Wow! Can't believe we're this far already! It's a lot of fun to work on!
As always, this plot idea isn't mine! It belongs to a friend on TikTok, Deckar Terdax. He made a slideshow of a live action movie plot idea and I really liked it, so I asked if I could write it as a fanfiction and he said I could!
He does write some of the chapters, but this one he just gave feedback on after I finished writing.
Anyway, hope you all enjoy this chapter!
God Bless and Good Day!
~The Lupine Sojourner
[Cybertron's Upper Atmosphere]
[Refugee Ship]
[10 years before Deadlock's defection]
Brawn feels the ship shudder as the boarding tube attaches to the portside entrance.
"Oh, Primus." He grumbles, moving to put himself in front of the refugees, prepared to fight if need be. He turns to the gathered bots behind him, trying to put on a brave face as worried murmurs ring around the room. "Alright, listen. I'll handle the Cons and try to detach us, so just stay put. Shouldn't take long."
The group moves backward into the open area they'd gathered in, but there is nowhere else for them to go, Brawn realizes as he moves further into the ship. There was some distance between him and the breached entrance, but he couldn't go too far from the refugees. They're target practice if anyone gets past him.
So I won't let 'em past me. No matter what. Brawn decides grimly as he settles in a good spot, an intersection between a few hallways so he could tell where the Cons would come from. Unfortunately, it was a straight shot down the hall to the room.
He's surprised when only one mech comes down a hallway a few painfully long kliks later, glancing around and moving as if ready to be attacked at any moment.
Brawn readies a blaster.
The mech is a black and dark blue Decepticon Brawn had never encountered before, one who wields swords instead of blasters. He takes in the situation at a glance, hand ready on a sword hilt on his shoulder, but he doesn't say anything.
"Yer not getting past me." Brawn warns, blaster aimed right for the Con's Spark Chamber.
The Con tilts his head, eying the gathered refugees behind Brawn. "Are you the only warrior on the ship?" He asks, his voice just a little condescending.
Brawn tightens his grip on the blaster, annoyed at the Con's arrogance. "I'm enough."
"I'm certain." He says in an almost monotone voice Brawn finds insulting, proceeding to walk in the direction of the cockpit without acknowledging Brawn further.
"Hey, don't ignore me!" Brawn snaps, keeping the blaster pointed at the retreating Con.
The Con spins on his heel. "If you want these refugees to survive, do as I say." He snaps, eyes narrowed.
Brawn does a double-take, the blaster dropping a bit in shock. "What?" He moves forward to demand straight answers, then stops as the Con whirls on him, reflexively pulling out a sword, the point inches from Brawn's chest.
"I am not here to fight. We don't have much time." He says, glancing around as if to confirm they are alone. "I will confirm your route, then leave." He explains, sheathing the sword.
Brawn splutters a bit as he once again approaches the confusing Con. "Why in Primus' name would I let you confirm our route?"
"So that I know I'm sending you to safety."
"Why would you care about our safety?" Brawn presses, optics narrowing suspiciously.
"There are only innocents here, and I have no interest in cold-blooded slaughter. It is dishonorable to attack those who cannot fight back." His voice and eyes show sincerity, but Brawn grits his teeth.
"I can fight back." Brawn defends himself.
"But then who would lead the refugees to your destination?" The Con points out.
"Look, I don't know what you're playing at-"
"I assume you intend to rendezvous with the Prime and his followers. Correct?"
Brawn takes a step back, still wary, but something in his Spark said he could trust this Con. After all, he had made no move to summon any Vehicons that were surely with him, and he seems genuinely concerned for the refugees. "...Yes."
"We received word he is fleeing deep into space, either to hide or seek out the Allspark. I can provide-" The Con starts to say, then the two hear approaching troopers. "Stay where you are, and do not make a sound." The Con hisses, and Brawn reluctantly does.
The Con leaves and before the troopers can see Brawn, he barely hears the Con talking to them for a few moments, sounding insistent and terse.
Once the troopers had left, the Con comes back.
"Quickly. I told them I have taken care of everyone in this ship, but they won't wait long to disembark." He's moving quickly toward the cockpit, leaving Brawn to try his best to catch up. "The route you are taking to the Prime goes too close to regular Decepticon patrol routes. I myself have patrolled this area when not otherwise engaged. I will show you an alternate, safer route."
Brawn and the Con soon arrive at the cockpit and sure enough, the route is soon entered and the Con starts back toward the refugees and the portside entrance without another word.
Brawn jogs after him. "Hold on a second!" He catches the Con's shoulder and the Con whirls, removing Brawn's hand with a sharp movement. "At least tell me yer name."
"...It is better you do not know." The Con starts marching quickly again.
Brawn's eye twitches and he huffs, but continues jogging after the Decepticon.
He finally turns to Brawn as he reaches the hallway back to his ship. "Continue on your journey, and may Primus be with you." He puts his hands together and bows before the pair hear an approaching trooper, too late to hide.
The trooper comes around the corner and sees Brawn, the Con talking to Brawn, and behind them the gathered refugees.
After an instant of shock from all concerned parties, the trooper's hand shifts into a blaster and it's pointed at Brawn.
"No!" The Con roars, sword flashing in a smooth, fluid movement.
For a few nano-kliks, nothing happens, then the blaster falls with a loud clatter to the metal floor, followed an instant later by the trooper's head.
Silence hangs in the ship for painfully long moments, Brawn staring at the sword, now splattered with Energon, and the Con staring at the lifeless corpse on the floor, a pool of Energon leaking out and forming a large pool.
"...oh frag…" Brawn breaths, shaking himself. "I…thank you."
The Con wipes his sword on the body and sheaths it, showing an unreadable emotion before he turns to head into his ship. "Speak of this to no one." His voice, trying to be menacing and cold, came out subtly shaky, but insistent enough that Brawn nods.
"Only if you tell me your name." Brawn insists, knowing he'd likely never get another chance to learn this Con's name. He had to know!
"Why do you insist on knowing my name?" The Con stops walking away, but doesn't turn to look at Brawn, his voice now steady, but irritated.
"I have to. I won't spread it around!"
The Con takes a few nano-kliks, then sighs. "...Deadlock." He marches away before Brawn can say anything else.
Brawn, for his part, stares after the Con, realization hitting him. "...That explains a lot." He mumbles softly.
Deadlock had a reputation for being fair and honorable, for a Decepticon. How Deadlock came to side with the Cons, no one knows, but he would let his adversaries go if they had fought well, and refused to attack without giving his opponent time to arm themselves and put up a fight. Even if he could have ambushed said opponent.
All in all, Brawn thanks Primus that it was Deadlock, not anyone else, that had been assigned to stop his ship.
No one else would have thought twice about killing him and his charges.
Moments later, the Cons' ship disconnects and flies away, leaving Brawn to reassure the refugees, asking a few to clean up the corpse before going to the cockpit to start them on their new route.
I wonder if he'd ever consider defecting and joining us. Brawn wonders. He'd make a great Autobot. I'd vouch for him if it came to it.
Either way, I owe him a debt of gratitude.
=#=#=#=#=
[Earth]
[Japanese Countryside]
[Present Day]
"Whoa…" Moonracer breathes, almost finished doing what she could for Ultra Mangus' hand, surprised at how far Deadlock went to protect the refugees.
Brawn nods. "Now you see why I have to help him. He saved not only my life, but the lives of all the refugees on the ship."
Moonracer nods. "Yeah! I wonder if anyone found out he'd killed a trooper."
Brawn shrugs. "Who knows? Likely not, since the Decepticons don't take those things lightly, but I haven't seen him since that day."
Moonracer smiles as she closes the hand up. "Well, good thing we're looking for him."
Brawn nods as he starts to walk away. "I'll run a quick patrol of the perimeter while you figure out where we're looking next, boss."
Magnus nods. "Good thinking." With the looming threat of the DJD, they couldn't afford to be careless.
Brawn transforms and heads off.
Magnus looks at the ground in thought. He'd always thought of the Wreckers as the most reckless band of Autobots he'd ever seen, but now…
He watches as Brawn drives nearly out of sight. Magnus would view Brawn with a little more respect from now on. He'd bravely stood between the Decepticons and the refugees, even if no one actually fought him, he was still willing to risk it all to protect those in his care.
Having him along for this mission suddenly doesn't seem as irritating as it had previously.