Discontinued – Ending Synopsis

Okay, so I'm sure this comes as a shock to absolutely no one, but I pretty much left the Transformers fandom several years ago. It wasn't an entirely conscious decision, but did eventually realise it had been years since I'd even thought about Upgrade. I was relying on the third movie to get my drive going, and it failed completely. Haven't even seen the fourth one.

I fought about it, mostly because I hate leaving stories unfinished, and Upgrade technically only had one chapter to go, but after trying to force it out of the last 3 months, I think I have to accept that Upgrade just isn't going to happen short of someone leaving a gun to my head. Especially since it was going to end on a cliff hanger and move into a short final piece called Reboot.

So, just in case there was anyone left who still wanted to know how Upgrade 'should' have ended, I'm posting a short synopsis here. It's a little rough as I've frankly forgotten a few details, and a lot of things I write I add to as inspiration strikes, so the idea's themselves were still rough for the Reboot part. This is what I remember and had written down put into a 'somewhat' legible format.

Upgrade:

Deuce would have spent the next 2 months or so spotting Simmons in various places, but while the Autobots and the Government tried to locate him, they would have continued to fail, dropping Deuce's trust in them. As another Autobot begins to make planet fall, Deuce and Hax are left in the base along with Ironhide and a handful of military guards.

While the Autobots are gone, the base is put into full blackout as one of the military turns out to be a plant, and the base is stormed. At Deuce's urgings, Hax tries to flee into the computers and connect to the Autobots, only to become trapped in the systems and unable to leave. Ironhide and Bumblebee are heavily damaged, while all the military men are executed or left for dead. Deuce is restrained and leaves in a truck, seeing Simmons leading the charge. Just as Simmons is about to knock him out, the roof is peeled off the truck and he hears gunfire.

Meanwhile, en route to the Autobots meet up with the new arrival, Red Alert, who warns them of the blackout (after looking to see the current security measures and failing to locate it). When they cannot contact Ironhide or Bumblebee, they rush back contacting for military reinforcements. As they return to the base, they discover that all the mercenaries have been located several miles away, apparently killed by their own guns, but Deuce is nowhere to be found.

Ratchet and Rhinox immediately try to save Ironhide and Bumblebee while Jazz and Red Alert help bring power back to the base and revive Hax. They're astonished that Simmons managed to have enough power to lock Hax out, and the Youngling insists he couldn't. Human technology doesn't have that kind of force – it had to be Cybertonian.

Keller calls, and tells them that they finally located Simmons. Optimus warns him that its far too late – Deuce has been taken. Keller tells them that that is impossible – they've found the body of Agent Simmons, who has apparently been dead several months, possibly not long before he 'broke out' of prison. All DNA and dental records confirm it's him.

At the Decepticon base, Skywarp and Thundercracker are standing guard as Deuce recharges and Hook looks him over. Have a conversation regarding the holographic projectors extracted from the Autobot Hound while travelling to Earth.

In another room, Starscream projects the hologram of Simmons speaking over a vid-phone to one of the mercenaries – the one Starscream hired to kill all of the other men once the 'extraction' was complete. Finishes off a payment and tells him to be prepared for additional work, before shutting down the screen, turning off the hologram and bursting into laughter.

Reboot

Would have taken place six months later. Not necessarily in order, but things that would have happened include:

Red Alert teaching Hax on security protocols and how to fortify a base. Hax wants to learn to make sure no one can ever trick Deuce and him again once Deuce is back. He hasn't been able to contact Deuce in the time he's been gone.

Rhinox takes the research from the Deuce/Hax separation and begins experimenting with his own spark in an attempt to replicate the process. The process nearly off lines him, and the severed spark self-destructs. Is warned by Ratchet never to repeat the process and promises to help him once they are certain the method can work.

Mikaela meets up with Judy Witwicky, who tells her that she is pregnant, and that they have decided to move and get away from the memories. Admits that she wants to meet with 'him' before she does. Autobots debate on whether Hax should go, but Hax eventually decides to write a letter, telling Judy that it's probably best she doesn't, and that Sam's soul has moved on. When asked why, he admits he thinks Judy feels guilty about 'abandoning' her son, and it will be better (and safer) for Sam's sibling if they continue to act as if Sam is dead, as both Deuce and Hax felt his 'spark' leave when they were separated. Mikaela decides she is going to help bring Deuce back one way or another, because she misses Deuce rather than the Autobot Sam 'became'.

Deuce would have received far more lethal training from the Decepticons, and received the option of a flight capable mode (UAV) so Starscream could 'monitor' him (and ensure an overreliance on the Decepticons). He has also agreed to a block which keeps Hax from contacting him, but has begun hearing Sam while recharging. Deuce and Sam both acknowledge that Sam has moved on, but since Deuce isn't letting Hax in, 'Sam' is just the little voice in his head expressing the doubt about his life.

Deuce brushes him off, aware that so far, every time he's been in trouble it's been the Decepticons that save him, and Optimus and the others are too reluctant to defend themselves again humans.

Would have eventually learned about the ruse with Simmons, but would have become so trusting of Starscream by that point that he chooses to stay with them.

Starscream would have begun plans to recreate a form of Allspark (inspired by the Reign of Starscream comics), using human technology. Creates a device that will connect to all human technology – resulting in a massive power crash, shutting down all electrical grids and devices, possibly forever, and containing the force in one specific engine created by the Decepticons. Deuce acknowledges that the loss of power would causes thousands, if not millions of human deaths, but would allow the cybertronians to leave Earth and the humans. His size allows him to infiltrate power stations throughout the world and begin planting the technology necessary to begin the plan.

The Autobots eventually get wind of the plan. Autobots head to the main power core, while Hax escapes and goes straight for Deuce (who is setting up the final power station grid) along with Mikaela, who refuses to be left behind. Hax tries to talk him out of it, only to be beaten up, and Mikaela steps up. He ends up shooting her, and being horrified as she lies dying on floor.

Is finally convinced that although some humans are cruel and dangerous, the majority are just scared – no worse than the cybertronians. Destroys the device, and helps Hax locate the remainders while he tries to get Mikaela to safety.

Optimus manages to stop Starscream from activating the device, although he fails to kill Starscream.

Epilogue: Set 20 years later. Annabel drives up to the base on a motorbike, which turns into Deuce. She's now part of the Autobot Liaison team and has just been promoted to primary mediator. Will has retired, but greets her as he's still on speaking terms with the Autobots.

Goes in with Deuce to see Hax, who is going through security settings with Red Alert and Optimus. The Autobots are beginning a new base in Europe, and Hax will be going to set up the new security as Red Alert thinks he's ready. Deuce will be remaining in America as the two of them create a perfect communications grid. It will be the first time the 2 have been apart since Deuce's 'defection'.

Mikaela survived, and went to Europe ahead of them as an ambassador. The Witwicky's remain completely out of the Autobot loop, although Hax and Deuce 'spy' on them occasionally to see how they're doing. 'Daniel Witwicky' is currently attending University, through scholarships the Autobots provided in secret.

Rhinox and Ratchet managed to eventually achieve a breakthrough in their research, and the first stable spark has been extracted after several failures. The spark is planted in its new body, and wakes up to see the Autobots and human allies surrounding him.

Sorry to anyone who would have liked to see this story finished, but I hope this at least gives you some satisfaction. Thanks for sticking with me as long as you did - although I'm no longer part of it, being in the Transformers fandom gave me some of the best times as a fanfic writer, and I have nothing but fond memories of my time proving fanwork. So thank you for being such a great and providing community.

Luki Dimension