A Warrior Awakens

I don't own Transformers.

Please note that this story follows the same basic storyline as Dark of the Moon, but with alterations I thought were necessary. If you don't like it, go watch the movie.

1 Astrosecond: .498 Seconds

1 Cycle: ~1 Minute

1 Megacycle: ~1 Hour

1 Solar Cycle: ~1 Day

1 Orbital Cycle: ~1 Month

1 Stellar Cycle: ~1 Year

1 Vorn: ~83 Years

Hey everyone! How are you guys? I don't care. This is my little addition to the vast ocean of Transformers FanFics. I hope you all enjoy! All...four of you.

0o0

Orbiting Autobot Correctional Facility, Serial Number 00243

Many years ago…

A single machine stood in a dark room. No light filtered through the solid trithilium vault door before him. No window let sound in to reach his audio receptors. The only light in the room came from him, his dim optics flickering in slumber. He twitched in his sleep, and was met by a sudden yank on all of his limbs, straining the joints to the point of creaking and popping. There several mechanical bands stopped, holding the prisoner off the floor, arms straight out to his sides, legs pulled downward. His body moaned and creaked with the stress, joints popping, servos hissing. After several cycles the bands began to slacken their hold on the mech, slowly lowering him back into a standing position. The sound of their smooth hydraulics were softened by the meter-thick walls, the sound of their engines quickly dieing out. All was silent once more.

A snore bounced off the walls of the prison. The mech hadn't even woken up.

0o0

Three mechs walked down a cold hallway, their mechanical steps clanking off the walls. The one on the left was small, silver, and swaying to a tune only he could hear. The one on the right wasn't much taller, walking down the hall with a stiff back strut, his white and black form pristine. The mechanoid in the middle was much taller than the other two, his long strides forcing the others to walk at a brisk pace. His red and blue armor glinted in the light, his regal helm held high. His confident strides masked his uncertainty, which the mech on the right decided to voice.

Turning to the tall machine, his professional voice betrayed his nervousness. "Optimus, are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Prowl, I am afraid there is not much else we can do. The Decepticons are many, and the Autobots need a powerful fighter." The sliver robot chuckled, lightly punching Optimus' side.

"So ya go to a prison for the most vicious war criminals? You don't mess around, big bot."

Prowl looked behind Optimus, shooting a glare at the relaxed robot."This is hardly a laughing matter, Jazz! The Autobots are loosing this war, and Optimus needed to make a risky decision that could save us all!" He sighed, pinching his forehead in frustration. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you weren't even aware of this robot's reputation!"

Jazz grinned, shrugging at Prowl. "Sorry, didn't get that memo."

Prowl let out an exacerbated sigh when Optimus placed a hand on his shoulder."Easy, my friend. I will explain to Jazz the danger this mech is." The three stopped at an elevator, waiting for it to reach their level. Optimus turned to Jazz, who looked up in respect at the larger bot. "This mech is all but unstoppable. His love for destruction is only outweighed by his loyalty to his commander. It saddens me to see such devotion put to waste in such a facility." The elevator doors opened, allowing the Autobots to walk inside and begin the long decent into the middle of the station. "He has the ability to turn an entire battle around, no matter the odds. He has never seen defeat, only given it to his adversaries. His power is explosive, he has toppled entire building in pursuit of a single target. You can hear him for miles, but no matter how far you run or where you hide, he will find you."

Jazz was taken aback, a frown decorating his faceplates. "And you want to set this dog free? You must be glitchin' Optimus."

Prowl glared at his visored companion for the lack of formalities, and added to Optimus' depiction. "That's not the half of it. He single-handedly brought down the walls countless fortresses. The Kaon prison city-state was forced to rebuild when he went on a rampage. Brought it all down to the ground." He shook his head, gazing at the elevator panel. "Primus smiled on us when we finally stopped that monster. Had to sedate him, his armor's too thick for traditional weaponry."

Optimus shook his head, gazing down at Prowl. "He is not a monster. No matter the misdeeds, we must always be open the possibility of his reconciliation. He may turn the tide of this war. If that is the case, I shall forgive him of all transgressions."

Jazz smiled while Prowl's mouth fell open."B-but, Optimus, sir! You can't possibly think of letting him go just like that!"

I can, and I have, Prowl. This war is destroying the planet. I am willing to allow one mech freedom if it means the protection of our home." Prowl quieted at that, his optics betraying his deep thought.

Jazz slapped Optimus on the back, grinning. "That's my Prime. Never turn your back on a lost cause, huh?"

Optimus smiled and nudged Jazz with his elbow. "I didn't fail you, did I?" Their mirth was cut short when the elevator doors opened, revealing a large room with a huge metal cell suspended over a pit of molten metal in the middle of it. A small battalion of soldiers stood in rigid formation around it, armed to the extreme. Massive artillery cannons pointed directly at the cell, charged and ready to fire. Four huge Lygara beasts snarled and spat at the three newcomers, their four legged mechanical forms bristling, the spines on their backs clattering.

Jazz looked around, a bemused look on his faceplates. "If this guy is as bad as you say, shouldn't we have a little more firepower?"

"I assure you, there is no need for anything more." A tall, orange and white figure approached them, his calm strides quickly swallowing the distance between him and Optimus. "If he so much as twitches, everything goes to red. He can't backfire without us ready to blast it back up his tailpipe."

Optimus stepped forward to greet the confident mech. "Evac, good to see you, old friend."

Evac shook Optimus' extended servo with a grin. "And you, Optimus. I still don't agree with you."

"I wouldn't have you in charge of him if you did. Jazz, this is one of three Autobots that detained our possible savior."

Jazz shook Evac's servo, grinning. "Is he really this bad?"

"Let me tell you something, Jazz." Evac flashed a signal to an Autobot in the command center, who looked down and pressed a series of buttons. Alarms rang out from concealed speakers as the metal containment cell began to lower, the molten pool closing off. The Lygara began whining and tugging at their leashes, begging to be let go and launch onto the prisoner. "This mech destroyed three cities in the space of two solar cycles. By himself. Going up against an half-beaten army, a commander turned his forces around because of a rumor that this mech was in the same hemisphere. No, he isn't this bad. He is much worse." The cell slammed onto the floor, rattling the entire chamber. Massive locks and bolts began sliding away from the cell door, steam hissing as the pressure released. "He was tasked to go into the Cybertronian mines, to try to beat the Decepticons to the center of Cybertron. He nearly imploded the planet."

Jazz started at that. "Wait, beat the Decepticons? Then that means-" Everyone froze when the last lock snapped open and the massive door swung open.

A single deep voice echoed around the room, sounding over the loud snaps of metal bands breaking. "You forgot the time an asteroid half the size of Cyberton nearly collided with the planet." A red servo gripped the huge door, and the guards brought their weapons up. "Had to figure out a way to stop it." The servo clenched, the trythillium metal bending and warping under the stress. The servo wrenched, tearing the door free and sending it sailing across the room where it imbedded itself in the far wall. A massive shape stepped out into the light, broad shoulders scraping the door frame, his red Autobot insignia blending in with the rusty color. "So I grabbed it. And…BLAM! I threw it." The huge red robot stomped across the room, ignoring the guards, patting one of the Lygara on the helm, then saluting Optimus. "Warpath, reporting for duty, sir."

Jazz stared at Warpath, then Optimus. "He's an AUTOBOT?!"

0o0

Pow. How many of you guessed he was Warpath? I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and if you didn't, the hate fairy will throw you into a wall! And feel free to post any ideas or critiques you may have to help me become a better writer! Au revoir!