No one said it aloud, but some believed the Ark was cursed.
The purpose of the enormous red space vessel had always been clear: get the Autobots and their allies away from danger and toward safety. But it never seemed to accomplish that goal without a battle on its hull.
When the Decepticons took control of Cybertron, the Autobots used the Ark to try to find refuge. They were attacked outside the planet's atmosphere, but they managed to use the Spacebridge to escape.
They had made it to Earth, where things worked for a time. The human species was a faulty and unpredictable one, but they proved to be great allies once a pact was made.
The alliance had been beneficial for both sides. The Autobots were able to acquire more resources and hide from pursuing Decepticon forces. And humans were able to use Cybertronian technology to advance themselves, jumping decades into the future.
However, the alliance was strained after the humans abused the technology.
And it was laid to waste when the core of the Earth exploded.
The last pockets of humanity were spread across small colonies on distant worlds. The ones allied with the Autobots stayed with them on the Ark, alongside the drones who continued to serve them.
On days like this, they regretted the choice they made.
"Seekers!"
"Find Cover!"
Ratchet and Wheeljack, two veteran Autobots, had been performing maintenance on the outside of the ship's hull. And they were the first to notice the small wave of Decepticon forces heading toward the ship.
They had become so common that they were easy to spot.
Both veterans quickly climbed up from the hull and crouched behind crates for defense. That was when the seekers started firing.
There were four today. A week ago, there were three. Blitzwing, Thundercracker, Ramjet, and Slipstream were in force today.
"We have our orders Seekers!" Thundercracker's voice boomed from his jet form. "Kill anyone you see, and break anything you can!"
They aimed for anything that would take long to fix. Windows that kept areas hospitable. Shields that protected the engines. And if they were able to find them, they would fire on the turbines that kept the ship moving.
"Autobots, defend the Ark!"
Ratchet and Wheeljack recognized the voice of their leader and quickly activated their blaster weapons. Ratchet was more skilled as a mechanic and healer, but he would fight to protect the ship.
Slipstream was the Seeker about to fly closest to them, so the two of them focused on him. Wheeljack waited for Ratchet's signal, and then they opened fire.
The seeker scattered, making it harder for any of the Bots to get a solid hit. But more Autobots began to spill to the outside of the Ark, making it harder for the flyers to fly securely. They had more combatants to fire at them.
Arcee and Cliffjumper were the first to roll out. The blue motorcycle and red stubby car raced on the track of the Ark, their guns out and firing at the Cons above them. The fact that they moved around so much meant that none of the seekers could get a good target.
Ironhide was the next bot to drive out. The black-and-red pick-up truck transformed as soon as he was out, blasters out and firing at the cons. They made sure to stay clear of him.
Finally, the last Autobot on the Ark stepped out to battle. Unlike the rest, he walked slowly and with purpose. His right hand held a firm grip on his energon rifle, which he aimed at the stars.
As one of the seekers, Blitzwing, approached the star in his optics, he fired.
"AAAHHH!"
Blitzwing wasn't downed, but the shot had left a sizable burning hole in his wing. And that would hurt for a while.
And it was a sign that the Autobots were not helpless. They would defend the Ark.
"Autobots! Drive back the Decepticons Seekers! Defend the Ark and its inhabitants!"
Wordlessly, the soldiers followed the command of Optimus Prime. Anytime a seeker got too close, they learned once again how dangerous an Autobot could be when Prime motivated them.
As the two sides continued their conflict, Ironhide was the one who noticed something small. Something dark blue and purple, with wings quietly carrying it past the seekers.
And into the door for the Ark.
"I saw something fly past us, Prahm!" Ironhide said in his rough, accented-by-damage voice. "Thinkin' what aah'm thinkin'?"
"If the Decepticons intend to damage our operations, they would certainly send him to attack the worker drones below," Optimus confirmed.
"It's a good thing we got our own guy to protect them, isn't it?"
As the battle above raged, Optimus hoped their ally in the lower levels would be enough.
Not once did D regret bowing before Megatron. It was the best choice he made in his life. Doing it gained the ire of his former boss, but he didn't care. It was a choice that gained him power. His new body was proof of that, being a dark blue hue and much stronger than his white brethren. His purple eyes gave him more forms of vision in his optics. Only scratching the surface of the power he was promised.
And all it would cost is the lives of a few insignificant pests.
The ark was massive. It was designed to house not just Autobot traitors, but also all the human and drone survivors that they got off Earth. But it was also an organized vessel. One that had clear directions and signs for where everything went.
Including a rather obvious sign for where the worker drones were kept.
"Time to feed."
The door protecting the drones was thick, but not impervious. A few well-aimed missiles were all it took to get rid of the hinges. And once the door was opened, it was like having a feast spread out before his eyes.
The evacuation zone for the worker drones was a sparse and gray room for several dozen machines. All of them had shirts with the Autobot insignia to show their loyalty, and none of them would be able to fight him.
They all looked so pathetic compared to the bots fighting to protect them. As small as children with noodle limbs and weak systems. The only thing they would be good for is feeding him.
"No! Leave us alone!"
One of the drones, braver than the rest, picked up and lead pipe and tried to intimidate D.
"Go away! We've done nothing to you."
D almost had respect for the old drone. His visor was sagged and he had a fake mustache, so he was probably someone's father. Which was good. Killing him would lower morale.
"That's the problem. You're supposed to give me my oil to feed."
With blinding speed, D ripped the pipe out of the old drone's hand and smacked him across the face with it. He had hoped to stick the metal tube into his head for a quick kill.
But that was when he showed up to kill the mood.
"That's enough D."
Groaning aloud, D turned around to face the bot he hated calling a rival. The only equal he had that should have died a long time ago.
"Always have to show up to ruin my meals, don't you AZ?"
AZ-5 was a drone that could have been so much more. Especially since his resurrection thanks to the Allspark.
He was as tall as a regular disassembly drone and much sturdier. His entire body was red and white armor that put him on par and sometimes above the best agents of the Absolute Solver.
But luckily for D, he had left the Solver's service to follow a greater master.
"You could have been useful to the Decepticons. But I'm certain Megatron will reward me when I bring the hybrid to him."
The glowing orange visor that served as AZ's eye betrayed no fear. He had an annoying habit of staying calm.
"You could have been better too D. But I won't let your wasted potential kill those people."
Sighing, D already knew what was coming. It had happened too many times before. So he gave one last look to the worker drones.
"I'll be right back. Stay tasty."
He unfurled his wings. And the blue-and-purple disassembler flew right at AZ.
This wasn't new to AZ. His only reaction was summoning his red face mask.
D crashed into AZ, hoping to force his back against the nearest wall. But AZ countered the attack, grabbing D by his fake hair and using the momentum to smash D's face against the wall.
His visor was cracked and some oil spilled out, but it was never enough to deter D. All he did in response was unsheath his arm blades and swing at AZ.
The Autobot hybrid dodged the attack, unleashing his own energon arm blades to retaliate. The hallway was soon filled with the sounds of clashing blades.
"Run!" AZ ordered as he locked blades with D and pinned him against the wall. "I'll hold him back. All you go to the other room!"
The workers didn't need to be told twice, immediately flocking to get out of the compromised panic room. A few stopped to thank AZ, but he hurriedly got them moving.
"Why do you keep trying to save them?" D asked as he struggled against AZ's strength. "They're pathetic and weak-minded machines. You could rule over them yourself."
"Freedom is their right. Not that I expect you to understand."
D finally pushed AZ off, but that didn't stagger the red drone. He retracted his blades and shifted his hands into blaster mode. He held them both up and started firing at D.
Knowing that his body wouldn't last long against a barrage of energon blasts, D unfurled his wings and dodged the attacks. But AZ could be relentless when he had to, so he used his foot thrusters to follow D.
"Have you never thought about it AZ? You've defeated dozens of Disassemblers. You have power over the drones even the humans can't possess. Why limit yourself when Primus made you so much more?"
"Since when are you religious?"
"Since I learned of a creator that does exist. One whose blessing you stole from me."
D retracted his arms and unleashed his launchers. But instead of aiming the missiles at AZ, he aimed his arms at the ceiling.
"They sent me here to feed. And I intend to fill up."
Too late, AZ realized what D was planning. And he couldn't rocket over in time.
D fired missiles that caused the ceiling to collapse. The debris blocked AZ from reaching his enemy. But not from hearing him.
"You can only hide the snacks in so many rooms. I'll find them soon."
AZ-5 could hear the disassembler fly away with his wings. But he couldn't stop him.
He had to catch up and keep him away from the workers. He knew a shortcut to the secondary evacuation room, but he'd never make it on foot. So he had to do something that no other Earth-born drone was able to do.
He transformed.
His body contorted and shifted until he was in his alt mode: a red-and-white aerial drone flying with four propellers. And more importantly, with a propulsor that helped him zip across the ark with the necessary speed.
For AZ, the transformation had not been comfortable at first. Unlike the rest of the Autobots, he had not been born with the ability to change his form at a moment's notice. It had taken him weeks of practice before he could do it as easily as blinking. Now it was something he didn't even think about doing.
The same couldn't be said for his other alt mode, but he rarely used it. And he didn't need it now.
Flying through corridors, AZ used the ventilation shafts to take a shortcut to the secondary evac spot. Shifting his form so a gun muzzle would come out, AZ shot out the vent cover to find the drones.
He got there just as D had gotten above the workers. But he didn't arrive in time to stop him from getting two workers.
"Lunch time."
D swooped and got a green-eyed worker first by using his claws to slice off his head. Another one had been running nearby, and D used his tail to stab him in the face. Ripping that head off as well.
Once he had the two kills, D lifted their lifeless heads and let their oil flow from their severed necks. He gulped down each drop of oil.
"NO!"
AZ fired a missile from one of his drone compartments, hitting D in the wing.
Having it burned kept him from flying. But AZ wasn't done.
Changing back to robot form, AZ began a relentless assault on AZ. His enhanced body was stronger than any drone, so his punches left dents on D's body and cracks in his visor.
Not wanting D to have a chance to escape and attack the drones again, AZ unsheathed his blades. Cutting off D's arms first.
"GAAGH!"
Oil dripped from D's stubs, his healing was not fast enough to recover the arms and attack in time. Leaving him open to AZ.
"I'm not letting you kill any more of them."
Slicing off D's other wing, AZ tossed D on the ground and prepared his blaster. But despite being moments away from dying, D didn't feel any fear. Or any desire to gloat less.
"Go ahead and kill me AZ-5. We both know we'll meet again within a week."
"And kill that copy of you too."
"True, you might," D admitted as he turned around to face his executioner. "But I wonder how many drones I can get my hands on before you do."
AZ fired at D's chest. One wasn't enough, so he fired again where his heart should be. And one more shot at the head, blowing it up and making sure D wouldn't be effective even if his body did survive.
Shifting his arms back to normal, AZ turned away from the corpse and shifted his attention to the dozens of worker drones that were safe to leave the evac room.
"Is anyone else hurt?"
Larry, the mustache-wearing drone who all the others looked to as a leader, brought him up to speed in his usual gruff voice.
"None except for these two that fell behind."
He looked down at the disembodied heads with resigned sadness.
"We'll make sure the bodies are taken care of. And I'll get the boys here ready to fix any damages the Cons might have done outside."
"Alright. I'll take the disassembler to Ratchet and see if they can do anything with him. I'll fly back if you need anything."
"Appreciate it AZ-5. Till all are one."
"Till all are one."
Dragging the corpse behind him on the floor, AZ went to find his leader.
Four seekers had come to attack the Ark. They were turning back now. Either to return to the Nemesis and recharge for another day or to circle and resume their attack.
Either way, the Autobots were outside and waiting.
Each top entrance to the Ark was covered by one soldier, with Optimus and Ratchet standing alone to discuss the damage.
"Was anything important damaged Ratchet?"
"No. We were fortunate this time Optimus," the medic said humorlessly. "But I don't know how long we can keep this up. Our fuel reserves are not endless, we might only last two more megacycles. Not to mention the workers with us and the humans were promised to help. We can't do that if the Ark falls apart to the constant attacks."
Ratchet had a point. Optimus knew that they couldn't stay in space indefinitely. Losing Earth had not only been a catastrophic tragedy, but it had also robbed them of their base. They couldn't access all the resources and people they needed for the war floating in the void.
Optimus knew the only reason the Decepticons hadn't summoned all their forces to destroy the Ark wasn't Megatron's cruelty. They knew something that he wanted, and he wouldn't kill them until they got that information.
But that small advantage would not last forever. Sooner or later, Megatron would find a reason to burn the Ark and everyone in it. Optimus needed a solution in case it happened soon.
Fortunately, Ratchet had one.
"You might want to hear this Optimus."
As the two conversed, one of the Ark's doors opened. AZ stepped out and was met by Cliffjumper.
"Hey little bot. Looks like you had as much fun as we did."
"Don't call me that Cliff. But yeah, I managed to stop D."
Despite being happy to see his best friend, AZ's smile didn't last.
"Not before he got two of the workers though."
Sighing, Cliffjumper kneeled down to meet his friend's eyes.
"Don't beat yourself up over this buddy. D made his choice, he killed them. And you saved the rest. Focus on that."
AZ nodded, but he wasn't sure he believed it himself. Regardless, he was here for something else.
"Got something for the boss," he said, pointing at D's corpse.
"He's over there with Ratchet. You won't miss them."
Seeing where Cliff was pointing, AZ saw his red-and-blue leader next to the orange-and-white medic. Nodding at his friend, AZ began walking toward them.
"Optimus! Ratchet! I have another one."
Dragging D's lifeless husk behind him, AZ-5 walked across the hall of the Ark. Once he had reached his leader and the medic, he dropped the leg.
"Think you can do anything with this one?"
"No more than I did with the last one," Ratched said dejectedly as he scanned the corpse. "The body has some Cybertronian components, but not enough to repair systems. The best we can do is melt the body down and use the metal to cover some breaches."
AZ noticed the way Optimus averted his eyes. Prime always wanted to respect all living things, even those that had passed. But everyone knew that D and his clones were too useful to pass up, especially since the Decepticons seemed to have an endless amount of copies on hand.
Even so, he was never thrilled at the thought of having to use a living being to make repairs to the Ark. It was a compromise he would never be comfortable with.
"Ratchet. I believe it is time we told AZ-5 of our plan."
"Plan?"
The medic and the soldier shared a look. Ratchet walked away, leaving Optimus to kneel down to face AZ directly.
"I have a mission for you AZ-5. One that I do not believe you will like."
AZ frowned. "Why?"
"It will require you to leave the Ark."
Before AZ could retort, Optimus pulled up a holographic display. It was an exoplanet. One that seemed to have a big hole in its side.
"This is Copper-9. A former human mining colony. It cannot support biological life. But Ratchet and Wheeljack have detected high levels of energy consumption in this area of the planet."
As AZ looked at the highlighted area on the planet, he was beginning to understand what Optimus was asking for.
"You want to go get help?"
"The Ark will not survive much longer like this. The Decepticons have been nipping at our defenses, breaching our capabilities. And if they manage to destroy the Ark, the Autobot cause will be finished. And they will be free to spread their insanity across the stars unimpeded."
A nightmare scenario no one wanted. A galaxy ruled by Megatron… it didn't sound like it would be worth living in.
If the Autobots managed to set up a new base and make repairs, avoiding that future would be easier. But there was one problem.
"Optimus, I'm not a diplomat. Wouldn't Cliffjumper be better for this? Or why don't we just take the Ark there now?"
"I need Cliffjumper here to defend the Ark. And if we took it there now, we would only endanger the inhabitants of the planet," Optimus explained. "Sending an envoy gives them time to prepare for a Decepticon response."
"But why me?"
"Because you are one of them."
Optimus placed his enormous hand on AZ's shoulder as best he could. Making it clear that his statement was not meant as an insult.
"You are also one of us, but you began life as a worker drone. You have insight to help you connect to them. Speak to them, convince them to help us and to defend themselves."
AZ would normally be more hesitant about something like this. He spent more time with his fellow Bots than with the drones. He protected them, but he barely knew them.
But Optimus had a way with words. He could make anyone feel like they could accomplish anything.
"When should I go?"
Before Optimus could answer, Ironhide screamed.
"They're back! Seekers Incoming!"
Several explosions occured around them as the Seekers flew overhead. Optimus used his arm to Shield AZ, keeping him secure from the fire and debris.
"Use escape shuttle 12-21-18. It has coordinates pre-set. Now go!"
AZ didn't want to leave, but the Autobots wouldn't last long without help. Help they needed him to get. So he changed into his alt mode and started flying to the shuttle.
"Autobots, AZ-5 has been given an important mission. He will be leaving in a shuttle. Ensure that the Decepticons do not intercept him at all costs."
Ironhide, as usual, was the first to enforce Optimus's order. Followed quickly by Cliffjumper.
"You all heard Prahm. Make sure none of the Cons get close."
"Let's make sure the little guy makes it."
The Autobot forces fired at the seekers, ensuring that their focus would remain entirely on them.
The red-and-white aerial drone flew across endless corridors and hallways in the ark, avoiding any other drones or Bots. He had to leave before the Cons had a chance to intercept him.
Once he got to the escape bay, he slowed down and looked for his shuttle.
"12-21-16… 17… 18!"
It was a human-designed shuttle, being octagonal in shape, standing on insect-like legs, and was small enough for him to pilot. And if he was lucky, it would have Cybretronian upgrades to make using it on the planet easier.
Shifting back to his base form, AZ jumped inside the shuttle and began its activation. The coordinates had been pre-set, so all he had to do was get its engines running.
The ship used its legs to carry itself near the open hanger. Once it was close enough, the rockets fired and carried the ship into space. The legs retracted as it began its voyage to the nearby exoplanet.
Looking outside his window, AZ could see the seekers doing battle with his Autobot comrades. The seekers were doing their best to damage the Ark, and the soldiers were doing their best to drive them back.
AZ watched the fight with sad eyes. He hated having to leave the Ark, but Optimus was right. As long as the Decepticons kept attacking, they wouldn't last long in space. They needed to rest and repair somewhere.
Which meant he needed to find a way to be a diplomat. He needed to get the drones on Copper-9 to listen to him.
Sighing as he sat back in his pilot chair, AZ-5 hoped that whatever he found on Copper-9 wouldn't be as draining as fighting the Decepticons.
The main reason I'm writing this is because I watched Transformers One (a great movie that should have made more money). Also, the thought of a drone that can transform into a drone was funny to me.
There is a backstory I made up for AZ-5, and I will reveal more if I get the chance to continue. If anyone is confused about his appearance, imagine the Silver Centurion Iron Man, Shockwave, and D-16 all mixed together and you'll have a rough idea.
By the way, the worker drone Larry's name is a reference. Anyone who guesses it will get a digital hug.
One last thing before I go. A quick question: Doll or V?
Anyway, let me know what you think of this pilot chapter. I'll try to have another one ready soon.
Bye!
