly replying. "I took from them only what this world would. Their pain lasted mere moments instead much longer, and their sparks will live on as the fuel for the Nemesis, a great arc that will take us to a new home or to the Allspark- whichever may come first. It had to be done. We would all perish otherwise. These brave soldiers have given themselves for our cause in our battle for survival. Do not belittle them by calling their sacrifice an abomination."
Starscream's grip on the bot tightened to its fullest extent and then released. Megatron dropped from the height, dust exploding into the air, and through the murkiness, invigorated red eyes pierced Starscream who remained hovering in the air, coming out of his anger. Fighting would not bring those people back, it would only invite Starscream to join them wherever they went after death now that the Allspark was missing. There was a beat of silence.
"Starscream… Shall I consider this your final act of mutiny?"
Every part of Starscream's body told him to surrender or to run, but his mind raced through every decision of Megatrons as of late. He compared this Megatron to the one he had met so long ago in their campaign against Sentinel. This was not what he had signed up for- likely the same thought held by those Decepticons now drained of their life force. He stared at the stands, now full of pale ghosts staring back at him with empty eyes- the others didn't seem to see them. But for Starscream, they lit up the dark arena, blinding him with rage. So, instead of answering yes or no, the ghosts tore a declaration from his mouth.
"Megatron. You were once a liberator, a champion of the people, and I respected you. But now, the only way you free your followers is through their deaths. You have failed us all and you would rather kill us than admit that you are not fit to lead. I don't see any honor in doing battle with you as you are now, so I officially challenge you as the bot you were so many years ago. Let us battle each other as gladiators… over the leadership of the Decepticons."
The guttural ghostly rage died down and Starscream finally noticed the echoing and whirring of engines he had not heard in cycles. He spared a glance upward from where he floated to see the Nemesis hovering above, fully powered and the same color as the ghosts.
The red eyes below blinked away for a moment, thinking, and then reappeared. Out of the dust cloud perpetuated by the ship looming in the distance came a voice that gave a surprising answer. The bot below opened his mouth not to berate Starscream for his treachery, but to accept his challenge.