Well folks, here it is. My first fanfiction writing foray into Transformers!

And Macross.

By now, those who are familiar with my work should know: This is a crossover fanfic. Specifically, a type TV Tropes calls a 'Fusion Fic', where, and I quote, "the metaphysics and backstories of the universes have been fused so they have always existed as part of the same setting. As a result, rather than the characters being simply swapped, the backstories and worlds of both franchises are altered so they can exist together."

I think this is starting to be my main thing, given what I'm going for with Devil of Zero and Memories of Death. Speaking of which, don't worry about this interfering with other projects. It definitely is. Kinda. Maybe. I dunno, we'll see.

And now, some background - you know, to pad my wordcount, bore you out so you'll be properly enthused when you get to reading the actual prologue (and/or skip this part entirely) and to chase out those who aren't that interested.

My history with Transformers began a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...wait, that's bullshit. It started when I was like, five or something, while I was living somewhere in...Massachusetts? Hell if I know, my memory's crap. Anyway, there I was, playing with Legos or something, when the TV got turned on by one of my many siblings, and there were robots on the screen! Sure they were shadowed and virtually featureless, but I could tell they were robots from the blocky shapes! And I was hooked.

And then I saw some pretty lights, something about 'scanning'. Monkey (Five, remember?)...Cat...Rat...Rhino...yawn. Then the other dudes! Spider, eugh, Pterodactyl...getting interesting...Velociraptor...nice, very nice...T-Rex? Yay! (Feels like I forgot someone...eh, can't be anyone important (Waspinator sad!)) And thus, Megatron became my hero.

Yeah, I know how that sounds these days, but he was a robot that turned into a T-Rex. Shut up. His Transmetal form, when I got my grubby kid hands on it, was my favorite toy evah! A close second was that wolf-eagle Fuzor, Silverbolt, who I spent forever wondering why he was almost always with the creepy spider lady (lifelong arachnophobe here folks).

And then I saw Megatron turn into a dragon.

Yep. Hooked like a trout.

Of course, being five-six-or-seven, my attention waned quickly, and soon enough I was hooked on one of my stepfathers fancy-looking cartoons (I would later learn they were called...'Anime') Robotech. And therein was I introduced to Macross, by way of Harmony Gold, and my world was enriched by the triple-changing Valkyries.

Of course, then I saw Gundam Wing, a transforming robot with a hand-cannon that could vaporize entire building with a single shot, and the next six-to-seven years I spent on bent knee before my Gundam altar.

But soon enough, Transformers and Macross crept their way back into my life, Michael Bay bringing Transformers, Live to the Big Screen (Who's this Witwicky idiot and why's he in my Giant Robot movie?) and then Macross Frontier...er...um...I found it? Online? With...subtitles?

Anyway, so you get why I'm into this. Giant Transforming Robots. Every healthy teenager's dream. But there was always something about Transformers that bothered me later in life. It took until I saw Avatar that it finally struck me. (By the way, that guy, who cackled maniacally in the theater when Quaritch blew up Hometree? Yeah, that was me. Don't bother preaching 'ethics' and 'nature conservation', overexposure to Disney burned those out of me a decade ago...and before you try that, Japan turned me off from aliens and catgirls.)

The humans were useless. Obviously, the Film Series, especially Dark of the Moon remedied this a bit, but it still didn't satisfy me. I needed humanity to be able to fight Transformers on equal ground (props to M.E.C.H of the Prime Series by the way), with their own power. So, here I am, writing this.

There's been a lot of similar fics, and I note that, while those ones generally saw the victims being transformed into Transformers (hah!) all of them, this one included, generally sees them going through a helluva lot of pain and suffering (sometimes surgical, other times sadistic).

Sorry Jack!

Disclaimer

I do not own Transformers or Macross. Those belong respectively to Hasbro and...um...Originally Macross was made by Studio Nue, right? and licensed by...Tatsunoko? But...Harmony Gold holds the distribution rights in North America...but it was bought by Warner Bros. recently? And that's without going into all of the musical stuff...

Screw it, it's not mine, I'm not making money! So there! Now on with the prologue!

Transformers Prime: Macross Rising

Prologue

Decepticon Spacebridge Chamber, Earth
January 22, 2014 A.D.

I hurried into the Spacebridge portal, Arcee revving before me. The swirling green vortex consumed her, and then me. The dizzying sensation of the portal was present for only a moment, and when I came out, it was to see Arcee tackling Megatron himself, and Optimus - or, Orion as he knew himself now - climbing to his feet with his back towards me.

After glancing at the fight before him, the amnesiac Prime turned to look at me, as I held the Key to Vector Sigma, the frail-looking device glowing with power.

"Are you..." It was strange to see him so hesitant...a stark contrast to his certainty as Optimus Prime...and strangely familiar. Ratchet was right. Orion Pax was like me...and I like him. "...certain I am worthy?"

"You have no idea." I replied, holding the Key up higher. A beam of energy trailed from it, flowing into Orion's chest for a moment, before the plates shifted away, revealing the Matrix of Leadership within. I watched as the energy flowed, and saw Orion's hesitant expression morph into the stern expression of Optimus Prime. The Key floated out of my hand, up to Optimus, who reached up and held it between two of his massive fingers.

I heard a a thudding gait, and turned to see Megatron charging for Optimus. He leaped, blade extending out from beneath his Fusion Cannon.

"NO!" He roared, striking down at Optimus' back.

And then, in a moment that I would forever know as 'the raddest thing ever' (as Miko would say) Optimus whirled about, and grabbed Megatron's blade in both hands!

"Megatron...Begone!" he growled, drawing his hand back as his faceplate slid into position, slamming Megatron with a punch that threw him twenty feet back, the Decepticons' leader colliding with the cavern wall. With that blow, the Autobots seemed revitalized, the entire team reassembling around Optimus like he never left.

My heart swelled with joy.

"Ratchet, how did we arrive here?"

"Long story, old friend." Ratchet's relief was rather audible.

"Base to Arcee, we're reading five Autobot life signs there. Is Prime with you?"

"And Jack."

I heard the sighs of relief coming from my friends and mom over the commlink.

And then, I saw Megatron's arm reach up, and claw at the walkway leading to the Spacebridge.

Saw his Fusion Cannon glow with Energon.

Megatron's head wasn't even above the walkway. I was behind Arcee and Optimus, almost completely shielded by their legs. It was a one-in-a-million shot.

I guess it was that one.

One second, the joy was being replaced by instinctual fear, the fight-or-flight instinct turning to flight.

Another, unbearable heat. Pain. Agony. And screaming.

My screaming.

The pain and screaming seemed to last hours, maybe days. Occasionally, it seemed my screams lessened enough for me to hear snatches of other conversations.

"Jack! Oh my God, Jack!"

"Raf, look away!"

"We've got to get him to a hospital!"

Hours more of agony. Brief snippets of speech.

"-ird-degree burns over more than two-thirds-"

Burning.

"-damage, high chances of developing cancer, if he lives that long-"

Suffering.

"-urological damage, likely to be tetraplegic-"

Crippled.

From what little I could tell through the haze of pain, it didn't seem likely my life was going to be pleasing from now on. Thankfully, the haze of pain soon dissipated...only to be replaced by the haze caused by what appeared to be a ludicrous amount of pain medication. I could tell because everything was numb.

From that point on, I drifted in and out of consciousness. Occasionally, I came to, to see white hospital walls and sheets. Sometimes, there was someone by my bed. Mom. Miko. Raf. One time, I say Arcee staring in through the window. Never long though, since I lost consciousness just as often, and as quick.

I don't know how long it was, maybe days, weeks, hell, it might have been months, but I felt myself waking up, clarity in my head for once in ages. And pain. Minor aches, mostly, but it was growing steadily worse.

"Mr. Darby. Mr. Darby, can you hear me?" My vision was still fuzzy. All I could make out were what looked like two black blobs in front of my, contrasting with the white hospital decor. My vision cleared up a little more every second though, and soon I could make out two men who perfectly fit the Men In Black secret-agent-type, from the stiff-looking suits and ties to the shades and little flesh-colored earpieces.

"Mr. Darby?"

"I hear you." Damn. My voice was rough.

"Mr. Darby, we have an offer for you. Before you accept, allow me to explain your situation."

I was listening.

"You are in the critical care ward of Jasper General Hospital. Approximately seventy-two percent of your body is covered in third-degree burns and the rest is second degree, with an area on the back of your head with 'only' a first degree burn. Radiation damage to your nervous system has effectively made you a tetraplegic. You can't move your arms and legs."

He was right. I couldn't.

"The doctors are predicting that the radiation exposure has made developing cancer of one type or another virtually certain."

Crappy cherry on top of a shit day.

"I am here to offer you a chance to escape that."

Say what? I stared blankly at him for a second, before it turned into a scornful glare.

"I expected that. However, this is no joke, no cruel prank." He reached within his jacket, withdrawing a card and holding it in front of me.

New United Nations

Special Military Service

"I belong to a special NUN organization that has spent the past fifteen years developing new technologies - and my superiors believe you are a candidate for one of them. I have to warn you of the consequences: You'll lose your body. Your friends and mother will think you're dead. And you may lose your memories for a while."

"...h-how..."

"It'll be a surgical operation. Removing your brain and placing it in a cybernetic unit, which, in turn will be placed within a war machine. You will effectively become government property. But you will get to live, to move, and in ways that were't possible, even before your...injury. And provided all goes well, you will regain your memories soon enough."

I hesitated. It was a tough thing, to sign over your life to the government, for any reason, even in a position like mine. Then the other man spoke.

"You'll get to work with the Autobots. To help them in battle."

I closed my eyes. There it was. That wonderful, beautiful bait. A promise, of that joy of success again.

"I'll do it."

There was a quiet rustle, and I opened my eyes to see the second agent inserting a syringe needle into the IV. Within a minute, my vision darkened, and the heart monitor, unobtrusive in the background, started to beep frantically, before giving a dead tone as I fell unconscious.

For the longest time, all was the familiar, blissful dark of unconsciousness. Then, it was a void.

A dark, forbidding void.

Am I dead?

...

...

BOOTING CYBERNETIC NEURO-CAPSULE...

TESTING NEURO-CIRCUITRY CONNECTIONS...

TESTING DATA-RECEPTOR CONNECTIONS...
CONNECTIONS ESTABLISHED

TESTING COMMAND CONNECTIONS...
CONNECTIONS ESTABLISHED

TESTING PROCESSING CONNECTIONS...
CONNECTIONS ESTABLISHED

ALL NEURO-CIRCUITRY CONNECTIONS ESTABLISHED

FORMATTING...
SELECTIVE FORMAT IN PROGRESS...

FORMAT COMPLETE

UPLOADING BOOT RESULTS TO SMS_COMMAND

AWAITING COMMAND...

"Jack? Jack can you hear us?"

"It's no use. Looks like his memories and personality were wiped in the format."

"Damn it...I'd hoped he was young enough to adapt..."

"Well, he's working out much better than the previous volunteers. Sure, there's the memory and personality loss, but the neuro-capsule's circuit connections to his brain seem to be functioning perfectly...I wonder what results we could get by using the Esquivel kid..."

"None! The Ethics Committee would never sanction any attempt to acquire Rafael Esquivel for this procedure! Lieutenant Fokker would skin us alive! And more importantly, I would never condone such a thing!"

"Y-yes sir! My apologies, I-I was just wondering aloud!"

"See to it that you don't 'wonder' anymore...hmph...well, we've gone this far. It'd be insulting to Mr. Darby's sacrifice not to utilize this unfortunate turn of events to acquire as much data as possible. Upload the project files and run the update installation. If he takes to that well enough, upload the HVT files as well."

...

RECEIVING...

...

...

DOWNLOADING FILE "SMS/PROJECT/VALKYRIE/VF_0_PHOENIX"...

DOWNLOADING...

DOWNLOADING...

DOWNLOAD COMPLETE

INSTALLING SYSTEMS UPDATE...

INSTALLING "VF-0 COMMAND INTERFACE"...

INSTALLING "CYBERTRONIAN INTERACTION PROGRAM"...

INSTALL COMPLETE

DOWNLOADING FILE "SMS/HIGH_VALUE_TARGET/DECEPTICONS"
DOWNLOADING FILE "SMS/HIGH_VALUE_TARGET/AUTOBOTS"

DOWNLOAD COMPLETE

AWAITING COMMAND...

"Huh. Look at that. He's soaking it up like a sponge."

"We'll I'll be damned. Let's see how far we can take this...activate external connections A12 through X9, route the connection to the simulation servers, and input the command to run the simulation programs sequentially. Run real-time data readouts of it too."

"Aye, aye sir."

RECEIVING...

...

EXTERNAL CONNECTIONS ESTABLISHED

NETWORK/SMS_SIMULATION SERVER

RUNNING PROGRAM "SMS/PROJECT/VALKYRIE/VF_0_PHOENIX/SIMULATION MISSION 001"

...

PROGRAM COMPLETE

RUNNING PROGRAM "SMS/PROJECT/VALKYRIE/VF_0_PHOENIX/SIMULATION MISSION 002"

...

PROGRAM COMPLETE

RUNNING PROGRAM "SMS/PROJECT/VALKYRIE/VF_0_PHOENIX/SIMULATION MISSION 003"

"Holy shit..."

"Hah! Wouldn't you know it, the kid pulled through after all!"

"Uh, sir, what do you mean?"

"Look at the Neuro-Capsule readings!"

"...holy-"

"Yep! Way too much data there even for the Neuro-Capsule's operation systems and the uploaded files! His mind has expanded into the Capsule's quantum processors! That's why we didn't see it at first!"

"But, then why isn't there any response from him?"

"Well, adapting to an entirely new processing architecture is going to be difficult, I'd normally say impossible, but this is an experimental apparatus we threw together with a witch-doctor brew of Cybertronian technology and biology with human technology and biology. If I were to guess, he's probably in something of a lucid dream...or some kind of cybernetic equivalent."

"So...what do we do?"

"Put him through his paces. Run up to Sim Mission 39 and take readings the whole time. I'll go tell General Hayes, and then, well, we'll see."

"He's going to be interested all right, especially after that fiasco with M.E.C.H."

"Hm. That's right...'Nemesis Prime'. What a bunch of jokers. Jack here'll knock 'em flat."

LOCATION: NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, NEVADA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, EARTH
DATE/TIME: AUGUST 5, 2014 A.D/0702 HOURS

UNIT: VF-0S 'PHOENIX HERALD'
MISSION: AID AUTOBOTS IN DESTROYING DECEPTICON FACILITY 66S AKA 'DARKMOUNT'
PRIMARY TARGETS: 'DARKMOUNT' FUSION CANNONS, DECEPTICON SPACE WARSHIP 'NEMESIS', HVT-D1, HVT-D2, HVT-D3, HVT-D4
MISSION LOAD-OUT: 1 X GAE-01X ENERGON PULSE CARBINE/3,200 AHEAD ROUNDS, 12 X SEMRAAM MISSILES, 2 X FAST PACK MODULES/24 X SESRAAM MICRO-MISSILES/2 X SPARE CARBINE MAGAZINES

AWAITING GO ORDER...