Setting Sun (Transformers Prime Fan-fic)

Darkness Rising: Part 1

“So there I am on the lookout when out of nowhere these high beams light up my rear view, and then it hits me…” He slightly pauses for dramatic effect, then continues, “I’m illegally parked!” I laugh as Cliffjumper continues down the road, the deserts boring compared to his stories. Arcee jumps in, listening from across the continent. “Another parking ticket?” She says, a hint of laughter in her voice.

“Better! The boot!” I say, and Cliff laughs as Arcee elaborates. “Big metal tire clamp, impossible to remove.” I chuckle and Cliffjumper does too. “Bingo! So the local po-lice do their thing, and I let them get all the way down the block. That’s when I kick off my new shiny shoe and…”

“New York’s finest soil themselves.” Arcee chuckles as Cliff replies with a soft laugh. “You know me Arcee, you mess with Cliffjumper…”

“And you get the horns.” Arcee and I both say at the same time. Cliffjumper just starts laughing as we keep driving. Despite her trying to sound tough, I can still hear her lightheartedness as Arcee attempts to reprimand him. “Not sure how that complies with Autobot rule number one. Keep a low profile?”

“What can I say? Patrolling for energon out here in dullsville gets lonesome, ain’t that right, Iris?” I sigh as I lean back in the passenger’s seat. “Yeah…. Not much happens out here, anyways. Almost makes me miss the Decepticons.” Cliff chuckles. “You just read my mind, kiddo.” We continue on for a while, not spotting much other than cacti, sand, and a lot of nothin’.

It’s been three years since the Decepticons have done anything after the college incident. Agent Fowler was able to set me up in Jasper, Nevada and I ‘repeated’ my senior year of high school there with my new name, Iris Aurum. Now I was a substitute teacher, and on call assistant for Agent Fowler. Not a bad set up, if I might add. However… I did one thing no one, except possibly Ratchet, knew about…

But that would have to wait as a large mass appears on Cliffjumpers radar. “Woah, I got something.” He says, and I sit up straighter. I had zoned out and not been listening to them until this point. “Need any backup?” Arcee asks, and Cliff scoffs. “Do I ever need backup? Plus, Iris has my back.” I smirk. "Oh yeah I do."

We suddenly take a sharp turn and head towards a large crater. I lean forward and whistle. “That’s a whole lotta energon, huh Cliff?” He revs his engine in joy. “You know it kid. Arcee, we just found a whooole lotta energon.” I smirk as he copies what I say, but a sudden shadow casts over us. I feel an unending sense of dread fill me as I recognize the spikes the shadow forms. The passenger side door opens and I swiftly exit as Cliffjumper transforms. “Decepticons….” He growls, and I glare at the large ship.

The Nemesis…..

I reach down and grasp the small pistol on my hip. Whipping it out, I hold it gingerly in one hand and gaze up towards Cliffjumper. He gazes back down at me, then looks towards the gun. “Ratchet made it… packs more punch than you think.” He only gives a grim nod before turning his optics back to the ship. It suddenly releases a shot and Cliff barely surrounds me before we are both thrown into the crater. I grunt as Cliff lowers me to the ground and he straightens up again. "Thanks for the save…" I hiss, holding my gut. He nods his helm. "Don't mention it." Something opens and multiple flying objects come from it.

“Arcee… about… that backup.”

I swiftly raise my weapon as they near. Just before reaching the ground, they transform and slam down, sending dust everywhere. Their red triangle visors glare at Cliffjumper, and one notices me as well. I growl as Cliff huffs. “Fair warning, boys. I’ll put a few ‘dings’ in ya. Huah!” He transforms and charges them. He transforms again in mid air and slams his clenched servo right in the face of the one in the middle. The small amount of attention I had is instantly gone as the drones turn on Cliff. “Oh no you don’t!” I shout. With the click of one button on the side, the pistol suddenly grows and shifts into a rifle similar to an M16…