WARNING LONG POST! AS WELL AS HEAVILY IMPLIED DISFIGURATION! you'll know it when you see it.
Prologue: Shattered Glass - II -
[----- TFP : UO -----]
When Soundwave suddenly showed Megatron of a mysterious gold and silver sphere, with mysterious glyphs carved into its shell, Megatron had been curious about it. When it was revealed that no one had catalogued or even reported the item into their storage, he'd briefly been furious- what if it had been an Autobot trap? Or a dangerous artifact that could have scrapped them to the Pits?
He ordered Soundwave and Starscream to find out how it got on his damned ship and what it was, and to his disappointment, a rare thing for Soundwave but so unfortunately common for Starscream, they couldn't find anything that much significant.
Other than Soundwave's translation of the glyphs that were apparently written in Primal Vernacular, he had thought the glyphs seemed familiar… But that just proved that this item was related to the Autobots, or at least, to Optimus Prime.
Megatron was tempted to throw it overboard, but… the curiosity about what exactly this sphere was, overpowered that temptation. If it was a trap, then perhaps he could repurpose it somehow. Either way, he kept the sphere and was just about to hold a meeting with his Decepticons on what to do with it when it suddenly glowed.
Blasters had immediately pointed at the item, with an emergency groundbridge as a way to escape whatever would happen- yet it was not needed, as it only began to show a holographic screen. And then it began to show the Autobot human pets running in the halls of a subtly different warship.
Weapons were put away, but confusion settled in instead. Then shock as the other Starscream appeared, looking far too different from the opportunistic coward that was his second in command. And then the other Arachnid appeared, also very different- the Decepticons on the screen were not disgusted by the human vermin, but treated them like how the Autobots had treated their version of the pests on the screen.
Then, they spoke about him. Megatron. Other Megatron, who, from what he could parse from their words- was an actual Prime on the screen if he was concluding things correctly. Yet his counterpart had no interest in ruling Cybertron apparently, why? After everything—
It showed him. Other Megatron who looked more like Megatronus, his old, gladiatorial self but older. Seemingly wiser, and so different from how Megatron currently was. Even through the screen, there was an air around him that Megatron had only felt around Optimus. Other Megatron was speaking to that human, the one that had the chance to end him yet didn't. And they were talking about Kaon of all things.
Emotions warred in him as he listened to his other self's words, disbelief and a cold anger that cracked through the confusion. What on Cybertron was he talking about? Weakness? Kindness? It took all he had to hold himself back from smashing the sphere to bits, as angry as he was, it wouldn't do to destroy it just yet…
Soundwave proposed something that would seem correct; this was an alternate world they were seeing. A world where it seemed that the Decepticons seemed more like Autobots… while in turn, the Autobots were more like Decepticons.
[ Megatron, Knock Out and Breakdown exited the groundbridge, arriving in a remote rocky canyon with difficult terrain. Breakdown and Knock Out had their weapons out, while Megatron gave the area a tense survey only to falter as he saw a frame slumped against a nearby boulder, energon staining his plating and forming a small puddle beside him. "Makeshift!" He exclaimed, quickly running over to the injured Decepticon. "Knock Out-"
"On it!" Knock Out interrupted hurriedly, weapons transforming back into servos as he tried to deal with Makeshift. "Makeshift, Makeshift it's me. My friend, can you hear me? Makeshift, come on- stay with me." ]
"Were you ever close with Makeshift?" Breakdown muttered to Knock Out who shook his helm.
"Barely knew the guy."
Starscream stayed silent, watching Makeshift die before him once again- a slower death this time instead of an explosion. For all the anger he had over Makeshift's blunder, the mech had been an admirable Decepticon, and an amicable one as well. Many of his operations would have probably gone differently if he had Makeshift around. And Megatron hadn't been too pleased to find out that the stealth operative had died.
Even now, the warlord gave Starscream a displeased look that had Starscream flinching.
[ "Starscream, ready the—" Before Megatron could even finish his sentence, his instincts took over and in an instant he had his sword out. Lashing out and knocking away the red energon blast that had been shot at him and his cons.
A dark voice chuckled, low, deep and sensual almost. "Well, well, well." It purred as the screen showed the languid moving mech coming from one end of the canyon. "What a wonderful cycle it is, to find a lone Decepticon who then leads me back to my dearest friend." Yellow-orange optics pierced through the screen, a malicious smirk on his faceplate. "Megatron. How lovely to see you again." ]
Involuntarily a shiver went down his spinal strut, optics widening at the sound and sight of the darkened Prime and intake struggling not to drop- because warlords' jaws don't drop in surprise at the sight of- of… Evil Optimus Prime. Megaron felt almost dizzy, from the contrasting sight before him, a picture of his own loathed enemy being compared to the one on screen. His internal fans whirred a bit too loudly and he clenched a servo.
Starscream, however, had no qualms in his jaw dropping. Optics practically bulging out of his sockets. "That's Optimus Prime?!" His voice glitched for a moment from how hysterical he felt at the jarring sight of 'Evil Optimus.'
"... Hot damn." Knock Out breathed out to the side, lightly fanning himself with a servo. Holding on to a dumbfounded Breakdown who was staring at the screen.
Arachnid raised an optic ridge, surprise in her own optics but her derma forming a smirk. "Well, well, the Prime cleans up quite nicely." That wasn't saying that Optimus Prime wasn't a looker here, but there was a certain… spice as the humans would say, in seeing Optimus Prime being openly malicious.
Soundwave said nothing like always, but he did take a picture.
(Elsewhere, a group of Autobots and a trio of humans were absolutely losing it at the sight of Evil Optimus Prime. Said Prime himself, seemed utterly speechless at the moment.)
[ Behind him, Ratchet stepped into view, clinical green optics honing in at Makeshift with Knock Out. "The specimen is still alive? You're losing your touch Arcee." He intoned with a slight chuckle aimed at the smaller bot beside him.
An orange-optic femme scoffed, "Please, it's not fun to just kill him right off the bat- besides, it worked out didn't it?" She smiled sharply at the Decepticons, "I'm sure Optimus appreciates the new company we have here."
Optimus chuckled, optics burning bright as he stared at Megatron. "Oh, I am delighted." ]
Arachnid narrowed her optics at the Arcee on screen, tilting her helm in thought. "Hm." Part of her did seethe at the sight of the motorcycle-femme but knowing this Arcee was more of a devilish Decepticon there instead of a heroic Autobot… it intrigued her. She certainly seemed to know how to have fun.
(A medic and a femme scout-warrior boggled at the sight of their alternate selves. Joining their leader in being speechless.)
[ Megatron's servos clenched and it was a flurry of action as Optimus ran forward, servos transformed into blade and blaster. Megatron ran forward to meet with him. Ratchet and Arcee targeted both Knock Out and Breakdown. "Knock Out to base! Autobots are here! I repeat, Autobots ar- guh!" Knock Out grunted as he shifted his servos into scalpels to try and block Ratchet's sawblade weapon.
"I'm going to need that corpse you're trying so hard to save Knock Out." Ratchet grunts, a cold smile settling on his faceplate. "I have always wanted to get my servos on a Shifter's T-Cog."
Knock Out gave him a disgusted and determined look, "Not. A. Chance!" He hauled all his strength into pushing the mad doctor away. "Breakdown!"
"Little busy here Doc!" Breakdown shouted back, trying his hardest to hit Arcee who nimblely weaved away from his swinging hammer with a cackle. ]
"Ugh, what happened to my sawblades!?" Knock Out griped, glaring at himself at the screen- pretty as his other was, he couldn't help but feel frustrated by the fact the other version of that old scrapbucket Ratchet seemed to have the upper hand in combat and had what seemed to be his sawblades. Just because he was a goody-two-pedes in that world doesn't mean he shouldn't still have good equipment!
(In the Autobot Base, a medic reeled in disgust at his counterpart's words and equipment. He, too, glared at his counterpart.)
[ "You recruit the most colorful of mechs, Megatron." Optimus says between blows, matching Megatron blow for blow as they fought, misdirecting each other's blaster fire and their blades meeting again and again. "Pity his stealth skills were no match to Ultra Magnus' meticulous and controlling nature, he noticed the extra mechabot not too long after he appeared. My doctor is rather excited to have his servos on the Shifter's T-Cog, I'm sure he'll put it to a better use than you ever did."
Megatron's optics narrowed and his faceplate pulled a gritting, heavy frown. "No, not while energon flows through my veins, Optimus." He replied through gritted denta. ]
"Mechabot?" Megatron muttered with slight interest but his focus returned to the fact that Optimus had said the name 'Ultra Magnus', a familiar name. An Autobot from the Elite Guard, commander of the old war unit the Wreckers. He was on Earth? Or at least, the other version of Earth?
Actually, nevermind that, how was Optimus matching him blow for blow?! Was Megatron not the Prime in that world?! And a gladiator at that! Why was Optimus still his equal despite those odds! Just what had happened to the archivist in that world? His frame had clearly been reforged, but those skills… Was this Optimus not a data clerk like his own had been? Had Orion Pax in that world, been a warforged or even laborer mech like Megatron had been? Is that why things were so different?
"Soundwave, find a way to gain control over the sphere." He muttered to his communications officer. There were details to this world that he was very interested to know.
And those words… Hadn't Optimus uttered those words to him the day he brought back Dark Energon and resurrected that ancient battlefield?
This world… possibly every world, was Optimus always destined to be against him?
(A certain Prime couldn't help but think of the same question.)
[ A groundbridge finally opened behind the Decepticon side of things. A helicopter and a jet flew out of the bridge, the copter landing by the terrifyingly still Makeshift while the jet went straight to Optimus and Megatron. "I've got you." Arachnid said as she transformed into her root mode, using her extra legs to help gently pick up the injured mech and make sure he was held stably.
"Arachnid!" A delighted and dark voice exclaimed and the femme froze, glancing over to see Arcee grinning almost ferally at her, abandoning her fight with Breakdown to pursue her instead.
Optimus grunted as Soundwave's alt mode slammed into his midsection, knocking him away from Megatron, transforming into his root mode afterwards with his blades out. "Ah, Soundwave." Optimus smiled with sinister amusement as he got back to his pedes. "So nice to see you face to face once more."
The bot trembled in place, in both anger… and fear. "Soundwave! Get back!" Megatron barked, optics gleaming in concern as he knew the trauma Soundwave had with Optimus.
The screen flashed white for a moment. ]
With how things were swapped in that world, Arachnid had to wonder just what her other counterpart had done to gain such a reaction from Arcee. And just what Arcee had done to invoke such fear in the other spider's faceplate… It intrigued her as much as it annoyed her.
Soundwave in the meanwhile, tilted his head in question. Silently observing his other counterpart, he could see his fellow Decepticons glance at him in question as well. Especially his lord and master, Megatron.
When the screen went white, there was confusion before the realization that this was a flashback settled in as it showed the next scene.
A feeling of dread swept through them all.
(The same went for the Autobots.)
[ "Soundwave, it's so nice to finally meet you face to face." The shadowy figure of Optimus said to a restrained and injured Soundwave. His visor was completely shattered, green optics staring up defiantly at him. "Tell me, where is Megatron?"
"Optimus: will never gain information from me." Soundwave replied with a growl, voice strong and steady, frame weakly struggling. "Optimus: Will lose and never have Cybertron! Megatron: is true Prime!"
The yellow-orange optics tinged a darker color, "How loyal. Let's reward that shall we? You know Soundwave, it's a shame that you hide your faceplate behind a visor, it's rather pleasing to see, though no one even knows what you look like underneath. So it doesn't really matter I suppose…" He picked up a sharp piece of glinting metal. "Well, since you insist on hiding it behind a visor, I don't suppose you'll mind if you give me your face?" He asked softly, sweetly almost, in contrast to his optics slowly turning red and then the swift movement of the metal shard.
The screen cut to the wall, showing only the shadow of Optimus pulling something that was connected to something else, lines that dripped and glowed, someone screaming in the background to the point it glitched severely when Optimus sliced through the lines. Bright energon splattered on the wall as Optimus held up a plate that dripped down and a dark laugh was heard. ]
Silence reigned the room for a while. Jaws fully dropped from witnessing the entire scene.
Megatron's optics were even wider than before, and for once, he didn't care for his image as his intake was opened in clear shock. It wasn't everyday that his enemy seemingly tortured and enforced essentially Empurata on his loyal communications officer.
His first thought is Optimus Prime would NEVER. His second thought is Soundwave still has his faceplate, Optimus never took it here. Subconsciously, his gaze snaps towards the silent mech, frame still, like a statue- nothing too unusual but this was different. There was a tenseness that Megatron seldom saw in Soundwave. He wasn't just still as a statue, he was frozen. When was the last time he'd ever seen Soundwave like this?
"... Well, that just happened." Knock Out said without any tact, like usual. He winced when he earned Megatron's burning gaze filled with ire.
(In a base, hidden on Earth. A Prime flinches back, horrified, a rare look of intense emotion overtaking his faceplate. His teammates swarm him, trying to comfort and soothe their distressed leader. Three tiny humans join the fray, telling him that he would never. That he was different, that he was not the mech on the screen.)
For some reason, his processor thought back to Optimus' yellow scout and the parallels to the moment, yet so very different.
[ The screen flashes white once more and returns to Soundwave standing between Optimus and Megatron. "Tell me, did you ever replace your faceplate? After all this time?" The look on Optimus' face was predatory, "Perhaps I should find out!" He dashed forward with a sly grin and wild optics, both servos turned to blades.
The screen froze completely. ]
("I don't think I wanna watch this anymore." A small human admitted, and was heard as his words instantly froze the screen.)
"What's happening? Why did it stop?" Megatron questioned gruffly, optics narrowed and intense at the sight of the Other Optimus- so different from the heroic Prime that he knew.
"I- I don't know, Master. We didn't do anything!" Starscream exclaimed,
"Someone is doing something!" Megatron hissed in annoyance, servos darting out to touch the screen- he doesn't even know which option he would've chosen. It didn't matter as his clawed digits did nothing but phase through the words just as the option of ACCEPT was picked.
("A-Accept! We don't want to watch whatever that was anymore." The oldest human exclaimed, feeling relieved.)
[ OBSERVATION CEASED
UNIVERSE DATA RECORDED: SHATTERED GLASS (JM-DESIGN) SAVED
UNIVERSE AVAILABLE FOR PURVIEW WITHIN UNIVERSE LIBRARY
ERROR - UNIVERSE LIBRARY CORRUPTED
UNIVERSE LIBRARY HAS LOST PREVIOUSLY RECORDED UNIVERSE DATA
UNIVERSE DATA AVAILABLE FOR CURRENT CONTINUITY: ONE (1)
- SHATTERED GLASS (JM-DESIGN)
SEARCH FOR NEW UNIVERSAL OBSERVATION?
ACCEPT / DECLINE ]
"Uh, Lord Megatron? I don't think we're in control of whatever's going on right now." Breakdown hesitantly spoke up, cringing away when the warlord turned his optics at him.
Megatron growled, glaring at the screen. "No, it appears we are not… I suspect the Autobots are the ones controlling this sphere somehow despite the distance… Soundwave, can you do something about it? Either take control of the sphere or track the Autobots' signal from it?"
For a moment, Soundwave says nothing, does nothing. "... Soundwave." Megatron repeats, not exactly soft, but not as harsh as Megatron would have said to gain his loyal communication's officer's attention.
The mech finally twitched, his cables emerging from his frame to try and connect to the sphere. He tried in all different angles, the inner wires of his cables trying to find a seam it could get into, a crack to slip in. But nothing. Reluctantly, his cables retreated and he hung his helm low in shameful defeat.
Megatron scowled, but aimed it at the sphere instead of Soundwave. He watched as the option ACCEPT was picked, and wondered what exactly the Autobots were planning this time.
("Let's uh, let's find something else! Hopefully something a bit more light hearted?")
[----- TFP : UO -----]
[ ENTER KEY WORD TO START UNIVERSAL OBSERVATION ]
[----- TFP : UO -----]
HAHAHAHAHAHAH yeah i did that. the moment i started the shattered glass segment, i had the scene of sg optimus tearing sg soundwave's face off- as a reference to the wild bayverse movies. also i thought it'd be fitting in a way? because megatron took bee's voicebox, sg optimus gets to take sg soundwave's faceplate away.
once again i thank @jealousmarquis for their edits of the shattered glass universe. THEY ALSO HAVE AN EDIT OF SOUNDWAVE'S FACE AND I DIG WITH IT! thats now canon in this fic.
prologue is done! mostly because we now know the premise and yes i know this shattered glass segment was woefully short BUT DONT WORRY IT CAN COME BACK! we just gotta let the trauma settle for everyone a bit and go towards something a bit more lighthearted
HOWEVER! YOU GET TO DECIDE! i'll be giving vague options for everyone to choose!
What Universe should be Observed next?
Optimus and Megatron Working Together (Wholesome)
Optimus and Megatron Working Together (Serious)
Dealer's Choice ( I choose what to write myself)
Voting ended onJan 19, 2025
another reason why i decided to end the shattered glass segment is because i realized halfway into writing is that i kinda sidelined the kids in the reaction bits- i showed them in the beginning, but the beginning premise is supposed to include jack, miko and raf as the main characters of each reaction universe. but then the shattered glass segment easily pushed them aside and while that IS fine, i kinda wanna stay focused on the kids being main characters here for a moment.
and yes, the options, despite involving optimus and megatron working together WILL have the kids as the main focal point of the reaction universe. and to those who don't want that- be patient, i'll have things shifted as we go along.
EDIT: forgot to mention! the reason the other SG Autobots haven't shown up is just that i decided to mostly do with the characters that jealousmarquis edited for easier visualization. if they ever do the others and we're revisiting the shattered glass jm-design, they'll be there one way or another.
WARNING LONG POST! AS WELL AS HEAVILY IMPLIED DISFIGURATION! you'll know it when you see it.
Prologue: Shattered Glass - II -
[----- TFP : UO -----]
When Soundwave suddenly showed Megatron of a mysterious gold and silver sphere, with mysterious glyphs carved into its shell, Megatron had been curious about it. When it was revealed that no one had catalogued or even reported the item into their storage, he'd briefly been furious- what if it had been an Autobot trap? Or a dangerous artifact that could have scrapped them to the Pits?
He ordered Soundwave and Starscream to find out how it got on his damned ship and what it was, and to his disappointment, a rare thing for Soundwave but so unfortunately common for Starscream, they couldn't find anything that much significant.
Other than Soundwave's translation of the glyphs that were apparently written in Primal Vernacular, he had thought the glyphs seemed familiar… But that just proved that this item was related to the Autobots, or at least, to Optimus Prime.
Megatron was tempted to throw it overboard, but… the curiosity about what exactly this sphere was, overpowered that temptation. If it was a trap, then perhaps he could repurpose it somehow. Either way, he kept the sphere and was just about to hold a meeting with his Decepticons on what to do with it when it suddenly glowed.
Blasters had immediately pointed at the item, with an emergency groundbridge as a way to escape whatever would happen- yet it was not needed, as it only began to show a holographic screen. And then it began to show the Autobot human pets running in the halls of a subtly different warship.
Weapons were put away, but confusion settled in instead. Then shock as the other Starscream appeared, looking far too different from the opportunistic coward that was his second in command. And then the other Arachnid appeared, also very different- the Decepticons on the screen were not disgusted by the human vermin, but treated them like how the Autobots had treated their version of the pests on the screen.
Then, they spoke about him. Megatron. Other Megatron, who, from what he could parse from their words- was an actual Prime on the screen if he was concluding things correctly. Yet his counterpart had no interest in ruling Cybertron apparently, why? After everything—
It showed him. Other Megatron who looked more like Megatronus, his old, gladiatorial self but older. Seemingly wiser, and so different from how Megatron currently was. Even through the screen, there was an air around him that Megatron had only felt around Optimus. Other Megatron was speaking to that human, the one that had the chance to end him yet didn't. And they were talking about Kaon of all things.
Emotions warred in him as he listened to his other self's words, disbelief and a cold anger that cracked through the confusion. What on Cybertron was he talking about? Weakness? Kindness? It took all he had to hold himself back from smashing the sphere to bits, as angry as he was, it wouldn't do to destroy it just yet…
Soundwave proposed something that would seem correct; this was an alternate world they were seeing. A world where it seemed that the Decepticons seemed more like Autobots… while in turn, the Autobots were more like Decepticons.
[ Megatron, Knock Out and Breakdown exited the groundbridge, arriving in a remote rocky canyon with difficult terrain. Breakdown and Knock Out had their weapons out, while Megatron gave the area a tense survey only to falter as he saw a frame slumped against a nearby boulder, energon staining his plating and forming a small puddle beside him. "Makeshift!" He exclaimed, quickly running over to the injured Decepticon. "Knock Out-"
"On it!" Knock Out interrupted hurriedly, weapons transforming back into servos as he tried to deal with Makeshift. "Makeshift, Makeshift it's me. My friend, can you hear me? Makeshift, come on- stay with me." ]
"Were you ever close with Makeshift?" Breakdown muttered to Knock Out who shook his helm.
"Barely knew the guy."
Starscream stayed silent, watching Makeshift die before him once again- a slower death this time instead of an explosion. For all the anger he had over Makeshift's blunder, the mech had been an admirable Decepticon, and an amicable one as well. Many of his operations would have probably gone differently if he had Makeshift around. And Megatron hadn't been too pleased to find out that the stealth operative had died.
Even now, the warlord gave Starscream a displeased look that had Starscream flinching.
[ "Starscream, ready the—" Before Megatron could even finish his sentence, his instincts took over and in an instant he had his sword out. Lashing out and knocking away the red energon blast that had been shot at him and his cons.
A dark voice chuckled, low, deep and sensual almost. "Well, well, well." It purred as the screen showed the languid moving mech coming from one end of the canyon. "What a wonderful cycle it is, to find a lone Decepticon who then leads me back to my dearest friend." Yellow-orange optics pierced through the screen, a malicious smirk on his faceplate. "Megatron. How lovely to see you again." ]
Involuntarily a shiver went down his spinal strut, optics widening at the sound and sight of the darkened Prime and intake struggling not to drop- because warlords' jaws don't drop in surprise at the sight of- of… Evil Optimus Prime. Megaron felt almost dizzy, from the contrasting sight before him, a picture of his own loathed enemy being compared to the one on screen. His internal fans whirred a bit too loudly and he clenched a servo.
Starscream, however, had no qualms in his jaw dropping. Optics practically bulging out of his sockets. "That's Optimus Prime?!" His voice glitched for a moment from how hysterical he felt at the jarring sight of 'Evil Optimus.'
"... Hot damn." Knock Out breathed out to the side, lightly fanning himself with a servo. Holding on to a dumbfounded Breakdown who was staring at the screen.
Arachnid raised an optic ridge, surprise in her own optics but her derma forming a smirk. "Well, well, the Prime cleans up quite nicely." That wasn't saying that Optimus Prime wasn't a looker here, but there was a certain… spice as the humans would say, in seeing Optimus Prime being openly malicious.
Soundwave said nothing like always, but he did take a picture.
(Elsewhere, a group of Autobots and a trio of humans were absolutely losing it at the sight of Evil Optimus Prime. Said Prime himself, seemed utterly speechless at the moment.)
[ Behind him, Ratchet stepped into view, clinical green optics honing in at Makeshift with Knock Out. "The specimen is still alive? You're losing your touch Arcee." He intoned with a slight chuckle aimed at the smaller bot beside him.
An orange-optic femme scoffed, "Please, it's not fun to just kill him right off the bat- besides, it worked out didn't it?" She smiled sharply at the Decepticons, "I'm sure Optimus appreciates the new company we have here."
Optimus chuckled, optics burning bright as he stared at Megatron. "Oh, I am delighted." ]
Arachnid narrowed her optics at the Arcee on screen, tilting her helm in thought. "Hm." Part of her did seethe at the sight of the motorcycle-femme but knowing this Arcee was more of a devilish Decepticon there instead of a heroic Autobot… it intrigued her. She certainly seemed to know how to have fun.
(A medic and a femme scout-warrior boggled at the sight of their alternate selves. Joining their leader in being speechless.)
[ Megatron's servos clenched and it was a flurry of action as Optimus ran forward, servos transformed into blade and blaster. Megatron ran forward to meet with him. Ratchet and Arcee targeted both Knock Out and Breakdown. "Knock Out to base! Autobots are here! I repeat, Autobots ar- guh!" Knock Out grunted as he shifted his servos into scalpels to try and block Ratchet's sawblade weapon.
"I'm going to need that corpse you're trying so hard to save Knock Out." Ratchet grunts, a cold smile settling on his faceplate. "I have always wanted to get my servos on a Shifter's T-Cog."
Knock Out gave him a disgusted and determined look, "Not. A. Chance!" He hauled all his strength into pushing the mad doctor away. "Breakdown!"
"Little busy here Doc!" Breakdown shouted back, trying his hardest to hit Arcee who nimblely weaved away from his swinging hammer with a cackle. ]
"Ugh, what happened to my sawblades!?" Knock Out griped, glaring at himself at the screen- pretty as his other was, he couldn't help but feel frustrated by the fact the other version of that old scrapbucket Ratchet seemed to have the upper hand in combat and had what seemed to be his sawblades. Just because he was a goody-two-pedes in that world doesn't mean he shouldn't still have good equipment!
(In the Autobot Base, a medic reeled in disgust at his counterpart's words and equipment. He, too, glared at his counterpart.)
[ "You recruit the most colorful of mechs, Megatron." Optimus says between blows, matching Megatron blow for blow as they fought, misdirecting each other's blaster fire and their blades meeting again and again. "Pity his stealth skills were no match to Ultra Magnus' meticulous and controlling nature, he noticed the extra mechabot not too long after he appeared. My doctor is rather excited to have his servos on the Shifter's T-Cog, I'm sure he'll put it to a better use than you ever did."
Megatron's optics narrowed and his faceplate pulled a gritting, heavy frown. "No, not while energon flows through my veins, Optimus." He replied through gritted denta. ]
"Mechabot?" Megatron muttered with slight interest but his focus returned to the fact that Optimus had said the name 'Ultra Magnus', a familiar name. An Autobot from the Elite Guard, commander of the old war unit the Wreckers. He was on Earth? Or at least, the other version of Earth?
Actually, nevermind that, how was Optimus matching him blow for blow?! Was Megatron not the Prime in that world?! And a gladiator at that! Why was Optimus still his equal despite those odds! Just what had happened to the archivist in that world? His frame had clearly been reforged, but those skills… Was this Optimus not a data clerk like his own had been? Had Orion Pax in that world, been a warforged or even laborer mech like Megatron had been? Is that why things were so different?
"Soundwave, find a way to gain control over the sphere." He muttered to his communications officer. There were details to this world that he was very interested to know.
And those words… Hadn't Optimus uttered those words to him the day he brought back Dark Energon and resurrected that ancient battlefield?
This world… possibly every world, was Optimus always destined to be against him?
(A certain Prime couldn't help but think of the same question.)
[ A groundbridge finally opened behind the Decepticon side of things. A helicopter and a jet flew out of the bridge, the copter landing by the terrifyingly still Makeshift while the jet went straight to Optimus and Megatron. "I've got you." Arachnid said as she transformed into her root mode, using her extra legs to help gently pick up the injured mech and make sure he was held stably.
"Arachnid!" A delighted and dark voice exclaimed and the femme froze, glancing over to see Arcee grinning almost ferally at her, abandoning her fight with Breakdown to pursue her instead.
Optimus grunted as Soundwave's alt mode slammed into his midsection, knocking him away from Megatron, transforming into his root mode afterwards with his blades out. "Ah, Soundwave." Optimus smiled with sinister amusement as he got back to his pedes. "So nice to see you face to face once more."
The bot trembled in place, in both anger… and fear. "Soundwave! Get back!" Megatron barked, optics gleaming in concern as he knew the trauma Soundwave had with Optimus.
The screen flashed white for a moment. ]
With how things were swapped in that world, Arachnid had to wonder just what her other counterpart had done to gain such a reaction from Arcee. And just what Arcee had done to invoke such fear in the other spider's faceplate… It intrigued her as much as it annoyed her.
Soundwave in the meanwhile, tilted his head in question. Silently observing his other counterpart, he could see his fellow Decepticons glance at him in question as well. Especially his lord and master, Megatron.
When the screen went white, there was confusion before the realization that this was a flashback settled in as it showed the next scene.
A feeling of dread swept through them all.
(The same went for the Autobots.)
[ "Soundwave, it's so nice to finally meet you face to face." The shadowy figure of Optimus said to a restrained and injured Soundwave. His visor was completely shattered, green optics staring up defiantly at him. "Tell me, where is Megatron?"
"Optimus: will never gain information from me." Soundwave replied with a growl, voice strong and steady, frame weakly struggling. "Optimus: Will lose and never have Cybertron! Megatron: is true Prime!"
The yellow-orange optics tinged a darker color, "How loyal. Let's reward that shall we? You know Soundwave, it's a shame that you hide your faceplate behind a visor, it's rather pleasing to see, though no one even knows what you look like underneath. So it doesn't really matter I suppose…" He picked up a sharp piece of glinting metal. "Well, since you insist on hiding it behind a visor, I don't suppose you'll mind if you give me your face?" He asked softly, sweetly almost, in contrast to his optics slowly turning red and then the swift movement of the metal shard.
The screen cut to the wall, showing only the shadow of Optimus pulling something that was connected to something else, lines that dripped and glowed, someone screaming in the background to the point it glitched severely when Optimus sliced through the lines. Bright energon splattered on the wall as Optimus held up a plate that dripped down and a dark laugh was heard. ]
Silence reigned the room for a while. Jaws fully dropped from witnessing the entire scene.
Megatron's optics were even wider than before, and for once, he didn't care for his image as his intake was opened in clear shock. It wasn't everyday that his enemy seemingly tortured and enforced essentially Empurata on his loyal communications officer.
His first thought is Optimus Prime would NEVER. His second thought is Soundwave still has his faceplate, Optimus never took it here. Subconsciously, his gaze snaps towards the silent mech, frame still, like a statue- nothing too unusual but this was different. There was a tenseness that Megatron seldom saw in Soundwave. He wasn't just still as a statue, he was frozen. When was the last time he'd ever seen Soundwave like this?
"... Well, that just happened." Knock Out said without any tact, like usual. He winced when he earned Megatron's burning gaze filled with ire.
(In a base, hidden on Earth. A Prime flinches back, horrified, a rare look of intense emotion overtaking his faceplate. His teammates swarm him, trying to comfort and soothe their distressed leader. Three tiny humans join the fray, telling him that he would never. That he was different, that he was not the mech on the screen.)
For some reason, his processor thought back to Optimus' yellow scout and the parallels to the moment, yet so very different.
[ The screen flashes white once more and returns to Soundwave standing between Optimus and Megatron. "Tell me, did you ever replace your faceplate? After all this time?" The look on Optimus' face was predatory, "Perhaps I should find out!" He dashed forward with a sly grin and wild optics, both servos turned to blades.
The screen froze completely. ]
("I don't think I wanna watch this anymore." A small human admitted, and was heard as his words instantly froze the screen.)
"What's happening? Why did it stop?" Megatron questioned gruffly, optics narrowed and intense at the sight of the Other Optimus- so different from the heroic Prime that he knew.
"I- I don't know, Master. We didn't do anything!" Starscream exclaimed,
"Someone is doing something!" Megatron hissed in annoyance, servos darting out to touch the screen- he doesn't even know which option he would've chosen. It didn't matter as his clawed digits did nothing but phase through the words just as the option of ACCEPT was picked.
("A-Accept! We don't want to watch whatever that was anymore." The oldest human exclaimed, feeling relieved.)
[ OBSERVATION CEASED
UNIVERSE DATA RECORDED: SHATTERED GLASS (JM-DESIGN) SAVED
UNIVERSE AVAILABLE FOR PURVIEW WITHIN UNIVERSE LIBRARY
ERROR - UNIVERSE LIBRARY CORRUPTED
UNIVERSE LIBRARY HAS LOST PREVIOUSLY RECORDED UNIVERSE DATA
UNIVERSE DATA AVAILABLE FOR CURRENT CONTINUITY: ONE (1)
- SHATTERED GLASS (JM-DESIGN)
SEARCH FOR NEW UNIVERSAL OBSERVATION?
ACCEPT / DECLINE ]
"Uh, Lord Megatron? I don't think we're in control of whatever's going on right now." Breakdown hesitantly spoke up, cringing away when the warlord turned his optics at him.
Megatron growled, glaring at the screen. "No, it appears we are not… I suspect the Autobots are the ones controlling this sphere somehow despite the distance… Soundwave, can you do something about it? Either take control of the sphere or track the Autobots' signal from it?"
For a moment, Soundwave says nothing, does nothing. "... Soundwave." Megatron repeats, not exactly soft, but not as harsh as Megatron would have said to gain his loyal communication's officer's attention.
The mech finally twitched, his cables emerging from his frame to try and connect to the sphere. He tried in all different angles, the inner wires of his cables trying to find a seam it could get into, a crack to slip in. But nothing. Reluctantly, his cables retreated and he hung his helm low in shameful defeat.
Megatron scowled, but aimed it at the sphere instead of Soundwave. He watched as the option ACCEPT was picked, and wondered what exactly the Autobots were planning this time.
("Let's uh, let's find something else! Hopefully something a bit more light hearted?")
[----- TFP : UO -----]
[ ENTER KEY WORD TO START UNIVERSAL OBSERVATION ]
[----- TFP : UO -----]
HAHAHAHAHAHAH yeah i did that. the moment i started the shattered glass segment, i had the scene of sg optimus tearing sg soundwave's face off- as a reference to the wild bayverse movies. also i thought it'd be fitting in a way? because megatron took bee's voicebox, sg optimus gets to take sg soundwave's faceplate away.
once again i thank @jealousmarquis for their edits of the shattered glass universe. THEY ALSO HAVE AN EDIT OF SOUNDWAVE'S FACE AND I DIG WITH IT! thats now canon in this fic.
prologue is done! mostly because we now know the premise and yes i know this shattered glass segment was woefully short BUT DONT WORRY IT CAN COME BACK! we just gotta let the trauma settle for everyone a bit and go towards something a bit more lighthearted
HOWEVER! YOU GET TO DECIDE! i'll be giving vague options for everyone to choose!
What Universe should be Observed next?
Optimus and Megatron Working Together (Wholesome)
Optimus and Megatron Working Together (Serious)
Dealer's Choice ( I choose what to write myself)
Voting ended onJan 19, 2025
another reason why i decided to end the shattered glass segment is because i realized halfway into writing is that i kinda sidelined the kids in the reaction bits- i showed them in the beginning, but the beginning premise is supposed to include jack, miko and raf as the main characters of each reaction universe. but then the shattered glass segment easily pushed them aside and while that IS fine, i kinda wanna stay focused on the kids being main characters here for a moment.
and yes, the options, despite involving optimus and megatron working together WILL have the kids as the main focal point of the reaction universe. and to those who don't want that- be patient, i'll have things shifted as we go along.
EDIT: forgot to mention! the reason the other SG Autobots haven't shown up is just that i decided to mostly do with the characters that jealousmarquis edited for easier visualization. if they ever do the others and we're revisiting the shattered glass jm-design, they'll be there one way or another.
i cracked, i caved underneath my own pressure and impulse
HAVE THIS REACTION FIC OF TEAM PRIME LOOKING INTO ALTERNATE UNIVERSES! i'm gonna test this out on tumblr in an effort to be more active here.
this is mostly going to focus around Raf, Miko and Jack btw! at least at the start. also! this is set around mid-season 1, when Arachnid arrives at the Nemesis.
WARNING! LONG POST!
Prologue: Shattered Glass - I -
[ ----- TFP : UO ----- ]
Omega Outpost One
It started out as a normal day, a normal weekend, spend some time with his mom in the morning before heading to the Autobot base after insisting that he would be okay there. Jack was just glad that she didn't do anymore impromptu visits to the outpost anymore, and that she was trusting Arcee with his safety without hovering.
Look, he loved his mom and he did still feel a bit guilty over the whole Arachnid situation but still, her concern was getting a bit too much. Even for him.
Anyway, as he and Arcee pulled into the base, he found the others already there and gathered around something perched on the second floor area. "Hey guys, what's up?" He greeted aloud as he got off Arcee, giving her his helmet after she transformed for safekeeping.
"Welcome back Jack, Arcee." Optimus greeted back with a stoic warmness that Jack didn't know possible.
"What's with the crowd?" Arcee asked curiously as she and Jack stepped closer, with Jack bounding up the steps to join Miko and Raf on the second floor. There, on the second floor, was a silver and gold sphere with curved glyphs wrapped around it. It was nearly the size of Raf, only stopping at the boy's chest height. "Uh, what is that?"
Bulkhead shrugged, "Dunno, Ratchet found it in storage but we don't remember it being stored there. Like, ever."
Jack frowned, staring at the sphere warily, "Could it be a trap?" He couldn't help but ask, bristling when Miko just casually placed a hand on the sphere. "Miko!"
"What?! Raf and I already touched it before! So have the others! It does nothing!" Miko exclaimed, patting the silver and gold sphere, making a clanging noise as she did so.
Ratchet grumbled, giving the girl a look of intense disapproval. "Nothing so far. We still don't know what it's supposed to be or how it got into the base. And before anyone suggests, no, we did not forget about it. We catalogued every single Cybertronian item that we brought into this base, before and after we moved here, and I am certain that something like this would be remembered." He huffed, arms crossed against his chassis. "However so far, all scans shows it being... inert. Deactivated, with no clear instructions or signs on how to activate it." He glanced over to the Prime who shook his helm.
"My apologies old friend, I have searched through my memories and data files, but I have no knowledge as to what this artifact is. Or what it can do." Optimus replied with slight apology, though he did look back to the sphere, watching Raf, Jack and Miko hesitantly (Miko wasn't hesitant at all) poke and prod the sphere. "But I do recognize the glyphs on the sphere, it is Primal Vernacular. The old tongue of the Primes of Cybertron."
.: So it's a Prime relic or an artifact related to it? :. Bumblebee beeped in question. .: What does it say? :.
"It says, 'See for yourself, what else is out there.'" The Autobot leader answered, intrigued yet perplexed by the sphere's mystery. "Again, I do not know what that means per say, nor do I remember anything resembling this artifact anywhere."
"Well, whatever it is, it's currently broken." Miko said with a huff, still patting the sphere before curling her hand into a fist. "Or maybe we're not hitting it hard enough! Do something already! It's been so boring today!" She exclaimed, banging her fist.
"Miko!" Jack, Bulkhead and Ratchet exclaimed in varying tones of worry and frustration.
Miko gave each of them a deadpanned look as she, Raf and Jack continued to press their palms to the sphere for some reason. It was just warm and weird to touch, alright? "What? It's not like I'll shatter it! It's not made of glass!"
Suddenly, the sphere began to glow.
Immediately, the humans let go of the sphere, backing away with a startled cry. The Autobots were quick to retrieve their charges and step away from the glowing sphere. Light shined out of the glyphs before shooting into the air to... project a holographic screen?
Words began to flash along the screen, first in Primal Vernacular, then in Neocybex, and finally in English.
[ CONTINUITY SCAN 100 % COMPLETE
SUBJECTS ' Raf ; Jack ; Miko ' COMPONENT ACCEPTED
UNKNOWN ATTEMPTS GENERATED
PASSCODE 'BORING' HAS BEEN ACCEPTED
KEY WORDS ; SHATTERED GLASS ACCEPTED ]
"What's happening?!" Raf clutched Bee's hands as his guardian held him close, tense and ready for whatever would happen. It was the same for Miko and Jack who were being held up by Bulkhead and Arcee respectively. Ratchet and Optimus stood before the three bots, ready to fight if necessary.
Fortunately, they didn't have to.
The holographic screen merely stayed there in the air, the text being wiped away for new ones.
[ PROCEED WITH UNIVERSAL OBSERVATION?
ACCEPT / DECLINE ]
"What?" Ratchet uttered as he and the others slowly relaxed, enough that the three Autobots slowly put down their human charges. "Universal observation? What on Cybertron could that possibly mean?"
"I... do not know, old friend." Optimus murmured, eyeing the screen with a wary optic.
"If... If it's an 'observation' thing then, maybe it's harmless?" Jack suggested, peeking up at the screen with a look of apprehension. Then he spotted Miko's look of interest, and the smile on her face. "Miko... Miko no!" He exclaimed, trying to reach her but unfortunately for Jack, he was too late. She'd been set a bit too far from him.
"ACCEPT!" The teenage girl shouted just as Jack reached her a second too late, startling everyone and immediately the screen came to life.
"MIKO!" Multiple voices exclaimed in varying tones of exasperation and frustration. Miko merely grinned from behind Jack's hand before her eyes widened and she pointed at the screen.
"MMPH! MM-" She forced Jack's hand off her mouth, "LOOK!"
[ Two humans ran through the halls of a familiar looking ship. The colors a little bit brighter though. ]
"It's Raf and I!" They all boggled at the sight of it. "Why are we on the Nemesis?"
"Wait, when did this happen?" Jack squinted, wondering why Raf and Miko were on the Nemesis, hell, why was the sphere showing this?
"It didn't! Miko and I never ran together on the Nemesis." Raf said, adjusting his glasses as he watched him and Miko on screen run through the halls.
"Why do the halls look a little different? More..." Bulkhead squinted, "... brighter?"
"More importantly, why are running and why do they look excited?" Ratchet questioned stiffly, wondering what in the pit was going on.
[ "Oh chiiildren~" A feminine voice playfully rang out in the hallway, almost familiar rapid, multiple pedesteps sounded out. "Where aare youuu~?"
Miko and Raf shared a look, "Split up!" She whisper yelled to Raf who giggled and ran the opposite direction. ]
Arcee immediately tensed, "Arachnid!" She hissed with contempt, recognizing that voice anywhere. And yet, she paused with confusion. Unlike the usual sultry maliciousness in her voice, she sounded... genuinely playful, and soft almost. It made Arcee shiver with unease.
"Arachnid?! Miko, Raf, get out of there!" Jack urged the screen-version of his friends even though they couldn't hear him.
"Woah Jack! Raf and I are here! We're fine!" Miko soothed, though she did look concerned for her screen counterpart. But even she noticed that screen!Miko and Raf weren't really scared? They really just looked excited, of all things. But why?
[ Miko ducked around the corner, pressing against the wall so she could catch her breath. She huffed, trying to keep herself quiet. She peeked around the corner, eyes squinting. When she spots nothing, she sighs in relief, grinning to herself before she hears a sound coming from above. She looks up and gasps, abruptly, she's snatched upwards.
Meanwhile, Raf was still running in the halls of the ship and just as he turns, he stops as he finds a familiar mech standing in the hall. "Starscream!" Raf exclaimed with delight, reaching his arms up, "Quick, hide me!" ]
There's a cry of her name, much different from usual- panicked and scared and Miko yelps as she finds herself in Bulkhead's hands once again. The wrecker looking so very concerned for her, "Uh- Bulk? I'm fine! I'm here! I'm- screen Miko's definitely fine! Bulk?"
Raf gave the screen a bewildered look before he too, yelped when he found himself being lifted up by Bee just like Miko. "Bumblebee!" His friend let out a protective, panicked beep, "Bee?"
"Starscream?" Arcee repeated incredulously, having been on edge the moment screen!Miko had disappeared. "That's- that cannot be Starscream."
The Starscream on the screen's grey metal was lighter, his wings were folded downwards, there were red and blue detailing that the Starscream they knew didn't have. Not to mention he wasn't hunched over and his optics, they were blue instead of red. The most damning of all though, was the gentle look the seeker had that replaced his usually malicious and scheming expression.
"I… believe it is." Optimus murmured with slight disbelief, watching how the young human on the screen seemed to treat that Starscream with friendly familiarity. "I do not think it is our Starscream however."
[ "Hide you?" Starscream mused aloud, "Ah, another game, Rafael? Very well." He knelt down, letting Raf climb onto his servos and opened his cockpit, letting the human settle into the space before gently closing it. "Alright in there?" He asked with amusement and chuckled when Raf replied with a muffled 'yes!' ]
"Definitely not our Starscream, he would never let a human into his cockpit like that." Ratchet agreed, watching the scene with a nervous tank and a boggled expression. Trying to understand what exactly was happening right now. "This… This is an alternate world."
They all turned to the medic. "What?"
[ Pedesteps came, alongside the joined laughter of two females. The screen showed Arachnid in her root mode, toting around Miko on her shoulder, servos firmly yet carefully holding on. Miko was laughing as the spider bot jostled her two and fro. "Starscream!" Arachnid called out happily, smiling widely at the seeker. "I don't suppose you've seen Raf, have you?"
"Hmm, Rafael?" Starscream replied with clear jest, "Perhaps…" His optics not so subtly looked down to his cockpit. Arachnid noticed and smiled mischievously. ]
Arcee was staring at the screen with warring emotions, firstmost was anger and disgust at the sight of the spider femme and then there was confusion at the sight of the fact this Arachnid was different. Not only in looks, her optics were a cyan blue instead of purplish pink, her finish was a dark yet cooler hue of blue with bronze trims instead of gold. But in personality of course, she was handling screen!Miko with obvious care despite having the human girl on her shoulder. And her voice, it was soft as silk, not sultry and had no hidden menace.
Add into the fact Starscream was being equally differnet—
It was a fragging jarring thing to witness, even through a holographic screen. Arcee felt faint.
Ratchet, was thankfully, just as perturbed as he gestured to the screen. "This is- this is showing us a glimpse into an alternate world. One where the Decepticons are- well, that."
[ "Now, where oh where could Raf be? He couldn't have gotten far, his legs are, unfortunately, too short." Arachnid mused slowly, snickering at the muffled 'hey!' that was heard from Starscream's cockpit. Not long an 'oops' was heard as Arachnid leaned closer to Starscream, faceplate by the cockpit. "Gotcha. Starscream, if you would?"
"No Screamy! Take Raf and run!" Miko hollered with a laugh, squirming on Arachnid's shoulder.
Starscream laughed, shaking his helm. "Perhaps another time, I do still have duties to fulfill. My apologies Rafael." He opened the pit and gently took the pouting tween out. It didn't last long as Arachnid took him as well, setting him to sit properly on her other shoulder unlike Miko, who hung like a sack. "Hm, that's two humans accounted for. Where is Jackson?" ]
"Primus that is so fragging weird." Bulkhead hissed, still holding on to Miko protectively, but eventually relented when the girl squirmed and scrambled towards his shoulder. He gave in and let her sit there.
"I know! Looks like the cons are the good guys over there! So weird!" Miko exclaimed, legs swinging as she watched herself call Starscream 'Screamy' and not get obliterated by the con.
.: … Starscream calls Raf, Rafael like Ratchet… And calls Jack, Jackson- he sounds like a fraggin' gentlemech. :. Bumblebee whirred, scratching his helm while settling Raf on his own shoulder. He glanced over to Jack who had the same look as Arcee, staring incomprehensibly at the screen. Which was fair, the two times he met with Arachnid were horrible but here she was- different on screen in another world.
[ "Jack's with King Con! Talking about Cybertron again." Miko huffed, wiggling in Arachnid's grip. The femme finally relented, letting the teenage girl down to the floor. She groaned, stretching her limbs.
Starscream frowned, "Miko, you know he doesn't like being called that."
Miko pouted, "Aw, but he's like- all wise and stuff! And he leads the Decepticons- plus, you all told us if it wasn't for Optimus and his evil Autobots, he'd be like, ruling Cybertron."
"In charge of Cybertron, not ruling it. Never ruling it- he hates the word and thought of it." Arachnid corrected gently. "It's why he never chose a Prime name, merely shortened his gladiatorial name to Megatron. He hates being addressed by any other title aside from General."
The scene changes to Megatron, standing at the control center with Jack on the console. Pictures of Cybertron in its golden age were on the screens, the silver mech had a gentle smile on his face as Jack looked around with wonder. ]
There's a silence in the Autobot base from the scene. "This is a world where good and evil have been switched." Optimus whispered, his usually warm stoicism broken into disbelief, optics widening as he sees such a familiar faceplate. "Megatronus…" He utters, spark aching in his chamber at the familiar-looking mech.
He looked so much like the Megatronus he once knew, only older, slightly different but his optics were blue as can be and his servo digits weren't sharpened into claws. And that smile, when had been the last time he'd seen it? Before the council meeting? Longer?
[ "And this… This was my home city, Kaon." Megatron told Jack as the pictures flickered to Kaon. "It was not the friendliest of capitals, far from it, it was where the ruthless tore into the weak. Kindness was rare, especially in the Pits from where I fought."
"You mentioned that before, the Pits. It was… a gladiator arena, right?" Jack questioned as the pictures changed again. The human carefully walked along the console, aware of the bigger mech that shadowed him, as if to make sure he wouldn't fall.
"Indeed, glad to know you've been paying attention, young one." Megatron chuckled, "It was named after the Cybertronian version of what you humans would call 'Hell', and quite honestly, it was. I struggled to survive in the Pits, but I did. I found strength, I found power, and most importantly; I found kindness."
The human frowned, looking at him with confusion. "I thought you said it was rare?"
"It was, but not nonexistent. Kindness exists everywhere, Jack. Even the smallest of acts might sway or influence another. Sometimes, even creating a cascade of events that escalate into something more." Megatron murmurs, sounding nostalgic, fond yet also somber. "In all the time I've lived, Jack, I've realized many things. I've realized that strength is not everything, that weakness is subjective, that kindness is not weakness and that there is a difference from being nice, to being kind." ]
Hearing this Megatron talk made Optimus feel weak. His voice was so similar, but without the roughened edge of anger-fueled war tingeing his vocals. The growl of rage and slight hint of madness. It was so gentle and warm and wise— A strange sort of feeling that permeated his processor, numbly, he could hear the quiet reactions of the others. Varying from disbelief to outright confused shock. It was understandable, they've never seen this side of Megatronus. This side of Megatron.
Primus, his words too.
"Scrap, he's reminding me so much of Optimus but so different, it's weird." He hears Jack mutter and there's a hesitant agreement coming from all around him.
[ Before Megatron could continue, a warning came to the screens. Startling both of them. "Woah!" Jack almost stepped off the console, but was caught and saved by Megatron who gently settled him to the floor.
"It's a Decepticon distress signal." Megatron said tensely, "Everyone, get to the command center. Now." He said aloud and into the comms.
It didn't take long for the other Decepticons to arrive. ]
It was bizarre, to see the line up of Decepticons in different colors and all with blue optics- with the exception of Breakdown, whose optics were a more orange color here.
Breakdown didn't look too different, just lighter in color- surprisingly, he had screen!Miko on his shoulder. Trailing behind him was Knock Out, instead of a bright red finish, the medic was teal.
The most different visually was Soundwave, who was painted in a very faint purple with light green biolights. He still had a visor covering his faceplate.
"Woah…" Raf muttered, eyeing the Decepticons from Bee's shoulder. "It's- they all look so different, at first glance it's just the colors and even that is enough to feel- jarring?" Bee made a beep of agreement, nodding to his words.
[ "Signal Origins; Makeshift." Soundwave immediately said, a worried emoticon appearing on his visor- voice synthesized but understandable. "Location coordinates attached."
"Makeshift? Who's that?" Raf asked as Soundwave picked him up. ]
Bee tensed at the sight of Soundwave picking screen!Raf up, .: I-I know this is supposed to be an alternate world but- :. Primus, was that Soundwave's actual voice?!
"I know Bumblebee, it's- it's weird. Downright disturbing." Arcee agreed, still looking a bit nauseous at the sight of Arachnid, of the Decepticons alongside the humans on the screen. Even though, they seemed… good. Frag, Optimus' words echoed in her processor, 'good swapped with evil' naturally that meant… oh frag.
[ "An old friend." Knock Out said as he and Soundwave went to the console to locate the distress signal. "He's been away for a while because he wanted to explore Earth on his own. This was before the Autobots managed to follow us here."
"I ordered him to stay away after the Autobots arrived, I wanted to keep him as a hidden operative. You see, Makeshift has a unique ability, he is a Shifter, a Cybertronian capable of turning into another Cybertronian- copying their frame, their looks, even their voice. Makeshift is one of my best stealth agents." Megatron explained with a tense frown. "He is a hardy mech, for him to use a distress signal…"
"Situation; grim." Soundwave finished.
"Starscream, prepare the groundbridge at those exact coordinates. Knock Out, Breakdown and I shall be going through." ]
[---- TFP : UO -----]
The Nemesis
"I cannot believe my other would let a human inside his pit! Inconceivable!"
"Teal? Teal? Ugh, I mean, it's not a bad look but red is so my color!" Knock Out complained to Breakdown who didn't look too impressed, though he was too busy looking at himself on the screen.
"Can't believe I've got Bulkhead's human pet as my own. Guess Arachnid was just babysitting." At the mention of her name, the spiderbot hissed at Breakdown, annoyed and perturbed by her on-screen self. So gentle, so weak- thankfully she wasn't the only one disturbed by their alternate selves.
"And there's still no information as to how this thing got on my ship? Or how it activated on its own?!" Megatron growled to Starscream and Soundwave but his optics were trained solely at the screen. Taking in just how… different he was in another universe. The implications he's gotten so far… were abhorrent. Yet intriguing.
"N-No! Master, we have- we have no idea how either happened."
Soundwave said nothing, but did bring up a picture of a certain text.
[ CONTINUITY SCAN 100 % COMPLETE
SUBJECTS ' Raf ; Jack ; Miko ' COMPONENT ACCEPTED
UNKNOWN ATTEMPTS GENERATED
PASSCODE 'BORING' HAS BEEN ACCEPTED
KEY WORDS ; SHATTERED GLASS ACCEPTED ]
Before showing the picture of a certain trio of human children.
"The Autobot pet humans? Hm…"
Megatron trailed off, optics shining sharply when the screen continued.
This was… interesting to say the least.
[----- TFP : UO -----]
shattered glass designs inspired by @jealousmarquis
winged it for breakdown's colors tbh. also, i was a bit confused on knock out's color scheme from jealousmarquis' pictures, one seemed a lighter blue like teal while the other was a darker blue- for now i settled on teal with thinking maybe knock out liked changing the shades of his finish. idk.
i have no idea when the next part will come but i've definitely a few ideas on what else for team prime (and cons) to react to next! but first, gotta finish the shattered glass segment. the next one will be the last of it (for now).
Tbh Soundwave was one of the first who got SG redesign. It's just that I don't really like how he turned out, esp with faceplate. Too feminine, lowkey looks like Arcee
I started this Shattered Glass Skystar animatic at about 11pm yesterday night and just finished it now at about 1:50pm. It's sort of a VERY angsty continuation of where the comics end.
Edit: There's many versions of this song out there, the one I used specifically is this one.
snowghoul
tangentwithtanner
vaporwave
titsay
izzy806
pixelskylines
andulkaphoto
