Timeline: AD 2014 (a few weeks after XII)
CHAPTER ONE
For most of his life, Joshua Joyce did not believe in aliens. As a narrow-minded individual, he had viewed urban legends such as flying saucers and little green men with disdain, and openly expressed such opinions to the fools who believed them.
That all changed five years ago when he discovered Machination.
He had been sitting in a coffee shop, enjoying his day off, when a large man in a suit approached him, introducing himself as Harold Attinger. They didn't talk for long, but Attinger had piqued Joshua's curiosity by mentioning an organization called Machination, which delved into scientific engineering. It had always been Joshua's dream to dive into such a career, rather than working as a lawyer like he had been. So when Attinger offered him a job as a scientist at Machination, he accepted it.
The following week, Joshua met Attinger again at a laboratory in Florida. It was there that he found what it was Machination was working on. It was there that he started believing in aliens.
The technology he was shown and provided to work with... it was beyond anything he could imagine. What he was seeing here in these labs was history in the making-- the culmination of what humankind had been striving for since its genesis.
And right now, he was witnessing what would be the first step towards humankind's destiny.
"Subject KSI-1229-014 is nearly complete," one of the scientists was saying to him as they looked up at the medal model that loomed over them. "The Non-Biological Extraterrestrial we procured was incredibly useful for its finishing touches. We have reached a level that mankind has never reached before."
Joshua said nothing as he gazed at the red and black robot, its green optics staring back down at him. Finally, he said, "What shall it be called?"
"That is entirely up to you," the scientist replied. "You are, after all, to be its controller."
Joshua considered for a moment. Then, it came to him, the name ringing melodically in his head.
"Stinger."
--Three days earlier--
Why? That was all Sunstreaker could ask himself as he cruised down a country road, fellow Autobots Arcee and Bumblebee behind him. He had really wanted to give Optimus Prime a piece of his mind for his assignment as Hunter O'Nion's guardian. But with the other Autobots being present, he had chose not to lest he embarrass himself.
Why me? Why not Sideswipe? He likes these filthy humans a lot more than I do, no idea why... but why me?
"Say, can I get some music in here?" Hunter asked, interrupting Sunstreaker from his thoughts. "You have a radio, right? Can you blast some tunes for me?"
The Autobot's engine groaned. "And what if I don't want to hear your tunes? My radio is connected to my audio receptors, so I can't mute them for myself."
"Come on, man, there's some good music out there! Look, just let me put you on G2-H1...."
Sunstreaker grudgingly complied as Hunter turned on the radio. Instantly, a grating sound emitted from the speakers, accompanied by what sounded like screaming. Sunstreaker nearly lost control of his own steering when he heard it.
"Sweet Primus, you call that music?! It sounds like a dying turbofox!"
"It's Cold Slither, man!" Hunter said loudly over the noise as he pretended to play a guitar. "This is one of their greatest hits!"
"You humans must have incredibly low standards if that's what you call great!" Sunstreaker retorted. "I'm changing it!"
Ignoring Hunter's protests, Sunstreaker began to cycle through radio stations, passing songs that didn't appeal to him. Before he could find one he liked, his wheels went over what felt like a mere pebble, yet he was suddenly sent flying off the road. Quickly ejecting Hunter out of his car form, Sunstreaker transformed to robot mode and landed roughly onto the ground.
Behind him, Arcee and Bumblebee were transforming as well and rushing up to him. "What was that?" the latter asked.
"I don't know," Sunstreaker said. "Some sort of--"
Suddenly, he froze. He had lost the feeling in his joints; he couldn't move a single piston, not even those in his mouth. Then, he crumpled to the ground and lapsed into unconsciousness....
* * *
Target neutralized. Ready for pickup.
Warning: Two other Cybertronians detected.
Hold them off. Moving in for retrieval.
The two A.I.-controlled drones broke off from their formation with the larger transport planes and shot towards the two remaining Autobots, firing at them. Avoiding their shots, Arcee unsheathed her arm blades and leaped towards one of the drones, grabbing onto its wing. She then plunged a blade into its body before jumping off, letting it plummet towards the ground and explode.
She landed gracefully on the ground and saw that Bumblebee had already disabled his opponent with two simple blaster shots. He looked at Arcee and smiled weakly.
"You know, you don't have to make every kill a fancy move--"
"Quiet," Arcee said sharply. "Where's Sunstreaker?"
Bumblebee looked around before tilting his head up. "There!" he shouted in alarm, pointing at the fleeing transport plane, which had Sunstreaker magnetically connected to its underside. Bumblebee raised his blaster to fire at it but was stopped by Arcee.
"Don't," she said. "You might hit Sunstreaker."
"Then what are we supposed to do? Just let our own teammate get kidnapped?"
"Better than to let him get killed." She placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry. We'll get him back."
Bumblebee sighed in resignation. "I hope you're right... say, where's Hunter?"
Arcee looked around before frowning, returning her gaze to the plane. "Oh, no...."
PLANETFALL
Part 2: Dark Designs
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