Last and Alone - Secret Part 11.1
Last and Alone - Secret
Title: Part 11.1 (Chapter was to large for one post dang it!)
Rating: T
Characters: Jazz, Perceptor, the Monolith Team,
Warnings: Mech x Mech hinted at/mentioned occasionally
Universe: G1-ish/Last and Alone/Monolith
Disclaimer: I, in no way, shape, or form, own the Transformers© franchise or the characters it contains. They belong to Has/Tak, No infringement intended. Any OC’s to my knowledge are solely mine.
Summary: Perceptor was once part of a gestalt, but the others were destroyed. Since he should never have survived the deaths of his teammates, it’s a secret he has kept for thousands of vorns. Now Jazz is tracking it down.
FYI= "Speaking"
"Speaking on a comm"
:Speaking in a bond:
Part 10 - Secret
Part 11.1 (it was to big for just one post)
*-*-*
The feelings of puzzlement and a sense of vague denial had been trickling into the teams bonds for the past several breems; slowly like a rocky pebble working its way past armor and wiring till it settled as an annoyance against the base proto form. The emotions had just reached that point of settled annoyance when the bonds exploded in uncontrolled grief, shock, sorrow and denial staggering each team member. It was instantly obvious to each the direct source of the emotions and with the surprise and immense depth of the emotions, the bonds became flooded with unshielded worried and panicked inquiries.
::Slider!::
::Slider! Status?::
::Slider what’s wrong?::
::Are you ok? What has happened? Slider?::
The disbelief, shock and now strong denial continued to radiate through the bonds from Slider as Perceptor plowed through it all into Slider’s spark and processor, quicker than the others in responding; and given it was Slider, less concerned about the perception of privacy the team had learned to give each other over the vorns. Perceptor reeled back and flooded the bonds with his own denial. ::No! Impossible!:: Which in turn only set the rest of the team off in more of a panic as he failed to broadcast what he’d learned and instead wrapped himself around Slider within the bond both giving and seeking comfort.
::What!::
::What!::
::Cep? Slider?::
::Enough! Calm down! Were acting like we’re newly merged!:: Cavalier waded through the surprising and thankfully atypical onslaught of uncontrolled emotions that had come so unexpectedly. With difficulty he shoved walls in place around the bonds in his own spark and processor and took charge; bringing his own emotions under control then sending that control out to the rest of the team while at the same time arriving on the Seeker’s bridge. No alerts blared and nothing seemed out of place to give him any hint at the cause of Slider’s and now Perceptor’s distress. Only Gazer hovering over Slider where the Communications Officer sat at his station.
“Slider, report.” Cavalier called as he felt his mental control finally penetrate the uncharacteristically panicked mass mind of the team. At the same time he felt rather than saw the remaining team members arrive on the bridge and make their way to their own stations.
Slider looked up at his leader his expression of disbelief, his tone void of any emotion but puzzlement. “Totality is destroyed.”
“Hold it!” Cavalier immediately commanded the rest of the team and reinforced the order through the bonds.
The team settled but shock and disbelief flooded the bonds again, though not at the uncontrolled amateurish and damaging levels of before; Cavalier was pleased to note. Questions flooded as multiple conversations engaged simultaneously in the background through the bonds even as they all focused on the main conversation that continued verbally.
“Slider, you know this how? I need the full report. We need the full report.”
Slider seemed to collect himself. Then with a more professional attitude, devoid of any emotion he reported. “We received a communication from Command. They don’t really know much, or they’re not telling us if they do. Totality apparently answered a distress beacon from a Regular Patrol Team that was assisting Colony CCOE43-B. The colony had initially summoned help to chase off an attack by unknown forces. Totality was only a couple of cycles travel time away from them so responded. Totality reported arriving, but could not locate the Patrol frigate and they received no response to their hails. They chose to land. The last report received from Totality themselves was retrieved from a message packet capsule that they had located survivors and were assisting with defenses since the attack was still underway. The only thing mentioned about the attackers was that no clear images had yet been captured, though they appeared to be Cybertronian, so the assumption was possibly a new pirate group.”
“Unlikely.” Foist interrupted. “We’ve haven’t seen a group of pirates in a couple hundred vorn.”
“Yes, but with CCC funding cut, their fielding less patrol teams. The fact that an RPT was near enough to respond in the first place is actually surprising, let alone that a second team was in response range. It’s a good time to look at being a pirate again. Less of us to avoid.” Added Perceptor latching onto the side topic as a distraction.
“Hey, if you two are finished, I’d like to know what’s going on. We can debate funding and pirates later.” Cavalier nodded at Slider to continue as Foist and Perceptor mumbled apologies.
“Um, let’s see. Nautical and Greyling were badly damaged and Regraft was unsure if he was going to be able to save them. This is all from the report on account from the CMO of the colony, apparently the entire Regular Patrol Team were also deactivated and the frigate destroyed.”
“That would take a fair amount of strength and firepower. And yet the colony survived?” Foist interrupted again.
Slider answered Foist’s interruption “In regards to strategic information, all the reports we were given are pretty vague. Greyling was taken out within breems of the team joining the fight, so merging was never really an option. I can tell you that as soon as Totality was killed the colony managed to repel the attackers in what apparently was a last ditch effort that had been designed by Rock and Kite. That successful counter attack is the only reason we have received any reports at all. Actually, the colonies CMO was the highest ranked surviving colonial official, which may explain why his report is so detailed, he’s used to writing them, while the action reports are… lacking.”
Cavalier attempted to get the conversation back where he wanted it at the moment, knowing there would be plenty of time for speculation and theories later. “Yes, yes, I suspect that junior officers in the local colonial militia probably don’t practice report writing very often.”
“In point of fact, I don’t think any of the militia officers survived.” Slider interrupted this time.
“Tactics aren’t my concern at this very moment, though I will want to see any information on them. Now you said the CMO submitted a detailed report?” Cavalier prompted.
“It’s actually completely detailed if you’re interested, but his opening summary page is enough. I’ll just read you part of it.”
…the warrior - designation Greyling - permanently off lined due to immense battle damage. This was followed by the immediate deactivation of the warrior - designation Nautical - also badly damaged. Simultaneously the medic, whom was standing next to me, collapsed into a stasis lock. The remaining three team members who at the time had been assisting with the colony defenses were brought in to the triage a short time later also in stasis lock. The reports of their collapse are exact in occurrence as to what I observed with the medic and are further described in detail in my report.
At this time I have been unable to determine a medical cause for the collapse of the remaining four team members - designation’s Rockshot, Spinster, Regraft and Kite. Attempts to bring the mentioned mechs out of stasis lock failed as did energon feeds. By the end of the cycle, all team members with the exception of Regraft had off lined permanently. Regraft remained in an irretrievable stasis lock for two cycles longer than his teammates but in the end his spark also guttered out. Further attempts to bring Regraft out of stasis as well as continued attempts to start successful energon feeds were tried over the course of the cycles. All failed.
Slider looked back up at his leader. “The labbies own report which command so graciously chose to send, indicates they believe that because our sparks have all been surgically split and bonded for an effect similar to a split twin spark, that the gestalt would suffer the same effects a pair of twins do when one half of the pair is killed.”
“Death for the remaining twin, so death to the remaining teammates.” Tonic offered. “And I suppose with all the rest of the gestalt bonds breaking at the same time it’s like a multiple hit for us. I would theorize that it would be a most unpleasant experience.”
*-*-*
Jazz, paused to consider what he had just witnessed and learned, a bit shaken by the panic and fear that had pervaded the memory. While he had become somewhat used to the emotions of the group mind in Perceptor’s memories, merged or unmerged, particularly during intense action; over the long vorns the team had learned to control and use the mass mind in their favor. Not since the first five hundred or thousand vorns had the team been sucked into such a wholly encompassing and detrimental situation in regards to the group mind; though there had been a couple of close calls. Jazz resumed his search.
*-*-*
“Command’s recent update on colonies lost shows an increase this past vorn. CCOE52-A and CCOE52-B as well as CCM01. “
“Hmm. Whoever’s doing this is getting greedy. It seems one energy colony a vorn wasn’t enough.”
“Perhaps, but CCM01 wasn’t a colony.
“No, it was a mine. A mine producing weapons grade material. Something’s going on here and I don’t like it.”
*-*-*
“This has got to stop. It takes more vorns to establish a colony than it does to destroy them.”
“True, but when recently has the CCC had funds to establish another colony? Funding’s been cut by half at best, three quarters at worst. And that’s off of the cut before that.”
“Well we’re being run ragged with these defensive skirmishes we keep getting in. There’s not enough patrol teams either. And just what is Volatilus doing? Because I haven’t seen or heard any evidence recently to indicate their playing defense.”
“What’s it matter whether it’s one or two gestalt teams against whomever? The colonies are spread to far apart for successful defense against anything organized with the CCC this under powered. Gestalt’s or Regular Patrol, whoever these guys are they have the advantage and I’m sure they’re using it to pick and choose when to engage us so as to wear us down.”
“Well, give them credit then, they’re doing a good job of it.”
*-*-*
“The truth of the matter is this Cavalier. Whether the high command wants to admit it or not, the days of the CCC are over. As secretive as we are, a thousand vorn from now no one will even know the CCC existed. The political atmosphere here on Cybertron is changing. Colonizing no matter the reason was never popular amongst the populace. And that is the current feeling amongst those government mechs and politicians who are in the know. And face it, the way we function, is that we don’t exist. What little funding we receive these meta-cycles have got to be used for the good of the many. The further out the colony, they are going to have to learn to rely on themselves in the very near future. Fortunately, most are already self sufficient, being too far out for rapid response help from Cybertron anyway. And that’s actually where some of these problems come in. You know as well as I, your team has seen it first hand, that these colonies feel they should not have to send any portion of their energy crops back to a home world that offers them very little to nothing in return. The closer colonies and mines are less difficult and easier to control, but the resentment remains.”
“Do you even have plans to tell any of them?” questioned Cavalier
“You know better than I they’ll be better off if they just slip off the grid. They are not going to miss us so I don’t think they’re going to object.”
“And what about my team and Volatilus?” And Cavalier watched as Reline flinched. Too many mechs it might not have been noticeable as a flinch, but Cavalier had for a very long time considered Reline in the upper echelons of the CCC Command a reliable friend within the CCC. Now, he recognized he’d unintentionally hit on a problem. His optics narrowed as he studied his so called friend; awkward comments and situations over the past few vorns came pounding to the forefront of his processor.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
Reline, always confident and secure in his position fidgeted, refusing to look at Cavalier. “Look, Cav, you need to understand our position. We…”
He was cut off as Cavalier reached out grabbing hold of Reline’s neck shoving him back against the hallway wall where the two of them had paused. His hand weapon appearing from subspace in his free hand was swung up towards Reline’s helm. Cavalier realized he had reached his end.
“I may not be as observant as Perceptor, but I do see things. Every trip back to base the last I don’t even know how many vorns has had you guys all jumpy and on edge around us. Almost eager for us to leave in fact. Now the conclusion to be drawn from that reaction is that something happened to change the status quo in regards to us. Then, on top of that, the support we’re receiving from you as were out doing our job?” Cavalier rolled his head before quickly focusing back on Reline. “Ooohhhh wait, that’s right, we haven’t had any.” He glared “We’re bartering and buying supplies as we go. Nowadays my team doesn’t want anything to do with the CCC. Yet I’m supposed to continue to convince them that the CCC is the way to go? My team doesn’t exactly consist of stupid mechs, you saw to that with your tinkering. They can see the writing on the wall no matter how much I defend you. We are in possession of a good fast ship. We have a very good working record. And with Sliders skills, we’ll have no trouble creating a history. Every circuit I have is screaming that I am not going to like what you tell me, so it would be better to get it over with now…friend.” And Cavaliers optics flashed as he placed an almost deadly emphasis on the last word.
Reline twitched, weakly trying to free himself before finally giving in, “If the CCC can be lost in a thousand vorn, the gestalt knowledge can be lost even quicker, since only a mere handful know about it and the truth about your team. The gestalt technology has proven to be too dangerous, a mistake.”
Anger flared and he paused to control it. “Dangerous? How are we dangerous? We have given thousands of vorns of service to Cybertron through the CCC and its colonies. Dangerous? What. Does. That. Mean?”
Reline seemed to shrink in on himself, whispering. “It means that we lost control of Volatilus nearly 50 vorn ago. It means we can’t just turn you loose and hope you find jobs.” Then he collected himself defiantly, glaring back at Cavalier. “You were all just tools anyway!”
“Hoooo, wrong thing to say.” And Cavalier tightened his grip on Reline’s neck and tapping Relines helm with his gun. Then his processor latched on to the first part of the explanation and his temper cooled dramatically as he fully processed what had been said, only to have it flare again once done. “You lost control of Volatilus?”
“They were all battle models!” Reline said quickly, desperately. “We wanted some ‘nasty’ in the ranks. It was felt that you and Totality were two peaceful at core, and in a true battle situation, you wouldn’t measure up if called upon. The problem was we didn’t really understand what we were making when we made them. Please Cav you have…”
“It’s Cavalier. My friends call me Cav. And you most certainly are not a friend. You played me all these vorns. I was a fool to hold belief and respect in this Command. My team and I served Cybertron and the CCC for nearly 6000 vorns before you created Volatilus, over 7200 now and Totality gave you almost 6000 total vorns of service yet you didn’t think we could do the job? Our track records should have spoken for themselves. First we’re not tough enough, now we’re too dangerous? The CCC is a complete glitch. We may have been difficult at times, but we have never wavered in our loyalty to Cybertron for nearly the entire slagging time we have been the CCC’s and this is how you repay that?”
“Totality proved you were weak. Proved we were right. Proved that when facing a real battle situation your two teams weren’t capable. Proved we were justified in making a war model.”
“Did you just hear yourself? A war model? What in the pit were you thinking?”
“I’ve already answered that.” Was the imperious reply as Reline drew himself up around Cavalier’s grip.
“This is a bunch of slag. I’ve seen the report. The battle that cost Totality was no different than ones before, or the ones my team has fought since. Skirmishes with pirates and wanna be mercenaries. Someone just got lucky with Totality when they took out Greyling. And in battle, that happens.”
As Reline averted his gaze over Cavaliers shoulder once again, the Gestalt Leader glared. Thinking over everything he knew. Then for some reason, something clicked like a switch being thrown as he pieced together the scraps and hints spread out over time and numerous reports, meetings, and conversations, plus what had been revealed in the past few kliks. His voice low, cold and filled with disgust Cavalier challenged the CCC Officer. “You know something more. You afts left something out of the report on Totality’s last fight. You might as well tell me because I’m about to give Slider free reign in the base systems and he’ll find it anyway.
Reline remained defiantly silent.
“Fine.” Cavalier thumbed the setting on his gun and sent a low charge burst into Reline’s helm, temporarily off lining him.
::Slider!::
::Yo Cav.::
::Find out everything you can on Volatilus, and I mean everything! Then strip everything you can and want from the base system, we’re leaving.::
::Tonic, Foist, Gazer, Cep, start gathering from supply anything, and I mean anything we need, may need or want. And that includes anything that can be used as capital for barter with colonies. We aren’t going to be welcome here much longer, so the quicker you are about it and get the Seeker loaded, the better.::
Cavalier turned with disgust to the mech at his feet. He needed to tie Reline up and stash him someplace while the team cleared out. He’d been played for a fool and at the moment he was furious.
*-*-*
Jazz could feel Perceptor twitching more and more, his shattered defenses making more determined yet still unassisted efforts to route him as Jazz countered with his own commands, he wanted to see how this all played out.
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Part 11.2 - Secret Cause this chapter was just to long for one post on LJ.