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The New Age - (Market Commodity book II)	By : Scienceteacher Category: Transformers > G1 > Round Robins Views: 6401 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Do not own the Transformers, am not making anything from this story.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
**New Era Part 4**

**Written by StSE, Universe G1**

Steel snuggled up against Darren as the man lay down on the air mattress. The main lights clicked off in the hangar, plunging them into darkness. “Well, looks like the Indianapolis power grids are beginning to fail,” Darren whispered. He squeezed Steel’s door wing as he said this, as if to comfort the clone.

“Got it?” Daniel’s voice drifted to them.

“Yep, freager should be coming on..” Speed’s voice yelled from the other side.

The interior of the hangar brightened up again, and the sounds of the Dragstrip clone’s bragging rang throughout the expanse. Darren chuckled as he listened. The clone was such a braggart! He was now telling Daniel that he could rig up the moon if he wanted to..

“Why does his human partner allow him to speak to him in that manner?” Steel asked. His optics glowed in the shadows of the tent like a pair of brilliant blue moons.

“Because we think of you clones as equals. You’re alive you know. At least those of you who have developed sparks,” the man replied. His dark eyes met Steel’s.

“This development, is this why you are experimenting on me? You view me as a tool to better your understanding?” the gray clone’s face was slightly downcast. For some reason, he didn’t want to just be someone’s ‘experiment’.

Darren propped his head up on a hand. His eyes full of sadness. The clone was right. How WOULD he feel about him – after Sharon’s little experiment was over? Like all the other men in this group. He was childless. He just hadn’t had time to dedicate to a woman like that. But in a sense, these clones would be their descendants. Everything they learned – they learned from the humans ‘raising’ them. So even after the experiment was done, Darren planned to still treat this clone as his partner. He needed someone to call his own as he faced this new world.

“I don’t view you as a tool Steel. I view you as my partner. Perhaps I’ll even learn to love you like the wife I never had,” he whispered. Tears filled the tough man’s eyes. Grief for those he’d just lost that day. Those millions that would be lost in the coming years… “You clones are kind’ve like our children in a way. Yes, we treat you like partners, even mates, but when we’re long dead and gone – you’ll still be around. Still using the knowledge that we’ve given you.”

Steel searched his face, a strange intensity in his blue optics. “So even when this experiment is over. I will stand as your partner?”

Darren held up his hand, offering it to the clone to grasp. “Partners until I die. I give you my oath as a Marine!” he whispered.

The gray clone grabbed his hand. “And I give my oath to you then.”

His optics flashed once, so brightly, that Darren was temporarily blinded. Blinking, the man stared in amazement at the clone, for he swore he felt some kind’ve electricity go between them. Much like the electricity that one felt when they were truly in love with another…

-----

TC poked his head into Darren’s tent. “Hey, um, Darren? I need to check Steel real quick, you mind?”

Darren opened his eyes and sleepily rolled over, pulling his arm off the quiet clone. Steel smiled at the Thundercracker clone and carefully got up and slid out of the tent. They walked through the stillness of the half-lit hangar. Most of the humans had gone to their tents, falling into the heavy slumber of physical and emotional exhaustion. This left the clones in charge for the moment.

“How’re you doing?” Jester asked as he fell in beside the Bluestreak clone. His face was painted up most strangely, which caused the quiet clone to give him a rather curious look.

“Oh, don’t mind him. He was just entertaining Beachcomber with his magic act,” TC snickered with a wink.

“Magic?” Steel asked. He was not familiar with the word.

Jester grinned. He showed the clone his empty hands, and then suddenly he pulled a scarf seemingly right out of thin air! Enjoying the look of disbelief on his new brother’s face plate, he continued his tricks of illusion all the way to Speed’s temporary workshop.

“Geese, you are such a freagin’ dumb ass!” Speed snorted as he watched Jester’s last trick. He nodded for Steel to sit on his work table. “Don’t take the loser too seriously, everything he does is fake.”

“Oh, ok,” Steel replied.

“Pretty much. Except for those little surprises that cause obnoxious mechs to end up hanging by a foot – and beggin’ to get cut loose,” Jester snickered. He hit Speed in the shoulder tire mount with a fist. “Ain’t that right dirt eater?”

“Frag you,” Speed shot back. Then he turned back to Steel and opened his chest access panel. He let loose a low whistle. “Damn! Whatever the hell you’ve been doing with Darren – worked!” he turned and yelled for Scream to come over.

But of course, with the exception of Blue who was stuck watching over the captive clones – EVERY clone came trotting over. Steel soon found himself, and his open chest panel, the center of clone attention. He looked around at the excited faces, wishing he truly understood why they were so excited. But little did he realize, a tiny stray strand of electrical current was dancing around his core. It seemed like nothing, unless one knew what it was. The precursor of a true spark had already fired up. And it wouldn’t take long to strengthen into a true spark!

-----

“Mainframe went down in NewYork. This sucks,” TC muttered as he punched in a few more commands.

Sharon leaned over his wing. “Can you route it through Boston?”

About that time Internet Explorer began to spout off its error message. TC punched some commands to run diagnostics. “Signal’s gone.”

She sighed and lowered her head. “Well Daniel, communications are totally out now. Until the atmosphere clears and we can connect via satellite.” She turned to the group behind her. “Well, what we know is that chaos reins supreme right now. The U.S. isn’t much of a country anymore. And some countries have guaranteed what aid they can send via boat – but after they deal with their own issues.”

“So in other words – we’re on our own,” Drew stated in a flat tone.

Darren chuckled and put his arms over Drew’s and Daniel’s shoulders. “You telling me that us Marines are tougher than squids? Hmmm,” he joked.

This caused the group’s mood to improve a bit. For if any humans could survive, it was them!

Rumble and Beachcomber stared at each other. Both were, quite frankly, amazed at the human spirit in the face of such utter destruction. Even the Decepticons, as into destruction as they were, would have a hard time facing their own possible demise. They’d be bitching and griping the entire time!

The Autobot resumed stroking his little clone ‘pet’. “Well, I guess it’s this spirit and our technology that’s created this new mech species. We most certainly underestimated the humans.”

Rumble snorted, as far as he was concerned the SECOND mechs came back to this planet, he was going to hitch a ride out of here! He just had to save his own aft until then.

“Um, Daniel?” Silver called from the door.

Daniel strolled over and put a hand on his wing. “What is it?” he asked.

“My radar is showing movement out there. But there’s no energy signatures, so it’s..”

“Got to be humans!” Daniel finished. “Speed, Scream – get my ECE! Drew – get yours on too!” he ordered as he trotted towards where they’d stored them.

“But I can go out..” Silver offered.

“We can’t, it’ll clog up your filters and cause you to overheat,” Beachcomber told him with a shake of his head.

All the clones drooped a bit. Since every single one of them wanted to charge out there and investigate. But they were freagin’ trapped. That silicon-filled ash would be deadly to them! So, grudgingly, they helped the two soldiers gear up. With worried optics, they plastered their faces to the small window in the door as they watched the men disappear in the falling ash.

Speed began to pace back-and-forth, muttering to himself in a worried tone. He hated not being by Daniel’s side. Especially now with his entire world having collapsed around him! The man was his only consistency now. And the Dragstrip clone hated the fact he couldn’t protect him!

After what seemed an eternity had passed: “They’re coming back!” Scream yelled back to the group with happiness in his voice. He and Jag opened the door. Allowing the two men and four stragglers inside, with a huff, they got the door closed and bolted. Even that little time span open, allowed fine ash to float into the hangar. Swirling like a light mist in the air.

The four stragglers were coughing, even with fabric held in front of their faces, they’d inhaled far too much of the ash. They were coated head-to-toe in a thick gray layer, so much so, that it was hard to tell what they actually looked like. Though one thing was for certain, they were all fairly young women.

Pushing through the men and clones, Sharon took control of the situation. “Ok ladies, let’s get you and your clothes rinsed off.” She looked over at Blue. “Please go get some bath towels out of that box we opened, and Silver, Scream – please fetch those boxes of women’s apparel. TC, Jag, Jester, Shado – come with us.”

“But I’ll help them clean up!” Scream whined, his optics glinted with eagerness.

“No, YOU won’t!” Jag shot back as he followed the group of gray-colored women.

“And THAT’S why you keep an old broad around!” Darren snickered as he patted Steel’s door wing.

“Why?” Steel innocently asked. It seemed strange how the leadership position seemed to continually change with this group. Depending on the situation… To him, it was truly fascinating, since this ‘automatic shift in leadership’ seemed to just flow smoothly. So unlike what he was used to.

“Because it keeps us men in line – and former whore dykes in line. Ahem, myself not included,” Daniel chuckled as Speed helped him get out of his ECE suit.

Scream glared at him for his reference of ‘whore dykes’ – for everyone in the room knew exactly who he was referring to with that phrase! “Kiss my aft,” he muttered as he stomped off.

Steel stared after Scream with his mouth hanging agape. He’d never seen anything like it! A unit leader who was tough as nails under fire – but yet pouted and sulked during the peaceful times…

“Yes, he’s an interesting leader Steel. But he’s actually very good at it,” Darren joked as he noticed his partner’s look of confusion.

“Boy just has to get used to the married life. It’s a pretty hard thing to get used to,” Travis added with a nudge to Darren’s side. The two old soldiers enjoyed a good laugh at Scream’s expense. They’d both dealt with many former comrades going through the exact same thing the poor red clone was now going through. It just made him even that much more ‘human’.

-----

“Here, we can’t waste much water, so let these clones help you. Don’t worry, they’re ok,” Sharon told the women.

“Thanks ma-am, Thanks so much!” one of them said as she stripped her ash-covered clothing off. Jag politely held his arm out for her to lay them, just as all the clones were doing.

“Wow! You’re TC aren’t you?!?” another said as she handed her clothes to him. She stared up at him with her dark eyes, as if just blown away. Then she glanced over at Sharon and back again. “You’re really TC!” She lunged at him. Wrapping her arms around him as she sobbed, the ash now coated his armor from her hug.

“I’m sorry, um, Doctor. She, um, has his posters all over her walls,” one of the others explained. She went over and told the girl to chill out, and peeled her arms off the now dirty, but grinning, clone.

By now, Sharon realized these women were very young. The one who’d wrapped herself around TC, had to be a teenager. Though, she wasn’t angry at all about it. Especially when she saw the slag-eating grin on TC’s face about having a ‘fan’ in the hangar… “Well, set those clothes down right here. And let’s get you girls cleaned up.” She glanced at the clones, her expression told them that they’d better act ‘professional’ or they’d face her wrath later.

The girls giggled as the clones helped them soap up and rinse off. Though the room temperature water did make for some humorous comments… Then Blue was there with the towels, and the girls dried themselves off and wrapped the towels around themselves. Sharon studied them with a critical eye. Three of them looked to be college aged, but the black girl was much younger, probably around sixteen. And she was truly thrilled to be actually around the ‘famous TC’ – especially since he’d been helping her with her hair and back..

“Um, you’re Professor, uh?” the red haired girl asked.

“It’s Trakersly!” the black girl whispered as she elbowed her hard.

“Um, Professor Trakersly. Uh, thanks for helping us,” the red head stammered as she offered her hand.

“I’m Jane, this is Sandy, this is Ashley and this is Torie.” The blond girl named Jane introduced everyone.

“Oh, this is so fresh! I can’t believe I’m in the SAME room as you!!” Torie squealed as she hugged TC again.

Well, it turned out that the three older girls were indeed college students. And Torie was being fostered by Ashley’s mother – so in a sense, they were sisters. They’d been headed out to do some back-to-school shopping. Completely unawares as to the dire situation that was occurring. They’d been caught by surprise by the heavy traffic. And then the ash fall had disoriented them yet further. They’d spent all night wandering on foot, after abandoning their car, and had ended up stumbling onto the deserted FedEx hub.

The team pulled out a crate full of cans of barbecued beans, and sat down for their plain meal. They joked, laughed and cried throughout the day as they became friends with the girls. And silently, the deadly ash fall continued outside. Soon, the team would be the only ‘family’ the girls would ever have again.

-----

“Wow, so you’re a real Autobot?!” Torie said in awe as she looked up at Beachcomber.

“Well, duh, and I’m a real Decepticon. So what’s your point?” Rumble snorted. He was still sulking, staying as far away from the humans and clones as he could. Usually still ending up near the one other mech on the planet… But at least it wasn’t an Autobot like Sunstreaker or Tracks he was stuck with! Beachcomber was at least polite to him.

“Don’t listen to Rumble. He’s still depressed that his brothers left him here,” Beachcomber said to the dark-skinned girl. He offered her his hand to step into, and lifted her onto his lap. The silent Onslaught clone was still snuggled up against him there. And without even thinking much about it, Beachcomber resumed his gentle stroking of the clone’s side.

Torie walked over to the clone. Sure, she’d seen the captured clones whom were tied up, and now knew what had happened. But she hadn’t seen this one. He looked horrible! His crimson optics shifted to return her look. She bent down next to him. “He looks horrible Beachcomber. What are they going to do with him?” She couldn’t help it; she hesitantly touched the clone’s helm.

The big mech shrugged. “I’m not sure. TC says he’s got the virus, but he was ordered after the new firewall program was installed. So it’s keeping the virus at bay – for now. Sharon’s studying these infected clones though.”

“Does he have a face?” the girl asked as she studied the silent and helpless clone. She tapped his face mask as she said that, her facial expression emphasizing her curiosity.

Assuming by her body language that she was asking to see his face plate, the battered clone nodded. With a whir of servos, his face mask split at the central seam and retracted into his helm. He gave her a faint smile. “Yes?” he asked softly, hoping that he had done as she had wanted. He still thought of himself as a hostage, but he had silently watched as the commanding clone of his unit had been rebuilt into a Bluestreak chassis. That clone had been following the dark-skinned man around ever since. So, Alpha-121 assumed that they had changed Prowl-796’s ownership.

For some reason, their lack of attention to him had him afraid that they were going to discard him. Perhaps even use him for parts. He knew he had the malicious program, but he did have the new firewall. He wanted to be given the same chance that Prowl-796 had been given. The same chance to work for these humans… And this young one was the first to even look at him. He needed to do as she wanted. To show her that he was worth rebuilding.

Torie startled a little bit. “Wow, you do! Oh gosh, are you in pain? Do you need anything? I….”

“He can’t hear you Torie. His audios were blown in the assault,” Beachcomber informed her as he smiled down at his little charge.

Her face became downcast. Sharon had explained the virus problem to them. Told them about the experiments she was doing with some of the non-infected and still-in-the-crate clones while they were waiting out the volcanic fall-out. But this clone, like Torie, was going to be left out of it. Him - because of the virus; her - because of her age! Neither one could help it. It wasn’t fair. The damaged clone reached up and curled his fingers around hers. He grimaced as he did so. Obviously, the clone did feel pain. “It’s not fair Beachcomber! It’s just not fair!” she muttered.

“I know it’s not, but leave the clone alone. He’s infected,” Sharon’s voice said.

Torie looked up in shock. Scream had lifted Sharon up onto Beachcomber’s leg armor, and now they both looked at the teen with sad eyes/optics. “But why can’t I mentor a clone. Just like everyone else is?!” the girl pleaded. She gripped the clone’s hand tightly.

“Do you REALLY want to try and mentor a clone Torie? Are you mature enough?” the older woman asked.

Torie jutted her chin in defiance. She’d had a hard life. Being bounced from foster home to foster home did that to one. No one had really ever wanted her. Sure, they did the lip service. But she knew the truth. They viewed her as just another nappy-headed nigger. A nigger that would end up pregnant, on drugs and on welfare… But they were wrong! The day she’d seen this woman and her blue clone on the news – a dream had filled her. A dream to get a good job and one day buy one of her own. Her grades had improved as she had found the motivation to study.. To graduate.. For a welfare mom would never afford one. But with future education – she would be able to afford one! As far as the girl was concerned, she was more mature than any of those college girls she’d gone shopping with! “Yes I am,” she stated to the Professor, her dark eyes challenging the woman to doubt her.

Scream shrugged. “Well hell, all my fuck buddies said they’d lost it when they were her age. So what’s the big deal? At least a clone can’t get her pregnant.” He smiled at the teen as he supported her cause.

“Damn-it Scream, shut up! She’s a minor. And as an educator it’s my responsibility – to be responsible!” Sharon growled as she glanced at him.

The thin dark-skinned girl stood up and locked with the professor’s eyes. “Well if you’re so worried about me having sex with one of them – then just don’t load those programs! It’s not fair that THEY get some to mentor – and I don’t!”

“She’s got a point professor. That would satisfy both your sense of responsibility and her needs. Then we can all be happy,” Beachcomber observed with a lazy smile as he looked down at the group standing on his armor. He just wanted them to all get along.

Sharon gave a disgusted sigh. “Ok, ok then. Come on. There’s a few crates left to open,” she ordered as she turned to walk off.

“I want HIM,” Torie said as she stood next to the mangled mess of a clone.

The older woman turned around and put her hands on her hips. “He’s infected. You can’t pick him.”

The teen crossed her arms over her chest. “He’s the ONLY one that I want. You’re not even giving him a chance. Just like no one gave me a fucking chance!” Plopping herself down next to the Onslaught clone, she grabbed his hand and brought it to her lap. Her eyes locked defiantly with Sharon’s.

“But he’s already done for. We can’t fix him now!” Sharon growled. “And don’t give me your idealistic juvenile views. You haven’t seen what happens to them. He’ll rip you to shreds!”

“He’s got the firewall, Beachcomber said so!” Torie shot back. She was determined. Just something in his optics drew her to him. He was a throw-away just like her. She couldn’t just NOT give him a chance.

Sharon began to stride forward, as if she intended to yank the teen away from the clone. But Scream’s hand stopped her. She turned around in a huff and glared at him. “What?!?”

The red Seeker shrugged. “Perhaps we SHOULD let her try? If it fails, then we know it won’t work. But if it succeeds….” His optics gleamed in hopefulness. If the firewall could keep the virus at bay until the clone developed a spark… Then they had a cure! Well, for clones with intact firewalls that is… “They can stay with Jag and me. We’ll keep our optics on the clone, and if he shows symptoms then…” He lifted his left arm cannon in emphasis.

“Please Professor? Let me try..” Torie pleaded - her big brown eyes full of tears.

“Ok, Scream – you are fully responsible for her safety. Do you understand me!?! And take that wreck to Speed. See what he can do with him,” she ordered. Without a second glance, she slid off of Beachcomber and walked off.

“You are one hell of a clone, you know that Scream?” Beachcomber asked, his normal half-baked smile returning to his face.

Rumble snorted from his spot on the concrete floor. “A hell of a waste of a good chassis, that’s what he is,” he muttered. He leaned back against some pallets and watched the red Seeker clone carry the battered Onslaught clone through the air. Starscream would squash the little bugger for being such a softy. It just didn’t befit a Decepticon clone!

“You know Rumble; you’re going to have to live with these clones for several orbit cycles. It might be wise to actually TRY to get them to like you,” Beachcomber noted. His blue optics locked with the Decepticon’s. In a weird way, he felt sorry for the small mech. He knew how young the cassettes were. Had heard how desperate they had seemed when they’d tried to assault the smaller Autobots. They got no respect in their faction. No love… A probably no action except with each other…. Such an empty existence! No wonder he griped all the time.

“I don’t need no Autobum givin’ ME advice!” the small mech retorted with a derisive snort.

“Hey Beachcomber, you wanna co-mentor a First Aid with Jane?” Blue asked as he flew over and landed on the big mech’s knee.

First Aid models would probably be calm and peace-loving, so Beachcomber wouldn’t mind in the least. But what about his own model? “Sure, but what about mine?” he asked with a shrug.

“You mean Stoner? Oh, he’s paired with Sandy. But she’s nice, she’ll let him learn from you as well,” the Skydive clone replied. From his experience with the Aerialbots who’d been stationed near Sharon’s home, he knew that many of the mechs seemed to show a preference for their own clones. Similar to how humans treated their children. So it made sense that Beachcomber would ask about his clone.

A half-baked grin spread over his blue-skinned lips. So they had named his clone ‘Stoner’? From his past experiences with humans joking that they needed to ‘share a joint’ with him, he understood the slang. But it didn’t phase him in the least. Weren’t ‘stoners’ the type of humans that were called ‘hippies’ and marched in big peace marches? Yes, if he was a human, he’d be a hippy. Not to mention the fact that his clone was actually being sent to the military to function in a geological survey Unit. And ‘stone’ was in ‘Stoner’. Stones were what he was programmed to study. So on both counts the name was most appropriate! “That’s wonderful! But why do I need to co-mentor this First Aid with Jane?”

“Well, she already has her hands full with the Ratchet clone. And Sharon doesn’t want the young woman overwhelmed. She was a Paremedic that was saving up for medschool. So these two clones are being crosstrained to not only work on humans, but us as well. It would be good to also teach one, what type of injuries/repairs he needs to expect with this eruption and everything.” Blue sat down, looking up at the laid-back Autobot.

“So in a sense, he’ll be my partner as well?” This idea intrigued the geologist. He hadn’t had a true partner back with the Autobots. They didn’t like the fact that he’d rather look at rocks, than shoot down Decepticons. But these clones were so different. They only fought to survive and move on.

Rumble listened in on the conversation. He hated to admit it, but he’d actually been mulling over Beachcomber’s advice. And now the Autobot was going to kind’ve get a clone of his own. Why shouldn’t he? If Beachcomber was right, he’d need someone to interface with until he was finally rescued! “What about me? Huh? Don’t I get a partner?”

Blue looked over at the con. This was the first time Rumble had shown any interest in helping the Unit with anything. Which meant he was likely up to something… “What could you actually teach a clone?” he asked.

Rumble mulled it over. He really didn’t have that much to offer. But he WAS good at recon and sabotage! And since they were going to use his aft for ‘psycho clone bait’, he should at least have a partner – right? “Uh, recon and sabotage?” he offered. His optics actually pleaded with the Skydive clone.

Blue was about to allow himself to outwardly snort, but then Beachcomber’s fingers tapped his wing lightly. “It’ll be ok. I think it’ll be good for him, and I’ll keep my optic on them,” the blue-skinned mech assured him.

Blue glanced back over at the small Decepticon, doubt in his optics. But the Autobot had a lot more experience with Rumble than he did, so who was he to argue? “Well, I’ll inform Sharon of your offer. Can’t guarantee anything.” With that, he zoomed off across the hangar.

“Why’d ya back me up?” Rumble asked with wariness in his red optics. Of all beings, he hadn’t expected an Autobot to support his cause!

Beachcomber chuckled as he leaned back. “Because I know how young you are. Perhaps being partnered with a clone who won’t try to stab you in your tailpipes, will teach you that there’s more to life than conquest and insults?”

Rumble cocked his cranial unit and considered the Autobot’s words. So he thought a clone would change him huh? Make him a wimp like him? Oh well, whatever. He didn’t think THAT would happen. But heck, if it took the Autobot thinking this, to get him a clone – he wouldn’t tell the mech how stupid he was. So he just kept his mouth shut.

---

Alpha-121 rebooted his systems one-by-one. As he linked with his secondary processor and began to synch the base programs he realized with a start, that he was in a completely alien chassis! He scanned through the programs needed to control this chassis. His meta realigning itself as he accepted the fact that his alt mode was now a combat helicopter. Systems restored, he initiated activation sequences for his motory nets – just as his optics activated.

Scanning around him, he sat up, activating his vocal processor in order to ask for his commanding officer to introduce himself. But then his registration software indicated a specified commander, a single owner now over him. “Registered owner: Torie Hull,” he stated as he scanned around him.

“I’m Torie,” a female voice replied.

Alpha-121 turned his optics to her. His meta immediately recognizing her as the black girl who had shown interest in him earlier. His data files indicated that she was not a fully mature human. Most likely in the age bracket of 15 to 17 years… It was strange to have a commander so young, but she was his commander. So without a second thought, he logged her image and voice patterns in his working memory. “My designation?” he asked. The change into a new chassis had confused his personal identification program. Thus, he needed a new designation.

“You get to name him, go ahead,” the Starscream clone told Torie with a pat on her shoulder.

“I do?” she asked as if in amazement.

The Vortex clone turned his optics to the red Seeker. He’d identified this clone as the probable leader of the assault unit which had defeated his security forces. But why was the clone telling his human commander what to do? This was not logical. “We do not give our human commanders orders,” he informed the clone. And then he turned his optics back to Torie. “My designation?”

Scream got in his face. “I’m your commander, and am responsible for Torie. Deal with it,” he growled.

“Um, he’s right. He’s responsible for both of us,” Torie agreed. She’d noticed her clone’s optics narrow, and was afraid he’d prove Sharon right, then-and-there. And Scream would take him out – as promised.

“So you are the commanding officer – over my commander?” Alpha-121 asked in a steely tone. He realized he had made an error. Though the situation was an unheard of one, so surely the Starscream clone would understand his confusion?

“Yes. I’m Scream – and this is my partner, Jag,” the Seeker replied and introduced himself and the Prowl clone whom stood silently behind him.

Alpha-121 could feel the intensity and wariness in their optics. Obviously, they knew he had the virus – and were going to keep their optics on him for the slightest glitch. But his firewall was still intact, so he was not concerned. Though his opinion of them increased dramatically, just for the fact that they were concerned.. “I apologize for my confusion of the command structure. It is most – unusual.” He put his hand to his helm in a quick salute. Showing his acceptance of their leadership over him…

“I’m going to name you Storm. Like my favorite Xmen character,” Torie decided.

“Isn’t that a chic?” Scream asked with a raised optic ridge. Nothing about the Vortex clone was feminem by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, the clone was one of the least attractive ones – in his opinion.

She shrugged. She’d always fantasized about being Storm. The character was a strong black woman who didn’t take shit off anyone. And since she wasn’t supposed to have sex with this clone until she was ‘of age’ – she might as well think of him as a sister.

“Well, aren’t you the bitch in your relationship?” Speed snickered from behind them. The Dragstrip clone grinned at the ‘new’ Vortex clone. “Well, at least you won’t be a slaggin’ psycho Vortex. Those clones are such freagin’ losers!” he quipped as he grabbed the remains of Alph-121’s original chassis and threw them into an empty shipping crate.

Alpha-121 narrowed his optics as he logged in his new designation. ‘Storm’ would be most suitable. It referred to violent weather phenomena. And in a combat situation – he would more than act the name. “Storm is acceptable,” he replied to Torie.

She grinned and held out her hand. Sliding off the table, Storm curled his fingers around hers and followed where she led. Politely, he shook hands as he was introduced to the rest of his new unit.

----

“Here, you two can sleep on this air mattress,” Jag said as he slid the mattress tightly against the side of the six man tent. The Prowl clone laid on his, grabbing one of the books he’d brought, and began to read. Obviously, he was not going to defrag until Scream came to relieve him of his watch on Storm.

Torie lay down with a sigh of relief. Her entire body still ached from the long hike through the ash. But then the ash still in her lungs began to bother her again, turning on her side, she began to hack.

Storm glanced at the Prowl clone, knowing without a doubt that they were keeping very close tabs on him and his young commander. He glanced at the space next to Torie, unsure of what to do. He’d never defragged next to a human before. Security clones were never this close to their supervisors.

“Your place is next to Torie,” Jag stated flatly. His optics left his book briefly, flickering over the Vortex clone.

“Yes sir,” Storm replied. Carefully, he sat down next to the girl. She was turned away from him, coughing uncontrollably. He watched her with concern in his optics, and then turned them back to Jag. “She seems to be ill. Perhaps a medic is required?”

Jag lifted his optics again. “Just pat her on her back; it’ll take a while for her to get the ash out of her lungs.” He seemed to consider something for a second. “And Storm?”

Storm had begun to pat her on her back as ordered. He glanced over. “Sir?”

A smile crossed the Prowl clone’s stern features. “We are family now. The humans consider her a sister, and we clones consider you our new brother. So use our names.”

“Yes sir – Jag” Storm replied. His expression was hidden behind his face mask, but a confused smile did grace his lips. “I do have a question. Perhaps you could answer it?”

Jag nodded for him to continue.

“What is this ‘thing’ that Scream hopes will succeed on me?” Storm asked. He’d overheard Scream discussing something about it with TC. But still hadn’t quite understood. It had something to do with Torie’s interactions creating some type of change within him. Torie stopped hacking finally. With a happy sigh, she rolled over and laid an arm across his lap. Snuggling tightly to his chassis as her eyes closed in slumber… A strange warmth radiated through Storm at the physical contact. The soft warmth of the human flesh as it pressed against him. It felt – good.

The Prowl clone studied him, unsure if the knowledge of what they were trying to do with him – would interfere with the experiment. But the clone did deserve to know – did he not? Setting his book down, Jag crossed his legs Indian-style and studied the clone. “We are hoping you’ll develop a spark. And that it will cure you of the virus that your firewall is currently holding at bay.”

“A spark?” Storm didn’t understand.

Jag opened his access panel over his primary core. The tent filled with the eerie blue glow from his strong spark. “This is a spark. Somehow, when a human focuses on us with intense emotions for a time period – we develop the precursor. Then it develops to a full spark. When you have a spark, you are resistant to the virus.” He closed his panel.

Storm’s optics were drawn to that spark. He felt a strange pull. A strange attraction to it… But he balled his fingers into a fist, knowing that the Prowl clone probably would not react kindly to his touch. “I feel – strangely – attracted to it,” he admitted.

“We’ve noticed other non-sparked clones are also attracted to us for some reason. That is not unusual,” Jag flatly stated.

“So, the desire is for us to develop these as well. This is why all those clones that were in crates or uninfected have been assigned ‘human mentors’?” Storm noted more than asked. Having an Onslaught meta, gave him a much higher intellect than the average Vortex model. He was more a planner – than simply reactive. He liked to think things through. To develop strategies for future actions instead of just waiting to see what happened.

“Yes, but you’re the first we’ve tried this with – who’s already got the malicious program. Scream is hoping that you will develop a spark before the virus breaks through your firewall protection.” Jag cocked his head as he studied the clone’s reaction to this news. It was basically – develop a spark or die.

“Hmmm, I can see the possibilities if this is effective. And I understand what happens if it doesn’t,” Storm replied in a steady voice. “So its intense human emotions directed at us – that seems to fire the precursor up?” He glanced down at the girl sleeping against him.

Jag nodded. “But unlike the others, you weren’t loaded with the interface programs. Your mentor is deemed too young for that. But remember, while the humans in our unit are trying to help us survive – we are also helping them survive. Your mentor is the youngest female. And our primary goal now is to protect the breeding aged women at all cost.” He’d been around Onslaught clones long enough to know that they liked to know exactly what was expected of them. They’d blow up if there were too many surprises. That just flustered them.

“So I am her guardian, even as she mentors me and possibly cures me? Interesting…. But one thing I do not understand,” he added. His fingers drifted down onto the girl’s side and gently, he rubbed her shoulder. Enjoying the feel of the sleeping girl under his fingertips…

“Which is?”

“There were several undamaged clones whom still had intact firewalls within my unit. Why did you choose to repair me when it would’ve been far easier to do this with one of them?” His optics locked with Jag’s as he asked this. To him, this was an illogical waste of valuable time and resources.

“Because Torie demanded YOU, that’s why,” Scream’s voice answered. The red Seeker grinned at the new clone as he slid inside the tent and zipped it up behind him. “She had her choice. And something about you attracted her.” He went over and plopped his aft down next to Jag’s.

“She was attracted to me – but I was nothing but a wreck!” Storm replied. His optics narrowed, for as a logical planner – he would’ve let himself off-line.

Scream shrugged dismissively. “Don’t even try to understand a girl Storm. It’s a waste of RAM. Just go with the flow. She wanted you – that’s it.” The red Seeker glanced at his bond mate. “Speaking of wanting. You know what? I’m sick of being your bitch now. I want to be the man in our relationship!” With that, he tackled Jag, forcing his face plate against the air mattress as he wrestled the surprised clone’s arms together and handcuffed them.

Storm turned his attention away from the couple. Since he did not have the pleasure programming installed, their moans and activities did not hold any interest for him. Other than the fact that some of the unit clones were obviously involved in clone-to-clone pairing – which wasn’t what they were programmed for. But, if the unit humans allowed it – it was useless to point it out. So he simply logged in the fact that Scream and Jag were a clone couple.

Turning his optics to the girl next to him, he smiled behind his mask. Careful, so as not to disturb Torie too much, he retracted his blades within his back armor and lay down next to her. Lying on his side so that he could face her, he gently scooted over so that they were pressed together. The smaller human murmured something in her sleep, shifted, and threw an arm back over him.

The Vortex clone’s hidden smile widened behind his face mask as his networks responded to the press of her flesh against his length. It wasn’t lust he felt – for he had no data to tell him to feel that emotion. It was simply pleasure. Pleasure that for some strange reason this young human had considered him more valuable than another clone. Had chosen to go through the trouble of having him repaired… Had chosen to take a chance on him… Putting his arm over her shoulder, he put his hand on the back of her head and pressed her against his chest armor. His face mask brushed her tightly curled, short cropped hair. The sensation of those course curls against his armor sent shivers through his chassis.

Without really thinking about it, his protective face mask retracted within the sides of his helm. He kissed the top of her head with his bare lips. He was wanted. He had a purpose. He had a job now. And no harm would ever come to his human charge. Warmth flooded through him as he silently gave Torie his oath of loyalty. He felt her living heart beat against his chest armor. And now he dreamed of having a spark like Jag’s to beat in synch with it. With a satisfied sigh, his optics went dark as he drifted off in defrag.

----

Note: Here’s my current character list for the New Era series. I’ve written up to Part 6, but I’m unsure of which ones to focus on for Part 7. So I’m asking the readers: Who do you want to see engaged in some hot smex? I could even write an orgy just for fun!

Daniel - Ex-Seal. Clone partners: Speed (Dragstrip) & Silver (Air Raid)
Sheran - MIT professor. C.P.s: TC (Thundercracker) & Jester (Sideswipe)
Drew - Ex-Seal. C.P.s: Spinner (Blades) and another they haven't found yet.
Travis - Ex-Seal. C.Ps: Clipper (Hybrid Vortex/Magnus) & Charge (Hybrid Brawl/Prime)
Darren - Black Ex-Marine. C.Ps: Steel (Hybrid Bluestreak/Prowl)
Jane - Pre-med college girl. C.Ps: Doc (First Aid) & McCoy (Ratchet)
Sandy - Ag Major college girl. C.P.: Stoner (Beachcomber)
Ashley - Bio Major college girl. C.P.: Petri (Perceptor)
Torie - 16 year old Black girl. Fostered by Ashley's mom. C.P.: Storm (hybrid Vortex/Onslaught)

Other clones:
Scream (Starscream) mated to Jag (Prowl)
Shado (Mirage) mated to Blue (Skydive)

Mechs:
Rumble and Beachcomber (not a pair)
- 5
- 6
- 7
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The New Age - (Market Commodity book II)