Under Construction
Chapter 1 Dust
(ironically this fanfic is under construction. Please give me a few days to paste in the writing and sort out the pagnation and links.)
Content rating: General audiences
Warnings: None
Summary: The Constructicons are on an alien planet.
Notes:
I wrote this fic years ago and have been tinkering with and editing it for a while. It feels like a good place to start this series. Warning for melancholy and the post apocalypse of an alien world that’s neither cybertron or earth. If due to current times you’d prefer something more light hearted, skip to the next chapter. Scrapper’s vent issue is based on that g1 episode where he wheezes a lot while speaking.
“These designs are crude.” Hook frowned. “impressive for organic perhaps but primitive—I’m curious what you see in them Scrapper.”
Scrapper could hear Scavenger searching through the debris behind him. The excavators happiness fluttering in the bond. Bonecrusher was leaning against a wall and not even trying to pretend he wasn’t bored out of his processors.
Another dry breeze blew, debris and dust danced in the air. Thick clouds held onto the muggy heat. It was only just tolerable for cybertronians, even ones as adapted to adverse environments as the Constructicons.
When they’d broken though the clouds even Astrotrain had noticed the planet was too dry for the dams, canals, docks that could be found criss crossing below. The high radioactive decay and organic support struts scattered everywhere told a clear and harrowing story.
“Scrapper your thoughts? preferably this decaorn,” Hook prompted.
“If you look at some of the later constructions they do resemble the early era praxian crystal towers, albeit in different materials,” Scrapper replied. “The humans have similar buildings which is curious.”
Scavenger stopped digging momentarily to look at something and tilted his helm.
“...hm, perhaps this is an architectural phase many species go though? You’re thinking of writing another book aren’t you?” Hook said.
“Given how long it’ll take to get rid of the radioactive interference preventing energon detection, then dig up the energon, convert it to cubes and haul it off planet...I might have time,”Scrapper said.
“Good, you’re my favourite author on the subject.” Hook let their fingers brush. “of course, I hold some personal bias.”
Scrapper could hear the turn of Hooks systems and the soft whoosh of his fans. His own were irregular and rasped no matter how often they were replaced. The dust in the hot air didn't help and irritated the protoform deep damage already present.
Scavenger had shown his prize to Bonecrusher who directed him to Hook and Scrapper. Scavenger’s tail sagged gradually downwards then sprung up as he scrambled over rubble towards them.
”Hey, look!” He waved something in their optics.
“Scavenger.” Hook glared. “we are discussing important—”
“I think it’s a set of image captures of the organics who lived here—made using chemical inks on organic fibres,” Scavenger continued, regardless of Hook’s scowl.
Scrapper took the object. It fitted in the palm of his hand and was faded from age. The text wasn’t in any of Scrapper’s language packs but the images could be made out. It showed blue and green organics in various poses, clearly a newspad of some sort.
“Yes very good Scavenger...” Hook patted the mech on his helm.
“Those look like the bunkers in Iacon, and that looks like a missile casing.” Scavenger’s tail wagged rapidly.
But before Scavenger could continue Longhaul’s voice boomed on the external com, “Boss, me an’ Mix found the source of the heavy radiation readings, looks like some kinda unexploded primitive fission bomb—Mix’ stop licking it!”