(An:: Thank you everyone who commented on the last chapter and voted and were patient with me over the summer. Sorry for the long wait SORRY I HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH A CRISIS! Here’s the usual thank you list! Special thanks to Jubilantgirl,  Narutardtoheart, Crazy-_murder9, transformer_vocaloid, ambergalway, Toritooley, aprilmarie2, Pumpkincat, DragonNinja my Rp buddy ,Saigelet_23, Brianna Mires, Chesire-remix Patchworkangel,Nevada Prime, Uchihaklarawhovian, bumblebeeforever,spockisawesome, retarted rainbow, shadowkate sonic scream Ashley-orie, optimusprime2213, TransformerDino, direction342, murds99, ,Shayma98,Jackiejellybean,Frostydogz, Rinzler863,moonriver and special super duper thanks to KiraLJones my hetalia bud, dfw123456, crioslash_prime,  Tomboy 2014,AllieYoung0 transformergirl 143, Lavertus-Prime and finally Sunflare. Thanks for all the help you guys offered in helping me get this chapter done it’s really and truly appreciated.  Thank you for your patience. I’m sorry for Ocish tendencies I do have them so point them out when you see them along with grammer errors. Obviously I don’t own the transformers franchise though I wish I could I don’t so yeah I take credit for my OC’s the story and my personal inventions which I list when they appear so everthing that appears in this chapter aside from the transformers who appear. I hope you all like this new chapter. Again  I’m sorry for the wait and I’m sorry for suckyness I tried but I’m still not happy with this one I’ve rewritten it a dozen times as it is but I think I finally found the one I liked and I’m not going to give myself time to second guess so I’m sorry if you don’t like it. Ono Ps. It’s weird like really weird and so will the next 3 but coffee plus a Scifi movie marathon equals  well you see what happens bright side it’s finished)

Quote:: "The Mad Hatter: Have I gone mad?

Alice Kingsley: I'm afraid so. You're entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret. All the best people are."- Alice and WonderLand

Ch 14:: Down the Rabbit Hole

(Ab pov)

The rain was coming down in sheets the water just beginning to pool forming large puddles all across the forest floor. The only dry place to be found was that of the small alcove created by the tree I had been sitting under for the better part of an hour. The sun had begun set a while ago and was now little more than a small dust of orange across the sky.

 Without the sun the cold truly began to set in. As it was I wanted nothing more than to be back on the Nemisis with Orion, but there was nothing I could do with the whether the way it was. I couldn’t even start a fire. All I could do was just watch the rain fall and listen to the soft pitter patter it made as it landed on the leaves above. A soft reminder and a familiar friend whose soft sound so sweet and delicate; almost like that of a lullaby; was slowly lulling me to sleep.  

As I drifted off I felt as the world around me change from the world of reality to that of dreams.  The world that explodes to life once the mind is at rest, but that’s the thing….. My mind is never at rest. Instead the sight that met me when I closed my eyes was almost as real as the one I saw when they were open.  I could smell the perspiration in the air and feel the sweat beading down my face, but I wasn’t really feeling it.

As always I was watching. Seeing and feeling pain from a time long since past and as always all I could do was standby and watch. The bitter truth of my existence….forever destined to be the silent by stander….. even in my own dreams.

Looking around I took in my surroundings and  I realized it was different than last time. Instead of the village that normally met me in this world it appeared to be a metal building of sorts. The walls were decorated with five banners each displaying a different insignia with a small group of children before each of them. However the one that drew my attention the most was that of the black banner with a white lance shining true against the black of the flag almost as though it were a light in the dark.

Taking a closer look I saw a group of five young children ranging from the ages of five to six. They appeared to be arranged by age, the eldest in the back and the youngest in the front. And at the very front stood a younger girl with a scar over her left eye not unlike my own ….

She appeared out of breath wearing a strange black and gray uniform with the numbers 1-1-6 on the back and on the left side chest piece of  the uniform was the same insignia as the one on the flag. Looking around I noticed that all the children were clad in these uniforms all with their own numbers and team insignia on their chests. All trying to catch their breath as a man in a very ornate uniform strode onto the floor.

Looking to be around the age of thirty five, his hair was a dark brown with gray beginning to show on the sides and some very evident 5 o’clock shadow present on his face. The only skin visible was that on his right cheek due to a long scar that began at the bottom of his cheek and went all the way to just before his ear. As he walked he seemed to be observing them in a calculating almost judge manner. Giving a slight nod he began to speak. “Hello, As you all know my name is Commander_____, but from here on you will refer to me as Commander Sir! Is that understood?!”

“Sir Yes sir!” boomed the children. 

It took me a moment to get over the initial shock of the sudden change in silence but once I regained my senses I recognized the voice almost instantly.  It was the same voice that had spoken to me earlier before my encounter with Rafael, but this time it sounded kinder almost caring. A complete fabrication.

As he began his next sentence I heard a soft snicker and watched as the man stopped almost instantly and  strode over to one of the younger boys appearing only about six or seven with brown hair and green eyes and a baby face that only a young child could possess. “Is something funny soldier?!”

            “N-no Sir!” he replied saluting terror clearly displayed on his face. 

            “No what?!” asked the Commander with a snarl.

            “N-no Sir Commander Sir sir!!!” shouted the boy his eyes squeezed shut.

“That’s what I thought” stated the commander walking away from the boy and standing before the small groups once again.  “Now as I was saying. As the highest ranking recruits in our program from each of your houses. You teams of five will be the first to be introduced to this part of the program. We’ll start off with the basics. A good soldier speaks only when spoken to.” he said looking at the boy “They are Patient, and calm under pressure which is why our first session will be focused on silence, teamwork, and patience. For the next five weeks all of you will be forced to survive each other in the forest of shadows. It will be a battle simulation. This being the case everyone will be issued a pistol and a ration of paint balls. Use them wisely and anyone who is tagged by any of the paint has 2 minutes to remove the paint before they will be removed from the exercise. And we all know what happens to those that fail.  Finally if any of you who  chicken out you will be going with out food until your comrades return. Am I understood?…..”

“I have a question sir.” Stated 116

“What is it one sixteen?” he asked

“How will we be getting to the forest?”

“You will be dropped in as though the ship were crashing or if you were being dropped into a combat zone.” He replied

“W-wait y-you mean drop ships?!” exclaimed a young boy with blonde hair and blue eyes the number 115 on his back and chest.

“Yes, one fifteen Drop ships. Does anyone have a problem with that?” he asked but it clearly wasn’t a question.

“No sir Commander Sir!” replied the children saluting as the man nodded and walked off the deck saying a quiet “Good luck” as the doors closed behind him.

As the doors closed I could feel the tension in air as a large door to the left opened up to reveal a series of pods. Five for each of the symbols to each of the insignias. I saw the five from the black banner walk to their pods get in and strap up, placing their helmet on their heads as I heard the com link come on.

“Are they sure this is safe?” asked one the  blued blond headed boy with the  number 115 on his back.  .

“No, that’s why their sending us” replied a blonde haired girl with green eyes and the number 127 on her back.

“Oh well that’s comforting’ replied the boy staring at the planet below his feet

“You gonna cry?~ Maybe we should just leave you here. Last thing we need is a bed wetter on a mission with us big kids” teased the girl

“I’m not a bed wetter! And I’m not gonna cry!” exclaimed the boy

“Are you sure~” she teased

“Why I oughta!” he started

“Enough you two.” stated a boy with brown hair and deep forest green eyes the numbers 275 on his back. “Please stop this 127 we’re going to have to get along if we’re going to survive the next five weeks.”

“Agreed this will be difficult enough as it is the last thing we need are petty squabbles amongst the ranks.” Stated 116.

“Fine 116 but if 115 wets his panties on the way down you’re the one who’s washing the laundry.

“I’m sure it’ll be no worse than the time you threw up on me after I taught you how to clean a fish” stated 116 indifferently. ‘W-wait 116 was the number on the back of the jacket in my backpack….D-does that mean….that’s me? W-what I used to be like? W-what I used to sound like?..........

“That’s not funny 116!” exclaimed 127

“It was rather humorous to me 127 and besides wasn’t that what you just doing to 115?” asked 116.

“That’s not the point!” started 127

“That is precisely the point 127.” Replied 116 “Consider this a teaching moment you maybe able to dish it out 127 but you unfortunately can’t take it as you have so kindly demonstrated. I only the other hand have no difficulty with either prospect so take this word of advice. Do unto others as you would have done unto you and you and I won’t have problems.”

            “Whatever.” Muttered 127

            “Glad we have an understanding.” stated 116 “Now as for the plan of action. We’re going to land approximately 10 miles out from our base of operations for the next five weeks. So when we land we’re going to have a bit of a trek so when you get out of your pod grab your gear and start toward the coordinates highlighted in your HUDs. Now as for the obsta”

“Blah, blah, and blah we all know the drill two shoes let’s just get this show on the road already. I’m ready for our boots to hit the ground!” exclaimed 127

“As you wish. 113 your up” stated 116 “Begin drop sequence.”

“You got it one-sixteen starting countdown now.” Replied another child’s voice over the comm as a clock on the wall began to countdown from 5. “Have fun down there be sure to tag a few from Theta for me!”

“You know we will.” Replied 116 as the clock hit zero

“W-wait! Are we sure we have to! Ahhhhh!” exclaimed 115 as the cable holding the small pods released and they all fell to the planet below.

            After the pods dropped to the planet below I was too stunned to do anything but stare down at the planet below. I couldn’t wrap my heads around it. It was just too bizarre. I had never seen machinery like this before and I have seen a lot and I mean a lot of weird things in my day. It was just so much farther advanced than anything I had ever come across before! How was this possible?! The only thing that looked even slightly normal was a little poster on a wall not far away with a little kitten  hanging onto a tree branch with the words hang in there written beside it and that was it! Everything else was so teched out I couldn’t begin to describe it  with any other adjective other than Chrome.

I tried to get a look around. To at least try and figure out what this place was, but the second I moved I found myself in the middle of a forest watching as my younger self hefted a small duffel bag over her shoulder and slid on the same book bag I carry today except the patches that I had on it  now weren’t there. Matter of fact it looked brand new.

I just watched as she look around and survey her surrounding then relaxed. Her ram rod straight stance seemed to melt away with the breeze as she removed her helm and look around. I well…. she looked so young…..How could someone so small so young be that detached?  It was unnerving……

Reguardless I followed her and watched as she clipped her helm to the side of her uniform and started walking she didn’t seem to have a destination in mind she just seemed to be content with just aimless wandering. Every now and again she would stop and marvel at the nature around her. Sometimes, brushing a gloved hand across the side of a tree as she passed it; simply looking about herself a smile plastered to her face as she went.

On and On she went. Never stopping for more than a few moments to survey the area until finally she found a small opening in the wood. She looked left then right then reached into a small pouch on her uniform and pulled out a small device  with a small little red blip on the screen. “Well ….. I’m here…..the question is where is everyone else?” she asked herself replacing the device in her pocket and walking  out into the opening only to see the bushes to her left move suddenly and the silence  vanquished by a sudden bang as a projectile hurtled towards her.  I watched awe struck as the young girl… drew her weapon; a silver and black pistol, sidesteped and fired twice almost simultaneously.  I heard the projectile hit and her opponent fall. She then holstered her weapon and walk over to her assailant.

Only to see it was a small boy from one of the other groups… He looked only about five or six. I couldn’t make out the symbol on his chest because it was covered in black paint, but he was smiling. “Nice shot 116” he said.

“Not bad your self 250” she replied offering her hand. “Next time don’t give away your position so easily.”

“I’ll do my best 116  thanks for the advice” he replied smiling taking her hand and standing up “ but next you shouldn’t be so trusting of your enemies!” he exclaimed pushing her back into the clearing.  Eliciting a small gasp she tumbled  backwards into the clearing and was quickly  surrounded by five others each with a orange fox head on their uniforms.

"Do you surrender?" asked one of them.

"You know the answer to that question 73" she replied "I'm an Alpha we don't surrender."

"We hoped you'd say that" replied another with the number 65 on his back. I saw a smile form on my younger selfs face as she spoke.

"Do your worst" she replied " but you better hope it kills me"

"We'll do our best" they replied

"Good" she replied "it'll jus make it that much more satisfying to beat you when I escape"

“We look forward to it One Sixteen” they replied as they began to” Escorted” her away.

I simply followed. I didn’t know what else to do. What else could I do? I was just trying to piece together what was going on. I suppose it's best to start with the basics. To start with younger me has problems like legitimate problems. Then there’s these other kids who are between 4 and 7 and are functioning like military units! I’ve never seen anything like it! The only time I recall even a small mention of something like this were in the stories Zeb used to tell me about during the last days of the Golden age of Zorin. But  that’s not even an option. It’s  impossible! Their only stories…..or at least I thought they were….

Following behind the group slowly I saw a large hole in the ground up ahead. It looked deep. Really really deep. I saw my younger self clench her fist as the others held their paintball guns to her head and told her remove her back pack and all the supplies in it. Doing as they asked I watched the younger version of myself remove the contents of her bag aside from a few personal mementos. Including a pair of beat up cracked sun glasses and a rusty set of tools a book that said the lost art of silence and a worn leather bond photo album…… that had a big capital letter A on it and a trace of where other letters once were, but had worn away.  I wanted nothing more than to open the book and look at what it held in side but when I reached for it my hand passed right through it. As always I was  close yet so far and things only got worse from there.

The other children made my younger self remove all her weapons and lay them in a neat pile five feet away from her person and then checked to make sure they were all gone. Then they removed the outer layer of her armor revealing a black t shirt underneath. ” We’ll be back to get du after the competition is over until then just try to stay alive”

“I’ll be sure to try” replied me uh 116. You know I really don’t know what to call her. I mean it’s not everyday you get to have a dream about a younger version of your self or well yeah I think that pretty much says it all. I guess I’ll just call her by her number as to not totally accept what’s happening here.

When I think about it I find it similar to the out of body experience that I Zed loved to talk about or one of those silly fairy tales like that one about the Shadows. Young children taken from their homes to be put into camps then trained to become soldiers. He called them the future heroes or vilians of tomorrow. He said that the children who were apart of these groups were either driven mad with power or became the most powerful warriors in the universe. That’s the story anyway not that I believe it. I mean how could a bunch of kids do that? It doesn’t make any sense. Of course sometimes the truest thing in the world can seem more far fetched than a lie. Sorta like how some people view God. Nothing but a story but as real as the ground beneath your feet but as visible as the air we breath. Around us and all encompassing at all times.  A light in the dark to shine the way, A choice between right a wrong.

And they pushed her in…….

( Orions Pov)

            Driving in these conditions was more difficult than I had previously anticipated. The precipitation made it exceedingly difficult to see the road. If not for the white line on the side of the road and my own systems I would have had to pull over till the conditions were more suitable a long time ago. And were the situation not so dire I would have pulled over to begin with, but I will not leave the youngling out here in conditions like this! But I have no idea where she is. Not even the slightest inkling and the rain was only getting  worse….

I don’t know what to do….my young friend needs me and I find myself in capable of aiding her. I swear when I find her I’m not letting her out of my sight. I feel Ironhide when he accidentally misplaced his sparkling an hour before Chromia returned. Speaking of Ironhide I haven’t seen him on the nemisis I hope he’s doing well….. So much has changed……I pray he’s ok……Nevermind that now…..I need to focus on the task at hand.

Checking my scanners again I looked for any signs of human life in the streets or in the alleys. Getting a ping a drove a little closer and saw it was one of those canine creatures…I think…..this planet has too many four legged things.

Backing back out I began driving again and narrowed my search for larger heat signatures and began driving again. Hopeing I would find her soon.

( It sucks! Nine pages in a word document and this is all I’ve got to show pathetic! Anyway I cut this one short into 3 separate Chapters  because well I find the longer  I make these the longer it takes for both editing and my own criticism to allow these to be published so…. yep hope you liked it and I hope to have the next Chapter done soon God bless and have a beautiful Sunday. )