On My Spark

Scrap. Double Scrap. Ooo. Yay.

Ember's POV

Shockwave dragged me through the ground bridge by the helm, and I immediately knew that I was done for. We were in one of his many labs, surrounded by tubes filled with different coloured substances, some gooey and thick, others smooth; almost energon like. There were a few large tables, Covered in different tools, and what looked like parts of other bots. There were optics, servos, voice boxes, T-cogs, and even a few empty spark chambers.

Shockwave drug me forward, since I still couldn't move anything below my skid-plate. He'd fried everything in my legs. He brought me to another table, and placed me, not-so-gently on to it, strapping me down.

"I'm confused. I see no cortical psychic patch, and you don't seem to be rushing around. What are you planning?" I asked him, nervous about the numerous possibilities of what he could do. Spark extracting, alterations to my processor, or, my favorite in the bunch, experimentation.

"Your question, is logical. I am planning an experiment, that has not been previously successful. You, however, possess greater physical capabilities than most others; therefore making you an obvious candidate for this specific procedure, in order to have the utmost success." He said, in his monotone voice, as he turned on one of his machines. Once on, one of the multiple tube-like chambers in the room started glowing. It was filled with a yellowish gold liquid, that definitely didn't look safe, and it started bubbling.

Frag this bot to Unicron's spark chamber.

"Struggle is illogical. Remain calm, and your pain processors will not be overheated." Shockwave told me. I'm fragged, absolutely fragged. I immediately tried to calm myself down, knowing that if Shockwave said it, it's true. The bot gives a brand new meaning to 'robotic lifeforms'. I still couldn't feel my legs, so I relaxed my arms, and slowed down my energon flow, as to not waste my already low supply, forcing my spark to dim ever so slightly as well. Shockwave then came up to me and injected a dark green substance into my forearm. I started to feel a burning sensation going through my body. It started as I slight tingle, then worked it's way up my arm, becoming more noticeable, and painful. By the time it reached my legs, it felt like there was an inferno, cycling through my fuel lines. I grit my dentas, refusing to cry out.

He then unstrapped me, and picked me up, bringing me to the tube. He drained the liquid into the base, then opened the tube, shoving me in, and closing it. As soon as the tube closed, the liquid started coming in. When it touched me I cried out. It brought back feeling to my legs, but also burned, like someone was pouring acid on an open wound. The higher it got, the more painful it became. Once it reached my spark, I couldn't hold it any longer. I screamed in pain,  releasing the pent up pressure, but getting a mouthful of the liquid that then started to burn up my insides. I started seeing images flashing through my processor, and immediately got drowsy, feeling like I hadn't recharged in stellar cycles.

I welcomed the darkness that washed over me.

1 million (unconcious) solar cycles later

I woke up slowly, feeling like I was floating. I looked around, and saw that everything was tinted in yellow. I opened my dermas to try and speak, but got an intake full of liquid. I spluttered and shook my helm. I panicked, not realizing where I was, but then I remembered.

Shockwave... the experiment... the tube.

Once I calmed down, I realized I was alone. Looking around again, I saw that I was still in Shockwave's lab, in the tube. The substance didn't hurt anymore, but I felt kind of weird. I tilted my head down and shrieked. My whole body was different! I had a tail, and wings, held close to my body. I had a beak where my dermas and enstril used to be. My audio receptors were more sensitive, and, pointy. My servos... oh dear Primus my servos, were now clawed, with only four digits on each. My pedes were in the same condition, clawed and missing a digit. I was covered in scales, and my optics were able to see much more. I was grey, with orange and gold detailing, and had a dark grey chest plate.

I heard foot steps, and started to panic. If it was Shockwave, he would try to make me serve him, and Megatron, but if it was the Autobots, they would probably kill me, because, and even I admit it, I'm pretty much unrecognizable. I still have all of my memories though, so I guess that's a plus.

I figured my best chance was to break the glass, so I started smacking it with my... beak? Oh well. It cracked on the first hit, and, with three more, it shattered. I fell forward, and landed on my pedes and servos. I got up and started trying to walk. I was a little stiff, and sore, from being cramped up in the tube, but I was still functioning. I started walking around, then jogging, and finally, running, when I stopped, trying to remember what this creature was called, but for Primus couldn't remember.

Once I shook off my surprise, I started towards the hall that I heard the footsteps in, and peeked around the corner. It was Shockwave, but he seemed older, kind of beat down. How long was I in that tube thing? It felt like just a few cycles. I got so distracted with my thoughts that I lost balance, and fell forward, right in to Shockwave's path. He stopped, and just stared at me. Looks like I shocked Shockwave. Chew on that plate-face.

We just stared at each other. Him not comprehending, me struggling to stand up. I finally managed to get up, when Shockwave shook his helm and walked towards me, servos up. I growled at him, most undignified, and turned away. Sitting down on my aft, facing the wall. I felt Shockwave walk up behind me, a little to close for my liking, when I twitched my tail. Well, more like swatted him with it. Shockwave went flying, and landed on one of his tables. It crunched under the weight and Shockwave fell onto the ground, and started steaming when he came into contact with the pool of liquid from my tube. He got up quickly, shaking his servo. I looked at my tail, and smiled. I ran around the room, smashing things with my tail, smiling and growling. When there was nothing left, I stomped up to Shockwave. He took a step back, and turned on his canon. I growled and turned towards the hall, seeing a door. I swatted him with my tail again, then bounded to the door, and made it out.

I was free! I was ready to go back to base and talk to Optimus, and Ratchet. Maybe I'll try to go see Bumblebee. Oh, I hope he took my advice and ran. I liked the kid. He was fun to talk to. When I walked away from the lab, I looked at where I was, to try to see which direction I had to go in to get to base, when I stopped in my tracks. What I saw put an end to my happy mood. I was still in Tyger Pax. And it was destroyed. No light anywhere. It looked... dead. Not even the planet looked like it had energy left. I opened my wings, and tried to fly, but it took some practice. It was more like jumping from space to space, a few clicks everytime. I eventually got the hang of it, but once I did, I wished I had remained unable.

War was raging, everywhere. Parts of the planet had lost their glow, and the bodies. Oh, the bodies. There were too many to count. Bots were stepping on them, using them as shields, I even saw one decepticon drink energon from another, just so that they could keep fighting. I flew over the battles, hiding in the darkest part of the sky so that none of them would see me. I still can't talk though, and, well, nobody would recognize me anyways. I'm an entirely different species. I'm a... I'm a whole new Bot. A bigger, flying, monstrosity. Oh my Primus... I'm a Predacon.