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 9
Orion, Elita-1, and B-127 had been preoccupied with working out a sound strategy with the Shockwave, Starscream, and Soundwave. They were merging ideas and information in order to assimilate and successfully guarantee victory as the High Guard fully assembled.
All they had to do before setting out was patiently wait until the bots set out on frequent patrols returned and then they'd be at full strength.
With so many on their side, the possibility of Sentinel being overthrown is even more possible.
As this was occurring, Orion noticed that D-16 and Siren were absent from the proceedings. At first, Orion didn't think anything of it. He figured that D-16 was just getting more familiar with the High Guard and Siren just wanted some time to herself.
Much to his relief, D-16 and Siren did reappear although separately.
Orion saw D-16 emerge from the shadows first. Orion was happy to see that D-16's optics were back to their normal color, whatever trace of red was there now absent. D-16 was carrying a smile on his face, a self-satisfied one that immediately reminded Orion of the friend he had before all this craziness began.
Maybe that fight with Starscream had just been D-16 venting, a way to get all his anger and frustration out. And that was it.
Almost right after D-16 appeared, so did Siren.
Siren's arrival instantly raised red flags with Orion.
Siren seemed dazed, a touch disoriented, and unsteady on her legs, needing to lean heavily on a pillar for support since she is barely able to stand.
Something with Siren wasn't right.
Just as Orion was about to go over and see if Siren was all right and find out what was bothering her the worst thing happened.
The resistance was attacked.
Sentinel's troops had found them.
Without any warning, everything was thrown into chaos.
Led by Arachnid, the fleet launched a hostile assault on the outpost base without mercy.
It all happened so fast that there was no time to get organized.
Literally, it was every mech and femme for themselves.
Orion ended up losing track of B-17, D-16, and Siren. The battle was so intense he couldn't just go looking. Elita-1 was nearby, and he hand to watch her back.
For their first battle they're managing to stay alive and that's saying something.
Unfortunately, they aren't left unscathed for very long.
A soldier had come up behind Elita-1 without her noticing him.
Orion takes the blow meant for her and it knocks him into a wall, causing the unstable foundation to crumble and bury his unconscious form.
D-16, B-127, and Siren aren't doing any better.
As soon as the fighting started, Siren tried to keep herself hidden while searching for the others. She quickly learned that it didn't matter as she was chased down.
One soldier had raised his weapon to strike her, and Siren brought up her arms for defense. It surprised her greatly when two curved cutlass blades emerged from her wrists, catching the strike. It granted Siren enough time to kick the soldier back but for little else.
Siren had been so caught off guard that she didn't see the other soldier coming until it was too late.
The soldier snatched Siren up and took her as a prisoner into the sky.
The impact made the flower Orion gifted her become dislodged and it floated down to the battle-ravaged ground.
Alerted to her capture by the sound of her scream, D-16 tried to give chase only to be attacked and swiftly subdued by Arachnid.
Achieving what they came here to do, the High Guard base was destroyed, and Arachnid led the fleet out of there carrying a boatload of prisoners, including Siren, D-16, and B-127.
The next thing Orion can recall as he regains consciousness is Elita-1 digging him out of the rubble, the sunlight causing him to rapidly blink to clear his vision.
Coughing, Orion said "I feel like someone dropped a cliff on me. Where are the others?"
Bleakly sober, Elita-1 said "Sentinel's troops took as many prisoners as they could carry. They got D-16 and B. And half of those High Guard nutjobs."
"Oh, no," groaned Orion.
Checking the beacon with the recordings inside, Orion finds it destroyed. All its data is gone.
Tossing it away in disgust, Orion said "Our proof. It's gone."
"So, what do we do now," broached Elita-1.
"D, was right," said Orion, defeatedly.
"About what," said Elita-1.
"Everything. Look at it, look around. This is a disaster. It's all my fault. I should have stayed on protocol," sighed Orion.
Rising from her seated position to kneel in front of him, Elita-1 said "Listen to me. I really want you to hear this. Are you listening?"
Orion nods.
"I'm better than you," said Elita-1, smiling.
"Yeah, okay. I'm hearing you," said Orion, rolling his eyes.
"I'm better than you in every way, except you have hope. You always have. You went back into the mine to rescue Jazz, you snuck to the surface to find the Matrix of Leadership," said Elita-1.
Sarcastically, Orion said "Yeah. And how'd that work out?"
Insistingly, Elita-1 said "My point is that your instincts tell you to break protocol for a reason. This blind optimism that you have is why you make such bold and courageous choices that are, also, extremely stupid."
Cringing at her bluntness, Orion said "First time giving a pep talk?"
Softly, Elita-1 said "You're inspiring. You can envision a better future that no one else can see. And if we ever want to see B and D-16 again, that is the Orion Pax that we need right now. Listen to me. We can do this."
This turns out to be exactly the push Orion needed.
"Okay," said Orion.
"Good," said Elita-1 smiling.
Orion then realizes someone important is missing.
"Elita-1, where is Siren? You didn't mention her," said Orion, cautiously.
Elita-1 hesitates.
"Elita-1, tell me," said Orion.
In response, Elita-1 holds out a hand with her palm up to show him something.
In the center is the flower Orion had given to Siren last night.
Elita-1 had found it while she was looking for him.
"Siren, got taken too," said Elita-1, sadly.
It was a blow to Orion's spark.
With a shaking servo, Orion takes the flower and stares at it in his hand.
Daringly, Elita-1 asked "You love her, don't you?"
"Yes," said Orion, quietly.
"Why haven't you told her," said Elita-1. "It's obvious to anyone with a brain that you have feelings for her?"
"I haven't told Siren, because I saw how D felt for her and I didn't want to get in the way of that. Even when we first met her in the mines, I saw how he was drawn to her right away. I couldn't take that chance of happiness away from him," said Orion. "But now…now, I'm not so sure."
Elita-1 said "He's changing. We all see it. And not in a good way."
"Sentinel's betrayal has hit him the hardest. Once Sentinel is punished for his crimes, we may get the old D-16 back," reasoned Orion.
"And if not," said Elita-1.
"Then I'll tell Siren how I feel about her. I've given D-16 enough time," said Orion, steadfastly.
"We must rescue them first. We need a plan," said Elita-1.
"Those energon trains will be heading back to Iacon. If we intercepted one…," said Orion.
"I can reroute it easy," said Elita-1. "What else do we need?"
"Well, my bold instincts tell me we have to recruit some nutjobs," said Orion, reluctantly.
"I was afraid you'd say that," groaned Elita-1.
Going over to Shockwave and Soundwave with Elita-1, clearing his throat, and calming his anxious nerves, Orion said "Uh, Shockwave, Soundwave, you in the back. To save our captured friends, we have to act now."
Aggressively, Shockwave said "How about I blast you all the way back to Iacon."
Elita-1 doesn't take that well. She punches Shockwave in the face hard.
Reeling back, clutching his single optic, Shockwave said "She punched me in my eye!"
"Everyone, shut up! All of you, listen to him," said Elita-1, pointing at Orion.
Not wanting to get a beating everyone present obeys.
"Most likely our friends are being held captive at the top of Sentinel's tower. A surprise attack would give us a chance to rescue them," said Orion.
"Impossible. We do not have enough soldiers or a way inside," said Soundwave.
Thinking of the other miners, Orion said "Elita-1 will get us in and I will get more troops. There are hundreds of dissatisfied miners underground. Once I tell them what's going on, they'll join us."
"Why should we follow you," challenged Shockwave.
Elita-1 punches a fist into her palm in reply.
"We will follow you," said Shockwave.
"Attention, High Guard. Prepare for battle," said Soundwave. "What is our first move?"
Orion glances at the flower in his hand, Siren's face coming to mind.
Clutching the delicate flower in his hand, steeling his resolve, Orion said "We roll out."
Barely able to hear him, a soldier said "What?"
"Louder," advised Elita-1.
Speaking louder for everyone to hear him and with more conviction, Orion said "Transform and roll out!"
They have a rescue to do.
All prisoners from the raid on the High Guard base were taken to and detained in Sentinel's Tower. What used to be the Tower of the Primes in Iacon.
Everyone was put in restraints and forced to kneel as they waited for Arachnid to return with Sentinel so he could assess the prisoners.
At least, that's what Siren has deduced as they wait there.
Siren's scared to death of what the repercussions of this might be.
"D, what's going to happen to us," said Siren.
Gently shushing her, D-16 said "I don't know. But keep your head down. Don't draw attention to yourself. Whatever comes next let me handle it."
And she's not the only one who's worried.
Leaning closer to D-16, confused, B-127 said "I don't understand. Why are we still alive?"
D-16 can only guess and any of the choices he suspects aren't good.
Soon enough Sentinel arrives.
Sentinel entered the room, appraising them all as he moved further down the line.
Gloatingly, Sentinel said "Look at this rowdy bunch. The High Guard. You know, you guys have been tough to find. Every trip to the surface, I've been searching for you."
Just hearing Sentinel's voice makes Siren shudder. Noticing this, D-16 shifts slightly so that his broader form is shielding her in spite of what little good that'll do.
"Tracking the bots in the save led me right to them," said Arachnid, smugly.
Spotting one of the High Guard leaders, Sentinel said "Oh, you captured Starscream."
"It was too easy," said Arachnid, silkily.
Voice distorting, Starscream said, "I'm going to rip you apart piece by piece, so that your death is painful, and you'll regret the day you went-."
Laughing, Sentinel said "You sound ridiculous. It's weird." Sentinel's smile broadens when he spots D-16, B-127, and Siren up front. "Oh, D-16. What a tragic story you'll be. Atop the leaderboard in your sector and secretly a traitor."
"I'm not a traitor. You're the traitor," said D-16, coldly.
Shaking his head, working up the story he'd tell the public to make him the "hero" again, Sentinel said "Nope. You, all of you are traitors. You've been working with the Quintessons to sabotage my expeditions. You're the reason I haven't found the Matrix of leadership yet."
Sentinel intends to frame them for his lack of progress.
"None of that is true," refuted B-127, optics narrowed.
Bending close to B-127, causing the smaller bot to lean back, dark and intimidatingly, Sentinel said "Oh, trust me. It'll be very true when I'm executing you in front of all of Iacon. Because down here, the truth is what I make it."
With a surge of protectiveness and courage going through her for B-127, Siren said "Leave him be!"
Optics wide, D-16 said, "Siren, no."
All at once, Sentinel's attention becomes trained on Siren with great interest. The last thing D-16 wanted.
"Ah, Siren. Lovely, Siren. Having a T-Cog suits you," said Sentinel, optics roving over Siren, admiring her enhanced beauty.
Siren averts her eyes from Sentinel's, shrinking back from him, trembling.
"I must say, I was disappointed when you vanished without a trace on us. The plans I told you for your future, I meant every word of them. Your voice, after hearing it, it has been in my mind ever since. Won't you sing for me again," said Sentinel, cupping Siren's chin and lightly grazing her lower lip with his thumb.
Siren recoils from Sentinel's touch, but his grip is firm and unmoving.
D-16 stomps a ped into the floor, the loud sound resounding in an echo throughout the chamber. All eyes turn to him as D-16 rises to his full height in Siren's defense, a blank and stoic expression on his face.
Releasing Siren, Sentinel said "Well, well. What's this about?"
Slowly shaking his head, his tone filled to the brim with disdain and contempt, D-16 said "I'm not kneeling in front of you."
"Feeling confident, are we," said Sentinel, brow quirked.
"You don't scare me. You want to know why," said D-16.
"Please," said Sentinel, immensely amused with D-16's bravado.
"Because I don't have anything left to lose. You took it all," said D-16, resentfully.
"I sure did," said Sentinel, without remorse or regret.
Sentinel then proceeds to punch D-16 harshly in the shoulder.
Unprepared for it, D-16 ends up knocked flat on his back and unable to easily get back up thanks to his bound servos.
Spotting the decal of Megatronus Prime on D-16's shoulder, removing it, Sentinel said "Ah, Megatronus Prime. Of course, you were a fan. Megatronus was the coolest Prime. The biggest. The baddest. The toughest. That's why, after I killed him, I took his cog for myself."
Sentinel opens his chassis, revealing the stolen T-Cog for all to see residing there.
Seeing and hearing about the travesty done to the one Prime he'd respected above everyone else snapped something.
Furiously, D-16 said, "He was greater than you'll ever be!"
"I don't know. I'm pretty great. But I can understand why you'd want to wear his face over mine. Here," said Sentinel, placing the sticker on D-16's chest and accepting a torch from Arachnid. "Let's make sure it never comes off."
Sentinel sadistically and painfully brands D-16 with the Megatronus Prime insignia much to the alarm, outrage, and shock of B-127 and the High Guard at the barbaric gruesomeness of it all.
Siren is unable to watch as this is done to D-16. Optics firmly shut and teeth biting her lip to prevent herself from crying out, wanting to cover her ears but her hands are bound.
There's virtually nothing any of them can do to stop Sentinel from doing this. In the diminished they're all in it would be futile. It would mean certain death.
By the time Sentinel was done, smoke was rising from where he carved the Megatronus Prime insignia into D-16's medal.
"And what you mentioned about having nothing left to lose. I have to disagree on that front. You see, you do have something left to lose, or, to be more specific, Siren does," sneered Sentinel. "Something that I believe is VERY precious to her."
The truth of Sentinel's intentions hit Siren and D-16 at precisely the same time, with identical expressions of horror and terror on their faces as they reach the same conclusion of what he's insinuating.
No…No! He wouldn't!
"Such a shame. I did have such high expectations for you, Siren. But it looks like that has to come to an end. And all thanks to D-16," said Sentinel, speaking with fake sorrow.
He would!
"Take her," said Sentinel, speaking to Arachnid and two of his troops.
It all happened so fast.
The soldiers and Arachnid grabbed Siren, dragging her away from the line and D-16.
"D," screamed Siren, terrified, struggling to stay next to him to no avail.
"Don't touch her," snarled D-16.
"Hold her down," sneered Sentinel.
"No," roared D-16.
"Stop! Please stop," pleaded Siren, praying to Primus for this to end.
"Leave her alone," shouted D-16.
"D, help me," cried Siren, begging for him to save her, struggling to fight off Arachnid, Sentinel, and the soldiers the latter ordered to restrain her.
It's no use. Siren is much smaller than they are and doesn't have the strength to throw them off as they force her down onto the floor.
Through sheer force of will, ignoring his own pain, D-16 brook out of his binders and charged at Sentinel and Arachnid.
Unfortunately, D-16 was intercepted and tackled to the floor before he could even lay a hand on any of them.
"Siren," called D-16, fighting with everything he had to get to her.
"D," sobbed Siren as Arachnid stood menacingly above her.
Arachnid made sure Siren couldn't get away as Sentinel knelt over the helpless Siren, taking out a knife.
No matter how hard D-16 fought, he couldn't shake them off. Breaking one arm free, D-16 reaches out to Siren.
Siren's fingers graze his and as D-16 wraps his servo around her wrist she desperately latches on.
There was nothing D-16 could do.
All D-16 can do is watch on helplessly as Sentinel commits an unforgivable and unspeakable crime to the most innocent and selfless female to ever live on Cybertron.
The last sound D-16 would ever hear from Siren's sweet lips would be a terrible scream. A heart-wrenching scream that would haunt D-16 for eons to come, tormenting his very spark with constant guilt and grief that he was right there and miserably failed to save Siren from this injustice.
Authors Note:
… (Hiding under my bed) All right. Lay it on me. (Arms wrapped around the head, braced for impact)
Thank you guys for all the weapon suggestions. I wouldn't have been able to move onto this chapter otherwise. Basically, she'll have a sonic amplifier on her wrist for defense and curved cutlass blades that retract on her wrists for offense.
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.