Disclaimer: Here we go again; another Transformers story from yours truly. This time around, (get it, time?) I'm integrating time travel into the mix. So, expect to see some references from The Terminator, Terminator 2: Judgment Day and X-Men: Days of Future Past.

Also, this story will be separated into two parts; the same full story length but different plots. Try not to get confused. Of course, I don't own the rights to the Transformers, but I like to think I do it better than Michael Bay. HA! Still, Steve Jablonsky does put out some kick ass scores.

Prologue

Earth, the home world of Humanity and the adopted home of my kind… has fallen. By the Earth year of 2043, it has become a dark, desolate world wrought by war, suffering and loss on all sides. Not just Autobots or Decepticons, but Humans as well, fighting against an undefeatable enemy; the Chimeras. They exist as human/machine hybrids, devoid of consciousness and dedicated to one goal; the extermination of life on Earth. Unfeeling, unrelenting, they show no pity, no remorse or compassion or fear and they will not stop until all life on Earth, and perhaps on Cybertron and the wider galaxy, is extinguished.

I fear for the future of the galaxy, knowing that should we fail, the Chimeras will exterminate everything. They act as a plague, spreading like an uncontrollable wildfire. Are we destined down this path? Is it a predetermined outcome in which all life on Earth, Cybertron and the wider galaxy is no more? Or can we change our way? Can we evolve fast enough to change ourselves… to change our fate? Is the future truly set?

TRANSFORMERS:
EDGE OF OBLIVION PT. I

Chapter I

The Earth year was 2043, 30 years since the emergence of the Chimeras, human/robot hybrids created by the pro-Human military group M.E.C.H. The belief was that the Chimeras would've been a deterrent against the Transformers, particularly the Autobots should they ever have gone rogue. When the Chimeras first saw action in 2013, they were effective. They took the fight to the Autobots and the Decepticons, and it was said to be in the name of Humanity according to the leader of MECH, Silas Bishop. The Chimeras did their jobs well… maybe too well.

It wasn't long before the unthinkable happened; the Chimeras eventually turned on Humanity. They went from targeting the Transformers to targeting humans as well, slaughtering any that opposed them. The humans were forced to side with the Transformers, but it was all for nothing. The Chimeras were relentless in the hunt for anyone and anything that stood against them. For the next 30 years, the Chimeras were systematic and wiped any and all resistance. It didn't matter the side: Autobot, Decepticon or Human. If they stood against the Chimeras, they were already wiped out.

Now in 2043, Chimeras overran Earth and most of the Transformers were wiped out. The Transformers did have one advantage: the Chimeras couldn't track them while they were in vehicle form. It allowed the few remaining Autobots and Decepticons to conduct supply runs across the country without having to engage the Chimeras. It worked well enough, although a wiser approach was to avoid traveling in large numbers to avoid suspicion and eventual detection.

One such supply run was underway in an old storage depot in Nevada. It was led by Jazz, who had taken command of the away team missions following the deaths of Elita One and Ultra Magnus. Jazz wasn't alone on the run; he had Bumblebee, Arcee and the Decepticon Dreadwing along with him. The group was hard at work gathering supplies, mainly power sources for sustenance and for the vital systems back at their new base in the Nevada desert. But some items were too small for the Transformers, so it was only natural to have a human help them. It this case, it was Samantha Witwicky.

Samantha, or Sam for short, was the daughter of Daniel and Verity and the granddaughter of Spike and Carly Witwicky. Born in the Earth year 2021, the 22 year old Sam had endured as much personal hardship as any other human in the country… whoever was still alive anyway. She'd been with the Autobots since most of her family died, but she persevered and grew into a smart, tech savvy and compassionate young woman. She also had something of a dry sense of humor, useful in times of severe stress or despair.

Sam wasn't the only newcomer. A young Transformer was also present, and she had a uniqueness that went beyond her physical appearance. Her name was Windblade, and she was what the other Transformers called a City Speaker. She had a seemingly innate talent for communicating with what ever town or city in which she found herself, regardless of whether the place was abandoned or not. In addition, it helped whenever the Chimeras were approaching. Windblade could warn the Transformers of approaching enemies through the CCTV systems in the city, assuming they were still working.

It was sheer luck that the systems were working at the depot, but Jazz still hustled his comrades to gather anything useful to bring back to the base. "Let's hurry this up 'fore them Chimeras crash the party. Windblade, you picking up anything yet?"

Windblade was 'listening' to the depot before she addressed Jazz. "The depot tells me that we have three Chimeras approaching from the southeast. They'll be on us in less than six cycles."

"Double time it, ya'll. We gotta get cracking out of here as soon as possible." Jazz said.

"No pressure," Windblade muttered and looked to Sam as she was nearby. "How you doing there, Sam?"

Sam was working on some controls, crossing wires and reinserting bits from point to point. "Great, Windy. I managed to rewire the shutters around the depot and set additional defenses. It ought to be enough to slow the Chimeras and buy us time to escape."

"You said that the last time and it led to the loss of Crosshairs, Highbrow, the Combaticons, and most of the Harbinger crew, girl. I've made it point to not trust a Human on their word." Dreadwing angrily snapped.

"Lay off, Dreadwing." Windblade snapped back.

"Who are you to order me? You've no authority over anyone; you're not even an Autobot or a Decepticon." Dreadwing said out loud.

"I'm Sam's best friend, and that should be all you need to know." Windblade stated with pride.

"Friendship and loyalty have done nothing for anyone." Dreadwing argued.

"That's enough! Everyone shut up and listen." Jazz said and halted the group.

The group stopped what they were doing and listened to a strange noise that seemed to come from all around them. Whatever it was, it sounded wrong. It sounded like a fate drilling noise cutting through the stone structure of the depot. The group deployed their weapons, including Windblade deploying an energized short sword. Then a portion of the ceiling broke free and fell to the floor in front Bumblebee and Arcee. More debris fell before a Chimera dropped to the floor as well.

It was roughly the same height as Optimus Prime himself, maybe taller, sporting a purely charcoal grey color scheme and grooves of yellow lights streaking across its chassis. Its face was like the face of a human, but mechanized and virtually devoid of any emotional inflictions. The eyes, or optics, glowed a demented shade of yellow and were devoid of emotion as the rest of the robot's face. The Transformers stood their ground, even as two more Chimeras dropped out of the hole dug in by the first.

Jazz fired the first shot without hesitation, blowing off the right arm of one of the Chimeras. The damaged Chimera staggered back from the blast but righted itself to continue its advance. Dreadwing fired the other two to hold them back while Arcee and Bumblebee helped Jazz against his target. The Chimera that was going for Dreadwing lunged forward and knocked his gun out of his hand before grabbing him. But in an instant, Windblade cleaved off the Chimera's arm to free him. The other Chimeras subdued Jazz, Arcee and Bumblebee briefly and focused on Windblade.

Windblade was ready, taking an offensive stance with her wings spread out completely. The engine turbines fired a pair of concussive blasts that rocked the Chimera and sent it through a wall. Windblade used another concussive blast against another Chimera to bring it down if only for a matter of moments. In addition to her wing turbines, Windblade drew an energy scimitar sword.

Dreadwing retrieved his gun and fired at the Chimera as it was rising up from the floor, tearing off its left arm. Windblade charged forward in and began slicing the Chimera in a furious flurry of precision strikes across the machine's body before blowing it back with her wing turbines. The Chimera was clearly heavily damaged by the combines attack but it still advanced on the Transformers, and Jazz motioned for the team to fall back. Windblade immediately picked Sam up off the floor and ran in the opposite direction. Bumblebee and Arcee followed suit while Jazz and Dreadwing held off the Chimeras.

"Dreadwing, get out of here. Make sure the others make it back to base." Jazz said.

"You do realize it's suicide to remain against three Chimeras, right?" Dreadwing said.

"It's better than the alternative. Getting that equipment to Brainstorm is the only chance we've got if Prime's plan is going to work. Now go!" Jazz ordered and blasted the Chimera closest to him.

Without hesitation, Dreadwing bolted out of the place and left Jazz to buy time for the other to escape. Rushing through the depot, Dreadwing caught up with the others just as they reached the main shutter. The shutter was closed and Sam worked to get it open. They wouldn't budge. One of the mechanisms was likely jammed in place. So Windblade hit the shutter with a concussive blast that blew the shutter clear and led the team outside. Bumblebee immediately noticed Jazz's absence.

"Where's Jazz?" he asked.

"He's not coming." Dreadwing replied. "We need to leave."

Bumblebee quickly knew what was going to happen and protested. "No, we can't leave him behind."

"We don't have a choice and he's not giving us one. We have to go right now." Dreadwing said and pushed Bumblebee aside.

"Well you can go, but I'm going back." Bumblebee declared.

"Then you can die with him, or we can all return to Optimus Prime and Megatron and get this plan of theirs done. You're choice." Dreadwing stated before he transformed and flew out of sight.

Bumblebee was clearly conflicted, having one foot directed toward the depot and the other on the open road. His instincts were tearing him apart with indecision. His spark was telling him to return to the depot and save Jazz, but his thoughts were telling him to escape right now and return to Optimus Prime. Arcee could see that Bumblebee was inching toward the depot and, as badly as she wanted to return to help Jazz, she saw the bigger picture and stepped in front of Bumblebee. Windblade and Sam, the two youngest members of the group, stood with itching trepidation as Arcee held Bumblebee back.

"Bee, we have to go." she told him.

Bee protested, "We can't, Arcee. We can leave him behind. We need him."

"Jazz is staying to buy us time to get back to Optimus. What do you think Optimus himself would do?" Arcee asked.

Bumblebee couldn't provide an answer even though he already knew the answer. He said, "This isn't right, Arcee."

"It hasn't been right for 30 Earth years." Arcee said before she assumed her vehicle form and raced away.

Windblade took Sam without a word and assumed her own vehicle form as a futuristic jet and took off. Bumblebee remained where he stood and listened. Jazz was still in the depot, fighting for his life against the Chimeras. His instincts continued to rip away at him to rush in and help his friend. But unfortunately, he knew Jazz would protest his involvement and not want Bee to risk his own life for him. Jazz knew the stakes were much higher than just his own life, and Bumblebee knew that as well.

"I'm sorry, Jazz!" he whispered before transforming and racing away.

Jazz was thrown into the wall and left a massive crater where he hit before he noticed a Chimera lunging at him. He rolled out of the way just as the Chimera thrust its arm forward, impaling the spot where he was laying. Jazz drew his gun and fired on the Chimera, striking it a few times in the chassis. Another Chimera approached and threw its arm forward, but Jazz managed to block and fired a shot into its face. The third Chimera, still favoring the lost arm from before, moved to attack Jazz but he was able to fight it off. Jazz backed off from the trio of emotionless robots and fired on all three of them.

"That all you got? C'mon, I got more for all of you." Jazz dared the three Chimeras.

The nearest moved forward and thrusts its arm forward, allowing Jazz to slip passed it and move toward the next Chimera. He shot the first and then the second before being confronted by the third, one-armed one. The one-armed Chimera managed to bat Jazz's gun out of his hand but Jazz managed to still take the fight to it. The others closed in. Jazz kicked one Chimera away but off managed to land a strike, shredding bits of Jazz's armor away. Jazz felt the pain instantly but kept fighting, pounding on the Chimera that injured him. The one-armed Chimera knocked him to the floor but near his fallen gun.

Jazz scrambled for the gun and grabbed it, spun to his back and fired a shot. The shot cleaved the head off the one-armed Chimera but it was still upright. Jazz fired another shot that struck the chassis, and the Chimera was finally brought down in a smoldering heap. Jazz cracked a smile and took aim at the next Chimera, only to be suddenly blasted from behind. This attack was very different from any energy-based attack Jazz had experienced. His joints seemed to lock in place, but he was able to turn his head around toward the source.

A figure walked forward, slender and female in appearance. Her body was shaded black and with flaming decals, she sported a duel-pronged helmet over glowing, red optics and twin wheels mounted on her back. She held a crossbow-like weapon in her right hand and aimed it straight at Jazz and fired. The bolt that flew out struck Jazz on his right leg joint, bring him to a knee. The two remaining Chimeras attack, but Jazz fought them off as best he could. It wasn't enough, and the Chimeras pummeled Jazz relentlessly while the new arrival simply stood and watched. She only took a step to one side and back again while Jazz was mauled. By that point, Jazz was a beaten, battered mess of metal, sparking joints and leaking fluids as the arrival femme stood over him.

"Flamewar." he snarled in pain.

"Look at you. You Transformers have spent so long fighting each other, making a mess out of the planet, completely oblivious to the casualties left in your wake. It's almost sad." said the femme that Jazz addressed as Flamewar.

"Old habits die hard." Jazz said.

"I don't doubt it, but it's all over, Jazz. Now, you're going to tell me where they're hiding and they're planning. Where are Optimus Prime and Megatron?" Flamewar demanded to know.

Jazz shifted to alleviate some of the pain in his joints when he replied, "You and your toys can track us, Flamewar. Find 'em yourself."

Flamewar narrowed her optics before driving her hand into Jazz's chassis, causing Jazz to scream in agonizing pain. She twisted her arm inside of his chassis, making him experience more torture than anyone had in the Earth years since the Chimeras took over. Flamewar seemed to smirk at the sight Jazz's suffering with a sadistic grin that quickly vanished. She thrust even deeper until she could almost lay her pointed fingertip on Jazz's spark. Jazz winced at the sensation of slowing being tortured and knowing that the moment Flamewar removed her arm from his chassis, he'd go offline. But he had one final trick to execute.

"WHERE ARE THEY?" Flamewar screamed out and sent an echo through the depot.

Jazz only smiled a sly grin before showing his hand. A small device was held in the palm, blinking a tiny red light that caught the attention of Flamewar. She looked around at the surrounding area. Similar red lights blinked around her and the two Chimeras, while Jazz slumped back and his blue optics dimmed and his body turned ash gray. He still had that sly grin as he shut down. Flamewar quickly realized what was about to happen and she quickly transformed into a black and flamed decaled motorcycle. She bolted out of the depot, leaving the two Chimeras behind without a second thought. The explosives continued to blink with increasing speed before the detonation came.

After separating to reduce the chances of detection, Windblade heard the boom from the distance. The shockwave followed and knocked her out of the dark red sky. She plummeted toward the Earth with Sam riding in her cockpit, but managed to use her vertical thrusters on her wings to steady her descent. Sam jumped out of her seat and dropped to the ground, feeling the shake caused by the boom. Windblade, despite the warning of being in robotic form, transformed to gaze at the giant plume of fire and smoke that was the supply depot only moments before.

"Jazz was in there." Sam said and cupped her hands to her face in disbelief.

Windblade stepped forward, her optics pulsating in shock and awe. "Sam, we've got to go. The longer we stay out in the open, the more likely Flamewar will find us."

"How do you know Flamewar is there?" Sam asked.

"I just know, Sam. We need to rendezvous with the others as soon as possible." Windblade said and picked Sam up from the ground. She then transformed back into her jet form and flew off.

Flamewar stood alone amid the destroyed remains of the supply depot with utter contempt in her optics, looking far into the distance beyond. She could sense the presence of a single Transformer, but it was too distant to know which one it was but still knowing all the same. Flamewar looked around at the ruins of the depot, seeing the wreckages of the two Chimeras she'd left behind to be destroyed in the blast. She scoffed at the remains. She knew that the Chimeras numbered in the thousands, so two or three losses was hardly a concern.

Her focused rested solely on the Transformers, specifically Optimus Prime and Megatron. They were the only two things holding the remaining Transformers together, and she knew the war with the Chimeras would be over if they were destroyed. Flamewar was going to find them, sooner or later. After all, it was all a part of her programming being that she was the first Chimera ever created. She had no intentions of being the last.

Author's Note: That's the opening chapter in a nutshell, which is relatively short, and things are already looking bad for the robots in disguise. As you probably noticed, Windblade makes her debut and she will serve as the main protagonist. Conversely, Flamewar debuts as one of the primary antagonists.

The Chimeras are basically the Transformers equivalent of the Sentinels and Flamewar is kind of like Master Mold. Take that for what you will.

Also debuting is Sam Witwicky, who in this story is the daughter of Daniel and Verity and the granddaughter of Spike and Carly.

Yes, I did just kill Jazz. But keep in mind that this happened 30 years in the future, so you can bet he's still alive in the past. Anyways, that's it for this chapter. So drop a review my way and I'll be back soon.