NOVEL NEXT Chapter 6: LOG-02
Location - Earth: Outpost Omega-1
The dim glow of the Autobot base's monitors reflected off metallic walls, casting long shadows across the room. Optimus Prime stood at the central console, his towering frame bathed in the pale light of holographic projections. Orion Pax stood at the edge of the room near the groundbridge, his expression thoughtful as he scrolled through archives about the Great War. D-16 leaned against a far wall, his optics narrowed with annoyance. The air in the room was thick with unspoken tension.
A ping from the screen broke the tension Ratchet quickly checks and turns to Optimus "It's the Decepticons it appears to be in a rocky ravine and I'm detecting a stasis pod also." Optimus nodded and overlooked the information and sighed "I hoped this war would be over after Megatron's demise."
Optimus broke the somber silence. "Skyquake," he began, his deep voice carrying both authority and a somber weight, "is no ordinary Decepticon. He is a Seeker of great strength and loyalty. During the war, he was known not only for his power but for his honor. A soldier who fought for what he believed was right."
Orion's optics flickered as he looked up from his holo tablet. "Skyquake? I've read about him in the archives. He fought at the Battle of Technahar, didn't he?"
Optimus nodded. "Yes. Skyquake was one of Megatron's most trusted warriors. He was ordered to destroy me during that battle but failed. Despite his allegiance to Megatron, his adherence to a code of honor set him apart from others like Starscream."
D-16 pushed off the wall, his arms crossed as he stepped closer. "So what's the problem now? He's in stasis, isn't he? Just leave him there."
Optimus's optics dimmed slightly, a sign of both resolve and regret. "He is no longer in stasis. This indicate Starscream has located and activated his pod. He seek to bring him under his command , now that Megatron is presumed dead Starscream requires a asset."
D-16 raised a brow. "Presumed?"
"Megatron's demise at the space bridge explosion has not been confirmed," Optimus said carefully. "But for now, Starscream operates as if he is in command. Skyquake may be loyal to Megatron's ideals, but he will not blindly follow Starscream without question. This may be our only chance to reach him and end this war."
Orion leaned forward, his expression thoughtful but cautious. "If he's as honorable as you say, there's a chance we could reason with him. But what if Starscream convinces him first?"
Optimus turned to Orion, his expression resolute. "That is why we must act swiftly. If Skyquake can be shown the truth about what the Decepticon's have become, about what Megatron did in his final days, he may choose a different path. However, it is likely that Starscream will try to twist Megatron's legacy to secure Skyquake's loyalty."
D-16 scoffed. "You're putting a lot of faith in a this bot. Honor or not, loyalty to a Tyrant isn't exactly a great sign of character."
Optimus's voice dropped slightly, becoming more introspective. "I once fought alongside Skyquake during the war. Though we were on opposing sides, his sense of duty and respect for his adversaries were evident. I do not expect him to abandon his loyalty easily, but I believe in the strength of his spark to see the truth."
The room fell into silence for a moment, the weight of the discussion settling over them. The idea of confronting a soldier like Skyquake—a being of immense power was terrifying for Orion and D-16.
D-16 finally broke the quiet. "Fine. But if he turns on us, don't expect me to hold back. I'm not going to risk getting scrapped for a bot who can't make up his mind."
Optimus nodded. "Understood. But remember, this is not just a mission to stop the Decepticons. It is a chance to show Skyquake the path to something greater."
Orion leaves the room for a second and comes back with weaponry for D-16 and himself. He passes D a sword and equips a ion blaster and a energon sword for himself.
He cheekily smacks it into D who jumps in shock and then awe as he watches the sword melt into him D then flexes his servo and the sword transforms out. Orion turns to him and says "Cool right" D grumbles.
As the GroundBridge activated, its swirling green vortex casting shadows across the room, Optimus stepped through first, his silhouette framed by the glowing portal. Orion and D-16 exchanged a glance—Orion's filled with quiet determination, D-16's with reluctant curiosity—before following the Prime into the unknown.
---
Location - Earth desert
The wasteland stretched endlessly under a pale, overcast sky. Jagged cliffs and cracked earth marked the battlefield of a forgotten war. At the center of this desolation stood a single stasis pod, partially unearthed and humming faintly with residual energy. Around it, two Decepticons loomed—Starscream, his frame tense with anticipation, and Soundwave, ever-silent and watchful.
The hum of the pod grew louder, its systems flaring to life as it responded to the activation signal. Starscream's optics gleamed with anticipation as he stepped closer. "Finally," he muttered, his voice dripping with self-satisfaction. "With Skyquake at my side, I will solidify my position as leader of the Decepticons. Lord Starscream has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?"
Soundwave, standing just behind him, made no reply. His expressionless visor gave nothing away, but his posture suggested skepticism.
As The pod's hatch hissed open Starscream delivers a speech "Arise Skyquake and serve your Master", and a massive figure stepped out, his form easily towering over Starscream's. Skyquake's optics ignited with a sharp, electric glow as he took in his surroundings. His armor gleamed with a deep green hue, scarred from battles long past but still imposing. His voice rumbled like distant thunder.
"I only my one and true Master Lord Megatron," Skyquake said, his tone reverent. "Where is he? Why have I been awakened?"
Starscream stepped forward, his posture attempting confidence. "Ah, Skyquake, welcome back to the fold! I regret to inform you that Megatron is no more. Now bow before your new leader."
Skyquake's optics narrowed as he scanned Starscream. There was no mistaking the disdain in his voice when he replied. "You? The Decepticons are now under your command?"
Starscream forced a grin, though his claws twitched with barely restrained irritation. "Yes! Who better to lead than the one closest to Lord Megatron for millennia?"
Skyquake tilted his head slightly, his deep voice tinged with sarcasm. "Lies my Master would never off fallen no bring me to my Lord"
Before Starscream could answer, Soundwave stepped forward, projecting holographic footage of the space bridge's explosion. The vivid display showed Megatron's form consumed by the blast, his figure spiraling into the void of space. Skyquake's optics dimmed slightly as he watched the scene, the weight of his leader's apparent death settling over him.
"Lord Megatron has fallen." Skyquake murmured
Starscream's smirk returned. "And now, you will follow me. Together, we will crush the Autobots for the glory! Of Lord Starscream."
Skyquake's optics snapped back to Starscream, his voice sharp. "Your words ring hollow, Starscream. Leadership requires more than you. You lack Lord Megatron's strength, his vision." Skyquake smacks Starscream away "I shall never bow before you." Starscream's smirk faltered as he dragged himself up "I have all the strength and vision I need! Do not forget your place, Skyquake!" Starscream growls.
Before the exchange could escalate further, the distinct hum of a GroundBridge filled the air. A swirl of green energy materialized nearby, and three figures emerged: Optimus Prime, Orion Pax, and D-16. Their presence was commanding, a stark contrast to the desolation around them.
Optimus stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "Skyquake."
Skyquake turned to face him, his massive frame shifting like a predator sizing up its prey. "Optimus Prime," he said, his tone filled with recognition and something akin to respect. "It has been some time."
"It has," Optimus replied. "You were once a warrior of honor, Skyquake. I know you fought for what you believed in. But the cause you served has changed. Megatron, and his final actions dishonored everything he once stood for."
Skyquake stiffened, his optics narrowing. "You dare speak ill of Megatron? He was a leader, a visionary. You cannot diminish his legacy with your lies."
"I do not speak lies," Optimus said, his voice heavy with conviction. "We have seen what Megatron became. He used the dead as weapons, desecrating their remains for his own gain. That is the truth of the leader you served."
Skyquake's optics flickered with doubt for the first time, but he held his ground. "Even if that were true, I remain loyal to the ideals he fought for. Peace through tyranny. Strength above all."
Orion stepped forward, his voice steady but laced with urgency. "Skyquake, you don't have to follow Starscream. He's not a leader—he's a coward. You're better than this."
D-16 added, his tone colder, "Or you can keep pretending he's worth following. But don't act surprised when he uses you as fodder the moment it suits him."
Skyquake's gaze shifted to D-16, his optics narrowing as he studied the younger bot. There was something in D-16's tone, a mix of defiance and certainty, that gave him pause.
Optimus seizing the moment turns to Skyquake and Starscream "Haven't we suffered enough can we not end this war be a true leader Starscream and end this war with me." Starscream smirks "I will consider your proposal if only you kneel." Skyquake turns to Starscream shocked "Again with the kneeling here's your answer." Skyquake bat's Starscream aside but before Skyquake could speak Starscream sneered.
"Enough of this!" he snapped. "Skyquake, prove your loyalty to the Decepticons. Destroy them!"
Skyquake's hesitation vanished, his frame tensing as he prepared to attack. "Very well. I shall complete my mission that my true master gave me. The time for talk is over Prime prepare to die."
The tension snapped like a taut wire. With a thunderous roar, Skyquake lunged forward, his fists slamming into the earth with such force that it splintered, sending cracks rippling outward. Optimus Prime moved swiftly, avoiding the crushing blow as dust and debris filled the air.
Skyquake advanced on Optimus with relentless precision, his massive fists and weapons overwhelming were driving the Autobot leader into constant retreat. Each swing of Skyquake's arms and blast was like a wrecking ball, shattering the ground and sending shockwaves through the battlefield.
"You speak of peace, Prime," Skyquake growled, his deep voice reverberating like an earthquake. "But all I see is a leader too weak to fight."
Optimus countered with fluidity and skill, his dual blades flashing as they deflected Skyquake's blows. "And all I see," Optimus replied, his tone resolute, "is a soldier blinded by loyalty to a cause that has betrayed him."
Skyquake's optics flared, his rage fueling his strikes. He swung low, forcing Optimus to leap backward. With the opening, Skyquake charged forward, tackling Optimus and driving him into the side of a jagged cliff. The impact sent boulders tumbling, the deafening crash echoing across the wasteland.
Pinned, Optimus raised his blades in a defensive cross. "You are stronger than this, Skyquake," he said, his voice strained. "You have the power to choose your own path."
Skyquake hesitated for the briefest of moments, his optics flickering. But his fury returned, and he raised a massive fist, ready to deliver a final blow—only to be interrupted by a sword hitting him.
---
Location - Earth Orion Pax Pov:
Orion had watched the battle with growing tension, his processor racing. Optimus was holding his own, but Skyquake's sheer power was overwhelming. He clenched his fists, determination lighting his optics as he charged forward.
Skyquake turned just as Orion launched himself into the air,shooting some rounds off with his Ion blaster before striking at the Seeker's side with all the strength he could muster. The blow landed, but it barely staggered Skyquake, who grabbed Orion mid-air with a single, crushing grip.
"You think yourself a warrior?" Skyquake growled, lifting Orion as though he weighed nothing. "You are nothing but a insect playing at war."
Struggling in Skyquake's grip, Orion felt the pressure of the Seeker's strength threatening to crush his frame. But in a desperate move, his shoulder-mounted exhaust pipes flared to life, igniting with a roar. A surge of flame erupted from the pipes, engulfing Skyquake's arm.
The flames were more surprise than damage, forcing Skyquake to release Orion and stagger back. The young Autobot dropped to the ground, his servos trembling as he rolled out of the way.
"You fight with trickery, you lack honour," Skyquake snarled, shaking the scorched plating on his arm. "Show me your strength, or perish!"
Orion gritted his teeth, steadying himself. "I fight for a brighter future," he said, his voice steady despite the tremor in his frame. "Not for tyrants."
---
Location - Earth D-16 Pov:
While Optimus and Skyquake clashed, D-16 had his optics locked on Starscream. The Decepticon commander hovered nervously near the fringes of the battlefield, his claws twitching as he barked half-hearted commands to the remaining Vehicons.
"What's the matter, Starscream?" D-16 called out, his tone mocking. "Afraid to get your hands dirty? Or are you just waiting for Skyquake to do all the work?"
Starscream's wings flared in indignation, and he whirled around to face D-16. "You dare speak to me that way? I am Lord Starscream! Leader of the Decepticons!"
D-16 smirked, stepping forward with deliberate menace. "You? A Leader? You can't even command your own shadow."
Starscream's patience snapped. With a screech of rage, he launched himself at D-16, his claws slashing through the air. But the younger bot moved with precision, sidestepping Starscream's attack and landing a brutal punch to his midsection.
Starscream crumpled to the ground, clutching his chest. "You insolent wretch!" he spat, energon dripping from his mouth. He scrambled to his feet and lunged again, his claws aiming for D-16's optics.
This time, D-16 didn't dodge. He caught Starscream's wrist mid-swing and twisted it sharply, the sound of metal snapping like a gunshot. With a swift, brutal motion, D-16 pulls and severed Starscream's arm at the joint, sending the limb clattering to the ground.
Starscream shrieked, collapsing to his knees as energon gushed from the wound. "You'll pay for this," he hissed, his voice trembling with pain and fury.
D-16 stood over him, his fusion cannon forming and humming with malicious intent his optics cold with a red hue. "You're lucky I don't kill you."
As Starscream writhed on the ground, D-16 turned his attention back to the battlefield, only to feel a strange hum in his processors. His optics flickered, and his movements stuttered slightly as an influx of data surged through his systems.
[SYSTEMS COMPROMISED INFLUX OF DATA]
Images, texts, and recordings flashed through his mind—accounts of Cybertron's history, the rise of the Decepticon cause, and Megatron's early life as a miner and poet. The data was unbiased, almost clinical in its presentation, but its contents were overwhelming. It showed the horrors of both sides, the struggles of the common Cybertronian, and the ideals that had been lost in the chaos of war.
D-16's fists clenched as he processed the information, his spark churning with conflicting emotions. He glanced at Soundwave, who stood at the edge of the battlefield, his visor flickering faintly. The silent Decepticon made no move to attack, his focus entirely on D-16.
"Why are you doing this?" D-16 muttered, his voice low and tense.
Soundwave didn't answer. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, his visor flashing once more with a picture of Cybertron before he turned away, leaving D-16 to grapple with the weight of what he had just seen.
(A few moments later)
The battlefield was silent save for the faint crackling of scattered flames and the low hum of the wind. Skyquake stood at the epicenter, his massive frame outlined against the dim light of the horizon. His optics glowed faintly, not with rage, but with uncertainty. Around him, they regrouped, battered but standing.
Optimus Prime straightened, his chest plates dented and energon streaking his frame, but his voice was steady as he addressed the towering Seeker. "Skyquake. This battle serves no purpose. Look around you. The devastation this battle as already caused, the Decepticon's you believed in—it no longer exists."
Skyquake overlooks the battle and looks at the beauty of the horizon and sighs "This world is full of life and beauty." Skyquake's optics flickered, his fists clenching at his sides. "You speak of purpose, Prime. But what purpose do you serve? What future do you fight for? My master's Megatron's vision was one of strength, of uniting Cybertron under a banner of power. You offer nothing but weakness."
"Strength?" D-16's voice cut through the tension, sharp and cold. "You think what Megatron did was strength? Desecrating the dead? Using your own people as tools for war? That's not strength, Skyquake. That's cowardice."
Skyquake's head snapped toward D-16, his optics narrowing. "You dare speak of Lord Megatron that way? You, who knows nothing of how we were treated you have never been oppressed beaten by those who deem your only function is to mine to be SLAVES!?"
D-16 stepped forward, his frame tense but unwavering. "I know of oppression. To be a slave I served a false Prime who ripped out our transformation cogs he who forced us to mine and to be happy with that while he lived like a KING he who bowed before our ENEMIES, Megatron started with a vision, sure a vison even I would follow, but he became the very thing he swore to destroy answer me has he done anything he promised."
Skyquake hesitated, his optics dimming slightly. The doubt that had been growing within him flickered to the surface. "You speak of betrayal," he said slowly. "But what leader has not betrayed someone to achieve their goals? Even you, Prime. Your cause has its share of failures."
Optimus nodded solemnly. "You are correct, Skyquake. The Autobots are not without fault. But we strive to learn from our mistakes. Megatron has not. He allowed his ambition to consume him, sacrificing everything and everyone for power."
Orion stepped forward, his voice steady despite the strain in his frame. "You were a warrior of honor once, Skyquake. I've read about you, the battles you fought. Do you think following Starscream is right I mean look at him?"
Skyquake's optics flashed with anger at the mention of Starscream, but his focus remained on Orion. "You think you know me, young one? You think you can understand the weight of my loyalty?"
"I don't," Orion admitted, his voice softer now. "But I know what it's like to believe in something. And I know what it's like to see that belief shattered."
Skyquake looked away, his massive frame tensing as if under the weight of a decision too heavy to bear. His optics flickered, shifting between the Autobots, Starscream's mangled form, and Soundwave, who stood silently at the edge of the battlefield.
Finally, Skyquake spoke, his voice quieter now. "Loyalty is not so easily cast aside. I swore my spark to Megatron. I will honor that oath until my final moment."
"You're not honoring ANYONE," D-16 said sharply. "You're letting yourself be dragged down by a cause that's already failed. You're better than this, Skyquake. You can be more be better."
Skyquake's optics locked onto D-16, his gaze piercing. "You… you speak with the certainty of Megatron himself back thrn. But you are not him. What are you?"
D-16 met his gaze without flinching. "I'm D-16 just a miner."
For a long moment, the two bots stood in silence, the weight of their confrontation hanging heavy in the air. Finally, Skyquake turned away, his frame slumping slightly as if the fight had drained more than just his energy reserves.
He glanced toward Soundwave, his voice heavy. "Open the GroundBridge."
Soundwave obeyed without hesitation, the swirling green vortex appearing in the distance. Skyquake took a step toward it but stopped, turning back to face the Autobots one final time.
"You have given me much to think about," he said, his tone quieter but resolute. "But for now, my path remains with the Decepticons. Perhaps… perhaps the truth will find me in time I believe in the original Decepticon's."
His optics lingered on D-16, a flicker of something unreadable in his gaze—respect, confusion, perhaps even fear. "You remind me of him," Skyquake murmured, almost to himself. "And yet, you are… not."
With that, Skyquake stepped through the portal, his massive frame disappearing into the void. Starscream, clutching his severed arm and bleeding energon, glared venomously at D-16 before hobbling after him. Soundwave lingered for a moment, his visor flickering faintly as if acknowledging D-16, before following his comrades into the GroundBridge.
The portal closed with a low hum, leaving the Autobots alone in the wasteland.
---
Location - Earth: Outpost Omega-1 D-16's Quarters D-16 Pov
D-16 sat alone in his quarters, the walls illuminated only by the faint, flickering light of his console. His optics dimmed as he stared at the screen before him, the weight of the files Soundwave had transmitted pressing down on his processor. The silence was deafening, broken only by the soft hum of the base's systems and the occasional crackle of an energon conduit.
The files weren't just data—they were a mirror to the soul of Cybertron. One that reflected its beauty, its potential, and its utter failure.
On the screen now were writings of the Functionists, a deeply rooted belief system that had dictated Cybertronian society for millennia. The text scrolled across the console, line by line, exposing the rigid philosophy that bound Cybertronians to their alt-modes and assigned them value based solely on their utility. The Functionist Council had used this belief to justify an unyielding caste system, trapping millions of sparks in roles they neither chose nor wanted.
D-16 read the words in silence:
"In a society built around a grand Cybertronian taxonomy… your life is mapped out in front of you, as clear as the grooves in your transformation cog."
His fists clenched as the words burned into his processor. The Functionists had stolen choice from generations of Cybertronians, all in the name of "order" and "purpose." Those who tried to resist were silenced—reformatted or discarded like broken tools.
He scrolled further:
"Denying you the ability to reject your alt-mode… to deviate from your function is to risk invoking the wrath of Primus."
The idea enraged him. The Functionists had used religion and fear to control the masses, forcing Cybertronians to accept a life dictated by the grooves of their transformation cogs. No creativity. No freedom. Just obedience just like Sentinel.
D-16 slammed his fist into the console, the metal denting under the force of his rage. "They did this to us," he muttered, his voice low and trembling. "They turned us into tools. Into slaves."
He leaned back against the wall, his optics narrowing as the files shifted to recordings of pre-war speeches. Megatron's voice echoed through his quarters, a younger, idealistic Megatron who spoke with a fire that could ignite sparks across the galaxy.
"Why should there be an order? Why should the Senate decide our lives before we even transform for the first time? Reject your alt-mode. Reject the system. We are all equal."
The passion in Megatron's words was undeniable. This wasn't the warlord he had heard about—this was a revolutionary, a leader who had stood against an unjust system. D-16's optics dimmed as he absorbed the sincerity of those speeches. There was no malice, no hunger for power—only a burning desire for change.
And yet, it hadn't lasted. The files shifted again, showing how that fiery idealism had twisted into something monstrous. Images of the war flooded the screen—cities reduced to rubble, sparks extinguished in the millions, and Megatron himself standing atop the corpses of his enemies, his optics cold and unfeeling.
D-16's voice cracked as he whispered, "You had it. You had the chance to change everything… and you destroyed it."
He continued scrolling, his rage simmering as the files delved into the failures of the Autobot High Council. The same Council that had ignored the suffering of the lower classes, that had clung to their power while the world burned around them. It wasn't just the Functionists. It was the Senate, the High Council, the elite who lived above the chaos and refused to see the cracks forming beneath their feet.
"Even you, Autobots," D-16 growled, his voice trembling. "You let this happen. You stood by while they crushed us, and then you pretended you were the solution."
The console flickered again, and a new file appeared—a video of Megatron standing before a crowd of miners, his optics blazing with conviction.
"From the mines, we rise. From the darkness, we bring the light For Freedom is our Right."
D-16 leaned forward, his optics locked on the screen. He could almost feel the raw energy of that moment, the hope that had electrified the crowd. But it was bittersweet, knowing how that hope had curdled into hatred, how Megatron's dream had turned into a nightmare.
His frame trembled as the screen shifted once more, showing the casualties of the war—bots torn apart, sparks extinguished, and mass graves filled with the remains of those who had been caught in the crossfire. Autobots. Decepticons. Neutrals. No one had been spared.
D-16's fists clenched tightly, his energon boiling beneath his plating. "They failed us. All of them. Autobots. Decepticons. The Senate. The Functionists.And Sentinel They all failed."
His fusion cannon powered up instinctively, the low hum filling the room as his rage reached its boiling point. He could barely think, barely breathe, as the weight of it all pressed down on him. The failures of his leaders, the horrors of the war, the countless lives lost—it was too much.
"You had a chance," he growled, his voice rising. "You could have stopped this. But you didn't."
The cannon fired.
A deafening explosion tore through the room, sending shrapnel and debris flying in every direction. The wall crumpled under the force of the blast, revealing the dark expanse of the night sky outside. Smoke billowed from the wreckage, and the alarms of the base blared in response.
---
Location - Earth: Outpost Omega-1 Orion Pax Pov
Orion Pax had been walking down the corridor when the explosion shook the base. The floor trembled beneath his feet, and the sound of metal groaning under stress filled the air. He broke into a sprint, his optics wide with alarm as he approached the source of the blast.
When he rounded the corner, he froze. The wall of D-16's quarters was gone, replaced by a jagged, smoking hole that revealed the stars beyond. Inside, D-16 stood amidst the destruction, his fusion cannon still glowing faintly as smoke curled from its barrel.
"Dee!" Orion called out, his voice a mix of concern and fear. "What happened? Are you—are you okay?"
D-16 turned slowly, his optics a a blazing red a mix of fury and despair. His frame trembled as he lowered his cannon, the glow fading as his rage subsided. "No," he said, his voice low and broken. "I'm not."
Orion stepped closer, his optics scanning the destruction. "What did you see?"
D-16 didn't answer immediately. He glanced at the console, now shattered and sparking, its data lost to the explosion. Finally, he looked back at Orion, his voice trembling. "Everything. I saw everything."