Chapter 54: The Outdated Autobot
"Sludge, transform! Dinosaur Warrior mode!"
Although he had only 5% energy left, this mechanical dinosaur...buried for nearly a thousand years...was desperate to return to his original robotic form.
However, while Dinobots usually transformed with great force and precision, this towering colossus seemed to struggle. Not only was his transformation painfully slow, but metallic clank-clank and grind-grind sounds echoed through the air. Two small gears suddenly popped off, clattering to the muddy ground...one even bouncing off Starscream's foot.
"What's going on? Has this Autobot been buried too long? Did some of his parts rust off?"
Even though Transformers' bodies are made of highly durable alloys, centuries of being submerged in damp, bacteria-filled mud could easily cause oxidation. And this Dinobot seemed to be suffering from exactly that.
Worse still, the giant couldn't fully straighten his back after transforming, and there was a visible crack at the joint between his lower head and neck...occasionally sparking with white and yellow flashes.
"Ugh… my head… something feels strange. I've lost so many memories. What happened to me?"
"Zzzzz!"
"Host, this isn't a simple case of corrosion. This Autobot warrior must've sustained severe injuries. We'll need to perform emergency repairs right away, or we won't be able to retrieve his data!"
For some reason, the system sounded unusually emotional about this injured Autobot...reminding Starscream somewhat of Optimus Prime's tone.
Starscream examined the Dinobot carefully. Near the neck joint were two small, conical punctures...each about 25 to 35 centimeters wide...as if something razor-sharp had pierced straight through.
"What kind of weapon could punch holes through Dinobot armor like that?"
"Sludge, huh? I've got a laser welding kit. If you trust me, turn your head and I'll seal those wounds first. Once I find the right tools, I'll run a full diagnostic. Of course… if you trust me."
Following the system's instructions, Starscream activated the repair tools stored in his arm compartment. It was probably the first time he'd ever helped someone heal instead of destroy.
Surprisingly, unlike most Autobots on Cybertron, this Dinobot wasn't openly hostile toward a Decepticon. Maybe he simply didn't know what had happened back home.
"Although I don't have a high opinion of you Decepticons, my brothers and I have fought you before. Still… thank you this time, Starscream. Go ahead."
The powerful Dinobot bowed his massive head slightly, letting Starscream work. For any Transformer, the neck area was a vital weak point...if Starscream wanted, he could easily strike a fatal blow. But he didn't.
As Starscream welded the damaged areas, the system detected something strange. The Dinobot's entire body was covered in dents, deep claw marks, and gouges...evidence of brutal combat.
"Yeah, these look like claw marks… and not from mammals or simple dungeon creatures. No ordinary beast could leave scratches on Transformer armor."
Starscream frowned.
"What kind of battles have you fought, Sludge? Those holes under your head...they look like bite marks from some kind of mechanical creature!"
Seeing the wounds triggered a memory. During his own fight with Sixshot in his beast form, Starscream had seen fangs capable of tearing through armor just like that.
Could this Dinobot have fought in a similarly monstrous battle a thousand years ago?
"I… don't remember clearly. My mind is fragmented. I need time to reorganize the data."
As Starscream patched the wounds, Sludge's large robotic eyes flickered between blue, red, and yellow light...just like an ancient computer processing data.
He was trying to remember. To reconstruct his own memories.
Neither of them noticed the faint yellow glow emanating from a small crack in Sludge's chest...a pulsing spark, resonating softly.
Meanwhile, about 120 kilometers away from the underground city, a vast black shadow loomed over an oil field. It was none other than Flying Dart, the mechanical pterosaur warrior Starscream had encountered earlier.
He appeared to be searching for an energy source, but just before landing, he suddenly beat his wings twice and soared back into the clouds...his voice filled with excitement:
"Yes… it's him! I didn't think he was still alive! That signal...it's faint, but I'm 100% sure it's Muddy! I can't believe it, brother… after all this time! Great! Wait for me...I'll rescue the captain and the others right away!"
So Starscream's earlier deduction had been right: before the construction of this underground city, the only active Dinobot left on this planet had been Flying Dart, living completely alone.
(End of Chapter)