#time!verse

[rubystar2029]

The Night After

Ratchet sat at his computer, a quilt wrapped around his shoulders. One of his projects pulled up but he couldn't force himself to leave. What had started as a supposed energon mine led to two of their warriors injured, one just barely saved from death. In the medbay Mangus and Wheeljacxzk laid prone, Wheeljack hooked up to life support, claw marks still across his chest and his right arm missing. Magnus was laying next to him, he only lost his hand in the fight and his voice box was damaged. He could still speak, but it would hurt. Ratchet knew Magnus didn’t mind, the bot was always a selective mute.

“Ratchet are you still up,” Optimus asked, walking into the hanger. Ratchet turned around to face Prime before turning to face Magnus and Wheeljack.

“Can’t recharge, not when Wheeljack is in critical condition,” Ratchet said. Optimus walked towards Ratchet pulling him into a hug.

“It’s going to be alright, Wheeljack is a fighter, he will survive,” Optimus said. Ratchet nodded, shaking slightly.

“Can I recharge with you, I don’t want to be alone,” Ratchet asked. Optimus nodded, pulling the smaller bot into his arms.

“Bulkhead asked to watch until morning, you can rest now old friend,” Optimus said, carrying him down the hall. Bulkhead walked passed them, nodding his head at Optimus. Optimus arrived at his room, inputting the pin before walking in. He laid Ratchet down on the berth, before turning around to turn the light off.

“Goodnight old friend, I’ll be here when you wake up,” Optimus said, laying down to Ratchet. Ratchet snuggled closer, wrapping his arms and legs around Optimus.

“I know,” Ratchet said, powering down.

[rubystar2029]

Lost

When Wheeljack woke up, he noticed something was off right away. He couldn’t hear the buzz that came from their base or the chatter of bots and humans alike talking. It was strange. The second thing he noticed was that he was laying on the ground and the sky was a shade of purple, no sun or moon can be seen only stars. Wheeljack sat up, looking around noticing he was in a city that looked cybertronian in nature but had earth-like features. The strange thing was that the city was barren, no one walked around on the streets and there was no clue that anyone lived there for years.

Wheeljack sat up slowly, blaster ready in case he was attacked. He turned in circles, looking for anything to tell him what is going on. After finding nothing he walked forward, taking in his surroundings. As he walked he noticed great giant crystals marbled with dark purple and violet, they looked like the crystals they had found in the energon mine but bigger. Were they the cause of why he was here? He remembered pushing Smokescreen away from touching one of the crystals, his own hand barely touching it before the blackout. He continued walking towards the crystals, hoping they could get him out of here.

“Your a long way from home little Cybertronian,” A female voice called out, ringing across the city. Wheeljack turned around both hands as blasters, ready to fire.

“Who's there,” Wheeljack called out, looking side to side as he walked backward. He back ran into something and he turned around in shock. Behind him were a giant purple and red jet femme, with talons and a sword on her back. Wheeljack took in her appearance, but what freaked him out was that her eyes were bright purple.

“Oh don’t be afraid dear Cybertronian, I’m the protector of this city, though we haven’t had anyone appear since HE left us,” The femme said, spitting out when she mentions HE. “My name is Error, what’s your name?”

“Wheeljack,” Wheeljack whispered, continuing to stare and Error’s optics. Error noticed and chuckled, leaning down to give Wheeljack a head pat.

“Don’t worry your pretty little helm Wheeljack, I know the rumors they spread, but we are not bad at all, just misunderstood,” Error chuckled. Wheeljack flinched away from her, not completely trusting her.

“Where am I?” Wheeljack asked. Error grinned, pulling Wheeljack towards her side.

“Why you are at Nyx, the Cron Empire’s capital city, or it was. But that is beside the point you want to find your way back to your team don’t you?” Error said, leading Wheeljack farther into the city and towards the giant crystal in the center. “Don’t worry about a thing, I’ll get you home safe and sound.” Wheeljack nodded his head absentmindedly, his gaze and mind focused on the crystal. They continued walking, Wheeljack growing more and more tired the closer they got. When they hit the base of the crystal, Wheeljack noticed a raised platform on the base and Error was leading him towards it, encouraging him to lay down.

“This is the way back to your team little one, just fall asleep and let our god take you back,” Error purred, walking away and messing with some wiring attached to the platform. Wheeljack closed his optics, his mind drifting away into a purple void. “It’s about time since we’ve had someone join our ranks,” Error said as the last of Wheeljack’s processor powered off, leaving him floating in the purple void as it consumes him.

[rubystar2029]

Acceptance

“The world will accept my madness or perish trying,” Cloudraid yelled down the halls, scaring the maids and butlers walking down said halls.

“Cloudy I have no idea what you are shouting about,” Smokemaster yelled back. The maids and butlers sided-eyed each other before continuing with their work.

“It makes complete sense you should know it yourself or haven’t you killed some noble bot in a while,” Cloudraid yelled back, running down the halls chasing Smokemaster with a knife.

“Why are you chasing me,” Smokemaster asked, turning around a corner, barely escaping from Cloudraid.

“I said the world will accept my madness or die,” Cloudraid continued to yell, slipping when she turned the corner and struggled to stand up.

“I don’t think Zeta would approve of you killing me,” Smokemaster cried, entering her room and locking the door behind her. Cloudraid finally got her legs under her and ran to Smokemaster’s room, hitting the door with her fist.

“I don’t care, now get out here,” Cloudraid said, pushing her cheek into the door. The door opened to Smokemaster with her broadsword ready to strike.

“Prepare for death then,” Smokemaster said calmly, swinging her sword at Cloudraid. Cloudraid let out a scream and ran back the way she came, dropping her knife when she turned the corner. Smokemaster yelled chasing zCloudraid back down the halls and towards the washrooms.

[rubystar2029]

The Choosing part 4

Torrent time

“Carrier I’m home,” Torrent called into the house, closing the door behind him.

“Welcome home sweetie how was school,” Sealight asked, walking into the living room with Oracle on her hip. Torrent resisted the urge to say boring, not wanting to insult a family tradition in jobs.

“It was okay, I got asked about my opinion on the Consort choosing next week,” Torrent lied. He winced when his carrier pulled a face.

“Never understood why bots even care, the children don’t even become the next Prime why do they bother,” Sealight growled, putting Oracle down. She tottled over to Torrent and hug his leg.

“What is a concert,” Oracle asked, looking up at Torrent. Torrent opened his mouth to respond when,

“Oracle that is none of your business, now get off of you brother so he can help set the table,” Sealight scowled. Oracle pouted letting go of Torrent and tottle back to Sealight, asking to be picked up.

“Why do I have to set the table can’t Thunder do it,” Torrent asked.

“Your brother has an event at his school, Stormrunner took him there earlier not that you're here often to know,” Sealight growled, turning around and walking into the kitchen. Torrent sighed, his shoulders dropping before following Sealight.

“Torrent it’s time for  charge, turn your light off,” Stormrunner said, knocking on her son’s door. She heard an okay and the light filtering in under the door turned off and she heard him climb into his berth.

“Night sweetie I love you,” Stormrunner called.

“Night sire,” Torrent said, muffled by the door. She backed away from the door, walking down the hall into her room.

“I think he is planning on signing up,” Sealight growled from where she lay on the bed. Stormrunner looked at her mate as she walked over and laid down next to her. “What makes you say that?” Stormrunner asked. Sealight turned around, facing Stormrunner.

“Anything that comes out of that mech’s mouth is a lie or something he is planning, I wouldn’t be surprised,” Sealight growled. Stormrunner sighed, pulling her mate into a hug.

“You need to put more faith in him, maybe he doesn’t want to be like us and work in the energon refineries,” Stormrunner said. Sealight growled, her optics glowing brightly before they powered off.

“I’ll put more faith in him when he starts showing promise,” She said, powering off for the night. Stormrunner sighed again before powering off again.

[rubystar2029]

The Choosing part 3

Get in loser we are doing science

“Grease, Grease guess what I got,” Cloudraid whispered, pushing a datapad into Grease’s face.

“A datapad,” Grease grumbled back, pushing the datapad out of his face.

“But what kind.” Couldraid leaned on her small friend, ignoring the growls and the rest of the students in the lab.

“A datapad.”

“Yes and no. It's the forms for the Consort choosing next week, I got one for both of us.”

“Why?” Grease yelled, turning to face Cloudraid.

“Think about it. If we are chosen we get are own labs and can work on whatever we want, no higher ranking official telling us we can’t because we are on level with the Prime himself” Cloudraid squealed, jumping on the tips of her pedes.

“You make a great argument, but what guarantees we will be chosen?” Grease asked, turning to wave off an approaching student.

“We won’t know until we sign up,” Cloudraid continued.

“Are you two trying out as well,” The student asked. Both bots stopped in their conversation to stare at the bot.

“And what if we are, what’s in it for you,” Grease growled. The student flinched before standing up to their full height.

“Well I’m guaranteed to win, I couldn’t understand why someone would choose either of you,” The student boasted. Many other students around them agreed either verbally or with the nod of a head.

“Cloudraid give me the form now,” Grease growled, his hand ready to grab the form. Cloudraid handed him the form before pulling out her own and filling it out.

“You better hurry and sign up, if you didn’t know they only accept a certain amount and there are ten spots left,” Grease said smugly. The students face fell before they dashed out of the room to the dismay of their lab partner.

“Sorry Sidecrusher, I think your partner cares more about a stupid competition then science,” Grease said. Sidecrusher nodded sadly turning around to finish his project. “Oh and make sure to tell the teacher so they can dock points off of her, class isn’t over yet.”

[rubystar2029]

The Choosing part 2

Part 2, still stuck with Smokemaster until part 3

When the bus reached the school she waited for the other students to get off before standing up and walk towards the front. Along the way, she picked up anything the other students left and stuffed them in her subspace before exiting the bus. She walked toward the front office, planning on picking up one of the forms.

“Smokemaster what brings you here, you're generally in the gym practicing in the morning,” General Icegaurd said when she walked in. She stopped to salute him before he made a gesture for her to stop. “Not here young one, we are not in class or on the field.”

“I know sir it’s just I respect you as my commander and I’m here for the Consort’s form,” Smokemaster said. Icegaurd raised his optic brow at Smokemaster before shrugging his shoulders.

“Eh whatever suits you, I won’t tell you my opinion on it but if you feel you can make it through the choosing then more power to you,” Iceguard said, leaning over the front desk and picking up one of the forms. “You meet all of the requirements so you won’t be rejected and if you need a shower you can use the gym, I’ll give you a pass.” “Thank you, sir, I’m not expecting much but it will help a lot if I’m chosen,” Smokemaster said, taking the form and turning it on. “Wow, it’s a lot smaller than I thought it would be.”

“Don’t let the size distract you, for the week of choosing Zeta Prime will spend time with all who signed up and choose who he likes best,” Icegaurd said. “Now hurry to the field we are doing laps.”

“Yes, sir.” Smokemaster saluted again before turning around and leaving the front office.

“You do know her chances are going to be very slim right commander,” the bot at the front desk said, earning a glare from Icegaurd.

“I may have pitied her but she has a fire that many don’t have and I know for a fact that is something Zeta likes in bots.”

[rubystar2029]

The Choosing part 1

Backstories on the first four Consorts and how they were chosen. The story starts off with Smokemaster.

“After taking the office of prime last year, Zeta Prime has finally opened the positions of Consorts and the forms for the choosing happening in a week are in school’s offices for their final year students. Of course, there are some expectations that must be fulfilled before receiving forms like age. We hope to see many bots at the choosing and wish the bots that are chosen well in their new life,” The reporter on the news stated, in her hands the script she was reading.

“New reporter, she is a little older than you are, Smokey,” Smokemaster’s grandcarrier, Windscope, said. Smokemaster hummed, a small cube of sluggish looking energon in her hands.

“I think I’m going to apply,” Smokemaster whispered, Windscope turned around to stare at his grandcreation.

“Bitlet are you insane, what can you get from that life and besides you have a good start on your military career,” Windscope snapped, hitting the back of the couch with his hand.

“Everything. Anything will be better than this life, I’m tired of seeing everyone else living a better life than me. I’m tired of being on the bottom of the social ladder,” Smokemaster growled, swirling her cube, staring at the sludge in the cube.

“You are luckier than most bots, you were noticed by the military and they are giving you the chance to live a life better than this,” Windscope yelled, standing up to glare at Smokemaster.

“But what if it doesn’t work, what if something happens and I’m back here, with becoming a Consort I don’t have to worry about that,” Smokemaster yelled back. Windscope huffed, gesturing towards the door.

“finish your energon ‘sludge’ and head to school, I don’t want to argue about this right now,” Windscope growled, walking farther into their apartment. Smokemaster sighed, taking a swig of her energon as she walked towards the door. She set the cube down on a table and opened to door, letting it close by itself as she walked down the stairs and out into the street. She walked down the street and stopped at the bus stop with other students. When they noticed Smokemaster approach they stepped out of the way and kept a distance from her.

“What did general Iceguard notice in her,” a student whispered.

“Beats me, but pits if I don’t feel sorry for the bots that have to train with her,” another whispered back. Smokemaster ignored the whispers, staring out in front of her waiting for her bus. When her bus pulled up she hopped on, swiping her ID before heading towards the back. Around her students shifted away from the alley and turned towards each other whispering. She reached the back seat and flopped down, facing the ceiling of the bus as it drove off.

‘It’s alright Smokemaster, it's just for one more week and you soon will be living in paradise.’