//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: A Traumatic Experience // Story: The Darkest Hour // by TheClownPrinceofCrime //------------------------------// Red Alert drove through the open landscape of Equestria with Rumble sitting in the front seat of her ambulance mode. As she was driving, the colt looked through the open window. He beheld the shining rays of the sun, blooming flowers, flying birds, and the green grass. Then he briefly looked at his cutie mark with a frown. “What’s the matter, Rumble?” Red Alert tenderly asked. “It’s... well, I’m starting to think about my cutie mark again,” he replied sadly. “All these wonders of nature already know what they’re supposed to do. They are really happy and stuff, but for me... I’m not. I’m not sure what I can do besides flying, cooking, and other colt things.” “You are just as unique and special as they are. Only time will tell what special talents you will achieve,” said Red Alert. “How come I don’t feel happy?” Rumble asked. Tears started to form on his eyes. “Why am I feeling so incomplete?” “There, there, little one, no need to feel useless. You have family and friends who love you for who you are and what you are. They are always here for you,” Red Alert comforted. Eventually, they arrived in a plain field just about ten miles from the city of Canterlot. Rumble got out of the vehicle before Red Alert transformed back to robot mode. The duo sat down on the grass while facing the blue sky. They were silent for a few moments while they contemplated where they want to start. The Autobot medic broke the silence. “So... is there anything you want to share? This is a good time to speak your mind.” “Well... I was having a bad dream last night... but it wasn’t too scary though,” Rumble nervously replied. Red Alert arched her brow. “Are you sure?” “Yeah! I mean, it wasn’t that bad, but it was still... uh, weird.” Rumble began to sweat as he forced a smile. Red Alert reached out her hand and touched Rumble’s forehead. She activated her health scanner on the colt which took him by surprise. “Hey, what are you...?” “Your nervousness is going haywire. Your body temperature suggests that you are hiding something from me. Rumble, please remember that I am here for you and you can always tell me anything. Be honest with me, alright? What exactly is troubling you?” Red Alert strongly insisted. Rumble took a deep sigh as he tried to recollect himself. After taking very deep breaths, he looked back up to her. “Okay, I had a horrible nightmare last night; in my dream, I saw a scary-looking shadow looming over me and was going to take me alive. He... looked so much like... Soundwave! I tried to get away from him, but he was so close to grabbing me. I hoped that I would never have nightmares of him, but look at me now!” Rumble began to sob on the grass as he continued, “Why is this happening to me?! I thought this would be all over!” Red Alert gently stroked his mane and wiped off his tears. “It’s okay, little one. Let it all out.” “(Sniff) Thanks... I just don’t wanna go through that again,” said the colt. “Remember when I told you back in Detroit that I can somewhat relate to your experience? That I know what it’s like to have such trauma and fear?” Red Alert asked. “Yes? (Sniff)” “Well, I believe this is the time I tell you my story,” she somberly replied. Rumble sat on the palm of her hand with an intrigued look on his face. “I’m listening.” “Many stellar cycles ago on Cybertron after the war against the Decepticons, I was a student under Ratchet’s tutelage. He gave me a very important assignment for finals to complete my training as a medical officer. It was the assignment that led me to a tragedy... that changed my life forever,” she began. FLASHBACK The young student drove from street to street until she arrived at the fences of Kaon City. She transformed to robot mode and hid behind a wall. “This is so exciting!! I can hardly await my upcoming graduation! This assignment is going to be so easy!” “Slow down there, Red, we ain’t there yet. We just need to get past those fences to retrieve the synthetic energon,” a male Autobot reminded. “I know, Siren. I’m just so excited!” Red Alert squealed. “I understand that, and so am I. But remember what Professor Ratchet taught us.” “Always keep your central processor focused on the task before talking about anything irrelevant,” they both recited. “Very good,” Siren chuckled. “Now, let’s stick according to plan. You know what to do.” “Oh, yeah! Time to earn that degree!” Red Alert shouted. She snuck behind the boulders that were scattered across the ground. As she got behind the last one, she noticed several Decepticon troopers guarding the front gates of the city. She mischievously grinned as she picked up a grenade. She threw it right towards the guards. It landed right in between them and released a toxic gas. They groaned in agony before they slowly fell on the ground offline. Then she transformed to vehicle form and entered into the city. The entire sky was dark red, some of the roads were littered with empty energon canisters, and Megatron’s face was seen in monitors everywhere in the city. She continued to sneak around the tall buildings, keeping a low profile. “Siren, I entered the city. Kaon looks even uglier than I thought it was. Do you know how far the synthetic energon is from here? Siren?” Her com link went static for a few seconds. “Hey, Siren, do you read me? Siren!” She still received no answer. She looked around the city to see if any ‘Con was nearby. Fortunately, she was in the clear and proceeded to a few alleyways. Suddenly, there were two random Decepticons walking together on the street. She immediately hid in an alleyway before they could see her. The ‘Cons got past the alleyway and walked away until they were out of sight. Seeing the coast was clear, she exited the alleyway and ran off. Several minutes later, she noticed a bright green light shining in the midst of another alleyway. Smiling with radiant hope, she ran into the alleyway and spotted the synthetic energon stored inside a canister. She quietly snuck up to it until she was mere inches away from it. “Yes! I finally found it! I knew this was going to be easy!” She picked up the canister as she idly gazed at it. “You really shouldn’t be here,” a gravelly, depressed voice spoke out. Startled by the voice, Red Alert turned around to see a Decepticon with the exact same body model and size of Jazz with red-purple colors, a couple of yellow and black stripes, and a purple visor. He stood in front of her with a frown. “You have no business here, Autobot. Leave now.” “Sorry, uh... sir, I’m here on a mission to retrieve this so I can graduate from my training with Professor Ratchet. So... I’m taking this with me!” she casually replied, smiling at the ‘Con. “Whatever. Just get outta here while you still can,” he warned. “If my companions find you here, it won’t be pretty for you.” “Riiiiiight... I’m Red Alert by the way. What’s your name?” “Dead End.” “Nice to meet you, Dead End! I’m sorry I have to cut our conversation short, but I’m gonna go now with this thing. Bye!” But before she could get away, she bumped into a bigger Decepticon who had the same body model as Optimus with a black and purple color scheme and whose head was square-shaped and had a beard. He fiercely glared at the young fembot. “WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU’RE GOING?!” “I... I was just—!” He swiftly grabbed her and tossed her hard to the ground. “Once again, you failed to apprehend the Autobot scum when you had the chance, Dead End! Such a worthless weakling you are!” “Hey, cut him some slack, Motormaster! He was just talking to her...” said another Decepticon. The leader glared at him which made the latter nervous. “...which, of course, he was wrong for doing that.” “What’s going on around here, boss?” a fourth ‘Con asked, entering the alleyway. Once he spotted Red Alert slowly getting up, he grinned lasciviously. “Well, well, well, who is this pretty bot?” “A trespasser!! She will be severely dealt with!” Motormaster angrily shouted. He kicked Red Alert in the chest and punched her in the face. “Yo, that would be a complete waste of a stunningly attractive fembot like how Drag Strip is!” “Shhh!! Quiet, Wildrider. She might hear you,” the third ‘Con warned. “Oh, let her be angry, Breakdown. I love fembots who get angry!” Wildrider exclaimed. “Please, just let me go. I didn’t mean to cause trouble!” Red Alert begged. “SHUT UP!! You asked for this to happen, and you are going to stay here until you learned your lesson, Autobot scum!!” Motormaster snapped. As soon as he said that, a yellow female Decepticon approached the gang and Red Alert with a wounded Siren and dropped him on the ground. Drag Strip stepped on him with an evil smile on her face. “I presume this pile of scrap metal belongs to you?” “Siren!” Red Alert screamed. She ran to him and slowly lifted his bruised head. “I’m sorry, Red Alert. She... broke me,” he muttered. “Awww, isn’t this so adorable? Too bad this moment won’t last long,” Wildrider mocked. “What? What do you mean?” Red Alert asked. Motormaster grabbed her head and slammed her head into a wall and punched her repeatedly. Then he body-slammed her into the pavement. “Sit down and watch... while we have our fun,” he told her. He nodded to his other Stunticons to commence their thing. “NOO!!” Wildrider grabbed Siren by the neck and threw him against the same wall Motormaster smashed Red Alert in. Breakdown activated his blades and stabbed Siren’s legs and slowly pushed them upward, making him scream in agony. Motormaster unsheathed his sword and sliced Siren’s right arm off, forcing the latter to scream in deep pain. He crushed his arm underneath his foot and then kicked his face. He lifted up his head to see the looks of agony, pain, and suffering. “Time to pay the price of your stupidity, Autobot clod.” He dragged his injured body over to Drag Strip who cast a sadistic look at the horrified Red Alert. Dead End however only casually stood by with his arms crossed without even looking at the violent scene. “This is only a sign of what our ultimate victory will look like,” said Drag Strip. As she grabbed the victim’s neck, she activated her chainsaw. She slowly cut open his entire optic before she proceeded to deliver the final blow. She sliced him entirely in half with his energon splattered against the walls and on Red Alert. “SIREN!!!” “Hope you learned your lesson, Autobot scum. Stunticons, let’s get outta here!” Motormaster ordered, transforming into a Cybertronian truck. After he and three others left, Dead End looked back to see Red Alert emotionally broken and staring at her partner’s corpse in shock. “I’m sorry, Autobot.” He transformed to vehicle mode and drove off. Red Alert could only behold what remained of her beloved friend. He was gone... in the very day they were supposed to graduate and be happy for their accomplishments. Yet, this happened instead. She gently touched the cut optic and bowed her head in great sorrow. FLASHBACK ENDED Rumble was genuinely shocked and appalled as he listened attentively to everything she shared with him. Understanding clearly her own horrifying experience, he laid his hooves on her fingers in comfort. “I’m so sorry, Red Alert. That must have been... terrible to watch.” “It was. I was never the same after that day; the same Red Alert who was so enthusiastic and excited to see new things and learn new things was no more. My graduation was so empty and meaningless without him. Not a day goes by in which I don’t think of him or get nightmares of his death. So I know how trauma and pain can afflict one’s spark... or, in your case, one’s soul.” “Thank you for telling me, Red. I’m glad we have each other,” said Rumble, tears forming in his eyes. “So am I,” Red Alert replied. She picked him up with her palm and walked toward Canterlot.