This is an unfinished one-shot but this AU is non-canon to the original TFP piece. It's just a funny little thing I thought of.
This has been sitting in my folder for a long while, even before the previous TF:One piece. So i just want to upload it as I'm unlikely to finish this but i do like what I have already written.
Basically, a machine malfunctions and drags more canon-aligned TFP crew (Autobots and Deceptions) into Resonate's TFP AU.
To set out some context for Resonate's TFP AU:
Major divergence at the end of Season 1. After Unicron, Megatron comes to his senses about how terrible the war is at this point. Unicron actions and Resonate's presence made him open his optics a lot sooner than canon.
The fighting has finished, and basically, because there was no Omega Lock shenanigans, the two factions are working to find ways to restore Cybertron together. This is how Shockwave ended up coming to Earth with Predaking—who can transform—even if nothing else happened passed S1 beside some alternate MECH stuff.
Breakdown lives! Megatron went full rampage mode because I could see MECH targeting Breakdown and Resonate on an outing or something? AU!Megatron also cares more about those under his command compared to Canon!Megatron.
Arachnid got off-ed at some point because she was a threat to Resonate.
Frenzy, Rumble and Jazz arrived on Earth a month or two after Resonate. All three are Autobots, the twins having gone with Lightchaser. They didn't know about her being sparked at the time, but compared to the original AU, something was different about their choice.
Also, Soundwave is an utter besotted fool for his daughter and wants to flaunt her every chance he can to make up for lost time. Resonate is definitely a little spoilt by everyone too.
Resonate acts a little younger then when I previous wrote for this AU. She's relaxed a little more as she is safe and has been encourage to do so now there is no threat to her. It mostly comes out when she's sleepy however.
Decepticons brought over: Megatron, Starscream, Soundwave, Knockout, and Shockwave.
Autobots/humans brought over: Optimus, Arcee, Wheeljack, Miko, and Jack.
Only Alt-Optimus is seen for the Autobots as again this is unfinished. I was focused on the Cons' as Resonate starts with them.
Soundwave watched from the back as their counterparts looked over the Nemesis's bridge. He wondered if they differed in some way, but they lacked expressions of surprise, so he would consider that perhaps not.
He maintained a small distance from his Megatron and all their counterparts. Breakdown stood by the entrance in a not-so-subtle warning to any of them if they attempted to leave the bridge. The vehicons outside the room were all hurrying at Soundwave's command to clear away anything vulnerable. Data was locked down with passwords. Passwords that Soundwave would be changing soon to something else—he was sure their universes shared…certain aspects but also varied in ways Soundwave was beginning to suspect.
Notably, Soundwave picked up on the lack of an alternate Breakdown, and that the alternate Knockout looked shocked at the sight of the blue mech. Soundwave thought perhaps something bad had happened to the alternate Breakdown to inspire such an expression.
Looking them over, he could spot subtle differences between them all. Nothing major, all very simple. Alt-Knockout's red was a shade different. Alt-Starscream had less bulk. Alt-Megatron looked significantly more battle-worn. Alt-Shockwave was a darker purple. Soundwave's alternative biolights were electric purple to his own softer purple.
What struck Soundwave the most was…the lack of Resonate, or a response signalling perhaps Resonate was missing.
Hmmm…Soundwave wondered if perhaps…?
He wondered what their reactions would be to Resonate's existence if she did not exist within their own universe. It sent a jab through his spark—to think another version of him perhaps never got the chance to meet Lightchaser and love her—but there was also an underlying smug feeling too.
His digits twitched at the thought. Soundwave was a proud creator; his youngling was a bright femmeling, and he did so want to show her off. To rub in his alternate's face what he was missing. Petty, perhaps, but Soundwave was nothing if not a devoted creator who wanted to flaunt his creation any chance he got.
"I suppose understanding what went wrong and brought you all here is the best place to start," Shockwave began.
Alt-Shockwave nodded. "If both machines were online at the same time, then finding how and why they were connected is imperative."
"Then I suppose we best leave that to you both," Megatron agreed.
(Another difference Soundwave saw immediately between the two Megatons was this universe's shoulders were lighter. The heaviness that had haunted him for vorns was wearing away in recent times. It was refreshing, people were healing—slowly, but they were. The atmosphere in the Nemesis had entirely changed once Resonate had arrived on Earth.)
Soundwave mulled over what their reactions would be when the alternatives learned the war had ended for them. That they were no longer fighting because it was obvious from how the alternatives arrived that they were still warring.
Resonate gently inquisitively poked at him across their bond, and Soundwave realised he was running late to relieve Knockout of watching her. With a pulse of assurance, Soundwave pinged Megatron.
His friend turned his helm, optics silently questioning. Soundwave raised his servos, aware he had gained everyone's attention and made a holding gesture with both servos—a representation of him cradling Resonate.
Megatron snorted, realising what he was silently saying immediately. "You are dismissed."
Satisfied, Soundwave turned on his pedes and made his exit. The door swished open, and he left.
Resonate looked up from her datapad, digit paused just before answering the question on the test Shockwave had given her, to see her Creator enter the medical bay.
Perking up happily, Resonate tucked the datapad into her subspace and slipped off the medical berth to toddle over. Her Creator knelt to lessen their great distance and Resonate smiled happily as he lightly bumped his forehelm against her tiny one.
"What happened?" she asked. "Knockout: said Shockwave's machine malfunctioned."
"Shockwave's machine: summoned alternate versions of Cybertronians on Earth to this universe," Soundwave answered.
Resonate whirled curiously, optics wide in shock. Other versions of everyone? She pointed to herself.
"Negative. Creator: believes Resonate does not exist in alternate universe."
Resonate pouted, and Soundwave chuckled, brushing a digit across her cheek. "Resonate: perhaps one of a kind. Soundwave: please by that thought."
Flustered, Resonate buried her face into her digits, fans whirling. "Addendum: just this Soundwave's precious." She giggled as he lightly tickled her. "Creator: wishes to show creation off."
Resonate nodded. She wanted to see these alternate versions of her family and how different they were! The thought excited her, and so when her Creator stood once more, Resonate eagerly scaled his body until she managed to get onto his shoulder.
There was a thrum of amusement from Soundwave and Resonate grinned behind her digits again.
Soundwave turned to Knockout, who was working on a Vehicon with a busted arm from a mining incident.
"Thank you," he said.
Knockout waved him off. "She's always perfectly well-behaved. Spent the entire time going through that work datapad Shockwave gave her."
Resonate bobbed her helm. She was almost finished too!
Soundwave walked leisurely through the hallways of the Nemesis, keeping an eye on the security cameras that filled the warship. It seemed that Megatron and co had taken it upon themselves to see the group to the recreational room, a more…recent upgrade to the former energon dispensary.
It was the most suitable room to use as a base for Resonate's daily operations, which involve Vehicons and bots alike coming and going throughout the day. With a large window to view the outside, it was the perfect place for Resonate to linger with a collection of gaming consoles and toys to keep her occupied when she didn't have her face in a datapad.
His sweet femmeling was very knowledge hungry. She reminded Soundwave of himself at her age. Despite Kaon having been his supposed lot in life, before he became a gladiator, Soundwave spared every moment he could to try to educate himself—anything to better his standing in some way. It had been the only way he had thought possible to improve his designated class at birth. It had been his chance at having a better life—to one day claw his way out of Kaon.
It hadn't happened the way he thought it would but it happened all the same.
Cycling air through his vents, Soundwave made his way toward the rec-room. Approaching, he scooped Resonate off his shoulder and onto the floor, where she clung to his digits.
Here's to hoping they prove safe for Resonate. If not, Resonate was due to spend some time with the Autobots anyway.
With Shockwave and his alternate having headed straight to his lab, Megatron had brought the rest of the group to the recreational room on the Nemesis.
Megatron leant back against a counter as the others trailed into the room curiously. Predaking was there to greet them. With it raining outside, he wasn't surprised to see the Predacon looking out the window, servos clasped behind his back as the world sailed by outside.
The alternates seemed only mildly surprised to see Predaking, so Megatron knew he existed in their world too.
"Shockwave informed me of the unfortunate incident," Predaking said, glancing their visitors over. "I must say, it was an unexpected surprise. To think something of this magnitude is possible…"
Sometimes Megatron can't get over how similarly Predaking talked like Shockwave but being that Shockwave had spent the most time around the Predicon, raising him since his artificial creation, it made sense.
"Well, always expect the unexpected," Breakdown joked.
Predaking snorted, shooting the blue mech an amused glance. "With everything that happens around here, I've begun to see fruit in…going with the flow, as the humans would say."
"Since you seem familiar with Predaking, I doubt any introductions are required?" Megatron asked.
"…It is striking how alike our worlds are," his alternate remarked, something in his optics.
Megatron was more than familiar with himself to know what was going through his mind and…resolved to deal with that later.
"And yet, I'm sure there are plenty of differences as well," Megatron smirked.
The alternate Soundwave and Starscream glanced his way for the remark and his apparent smug attitude.
"From what we've already discussed, it doesn't seem so," alt-Starscream drawled.
"We've barely begun comparing," Starscream pointed out, now sat with a cup of energon. He pointedly took a sip when alt-Starscream glared in his direction.
"Yes, Breakdown being one of them," alt-Knockout murmured, something pained in his expression. "What about my alternate? A trade off somehow? Myself instead of Breakdown?"
It was clear now, just as Megatron had begun to suspect, that their Breakdown had terminated at some point. It stirred pity in Megatron; he knew how close Knockout and Breakdown were in this universe, and from alt-Knockout's reaction, the same could be said about their world.
"No," Breakdown denied. "Our Knockout is currently tending to some Vehicons that were caught in a small mine collapse."
"And sparkling sitting," was Starscream's dry response.
Everyone in the room turned to him. Megatron included. Could Starscream, for once, not put his pede in his mouth? Megatron rolled his optics.
"What do you mean by that?" alt-Megatron questioned, optics narrowed.
"He means Resonate," Ravage said from the rafters above.
Bots startled and optics lifted to the darkness above the lights where there was a pair of yellow optics. With a grace that could only come with age, Ravage leapt down from the beams with barely a whisper.
Alt-Soundwave gave an aborted motion, turning almost wholly toward Ravage. Megatron wondered what happened to his Ravage. He had already made the note that Resonate likely did not exist in their universe—it was…easy to conclude—and that meant Lightchaser might not have existed in the same way in their universe either. That meant Ravage would have come into Soundwave's company some other way.
"Pleasant nap?" Predaking questioned.
Ravage sat back on his hind legs, the tip of his tail flicking. "Pleasant enough."
"And who is Resonate?" alt-Knockout questioned.
The door whooshed open the moment the words left alt-Knockout's mouth and there was Soundwave and Resonate, the femmeling holding her creator's digits. She gasped at suddenly having every optic on her and shied behind Soundwave's leg.
That…was new. Resonate, being shy? Now that was just too cute.
"That, is Resonate," Ravage purred and slinked over to his Charge.
Resonate shyly peered out from behind Soundwave's leg, one servo reaching for Ravage as her Guardian slipped his glossa across her cheek affectionately.
Soundwave brushed his digits across Resonate's helm when Ravage withdrew. His digits are only just able to touch because of their height differences.
Megatron watched as alt-Soundwave gave another aborted lurch, reeling back in clear and evident shock.
"Well," alt-Starscream said, at a loss of words. All of them were, in fact. Oh, Megatron was revelling in this.
Optimus was…unsure how to properly assess this situation. From what they had already learnt from their alternate selves, the war for them was still raging.
And his alternate self…Optimus does not know if he wants to learn why he had such a drastic change. But the alternates seeing Optimus in his existing state—nothing like the bulk his alternate now had—had shocked them just as much, especially since their dates all lined up. One was not ticking behind the other.
The fact the silo still stood also bewildered them, and Optimus had quickly come to a realise, as they listened to the happening from their world, that there was a critical difference between the two universes.
Resonate.
Leave it up to the femmeling to be such a significant influence. Or perhaps it started with Lightchaser? Either way, their war was over. At least it was on Earth, and until a time they could find a way to revive Cybertron, they would remain on this planet.
Which Optimus knew at this rate would be via the AllSpark.
-Jazz, Frenzy and Rumble are on Earth, and have been for a few months, following after Resonate. The alternates are wary of the sight of the twins, but they bear Autobot insignia.
-Optimus explains that Frenzy and Rumble have always been Autobots, having followed after their carrier, Lightchaser. He hopes to inspire a reaction from the alternates, and he gets confusion. This confirms that Lightchaser, and thus Resonate, do not exist in their universe.
-Frenzy and Rumble remark on pitying their alternate selves for never getting to know Lightchaser.
Resonate looked over the alternates of her family. It was strange, so…illogical, as Shockwave would say. Nervously—which was strange too, because Resonate didn't get nervous!—she waved at them from behind her Creator's leg.
"Hello," she greeted, breaking the silence.
She felt her Creator's amusement and poked at him over their bond in offence. Her nervousness wasn't funny! But it was to him, so she pouted up at her Creator, very indignant.
Soundwave gently encouraged her further into the room, and so Resonate went. Of course, Resonate immediately scampered toward Megatron, who cocked an optical ridge but didn't protest as Resonate began scaling his frame. Her destination was his shoulder, and once perched, Resonate got comfortable.
Satisfied now that she was not being looked down on—it made her feel less nervous—Resonate nodded to herself happily.
"You going to be my all-seeing optic?" Megatron teased, a servo reaching up to rest over her legs. He always did that and Resonate thought he might be scared she would fall. Which she wouldn't! Not like she used to. Resonate was bigger now! She could balance properly while on someone's shoulder!
Wait! Resonate pouted and poked a digit against his cheek! They were all teasing her!
"How did this come to be?" alt-Megatron questioned.
"When two bots love each other very much—" Breakdown began, and Resonate giggled, but alt-Starscream interrupted.
"That's not what he meant," alt-Starscream snapped.
"Well, you should've been clearer then," Breakdown retorted with a playful shrug.
Megatron gazed Soundwave's direction. He was watching them, and Megatron didn't need to see his friend's face to know the fond expression behind the visor. The mech had become an utter sap since Resonate had come into his life. It was nice to see that side of Soundwave again after so long.
"Her designation was Lightchaser," Megatron answered. All optics turned back to him and Resonate. The digits hooked into his plating tightened. Megatron gently squeezed her ankle to soothe her. No harm would befall Resonate. "And she was Optimus's sister from another carrier."
"Was?" alt-Knockout questioned.
"Optimus?" alt-Megatron narrowed his optics. Ah, that would be what his alternate latched onto. Megatron would have reacted in the exact same way before Resonate arrived.
"Carrier: offlined when Resonate was three orns old," Resonate answered. A tense silence fell as the optics on Megatron turned to Resonate. "Resonate: raised by siblings Frenzy and Rumble and Aunt Hexen on Autobot outpost away from battle."
Alt-Soundwave's shoulder shifted. It was subtle but Megatron had known his Soundwave long enough to spot the movement. Did something happen to his Frenzy and Rumble too?
"Lightchaser's own carrier was friends with Optimus's carrier," Megatron explained. "They grew up as close as siblings."
"'Rion: first to know Carrier was sparked. Revealed not long after named Prime," Resonate bobbed her helm sagely. She knew all about that time because of her brothers. Apparently, after her Carrier's death, her brothers had stopped Hexen from running off with Resonate as a sparkling to neutral territory.
(Aunty Hexen hated the war, Autobots and Decepticons alike. Mostly mechs, Hexen tolerated a lot of femmes, and she had warmed up to the mechs on the outpost they were all on before it had been attacked. Jazz had even managed to get her to smile! A very big achievement!
But Hexen only wore the Autobot insignia because it meant safety for Resonate.)
"Carrier: never got to tell Creator was she sparked before war broke out," Resonate added.
There was a round of winces from everyone from this dimension. Soundwave slumped, helm dipping. Megatron knew he felt a sense of guilt. It was a misplaced one because it was Megatron's fault the war was officially declared.
"She arrived on Earth roughly two years ago," Starscream said. "It seems to be around the time our timelines diverge. More than Resonate's existence, anyhow."
Resonate trod through the ground bridge, flanked on either side by her brothers. With a sleepy rub of an optic, Resonate clutched her fluffy teddy close, half burrowing her face into it.
Behind them, the ground bridge shut down with a low whirl and Resonate turned her attention to Optimus as he approached, kneeling to scope her up. She cycled her vents softly as he held her close, the warmth of his frame lulling.
She crooned as a hello, words just beyond her now.
"Hello to you, too," Optimus chuckled. "Did you have a fun week with all this excitement?"
"Uh-huh," Resonate nodded before a yawn overtook her.
"I think someone needs a good night's recharge," Rumble teased softly.
Resonate whined, half flopping in Optimus's arms. She glowered at her brothers, but the glare lacked any sort of heat.
Frenzy snickered softly. "Definitely berth time."
Optimus adjusted Resonate's limp form to cradle her in the crook of his arm. "Why don't we settle you into your berth, hm?"
Resonate gave a wordless chirp, snuggling into Optimus as he turned and began walking. Her brothers promptly followed. With how crowded the Autobot base was, they had to share a berth room, which was fine by Resonate. She liked knowing someone was close by. On top of that, the three of them were small enough to all fit on the berth!
There was another sound, followed by a soft noise of surprise.
Resonate cracked her optics open to see the alternate Optimus. He looked so different from Orion!
Suddenly slightly more awake, Resonate half turned in Orion's arm so she could cuddle his arm and look at the alt-Optimus with sleepy curiosity.
"This is Resonate," Orion introduced. Resonate didn't need to see his face to know he was smiling!
"Hi," the word was slightly slurred in her sleepiness.
"Hello," alt-Optimus smiled. Resonate doesn't miss the spark in his optics and thought it might be because she's a youngling, someone born at the outbreak of the war. Probably one of the youngest Cybertronians in existence. She wondered if her existence gave him hope other younglings existed in his universe.
Another yawn escaped Resonate.
"It's getting a little late," Orion said. No other words were traded but the request was heard.
Alt-Optimus moved aside. "Of course."
Orion carried on, and the gentle sway lulled Resonate into recharge.