Disclaimers: Transformers are owned by
Hasbro.
I make no monetary profit from my
fanfic/fanart.
Summary: Pathfinder's profile and story.
Author's Note: Pathfinder created by Seawave
Rating - PG
~~~~~~~
PATHFINDER
ALLEGIANCE: AUTOBOT
FUNCTION: ESPIONAGE
"Oops. I forgot."
"Love me for who I am."
Profile: Not many know what his real motto is, because he
keeps on forgetting it. Pathfinder forgets almost everything. Even his
own name at times. He's not stupid, just extremely forgetful. He
tries to remember, but it's extremely difficult fro him. Optimus Prime can
explain a detailed plan to him, and within a few minutes or seconds, Pathfinder
would have forgotten it. Once he spied on the Decepticons, who were planning a
surprise attack. Pathfinder rushed back to the Autobots and told them. When
Optimus Prime asked him when -poor Pathfinder had forgotten, and his fellow
Autobots were quite angry with him. Pathfinder sulked off to his quarters and
lay on the resting ledge. Hours later, still sulking, he turned around and
looked at his digital wall clock 11.59 pm. Pathfinder gasped in horror,
bolted out of his quarters, forgetting to open the door first, opening it in a
daze and then bolted to the main control room and blurted to Optimus Prime that
he remembered the Deceptions were going to attack at Midnight that night! The
Autobots showed their displeasure, but Optimus Prime tried to be supportive of
Pathfinder. The battle hadn't gone all that well, but thankfully it wasn't a
total disaster either. Pathfinder often forgets the combination number to the
door to his room, but that's no problem, in lizard mode, he can just crawl
under the door! He's also an extreme optimist. Makes light on any situation.
Even death, which he has come close to many times. He hates seeing anyone in a
dull mood and will try to cheer them up in any way possible. He has a habit of
sulking when he's upset, but usually these moods don't last beyond 5-10
minutes. If it lasts longer, he often tries to cheer himself up, or his fellow
Autobots try to. Despite his forgetfulness, Pathfinder is much appreciated by
his fellow Autobots. And he'll never forget that he's an Autobot.
Abilities: He's an excellent spy. Due to his small size in
lizard mode, he can sneak around anywhere. The problem is, avoiding
getting stepped on and when he learns of a Decepticon plan, he has to get to
Autobot headquarters quickly, before he forgets it! Optimus Prime has since
given Pathfinder an internal recorder for spy missions. In lizard mode,
Pathfinder's capable of changing colour to suit the surroundings. He can detect
all rays of the electromagnetic spectrum. In robot mode, he carries an
immobiliser cannon. It's effects last for 2-10 minutes. Despite his small size
in lizard mode, he's very quick!
Weaknesses: Apart from his extreme forgetfulness, Pathfinder
lacks strength. He is absolutely helpless if captured in lizard mode as has no
weaponry, all he can do is bite and stick his tongue out! Fortunately, for
Pathfinder, he's not that easy to spot, or catch in this mode. Sometimes, when
an answer is obvious, it's not too obvious for Pathfinder. He often gets
depressed about his forgetfulness, even though he always tries to look on the
bright side, it's sometimes quite hard.
-- TECH SPECS --
STRENGTH -- 4 (Lizard Mode - 1) INTELLIGENCE -- 4
SPEED -- 5 RANK
-- 5
ENDURANCE -- 8 COURAGE
-- 9
FIREPOWER -- 5 SKILL
-- 3
~~~~~~~~~~~~
PATHFINDER
Pathfinder was a new Autobot who was extremely
forgetful. Forgets his own name at times. He's not stupid, just forgetful. Very
forgetful. He's also an ultimate optimist, making light of any situation.
"Pathfinder, come here for a
moment," called Optimus Prime.
Pathfinder walked to him.
"What is it, Prime?"
"Why didn't you go on that surveillance
mission with Jazz and Sideswipe yesterday, as I ordered you to?"
"What surveillance mission? Who are
Jazz and Sideswipe?"
"I told you to go with Jazz and
Sideswipe, two other Autobots on a surveillance mission yesterday at precisely
twelve noon."
Pathfinder paused for a while.
"Oh ... that mission, Jazz and
Sideswipe ... Oh yeah... I remember now ... I'm sorry ... I forgot ... I went
to my quarters to put something away ... I can't even remember where I put it
now ... and I forgot all about the mission ..."
Optimus saw Pathfinder looked upset. "I
understand. Don't worry, Pathfinder, I'm not angry. I just wanted to know why
you didn't go. Try to remember in future. Perhaps write it down."
Pathfinder nodded, grateful Optimus Prime
was so understanding. Optimus Prime walked away. Pathfinder walked into Prowl's
quarters.
"Yes, Pathfinder? " asked Prowl.
"Sorry ..." said Pathfinder.
" Wrong quarters ... I-I forgot where mine are."
Prowl looked at him, puzzled. "It's
thirteen doors down the corridor to your left."
"Which way is left?"
Prowl pointed. "That way."
"Thank you."
Pathfinder walked down the corridor and
found his quarters. He walked in and sat on his chair, feeling rather down.
"I've got to try to remember things ...
" he said to himself. "Well, at least Prime wasn't mad with me
..."
He lightened up a little.
The next day, Optimus Prime came to
Pathfinder.
"Pathfinder," he said, "I
need you to go on an important spy mission to Decepticon headquarters. You're
the only one of us, capable of getting past their new security mechanism. In
your tiny lizard mode, you will be able to sneak around the headquarters and
gather all the information we need. Please do not forget. It's very
important."
Pathfinder looked uneasy. "But, Prime,
what if I forget?..."
"In fact," said Optimus Prime,
"go now. Do you remember where Decepticon headquarters is?"
"Yes, Prime. I promise I won't let you
down."
Pathfinder was determined to make up for
forgetting about the surveillance mission.
"Be careful," warned Optimus
Prime, concerned.
"What for?" asked Pathfinder.
Optimus couldn't help smiling a little.
"In case the Decepticons see you, and
be careful, walking around, in case they step on you."
"Oh" said Pathfinder. "I
hadn't thought of that ..."
"Go on," said Optimus, gently,
"before you forget."
Pathfinder smiled and immediately left.
He later arrived above the ocean, above the
Decepticon undersea headquarters, transformed into his lizard mode and swam
down to it. He quietly and carefully snuck into a small opening, looked around.
The walls of the Decepticon headquarters were constructed from purple coloured
Cybernite metal. Pathfinder changed his usual black to purple to camouflage
himself with the surroundings. He quietly crept along the side of the wall. Two
Decepticons, Ramjet and Dirge walked past him. Pathfinder froze. If they
find me ... they'll probably put me in a prison box with holes ... Or stomp on
me ... yiccchhh ...
When the two Decepticons were out of sight,
Pathfinder snuck around, until he found Megatron, in the main control room.
Megatron was explaining his latest plan to the Decepticons. Pathfinder gave it
his undermined attention. He crawled further into the main control room.
I've got to remember what he's saying ...
he thought, determined.
He was concentrating so hard on Megatron's
plan, he failed to notice Skywarp, a Decepticon, walking toward him. Skywarp
stepped on his tail. Pathfinder stifled a shriek. It was soft, due to his tiny
size, but, Soundwave, a Decepticon with supersonic hearing, heard it, but couldn't
work out where it came from and began looking around.
"What is it, Soundwave?" Megatron
asked.
Soundwave wanted to tell him, but feared he
would look rather silly since he didn't know exactly what it was. "I heard
something," he said. "But there appears to be nothing out of the
ordinary here."
Megatron continued with his plan. Pathfinder
was a little hurt, but like Earth lizards, he was capable of tail separation,
but was still in a state of shock, crawled over to the computer and was almost
stepped on by Megatron. He shrieked again.
"There it is again..." said
Soundwave, looking around.
"What, Soundwave?" asked Megatron.
"I hear nothing.
"It's just your imagination,
Soundwave," Skywarp said. "Pay attention."
Megatron continued again, with his plan.
Pathfinder concentrated, harder than he'd ever concentrated before.
Finally, Megatron finished. Pathfinder
silently kept repeating the plan to himself over and over again, to prevent him
forgetting it. He then found his way out of Decepticon headquarters home to
Autobot headquarters, still repeating the plan to himself in his mind.
*
* *
He arrived at Autobot headquarters and ran
to Optimus Prime.
"Did you get the plan?"
"Yes."
Pathfinder quickly told him, before he
forgot. "That's all of it, Prime, I made sure I didn't forget."
"That's good, Pathfinder. What time are
the Decepticons going to attack?"
Pathfinder, all of a sudden froze and fell
dead silent. "Time?"
"What time, Pathfinder?" asked
Optimus Prime again.
Pathfinder still said nothing. He looked at
the floor.
"I can't believe it!" exclaimed
Sideswipe, another Autobot. "First, he forgets to go on the surveillance
mission with me and Jazz, and now, he takes all that trouble to remember the
plan in detail - and he forgets one of the most crucial points - the time!
How could anyone be so stupid?"
Pathfinder felt upset. He didn't want to
lift his head from the floor.
"I can't believe anyone can be so dumb,
Pathloser..."
"That's enough" said Optimus
Prime, a little angry.
He then knelt down.
"Pathfinder," he said, gently,
" I know this may be hard for you, but please try and remember the time.
It's very important."
"I know, Optimus Prime. I'm trying ...
I'm trying ..."
Optimus could see Pathfinder was upset. He
comforted him.
"I'm sorry, Optimus Prime ... I ... I
just can't remember."
Pathfinder ran to his quarters, almost in
tears.
"I can't believe he could forget
something as simple as that" Slingshot said. "It's so stupid."
"Slingshot," Optimus said,
standing up, "Pathfinder is forgetful - not stupid and we're going
to have to learn to accept it."
"Sorry, Prime, but what about the
Decepticon attack? We don't know when ..."
"At least we know they're attacking,
and the actual plan. It was hard for him to remember that. We can't blame him
if we lose the battle."
"Yeah, suppose so ..."
Pathfinder sat in his quarters, sulking.
"I let my friends down - again.
How could I forget? ... It seemed so simple ... Ohh ... I wish I wasn't so ...
stupid!"
A tear rolled down his cheek. Optimus Prime
came into his quarters. Pathfinder looked up at him.
"Don't be upset, Pathfinder, " he
comforted. "I don't blame you for what happened."
This pleased Pathfinder a little, but he was
still upset.
"I almost got killed - twice" he
said, "and no one cares..."
"Killed?! I'm sorry, Pathfinder,
I-"
"It's not your fault, Optimus."
"We do care, Pathfinder. The others
just aren't used to you yet. Give them time."
Pathfinder smiled, but still felt upset.
Optimus Prime walked out of his quarters. Pathfinder sat on a ledge of his
quarters and sulked for a few more hours. It was getting quite late. He then
looked at his digital clock to see what time it was.
-- 11.59 --
All of a sudden, Pathfinder leapt off the
ledge, bolted out of his quarters and down the corridor, like a mad, rampaging
wild boar, at full throttle. The Autobots stared at him, wondering what the mad
rush was about. Pathfinder bolted into the main control room, panting
vigorously.
"OPTIMUS PRIME!!" he
yelled. "I remembered when the Decepticons were going to attack!!
"That's good, Pathfinder - when?"
"MIDNIGHT TONIGHT!!"
"That's bad ...
"You sure gave us enough time to
prepare ..." said Cliffjumper, sarcastically.
The Autobots did their best to prepare in
the thirty-five seconds they had, immediately starting to recharge themselves
and their weapons. Pathfinder looked upset and worried. Perceptor, another
Autobot, came to him.
"I'm Perceptor," he introduced.
"Don't feel upset. I am a little absent minded at times as well."
"You are?" asked Pathfinder, a
little surprised as Perceptor was extremely intelligent. "But you probably
wouldn't have ever forgotten your name."
"Well ... no ... I can't say that I
have, but don't let the others get to you about it. All you have to do is try
hard to remember."
"Does it work for you?" asked
Pathfinder.
"Affirmative. It's a little hard at
first, but you'll get the hang of it, eventually. Perhaps start making memos or
something to that effect."
Pathfinder was grateful there was someone a little
like him.
"Thanks, Perceptor."
"Think nothing of it."
The Decepticons attacked at precisely
midnight. They began to get the upper hand of the Autobots. Pathfinder felt the
battle was his fault. He didn't want to get involved, in case he hurt someone.
He hated to see anything in pain, even his enemies. He walked inside.
Pathfinder then saw Megatron, the Decepticon leader, about to blast Optimus
Prime in his back. He carefully aimed his immobiliser cannon at Megatron and
shot him, to defend Optimus Prime. Optimus spun around.
"Thank you, Pathfinder."
Pathfinder smiled.
The battle was quite long. Both sides were
getting rather low on energy. The Decepticons had a forced, strategic retreat
for recharging.
"Next time, Optimus Prime ..."
cursed Megatron, flying off with the other Decepticons.
Many Autobots had been wounded. Some quite
badly. Pathfinder felt sorry for them all. He gently picked up Mindwave, the
worst of them all and carried him inside. Slingshot walked to him.
"This is your fault, you know ..."
"I told you all I was sorry. I didn't
mean it ..."
"I know you didn't mean it."
"Then why are you angry?"
"This wouldn't've happened if you
weren't so damn forgetful..."
"I wish I wasn't forgetful ... uh ... I
can't even remember your name now ..."
Slingshot stared at him in amazement.
" It's Slingshot. S-L-I-N-G-S-H-O-T.
Pathfinder looked at him, angry.
"There's no need to be insulting."
"Can't you remember anything? Do
you remember your own name? It's Doofuss."
"It is not!"
"Okay, then, it's Pathfinder. P-A-
..."
"I know how to spell it! "
snapped Pathfinder, angrily. "Leave me alone ... Now I've forgotten where
the blasted repair bay is..."
"It's right ahead of you. You forget
everything! What happened? Did someone dong you over the head when you were being
created?"
Pathfinder angrily slapped him and then
couldn't believe he'd just slapped another Autobot.
"Sorry ..." he
said, shyly, taking Mindwave into the repair bay. "He's badly wounded, but
unconscious."
Pathfinder gave Mindwave to Ratchet. Ratchet
turned on a brighter light and examined him.
"It's not as bad as it looks ...
there's a piece of shrapnel stuck in him."
Ratchet tried to get it out, but his hands
were too big, and couldn't reach it. His Cyber-Tweezers kept slipping off.
Pathfinder transformed into his lizard mode, crawled into Mindwave, clasped the
piece of shrapnel in his mouth and pulled it out, then crawled out of him and
gave it to Ratchet.
"Hey, thanks! You're not so bad,
Pathfinder."
Pathfinder smiled. Ratchet didn't take long to
repair Mindwave. Mindwave then sat up and saw Pathfinder.
"Oh ... what a beautiful lizard ...
" he said, gently picking him up.
Mindwave softly stroked Pathfinder's head
with his right index finger.
"Aren't you cute?" he said.
"Me? Cute?!" asked Pathfinder, in
surprise.
Mindwave gasped, almost dropping him.
"It talks!!"
Pathfinder then transformed into his robot
mode.
"I don't believe we've met yet "
he said. "I'm ... I'm..."
"Pathfinder ..." whispered
Ratchet.
"Yeah, Pathfinder ... Who are
you?"
"Mindwave. I love animals."
"I can see that. Do you really
think I'm cute?"
Mindwave laughed gently. "I love
lizards. All animals are cute."
"I better tell you before I forget. I'm
very forgetful, so please don't get mad with me if you tell me to do something
and I forget."
"I won't" promised Mindwave.
" I understand. Perceptor is forgetful too."
"Perceptor? Who's Perceptor?"
I saw him talking to you before the battle.
"Oh ... yes ... the red one ... I
remember now."
Pathfinder rather liked Mindwave. He,
Perceptor and Optimus Prime seem to understand me better than any of the other
Autobots.
Pathfinder then walked to his quarters.
"Oh darn!" he exclaimed.
"What's up, Pathfinder?" asked
Optimus Prime, who was walking past.
"I forgot the combination number for
the computerised lock to my door. Never mind ..."
Pathfinder then transformed into his lizard
mode and crawled under the door.
Optimus Prime laughed gently. "That's
one way around it..."
Later, Pathfinder was very hungry, but he
had forgotten where the energon room was. He frantically began to look for it
and was getting very hungry. He searched everywhere, but couldn't find
it. He then became frightened and began to panic.
"What if I never find it? ... I'll
starve ... I'll die..."
Pathfinder was normally an optimist, but was
very frightened and began to cry. Optimus Prime passed him a few minutes later.
He was very surprised to see Pathfinder, sitting on the floor, sobbing and
shivering. He also felt sorry for him and gently picked him up. Pathfinder
gasped.
"What's the matter?" he asked,
sympathetically, wanting to help.
"I ... I ... I'm starving ... and I've
forgotten where the energon room is ... I'm gonna starve to death ..."
Pathfinder let out a few frantic breaths.
Optimus Prime gave a small smile.
"Pathfinder, you've been sitting in
front of it."
Pathfinder stared at Optimus. Optimus took
him into the room and fed him an energon cube. Pathfinder drank it slowly.
"Thank you ..." he said,
gratefully.
"It's all right. Take some extra
energon to your quarters, in case this happens again, and try to remember the
location of the energon room in future, if you can."
"I'll try. Thank you, Optimus
Prime."
Optimus smiled and gently put him down.
Pathfinder transformed into lizard mode and scurried off.
A few days later, Optimus Prime was
explaining to the Autobots, a complex counterattack plan for the next
Decepticon attack.
After he had finished, he said,
"Pathfinder, we need you to go to Decepticon headquarters to find out
details of the next Decepticon attack, in case my plan needs any
alteration."
Optimus then quickly installed a radio
transmission sender/receiver into him.
"With this, you can radio us
immediately after you hear it, so you won't forget."
Pathfinder nodded and immediately flew off
for Decepticon headquarters, almost forgetting where it was. He quietly snuck
into the main control room, avoiding all feet. He heard the details of
Megatron's plan, then scurried out of the main control room and quickly radioed
Optimus Prime with the battle plan and the time.
"Are you sure that's everything?"
asked Optimus, quietly.
"Yes. Over and out."
Pathfinder saw some Decepticons walking down
the corridor and quickly scurried under the door to one of the quarters. He ran
up the side of the storage cabinet, next to the resting ledge and stayed on it.
In his rush, he forgot to change his black colour to purple and looked quite
conspicuous. Skywarp came into his quarters. Pathfinder froze, hoping he
wouldn't spot him. Skywarp lay on his resting ledge. He looked sideways and saw
Pathfinder on the ledge, pretended not to notice, then slammed his hand down on
the ledge and grabbed him. Pathfinder shrieked in shock.
"So ..." said Skywarp" if it
isn't the new lizard Autobot ... What's your name again? "
Pathfinder was so frightened, he had
forgotten his own name. Skywarp held his waist between two fingers. Pathfinder
tried to struggle away.
"Keep still, unless you wanna be
squished..."
Pathfinder thought it would be in his best
interest to keep still. Skywarp then held Pathfinder by his tail, above
separation point.
"Laserbeak ... dinner ..."
"I always wanted to fly ..."
"Enough joshin.' Megatron'd be
interested to know we have a visitor."
Pathfinder froze.
"Uh, but first ... I think you'd better
transform into your robot mode ..."
"Why?" asked Pathfinder, puzzled.
"Not very smart, are ya?
Skywarp then released his grip on Pathfinder,
who transformed into his robot mode. Skywarp took him to Megatron.
"Megatron ... a visiting Autobot spy to
see ya."
Megatron turned around.
"Excellent, Skywarp. Dismissed."
Skywarp left Pathfinder with Megatron and
walked away.
Megatron looked at the Autobot.
"What did you learn?" he asked.
"No" said Pathfinder, forgetting
why he had come to Decepticon headquarters in the first place and that he had
already radioed all the information to the Autobots.
"In that case," said Megatron,
"what is Optimus Prime's latest plan?"
Pathfinder blinked. "I ... I forgot
..."
"I warn you not to try my patience,
Autobot ... What is it?"
"I told you, forgot."
Megatron repeated his question, growing
angrier.
"I've forgotten. "
"Do you expect me to believe anyone
is capable of such stupidity? Even the Dinobots wouldn't forget
one of Prime's plans."
"I'm not stupid! " protested
Pathfinder, angrily. "Just ... very forgetful. I remember Prime telling us
a plan, but I forgot what it was."
"HOW DARE YOU DEFY THE MIGHTY MEGATRON?!!
--"
"Megatron? Who's Megatron?"
Pathfinder was genuinely confused and in his fear of being hurt or killed by
the Decepticons, had forgotten why he was frightened.
Megatron screamed in anger and blasted the
floor with his fusion cannon. Pathfinder jerked.
"There's no need to get so angry. All I
asked was who Megatron was. Who is he?"
"You stupid, pathetic, ignorant
Autobot --I AM MEGATRON! --"
"Oops ... sorry ...
Told you I was forgetful."
Megatron grunted in anger.
"Why are you so angry, Megatron?"
"I DO NOT BELIEVE
THIIIIISSSSS!!"
"Don't believe what?"
"SHUT UP!!"
"What did I say?"
Megatron pointed his fusion cannon
approximately three centimetres away from Pathfinder's face.
"YOU'RE DRIVING ME CRAZY!!!! IF YOU
SAY ANYTHING MORE, I'LL..."
"All right " said Pathfinder,
"but you don't have to be so hostile."
Megatron grunted angrily.
"Is there anything else you want?"
asked Pathfinder.
"You are now my prisoner,
Autobot."
"All right."
Megatron looked at him, puzzled.
"You will remain my prisoner until all
the Autobots have surrendered."
"Who are the Autobots? "
Megatron gave an angry grunt.
"Oh ... yes ... the Autobots ..."
said Pathfinder. "My friends. Why do you want them to surrender?"
"Because ... SHUT UP!!!!"
"You just said you were going to keep
me until they surrender. How long is that ... I've forgotten your name again
now..."
"Megatron! How long? A few
hours, perhaps. "
"How long is that?" asked
Pathfinder.
"A few hours is a few hours! OHH! I
DON'T THINK I CAN TAKE THIS THAT LONG!!!!"
Megatron roughly picked up Pathfinder and
literally threw him out of the headquarters.
"Good riddance!"
Pathfinder was puzzled.
"Why was he so mad? ..."
He then flew started to fly back home to
Autobot headquarters. On the way, transformed into his lizard mode and was
chased by a large bird. He knew even if the bird ate him, it could not digest
him, but all the same. "I don't want to see the inside of a bird's
stomach! ..." Pathfinder realised he could transform and transformed into
robot mode and left a very confused bird flying off. Pathfinder quite liked it
in his lizard mode, transformed again and scurried into Autobot headquarters
and walked to Optimus Prime.
"Optimus ..."
Optimus Prime looked around, but couldn't
see anyone. Pathfinder gave him a little bite on his foot. Optimus jerked and
looked down.
"Oh ... Pathfinder," he said,
gently, picking him up. "What happened? Where have you been?"
Pathfinder told Optimus Prime what he could
remember.
"Megatron was really mad with me, but I
don't understand why. He said I drove him crazy ..."
"I can understand that ..." said
Optimus, smiling.
"He also asked me to tell him your
latest plan, but I forgot it, so I couldn't."
"Well, even if you do remember in
future, please don't tell the Decepticons any of our plans."
"But ... why?"
"Because, Pathfinder, they're our
enemies. We must protect ourselves and more importantly, the Universe from
them, and how are we ever going to do that if the Decepticons know our
plans?"
"Oh, yeah ... I remember now."
"Please do not forget that,
Pathfinder."
"I promise I won't, Prime."
Optimus Prime smiled and put him down.
Pathfinder transformed into his robot mode.
"Pathfinder, our original combination
number for the lock on your door was 42638539, but I altered it to a 4. It'll
be easier for you to remember."
"Thank you, Optimus Prime."
"It's a pleasure."
Pathfinder entered the number and walked
into his quarters.
*
* *
Slowly, the other Autobots began to accept
him and his forgetfulness. They often tried to help him. Pathfinder was
grateful. He tried to increase his memory span. It was hard for him, but the
possibility was always growing.
*
~~~~~~~~
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