Transformers Fan Fiction ❯ Fragments of Allspark ❯ Prime and Prejudice ( Chapter 7 )

Chapter 7: Prime and Prejudice

A/N: I -seriously- couldn't resist sneaking this title in. X3

 

 

His fingers of his good hand were coated in blood, covered in dust, and coated over again. Regardless, Ratchet looked carefully though wreckage in the city, pausing at each twisted car, each lifeless body. Carnage was bad when it was your own kind; he was well versed in the art of battle. Something about this just seemed worse. Energon did not stain and leave small streaks of rust. The expressions on these faces somehow seemed more real. When a transformer died, he simply passed into oblivion, all expression sensors died with him. The human's expressions had a tendency to freeze in place. Rigor mortis, if Ratchet remembered correctly from the medical journals he read over the years, was the cause of it.

 

 

As he reached for a large slab of concrete to move away from the hood of a car, Ratchet felt a tremble in the earth. Frozen in caution, Ratchet watched as small pebbles rolled and bounced and only a shout from Ironhide brought his gaze to the advancing line of armored tanks rolling their way.

“Primus, help us.”

He muttered.

 

 

Moments before:

The tall transformer rolled away from his crashed ship. His entry had been less than ideal, but who knew Earth's atmosphere was so chaotic? Naked; he needed cover. But unlike so many of his comrades, he was a picky one. No time, though, judging by the three explosions that were aimed at his tremendous landing. He supposed the blasts aimed at him were no more powerful than his connection to the ground. His tank of Energon had exploded, too, curse it! Through squints through flame, he had seen three vehicles speeding on the causeway, and his optics indicated that they were Autobots. The transformer looked around. Most vehicles were wrecked beyond scanning, though he saw a glint from within a small cinderblock garage. Perhaps that vehicle was useable. Maybe even flashy.

 

 

The line of tanks became an arc and the arc became a closing circle. With impressive speed, the Autobots were surrounded. The cannon barrels clicked in unison and locked on the three, who had backed into each other in a defensive maneuver. A roar from above lifted three gazes to a swooping and diving jet. The Jet, more precisely, a Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, made a final dive for the ground and landed just inside the circle as a transformed Decepticon. Starscream laughed, more of a dry screeching sound, and crossed his arms over his chest.

 

 

“I go hunting for two fawns, and I get the whole herd! How delightful!” The laugh came again, and Prime had to still Ironhide from breaking stance.

“I didn't think that you Autobot scum were entirely stupid, but it appears as if I were wrong. But wait! Where is your little friend? The yellow one…”Starscream began to walk down the arc of tanks, slowly circling the Autobots.

“Oh yes, the bee. Didn't you know that by sending him to the infant, that you were sending him to his death? Optimus Prime, how many transformers will you allow to die under your command?”

“Shut up, Decepticon!” growled Ironhide, unable to keep his temper.

“Witty comeback, Ironhide, full of grace as usual. Your beloved Bumblebee is most likely scrap metal by now. Barricade will have made sure of that. And the infant, well, she will be in my grasp soon enough.”

“What have you done, Starscream!? Where are the humans?” Ratchet joined in, only Optimus Prime holding his stoic silence.

“Dead.” Prime flinched, much to Starscream's delight “I had them with the first blast. They were trying to get away in that heap of a-“

“What do you want with the infant, Decepticon?” Prime demanded quietly, not raising his head. Starscream paused. If it was possibly, he appeared to be even more satisfied than before.

“Prime, you really are stupid.” He spat. “I actually had more faith in you than that.”

 

With a tragic sigh, Starscream began.

“You divided the last fragment of the Allspark into pieces, and bestowed one of them to the child of your two humans. I thought you were making an intelligent move for once but I guess I stand corrected.” He blinked. “That's twice now, that you force me to be incorrect. I will make you pay for that.”

“Get on with it, Starscream.” Prime growled.

“The Allspark, in such small pieces, give a transformer little in return for wearing it. You have felt no real effects from it, no doubt.” He glanced at each Autobot in turn. It was true, each Autobot felts its presence but no more.

“That raw power, in the possession of a fleshling human, becomes a part of them. The longer they retain the Allspark, the more the Allspark lends to their life force.”

Prime had to choke down an exclamation. Starscream was right. He was stupid.

“The Witwicky child will have an enormous amount of life's power by the time she is old enough to wield it.”

“Are you joking? A human cannot wield life's force!” Ratchet snorted in disgust.

“You, Ratchet, are absolutely right. That's why, with the power of the other four Allspark fragments; I intend to create a transferring device. When the child is old enough to handle it without perishing, yet still young enough to be molded, I shall turn her into a transformer, and use her to take over earth.”

 

 

All of the Autobots jaws dropped. It was possible, thought Prime wildly, it was actually possible! Allspark could be used to do anything, even transfer bodies. He had heard legend, passed into myth, that life's force could be sustained and molded into a new shell. With four fragments, Starscream wouldn't even need a shell; Allspark would make its own path. The Decepticon would merely need to `suggest' to Allspark what the final form should look like. That could easily be done with the computing knowledge available on earth. He would have to ask Ratchet just how it could be achieved; Oh Primus to have Wheeljack around again! He had doomed the child. Perhaps he wasn't fit to lead anymore.

Starscream cackled as Optimus Prime's head hung in disgrace. He raised his hand and the tanks focused cannons. His small excursion to space to link to military satellites was useful, as he could control any computer onboard weaponry.

“In the hour of your greatest shame, DIE, OPTIMUS PRIME!”

Prime balled his fists. This was the end.

 

A red and yellow streak bounded over the line of tanks and grabbed the nearest one by its long cannon shaft. Ratchet, who was facing that direction, couldn't believe his oculars. It was a transformer! The unknown ally swung the tank like a toy and bashed in the others in a sweeping circle, whooping as he did. Starscream howled in fury and ordered the rest of the tanks to fire. Most of the shells were stopped by the mangled tank flung at them, and the rest diverted by the transformers own artillery. He scooped up two more tanks and hurled them at Starscream, who shrieked and transformed. The Decepticon jettisoned away out of sight in a matter of seconds, his goal above all else being self-preservation. The tall transformer dispatched the rest of the tanks in rather creative ways. More hurling took place, some sandwiching, and a twist of the shaft imploded some with their own missiles. When the explosions stopped and the smoke blew away, the transformer stood, smiling.

“Damn, I know how to make an entrance!” He boomed, his flame-bedecked chest glinting in the sun.

“Hot Rod?” Ratchet asked incredulously.

“The one and only!” Hot Rod struck a pose.