Transformers ReAnimated

Figured I'd take a shot at the Animated universe, the writing for the previous 3 seasons was pretty solid built the story up and the framework is all there. Main goal so far is to keep the characters with the respective personas and add some growth while adding to the Animated mythos. The first installment is a bit of resetting the stage but enough of me babbling, hope you guys enjoy =)
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Transformers ReAnimated

Episode 1#: Aftermath
“So it’s come to this…” a sigh escaped from Prime’s lips as he crossed both arms and looked out across the city. Cybertron had been a sight for sore optics but in the last couple solar cycles, Optimus had just about enough.

A white hand landed on Optimus’ left shoulder. “You sick of the attention already? I thought you wanted to be a hero!” Ratchet cracked a half smile then lifted his hand away. He stood next to his captain and gazed at Cybertron. “We’re all going places now.”

“I know…” echoed Optimus. He shut his optics and nodded. “I know.”

“It wasn’t your fault, you know that right? Nobody could’ve stopped him. Primus, even Jazz couldn’t.” Optimus remained silent and kept his head down, Ratchet decided to drive the conversation elsewhere. “Did he even drop by before leaving?” asked Ratchet with a chuckle.

Optimus’ optics opened and he turned his head to face Ratchet. “Yeah, he wanted to give his best and farewell before he headed off.”

“That kid never could sit in a place too long. The glory and promotion went straight to his processor just as I guessed it would,” laughed Ratchet. He heaved his chest and turned to face the door. “Bulkhead is off too, probably got the biggest promotion out of us all. Who would’ve thought it?”

“I presume you’re taking up your offer?” queried Optimus standing in Ratchet’s shadow.

Ratchet turned his head and cracked another smile. “No… this old bot has seen enough action. Besides, I have some other promises to keep.” Ratchet began to walk away and as he left the room, he turned his head around. “A piece of advice Prime, keep your head level, trust your gut and good luck.”

Optimus watched his comrade leave the chamber as the door slid close. “Will do.”
==========
Sentinel threw his arms in the air and shook an imaginary object. “Where the frag does that low grade re…” Sentinel stopped midway into this sentence as his optic caught sight of Optimus.

Optimus cocked an optic. “Oh hi Sentinel.”

“OH HI? Where do… you get the nerve!” exclaimed Sentinel Prime. He watched on while Optimus ascended the steps and met him. Sentinel pushed his finger tapping on Prime’s chest. “Just cause you captured Megatron, Shockwave, Lugnut, round up stasis pods that were stolen during the Great War AND return 75% of the Allspark to Cybertron – doesn’t make you better than me. Understood?”

“Whatever Sentinel,” replied Optimus. He had grown weary of Sentinel Prime’s shouting matches and as much as he wanted to take Jazz’s advice to spark, Optimus didn’t want to miss out on Sentinel getting all flustered up on his achievements. “I have a question for you before we start, where did you assign Bumblebee?”

Sentinel scoffed and released the tension in his shoulders. “Sorry Optimus, but that’s top secret Elite Guard business. I think that ever since the whole Longarm Prime incident – intelligence outta be safeguarded around here.”

Optimus gave him a glare but soon noticed another individual approaching. Optimus instantly gave a salute and received an awkward look from Sentinel. Optimus tried to make some facial expressions, but before Sentinel could catch on, the newcomer had already made his presence known.

“Ah just the Primes I was looking for. As you were Optimus – it’s good to know some bots still know their manners,” spoke Alpha Trion. He tilted his head and stared at Sentinel.

“Oh hey uhh… Alpha Trion, always good to see you up and about,” exclaimed Sentinel Prime scrambling to make an attempt to salute. He gave his comrade Optimus an icy glare and whispered under his breath. “Thanks a bunch buddy… You coulda given me a warning!”

Optimus rolled his optics and turned his attention to the Autobot elder. “Ahem – Alpha Trion sir, what have you called upon this… what is this exactly?”

“Ah for an unofficial meeting of course. Something that is off the record books and will stay that way provided nobody here slips their tongue.”

Sentinel blinked momentarily. “Why are you both looking at me? Oh c’mon…”

“There is a lot of turmoil on Cybertron right now – too much to simply deal with via the council and the Elite Guard. With Ultra Magnus still in critical condition and Optimus Prime’s return to Cybertron – faith and security has been restored to Cybertron for the most part. However, the Elite Guard forces are still stretched thin throughout the galaxy. Decepticon uprisings as reported by the Autobot engagements are not dwindling in number.”

“Well they will be once we broadcast the shape their leader is in!” announced Sentinel making a stand. He turned to Optimus. “How do the humans say it? We’ve cut off the head of the snake and its right and left arms. The Decepticon cause is just a wounded animal now.”

“Nice choice of metaphor Sentinel but a wounded animal may prove to be even more dangerous without a head. It’ll lash out in every direction without restraint,” retorted Optimus receiving some support from Alpha Trion. Then he smiled a bit. “Oh and snakes don’t have arms.”

“Not anymore they don’t!” responded Sentinel Prime hastily trying to regain some respect.

“That’s not really my point, but there is definitely the need to quell these uprisings. With Omega Supreme and the Magnus hammer back in possession, I believe its time to rally the troops. Someone needs to get to the outer rim and bolster the spirits of the Autobot Elite Guard and get the job done. Someone like…”

Sentinel began to shake his hands and got worked up. “Well as much as I’d like to and am fully qualified to…”

Alpha Trion raised his hand to pause Sentinel. “I was going to say someone like you Optimus Prime.”

“Hey! Aren’t I the Magnus around here? Why do you get to make the decisions you bureaucratobot!” protested Sentinel Prime.

Alpha Trion’s face became stern. “Although you are currently the highest ranking Prime that’s operational at the moment – the council does not back you 100%. Unfortunately we are split amongst our approval across the different Primes. Besides you’re needed here Sentinel Prime, on Cybertron. There is a lot to be done – bolstering Elite Guard defenses and dealing with the trial of Megatron, Shockwave and Lugnut.”

Sentinel’s optics darted around and sighed a breath of relief. “Well if you insist that I’m the bot for the job, I couldn’t say no right?”

“Yes, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. There also happens to be the case of your run in with the Decepticons in space Sentinel
Prime. Cliffjumper reported to the council that a number of Autobot weapons, goods and information files were stolen by one of the Decepticon prisoners you brought back to Cybertron.”

“Uh… yeah about that… I can explain…”

“Make sure you deal with it,” replied Alpha Trion in a serious tone. He gave both Primes a stern look. “Cybertron needs you two now more than ever and everyone is going to have to give it their all. Can I count on your services to the Autobot cause?”

Without a moment’s hesitation, both Optimus Prime and Sentinel Prime stood up straight and saluted the Autobot elder. “Yes sir!”
==========
“How are you doing field tech?” asked a soft voice.

Ratchet spun around surprised. “Oh hey!” The old med-bot re-stabilized himself and smiled warmly. “I’m fine thank you. How are you Arcee? Are you taking everything ok?”

Arcee timidly walked onto the bridge of Omega Supreme. “Yes – thank you. I should be surprised… or shocked is a better word. But for some reason I’m not.”

“Well I can’t imagine being offline for several thousands of stellar cycles and not being surprised at some revelations,” replied Ratchet getting up from his seat. Ratchet noted no response from Arcee. “Maybe it’s just me.”

“Ratchet! Uhh sir!” came another voice.

Ratchet caught sight of two smaller bots entering the bridge. They were punitive in stature and had similar designs. Ratchet motioned for Arcee to wait for him as he walked away to meet the two Autobot mechanics.

“Umm… Huffer was it?” questioned Ratchet digging into his memory core for the bot’s identification.

The blue one shook his head and waved his hand, then pointed to his slightly shorter orange partner. “That’d be him. I’m Pipes.”

“Same protoform mold?”

“You betcha,” replied Huffer.

Ratchet scratched his chin and gave Arcee a look, then refocused on the two short Autobots before him. “Well what can I help you with?”

“Actually we need you to sign off some data forms,” responded Pipes. He dug into his storage compartment and pulled out a data pad. With a twist of a switch, the pad virtualized several documents. “I’ll need you to sign…” Pipes peered over and pointed to several spots. “Here, here, here, here, here…”

Ratchet groaned as he flipped the tip of his index finger off and out extended a digital pen tip. He proceeded to fill them in.

Pipes watched on as the elderly med bot filled in the forms. He pulled the finished forms back into the pad as more forms came out. “Umm… there’s a few more you missed… Here, here, here, here and… here…”

Ratchet clenched his teeth. “Anymore?”

“Nope, we’re all done here!” smiled Pipes as he put the pad away. “Repairs are already approximately halfway completed. He should be fully operational within a couple solar cycles. Now if it’s all the same to you, we’ve gotta be heading back to the dock. New transwarp drives are coming in within the mega cycle and they’re not gonna install themselves!”

Ratchet looked up and admired the repaired bridge. “That’s good to hear Pipes, can’t say you guys haven’t done a good job so far.” He turned back to Arcee and helped her down the stairs. “Now as for you, we gotta get you back to Perceptor’s lab. As much as you don’t like them, you’ve got one more checkup.”

Arcee simply nodded and followed Ratchet down the steps and off of Omega Supreme’s bridge.
==========
Optimus heaved his chest out and stepped aboard the Elite Guard ship. “Alright Optimus, this is what you’ve been waiting for. This is it – it’s a substitute job but it’s the job you’ve been waiting for.” Optimus continued to run it through his thoughts as he boarded the bridge. He stepped forward to be greeted by four Autobots. Optimus glanced around and propped his hand up. “Hello, I’m…”

“Optimus Prime correct?” asked the slender female med bot. She stepped forward and extended her hand. “Umm it’s the human custom you reported to shake hands when you meet someone for the first time right? It’s an honour to meet you and work with you Optimus Prime. My name is Red Alert, I’m the medical officer for this crew.”

Optimus grasped her hand and engaged in the hand shake. “Yes and likewise. Your medical service records are particularly well known and it’s nice to know some bots are making use of our reports from Earth.”

“Hey! Let me take a shot at this!” A yellow bot jumped up from his chair and extended his hand. “Nice to meet you Optimus Prime – sir! The name’s Hot Shot, Elite Guard Trooper and I can’t wait to visit Earth sometime! Wait, so you’re the bot subbing in for Rodimus Prime right?”

Optimus smiled and couldn’t help but draw the comparisons between the young officer standing in front of him to Bumblebee. He extended his hand to the bot too. “Umm yes, it would appear to be so. However, our mission detail isn’t to Earth. The remaining Allspark fragments and loose ends have been designated to someone else. But I’ll see what I can arrange with Autobot High Command after we’ve finished our job.”

“Just make sure you drop me and Brawn over there off before you do. Some of us ain’t so interested to visit an organic world,” replied a red Autobot. He stepped forward and simply saluted Optimus. “I’m Ironhide, Elite Guard trooper just like Hot Shot, just looking to finish the job.”

Optimus nodded and looked over at Brawn who remained in his seat who just glanced over momentarily. “Well let’s get going.” Optimus took his seat in the command chair and gave Hot Shot the go.

The large blue and white Elite Guard ship disconnected from the loading dock and retracted its landing gear as the auxiliary thrusters roared to life. It maneuvered upwards and rushed into the sky leaving Cybertron behind.
==========
“That thing all prepped and ready to go?” asked Ratchet gazing upward. The two massive sides of the spacebridge rose into the sky from the ground and glistened in the light of the stars. He ascended the staircase to the control panel. “Nothing like a jump through space in the night huh?”

Bulkhead busily continued his work calibrating the settings on the space bridge punching dozens of keys per click deep in concentration. Upon completion he looked up and stood upright. “Sorry, what did you say?”

“Never mind kid,” replied Ratchet watching several haulers load cargo in front of the space bridge.

“Sorry about the hold up, there are tons of new space bridge regulations and different passwords for each connection that I’m getting a processor ache trying to sort through them all in addition to my new responsibilities,” groaned Bulkhead punching in a few more commands. “I’ll be sure to catch up with you on Earth the moment I get a real breather.”

Ratchet smiled and walked back down the stairs. “No rush kid, I’m not headed to the rust bucket anytime soon. Settle into your new job before you take any vacations. Luckily my job is less glamorous than yours.”

“At least you get to go back to Earth,” replied Bulkhead. He yanked open his stomach compartment and pulled out a case of discs and handed them to Ratchet. “Bumblebee was wondering if you’d be able to return these movies and songs to Sari. Guess he didn’t have enough time to swing by Earth since he’s already off.”

Ratchet gripped the case under his arm and nodded. “Sure thing.” Ratchet took the case along with him as he marched to the space bridge. “Arcee, Jazz, you two ready?”

Jazz loaded his gear onto the hauler and helped Arcee on. “Sure thing, just give our last companion a couple clicks to get his things in order…”

Ratchet quickly dashed to the rear of the hauler to see a white bot rummaging through some gear. “Hey – just who do you think… Wheeljack? What in the name of the Allspark are you doing here?”

The eccentric Autobot scientist popped his head up and held up a wrench. “Ah Ratchet! Just adding on a turbo-stabilizer to the hauler’s main drive, but I’m all done now.”

Ratchet could only give Wheeljack a blank stare. “And what is the purpose of a turbo-stabilizer?”

“Well if my calculations are correct…”

Ratchet put up his right hand to pause Wheeljack. “IF?”

Wheeljack chuckled. “Don’t worry, my calculations are usually right. But the turbo-stabilizer will make our ride 78% smoother if my calculations are correct.”

“And if not?”

“Well just be blown to the far side of the planet we’re headed to,” responded Wheeljack candidly.

Ratchet buried his face in his palms. “What makes you think the ride is supposed to be smooth? We’re about to jump from one planet to another, go get that thing off this hauler immediately!” Ratchet observed as the Autobot Science Minister grudgingly went to detach the supposed upgrade. He motioned for Jazz to join him. “Tell me why this nutcase is joining us?”

Jazz hopped over and swung across the hauler while landing on his feet. “Not quite sure, but Autobot High Command assigned an Elite Guard member and an Autobot Science Ministry official to this job. I’m here to help gather the remaining Allspark shards, deal with the stragglers left on Earth and basically maintain the peace.”

“Well it looks like he’ll leave us in pieces if he doesn’t get going,” muttered Ratchet complaining about this predicament. The job was supposed to be a relaxing one, go back to Earth, help with the cleanup effort and maintain Autobot and human relations. He didn’t mind so much that Jazz was tagging along but Wheeljack who had a knack for blowing things up irked him the wrong way.
==========
“I’m telling you this is a waste of our time…” muttered a heavy voice.

“Shut your trap!” responded another.

Two giant shadows moved across the cavern walls of a small lamp lit camp. As the first shadow emerged into the dim light, the figure raised its arms to shield itself from the stimulus.

“Did you two find anything?” demanded a strict but slightly feminine voice.

The first creature lifted some broken debris out and threw it across the cavern wall. “This answer your question?” asked the first not hiding any discontent in his voice.

“Speak like that again to Strika and you will suffer the consequences!” Twin blades struck out from behind and hugged the throat of the first tightly. A narrow visage appeared from the shadows and snarled. “The war may be over and our cause may be in shambles, but we never abandon the chain of command – understand?”

“That’s enough Cyclonus,” ordered Strika signaling the Decepticon warrior to back off. She stepped forward to inspect the debris laid out before her. With a swift move she lifted it to her optic level. “Where is Megatron?”

The shamble of debris remained silent. Strika cracked her digit joints and made sure to use minimal pressure as she lifted what remained of the unit’s head up.

“I repeat, where is Megatron?” demanded the irritated Decepticon general. She gave the piece of junk a subtle shake. Again there was no response. She tilted her head and moved in closer. “Where is Shockwave then?”

“Try using a little more force,” suggested the first giving Cyclonus a dirty look.

Strika cocked an optic. “Well if somebot exercised some restraint – I could! This Autobot piece of scrap is practically offline! What good is he to me if I can’t extract any information?”

The pile of debris’ one failing optic shimmered. “Yo… you’re not going to get anything out of me… He’s already… al…” Before the sentence could be completed, the optic faded and the body faded to black and dark grey.

“Stinking piece of Autobot scrap!” roared Strika throwing the body into the fire to feed it. She pointed at the first in front of her. “If I weren’t so low on troops and resources, I’d feed you to the flames too Spittor! We’re deadlocked and without any word from Shockwave or Megatron! I can only assume the worst…”

“Luckily for you – some of your troops aren’t incompetent,” hissed a new voice as a slender bot dropped in from the ceiling of the cave. A black and jagged Transformer emerged from the darkness. “I’ve got the coordinates.”

“Excellent work Oilslick. Where?” asked Strika with eagerness.

The face of Oilslick emerged from the vile liquid in his head capsule. “Megatron was last reported to be on some third-rate nobody planet – Earth.” He extended his arm out handing Strika a holo map projector.

“And where’d you get this information?” asked Spittor with discontent.

“A reliable source – that’s all you need to know. Cost me a few weapons here and there but nothing I couldn’t do without,” answered Oilslick calmly.

Strika’s face brimmed with interest as she downloaded the information. She turned to the rest of her crew. “Commendable work Oilslick. Now let’s get going.”

“Going? Where?” asked Spittor.

“Earth you reject!” sighed Cyclonus shoving Spittor aside as the Decepticons followed Strika out of the cave.

Hmm, quite an interasting start.

I was thinking doing a fanfic about a forth season as well, though now i'm not sure if I should

Great start! Anything I've tried to say sounds cliche...so...I'll be waiting for more...hurry...

Episode 2#: Rules of Engagement
“What’s the situation?” Sentinel Prime’s voice echoed through the mostly empty hall.

The Autobot laboratory was filled with the sounds of machinations humming.
The acting Magnus stood patiently watching the Autobot scientists dismantle a domineering purple frame strapped down on a slab.

The acting Magnus cautiously strode into the room but caught sight of the numerous safety mechanisms in place around the frame. He relaxed and strode in more confidently.

The technician lifted his laser scalpel and craned his neck from the meticulous work. He shifted his attention over to the red robot who was still working undisturbed at the other end of the tablet.

“Doctor?”

The red robot’s audio receptors picked up the call but continued to work for a few more clicks before putting down his tools. “Yes?”

The assistant indicated Sentinel Prime’s presence with a head jerk.

“Anything I can help you with Sentinel Prime? As you can see, we’re in a
critical stage of the procedure. I cannot spare too much time.”

Sentinel Prime nodded and joined the doctor’s side looking down at what he was working on. “I understand Perceptor. It’s been several megacycles past your last report was due in. As you may know there are many concerns over what we’re allowing you to do here, as much as I hate it, the Council wants to know what’s going on each step of the way.”

Perceptor nodded. “I must apologize for the tardiness of my report but if you would just pick it up from the desk over there.” He put down the sensory probe in his left hand and picked up a micro cutting laser.

Sentinel Prime grabbed the data-pad that was sitting on the cluttered desk and activated the download bream. He nodded in approval and looked up from the information download. “Then are we on schedule with Megatron’s procedure?”

Perceptor nodded.

“Good, there are some brass coming down today, they want a good look at the so called legendary Decepticon leader.” Sentinel’s voice was filled with discontent. He began to head out the door but paused and turned his head. “Just make sure everything is flying smoothly. Finish up here with that Lugnut character and save the rest to the sub directory mainframe. I’ll read through it in the next solar cycle or so.”

“Understood Sentinel Prime.” Perceptor didn’t look up and got straight back to work on the Decepticon frame in front of him.
==========
A thunderous explosion erupted overhead raining shrapnel across the battlefield. Optimus Prime ducked and hugged the side of the rocky wall for protection. The young Autobot commander peered over the edge and noted the two oncoming foes. Large and unrelenting, the Decepticons had him in their sights despite his cover. Cautiously clenching his battle axe in his right hand, Optimus activated his faceguard and signaled for Hot Shot.

A few meters away, a yellow race vehicle navigated the rocky ground and stuck to the wall of a chasm. Closing in on his commander’s hiding spot, the car shifted and transformed into a tall slender robot.

“In position,” responded Hot Shot holding his wrist communicator to his mouth and whispering quietly over the intercom.

Optimus nodded then swung his frame over the rock barrier and charged towards the Decepticons. Deflecting the barrage of lasers from the first Decepticon with his axe blade, the Autobot propelled himself into the air and landed on the bulky Decepticon tank. Struggling to maintain control of his balance, Optimus cut into the tank’s thick armour with his blade to serve as an anchor.

“I’ll rip you to scraplets!” threatened the irritated Decepticon reversing and forwarding to attempt to loosen the Autobot pest.
The angered robot twisted and contorted transforming into a much more intimidating form. A swift jerking movement of the arm swept Prime off the large menace as it clenched the Autobot’s leg in its hand. Optimus began to lose sight of his surroundings as the large gargantuan spun him around in the air like a human rag doll.

The yellow robot rushed out from the chasm with flamethrowers blazing. The brash Hot Shot rushed side to side dodging the second Decepticon’s attacks managing to get by with only a few scorch marks on his armour. He raised his communicator to his face and sent for help. “Red Alert, prepare to move in, Prime is down!”

The second Decepticon was a hovercraft and like the tank – a rather sizeable foe. Armed to the tooth with ballistic weaponry he unloaded it against the lone Elite Guard Trooper while his comrade dealt with Optimus.
Optimus felt the weight of his body upon him as he crashed head first into the ground. He groaned and saw Hot Shot dash beneath his attacker while attacking both Decepticons. The young Autobot cadet was clearly skilled and brave – perhaps a little too brave as the hovercraft Decepticon transformed and swept him off his feet with a single strike.

“Hot Shot! Regroup at my position! I need your help to take them down!”

Hot Shot recovered from his fall quickly and complied. Transforming into his Cybertronian race vehicle mode, the Autobot accelerated while evading assaults. “What’s the plan Prime?” puffed the warrior transforming back into robot mode.

Optimus Prime considered his options only to realize he had none. This battle was different than those on Earth. Unlike the Decepticons on Earth there was no ulterior plan in motion to drive the attack, the Decepticons here were concerned with one thing only which was to rip any and all Autobots apart. Their desperation was evident, but Optimus Prime had been charged with the task of quelling the Decepticon uprisings and it wasn’t his intention to give up.

“I caught your message to Red Alert on the main feed– how far off is she?” questioned Prime fending off a tackle using his axe as a shield. He grunted and swung back, knocking the attacker a few steps back.

Hot Shot checked his past transmission feeds. “About two or three cycles till she gets here.” Hot Shot shoved Optimus Prime out of the way as the tank Decepticon’s blade came crashing into the ground. The Autobot looked up and rolled to the side and then locked onto his commander who was now several meters away from him. “Provided that we’re still in one piece by then – she was only expecting to repair you.”

Optimus Prime shook off the attack and swung back at the enemy with his axe once more. “Alright, the odds are against us but I need you to keep them moving on their toes!” commanded the Autobot leader as he narrowly evaded a tackle from the second Decepticon. He switched over to Autobot communication frequencies, “Keep them moving and I’ll tie ‘em down. We’ll need to get Red Alert to deliver the final punch!”

Hot Shot relayed the transmission to his comrade and began his task. Keeping himself a small target, Hot Shot ducked and made his round between one of the Decepticons while firing away with his flamethrowers.

Optimus caught sight of the opportunity and disengaged his Decepticon. His scanners locked onto Red Alert’s signal moving into position. With Hot Shot distracting the primary targeted Decepticon, it made it simpler for Optimus to charge in and launch his grapplers. The hooks wrapped around the giant’s head as Optimus plunged his feet into the ground for support. With a yank Optimus brought the Decepticon towards the ground and with another forceful pull, the war machine toppled over.

“Red Alert, now!” shouted Optimus retracting his grappler hooks while readying himself to deal with the secondary threat.

Optimus struggled with all his strength to keep the titan down. He
could feel the anger of the Decepticon as it strained against the cables pulling Prime forward as it tried to lift its head. Redirecting his energon supply to his servos, Optimus managed another tug and kept the powerhouse floored.

The slender red and white medical Autobot revealed herself from the edge of the rocks and charged up her cyber anesthetic. She jumped into the air and landed on the titan and stabbed the medical drug into its system.

“Take a stasis nap – make it a long one…” said Red Alert watching the injection tool discharge the anesthetic into the Decepticon’s primary mechfluid tube.

As the Autobot medic completed her task she stood up. But before any celebration could take place in the blink of an optic, Red Alert flew away towards the rocky wall that Optimus had used for cover earlier.

Hot Shot looked up to see the second Decepticon smack the medical officer into the rock obstacle. Enraged, the Autobot warrior lashed out trying to tackle the Decepticon. Hardly moved by the assault, the Decepticon simply lifted his foot and kicked the yellow warrior in the direction of his companion.

Optimus Prime restrained himself from yelling out, for the moment he had a single Decepticon to contend with. One on one, the last time he confronted a Decepticon bot to bot was Megatron – and he had the assistance of a prototype flight pack. Optimus pushed the fear and doubt to the back of his processor. “I’ll take you on!” Optimus powered up the booster rocket on his axe.

A crooked grin tore across the Decepticon’s face as he transformed into vehicle mode and rose into the sky. Easily dwarfing Optimus, the giant hovering vehicle descended rapidly forcing Optimus to make a run for it. In midair, the Decepticon reverted to robot mode and caught the red and blue Autobot with his hands.

Optimus muffled shout behind his faceplate resonated as his legs were crushed in the Decepticon’s grip. The crippled Autobot leader was then thrown into the ground where he watched on helplessly as the Decepticon roared victoriously.

“Hot… Shot,” groaned Optimus trying to speak through the horrendous pain. His optic sensors were damaged but he could distinctly see the trooper’s bright frame across the battlefield. “Hot Shot do you copy? Red Alert… Get out of here!”

No response came from the downed Autobots, Optimus then realized they were in stasis. Refusing to give up, Optimus fired his grappling hooks with the left one hitting the target. The Decepticon simply laughed as Optimus Prime tried to reel him in. The laughing stopped as a tiny beige and green warrior smashed into the side of his head tearing the jaw apart.

Optimus watched in amazement as Brawn brought the Decepticon warrior down into the ground. The little Autobot hung onto the rivets in the side of the Decepticon’s neck as it twitched and tried to stand back up. Brawn then let go of his right hand and pulled out Red Alert’s cyber anesthetic and plunged it into the exposed armour plating of the Decepticon’s neck.

Brawn rode the Decepticon’s head down triumphantly as it collapsed and crashed. The Autobot stepped off his ride and looked up into the sky as the Elite Guard vessel cast its shadow over them and landed. Brawn tapped the side of his helmet, “Alright Ironhide, I’ll need three medical evacuation lifts and a pair of stasis cuffs. I’m up two points ok?” He walked off his mount and looked down at Optimus Prime who was immobilized in the crater he was thrown into. “Next time, call for back up ok?”
==========
“Steady now. I’m almost done,” reassured a calm voice. Red Alert returned her diagnostic tool to a tray and picked up a clamp. She placed it on Optimus’ leg and freed both her hands. The well trained medic then went in with micro-instruments to clear away the damage and reconnected the severed tubes and cables. “Alright and we’re done here.”

Relieved, Optimus finally relaxed in the chair and gave Red Alert a nod of thanks. “Sorry about all this. If it were in my power… no if I had better planned the attack, none of this…”

Red Alert raised her hand to stop Optimus. “Its perfectly alright, we’re still in one piece are we not? I think that at the end of the solar cycle – that’s all that matters. Besides I can see how its eating you up inside, the guilt I mean.”

Optimus’ face could only show confusion in what the medic was trying to convey.

“It’s a gift of mine,” smiled Red Alert seating Optimus back down. She reached for a small plasma torch and sealed up the leg wound. “I believe Ratchet would’ve had this skill too, most medical technicians are trained to be highly observant. And you Optimus Prime are emanating feelings of uncertainty.” Red Alert stood up and started to put her tools away. “You’re not Rodimus and none of us expect you to be Rodimus. To speak the truth…”

“Hey! Red Alert, and err Prime! You guys better get to the stockade report chamber, we’ve got an incoming transmission from Cybertron!” shouted Ironhide emerging in the doorway with Brawn at his side.

Brawn gave Prime a stare and walked away.

Red Alert nodded and helped Optimus Prime up while Ironhide headed to the stockade chamber. “He doesn’t hate you.”

“Who?” queried Optimus.

“Brawn,” answered Red Alert helping Optimus with each step. “He likes to test newcomers and especially since you were placed in command, Brawn probably finds you like a thorn in his side.”

“It wasn’t my intention to be…” started Optimus.

“I know, but I thought I’d just point out something I observed. Brawn will be difficult to get a long with and at times impossible but if we’re going to complete this mission, our synergy must be in sync.”

The young Elite Guard commander sighed and nodded. “Thanks for the advice Red Alert. I think I’ll be able to manage the rest of the way to the room. Please tend to Hot Shot’s injuries.” Optimus felt Red Alert’s arm let go and his weight leaned onto the side rail of the hallway. He hoisted himself up and walked down the path before him.
==========
“When I get out of here, I’ll reduce you to atoms!” threatened the hulking Decepticon. The giant form filled most of his cell and cast a long shadow in front of Brawn.

Brawn smirked. “Funny, coulda sworn you said the same thing a couple megacycles ago.” The tiny Autobot powerhouse hit a few switches as it raised a field around the cell silencing the Decepticon. Brawn ambled down the brig’s hallway laughing. “Cons, nothing but talk, talk, talk…”

“Got that right,” laughed Ironhide punching away at keys behind a computer module. A monitor flashed to live bringing in the transmission from Cybertron just as Optimus Prime strode through the port.
“Cybertron, come in. This is Ironhide from the Elite Guard ship under the command of… Optimus Prime,” announced the red Autobot following Optimus into the room with his optics.

The three Autobots saluted the viewscreen as an image of Cliffjumper flickered and then stabilized his appearance. The smaller red Autobot returned the sentiment and proceeded. “Autobot High Command here. It’s good to see you all in one piece. How many Decepticons were captured? Their IDs and status?”

Ironhide brought out a portable recorder drone and activated it. He then gestured for Optimus to join Brawn and himself with the drone hovering above their heads. The drone hovered above their heads and followed the trio into the ship’s brig.

“Designation Brawl, Tidal Wave and the leader of the bunch here… Dreadwind.” Brawn turned back to the drone after pointing to each of the Decepticon prisoners. He looked down at his data-pad to check the prisoner’s background information. “It’s as we thought. He is still out there.”

“At least that confirms our suspicions. This is far from over Autobots, with Megatron captured and the second offline. He is the last one that can pose a threat to the continued safety of Cybertron. The council has made it the priority in addition to the quelling of the Decepticon uprisings that the third be tracked down.”

“With his second lieutenant captured here, I think we’re on the right track,” added Ironhide giving Brawn a nod.

In the midst of this Optimus was lost. Without the mention of names or anything of the sort, there was no way for him to understand the references that the two of his subordinates were making.

“Excellent work. Continue and at the same time we’ve received an alert from one of the Autobot ships in the area. This one is actually a priority case – and you guys happen to be the closest.”

Optimus decided to step in just as Brawn interjected. “Absolutely, we’ll leave immediately.”

Cliffjumper smiled and nodded. “Good, we have a council member on that ship. Top priority – now I leave your crew to it. We’ve got our hands full on this end processing the Decepticon prisoners. Cliffjumper out.”

As the transmission ended, Optimus observed the two Autobots snicker. He kept his optic on Brawn as the Ironhide headed out of the brig first. Brawn hardly paid Optimus any attention as he passed him by.

“Brawn,” called Optimus standing still at the end of the brig. His optics flared with contempt. Restraining his growing frustration towards the Autobot, Optimus took a deep breath in anticipation of Brawn’s response.

The Autobot soldier stopped in his footsteps and grumbled. “Yes?”

“This has to stop. I understand that you may not like me. I’m not Rodimus. I’m here to do a job.” Optimus turned around to see Brawn facing him. “I’m not asking you to like me – but understand this, we all have to work together whether we like it or not. So I have to politely ask for you to…”

“Hold it,” interrupted Brawn pointing at Prime. He clenched his teeth and sized up the aggressor. “You have no right – no right to judge me in this way. If you think I have a problem with who you are, I don’t if that helps your ego any.”

“Then what’s with the attitude? Cause I’ve had it up to here!”

Brawn stared at Optimus and noted the unwavering resolve in the Autobot commander’s optics. “My problem isn’t with you. Not directly anyway.”

“Then what is it?”

“My problem is that you call yourself a leader. I have no idea how you made it out on Earth alive or even managed to capture Megatron – but understand this. With the way you’re going, this crew isn’t going to survive and I’m not going to let that happen.”

Optimus was frozen in silence.

“Out here, the Decepticons are chaotic, desperate and thus more
dangerous than you can imagine. The only way the Autobots have been able to survive here is thanks to organization and strong leadership. So unless you’re going to step up, you’re not getting anything out of me. Get it through your processor before the Decepticons do. The rules of engagement out here are different. Maybe you haven’t realized it or maybe you have but get up to speed before we’re all offline.”

Optimus could only watch, paralyzed by Brawn’s words. Struck by the possibility of truth in the Autobot’s words, Optimus could only reconnect the meaning behind Brawn’s statement to the words Ultra Magnus once said to him upon the discovery of the Allspark. It shook his spark to the core.
==========
Tapping sounds filled the hallway as the security drone made its way along the row of inmates hovering near the ceiling. Its diagnostic arm struck along the sides of the cells causing the rhythmic pattern of the sounds.
The stasis cuffs were tight; the extra energon bonds that strapped the giant prisoner down didn’t help either. The large metallic prisoner lifted his head to watch the crowd of Autobot scientists and various council members observe his behaviour. It had been only a few weeks and he had grown so very tired of his situation.

“We’re hopeful to say the least,” replied Perceptor leading his entourage away. He motioned for the white guard to seal the prison gates. “The Science Committee will devote and reallocate resources to decipher his inner-working. With any luck we can duplicate their technology for our purposes.”

Sentinel Prime smiled and placed his hand on the red Autobot’s shoulder. “Excellent, for eons the Decepticons have outpaced us in the war effort with flight and in time we will gain the…”

The sound of Sentinel’s voice was cut off as the final giant metal gate sealed the prison. The metallic prisoner shifted his head up where the bonds allowed him and viewed the status of the other prisoners through their reflections against the shiny metal walls.

Lugnut was offline – presumably so from the procedure done on him earlier in the day. Blitzwing was sealed off from all stimuli and was hidden from view. The two Starscream clones were being surprisingly quiet. The ever loyal Shockwave was farthest from his cell, but Megatron could see that there were just as many security locks on Shockwave’s cell as his own if not more.
His prospects were grim, locked in a prison once more. Megatron had no bumbling professor to manipulate and had no connection to any of the prison systems. Escaping would be quite a feat to pull off.

Then it hit him. Megatron watched as the security drone passed by his cell tapping the sides of the prison again. Using what strength he had left, Megatron pried and taxed the restraints holding him to their max culling the drone’s attention. The drone halted its looping march and scanned Megatron. It was then that the Decepticon tyrant tested his theory. His scan came clean and he received a shock of electricity and let go. The drone began to make its rounds again. As the drone passed his cell and made its way down the hallway, Megatron noted the absence of the tapping sounds. The tyrant smiled and began to ponder what were the limits of his technopathy.

Episode 3#: Growing Pains
Nostalgia, the only word the bot could use to describe the view before him. Ratchet sighed and helped pull through the space bridge the rest of the crew’s gear. He watched Arcee take in her new surroundings and couldn’t help but crack a smile. She had gone through the worst of the worst in the war and now with her being online with a new slate, Ratchet would ensure that she would never have to go through that again. She would be under his watchful optic.

“Say, where do you think I should put these?” Wheeljack clutched two large cylindrical tubes under each of his arms and surveyed the foreign city of Detroit.

Ratchet rolled his optics and pointed away from himself fearing the worst. It was likely that the so called brilliant scientist had another explosive invention hidden in his belongings. “Anywhere that’s not near me got it?”

Wheeljack simply nodded and walked off to set down his gear. The elderly Autobot shook his head in disbelief of the zany scientist that had been sent to accompany them. Perhaps it was his punishment for turning down his position on the council. But that was a problem he’d speculate later. For now he had been tasked with strengthening the bonds between Autobot and humans and it would have to start with the rebuilding of Detroit, the city that laid in ruins post Megatron’s final attack.

“Bringing back memories?”

Startled, Ratchet looked around and then finally down to see a smiling Sari standing at his feet with Captain Fanzone and Professor Sumdac. Ratchet nodded and returned the sentiment.

“Yea… yeah…” sputtered Ratchet.

“I hope they’re good ones,” said Sari recollecting the events of that day.

“What’s the problem ya rust bucket? Spend a few days outta Detroit and ye ferget how small we are?” Captain Fanzone quipped as he took a sip of his coffee and glanced over at the Autobot arrival team that had landed on top of Sumdac tower. He groaned as the thought of more machines in the city set in. “Alright, who are the new guys?”

Ratchet looked over to see the reference to Arcee and Wheeljack. He snarled silently at the police captain and grunted. “Just some extra helping hands Autobot command thought could help with the clean up effort here.”

“Yea, cause that’s exactly what we need more of – machines to clean up the damage the machines caused…”

Professor Sumdac candidly ignored the captain’s remark and stepped in. “That will not be necessary. As much as we appreciate your Autobot command’s good will, my new automatons are well on their way of cleaning up and restoring the city to its former state.”

Ratchet shook his head politely. “Regardless, we are here to help and we will help where we can.”

“Hold on there pal. I still remember the last time your automatons went haywire. We don’t exactly have an Elite Guard squadron here to take care of things, you sure they’re cool this time?” queried Jazz hesitantly after overhearing the professor mention the word “automaton”.

“Well… that’s only cause an Allspark fragment was involved the last time!” shouted Sari flying up to meet the white Autobot optic to eye. She turned to Ratchet. “So with my dad’s automatons restoring the city, what do you say we get you guys reacquainted with your base of operations?”

“Which actually brings us to one of the reasons we’re here,” replied Jazz following up Sari’s rebuttal. “Pr… We weren’t able to get all the shards, so there are still a number of shards scattered out there – shards that can and most likely will cause trouble potentially worse than what happened with the automatons.”

“Yes, but that will take place after we get all this stuff out of here.” Wheeljack turned from focusing his attention on Jazz to Sari taking her up on the offer. “That would be optimal,” replied Wheeljack helping one of the drones pull the loader with their gear. He dropped the lift and dusted his hands. “I would love to get the opportunity to closely examine the setup you have here.”

Jazz smiled and pat his new comrade on the back. “Don’t stay cooped up in the lab too long, there’s a whole new planet to explore! Earth is a grand planet to be stationed at. You’re welcome to take a spin around the city with me later if you’d like.”

Ratchet surprised with himself agreeing with the Autobot scientist raised his head and motioned for the other Autobots to gather and descended the steps of the space bridge’s foundation platform. He hollered and motioned with his right hand for the other Autobots to follow. “Ok Autobots, let’s get moving. We’re moving in.”
==========
A tin barrel tumbled through the streets and ricocheted across the city block as citizens fled from the projectile. Screams could be heard down the street from the panicking people. The canister of petroleum impaled itself on a broken fence. Oil leaked profusely causing cars to swerve out of control and collide into one another. Chaos erupted.

“Hey what do you think you’re doing? That’s precious oil!” Mixmaster’s arms reached out grasping the air before him. The loss of valuable oil caused the Decepticon to whimper slightly.

Dirtboss carried an irritated look across his face. He gave his partner in crime a cold look to shut him up. “Listen up ya mook, it’s been a long time since we’ve been home. Those Autobots caused us quite a bit of trouble with that transwarp explosion. And I think its payback time.” His optics narrowed. “Plus interest.”
==========
Wheeljack inspected the large monitor setup in the Autobot base of operations. “This is antiquated. This is obsolete. This is defective. This is a travesty!” Pushing the mess of junk off the computer module, Wheeljack slammed his palms onto the system. “How you managed to get anything done with this setup is beyond me, but its time to upgrade!”

Ratchet groaned getting fed up with the Autobot scientist every passing cycle. But just as the commander of the Earth Autobot contingent was about to snap back, the monitor began to start flashing. The alarm siren sounded off causing the other Autobots present in the complex to rush into the command room.

“Sensors are indicating two Decepticon energy signatures in the vicinity of northern Detroit,” announced Wheeljack reading the data-feed. He punched in a few keys and brought up a video surveillance from the human news. “Let’s get a good look at whose causing the ruckus…”

The video displayed a well built, tall robot throw a car into the building across the street. Citizens that remained in the area were fleeing from the multiple explosions that bloomed on the screen. Meanwhile on the top of a small shop, a much smaller green construction robot cackled surveing the chaos before him.

“Are they familiar?”

Ratchet nodded solemnly and spoke up, “Mixmaster and Dirtboss. We’ve had a run in with them before.”

“So what’s the download on these two boss man?” chimed Jazz gearing up his weapons.

“Right,” noted Ratchet contemplating what to do. Optimus was no longer around and it was up to him to command this crew. “The Constructicons are a couple diodes short of a full processor, but do not take them lightly. Mixmaster is a tough bot and he’s got the ability to produce cement putty that will immobilize you. So definitely watch out for him. And as for Dirtboss, he has a few tricks that I’ve not fully uncovered namely the mind control device that he possesses. But he’s definitely the more dangerous of the two.” Ratchet spun around to see the crew standing before him. “Jazz and Wheeljack with me.”

“May I protest?” questioned Wheeljack. “I’m not suited…”

“No, you may not,” retorted Ratchet cutting the scientist’s babbling short. He pointed to Jazz and Wheeljack. “We’re going to need all servos on deck. They may be dim but they’re still a force to be reckoned with.”

“How about me Ratchet? How can I help?” queried Arcee’s soft voice. She looked up at him intently as she sat alone over on the cement slab couch that Bulkhead had built upon moving into the base so long ago.

Ratchet looked at the ground and rubbed his nose bridge deciding how to best deal with Arcee then looked up again. “Arcee, I need you to stay here and operate the com-systems. You’ll need to be our extra optics and audio receivers. I’ll also need you to contact Sari at Sumdac Tower and get all humans in a city block radius evacuated. Alright Autobots – this is what we’re here to do. Transform and roll out!”
==========
As a child, Carmine Fanzone had quite the fondness towards construction vehicles. This fondness changed over the years growing up as the vehicles became automated and especially now that they were ripping apart the city. “Where’s the backup?” demanded Captain Fanzone roaring over the sounds of the crackling fires.

A fellow armoured officer checked the status of the human rescue services over his intercom. “No good sir, we’re on our own.”

Fanzone’s anger began to build up and felt the overwhelming helplessness take him over. “What do you mean no good?”
“They can’t get past the barricade of crashed vehicles!”

Angered by the sudden turn of events Fanzone smashed his fists into the side of the car he was seeking refuge behind. He lifted his right fist into the air and shook vigorously at the sky while roaring, “This is why I hate machines!”
==========
“Are we done here?” Mixmaster tossed another car into the masses of police officers gathering down the road. He was getting tired of the senseless destruction. As a Constructicon, his goals in life were simple, take it easy and drink some good oil. Neither goal was being met.

Dirtboss leapt off the shop he was standing on and crushed a park bench while keep his arms folded. “Not a chance!” He charged head first knocking an empty bus top side then charged over to Mixmaster. “You got a problem?”

“No, no problem at all…” stuttered the frightened Decepticon continuing the mayhem that the duo had started. He quickly sent his optics over to Dirtboss who had started causing trouble again. “Man I miss Scrap…”
==========
Magnetic sparks lashed out and caught the metal debris as it flew to the side. The humans huddled in a bunch looked up hesitantly and realized they had been saved. Ratchet gave a reassuring look to let them know to run to safety and rushed further into the field.

“I see them,” reported Jazz crouching down ensuring that he stayed out of the Decepticon’s line of sight. “We’ve gotta move in soon or else the flames are going to spread too far.”

Ratchet acknowledged the Elite Guard soldier’s message. “The two are tough, no doubt about it. So we’re going to need you to circle around them in the back. Wheeljack and I will engage them up front.” Ratchet received a simple nod from Jazz as the ninja bot vanished. He activated his EMP device charging it. “Wheeljack, can you configure your tools to their extreme settings?”

“I don’t think… I can’t do what you ask; I’m not a soldier…”

“Yes or no Wheeljack, that’s all I asked!” snapped Ratchet finally giving into his frustration at Wheeljack. He pointed over at the two Decepticons wrecking the city. “I’m not asking you to take them down; all I’m asking you is if you can make your tools spark threatening!”

Wheeljack gulped and re-modulated his cutting tools that he kept strapped to his utility belt. He stabilized himself and raised his optics to meet Ratchet’s. The simple connection allowed Ratchet to know he was ready.

“Alright soldier, we’re going to move in and if what I described to you happens don’t hesitate to take me down. And don’t do anything unless I tell you to do so on the sub-frequency.” Ratchet leapt over the barricade and led the white Autobot scientist into the midst of battle.
==========
Mixmaster raised the roasted frame of an automobile over his head and prepared to throw it. Suddenly the weight became overwhelming and his feet that were planted firmly on the ground began to crumble all around. The ground gave way causing the Decepticon to descend further and further into the ground.

“Whuh? What’s goin’ on here?” Mixmaster searched all around for the cause of this phenomenon before raising his head. The Constructicon let go and rushed out as the car came crashing down on his foot. He jerked his leg up and rubbed it while hopping on his good foot. He shouted in pain. “Yow! What was that for?”

Ratchet retracted the magnetic lancers on his arms as he stepped
forward on the battlefield. “Why do you think Decepticreep? We’re here to put a stop to your menace!” Ratchet leveled his arm up to his optic level and aimed his EMP generator. “Now give this madness up and I won’t have to use this!”

Dirtboss happily pranced down the street and smiled. “Was wondering when you scrap-heaps would get down here!” Without warning a drill shaped mechanism shot out and latched into Ratchet’s crest.

Instinctively Ratchet fired the EMP device and disabled Mixmaster. The bulky Decepticon felt his limbs go limp before going into a deep stasis. Ratchet noted the success and gave Wheeljack a grim look as he fell under Dirtboss’ mind control. Wheeljack understood the situation and suppressed his doubts. The scientist ignited his re-modulated cutting knife and swung at his comrade slicing off Ratchet’s arm that carried the EMP device thus disabling a potential friendly fire incident.

Dirtboss cackled while sending a mental command to his newfound Autobot minion. Ratchet raised his other arm and engaged the magnetic lances that immobilized Wheeljack. Without any say in the matter, Ratchet struggled against the control as he lifted his still functional arm causing the Autobot scientist’s frame to rise higher and higher into the sky.

“That’s as far as you go,” threatened Jazz locking his weapon around Dirtboss’ neck. He tightened his grip and assessed the situation. “One twist and its pop ya dig? So I think we can make a deal here. You cool with that? Let the Autobot go… slowly and I’ll do the same. Then you and your buddy will come with me to the brig all quiet like.”

“Sorry mook but that ain’t happening,” smirked Dirtboss signaling for the control device to burrow deeper into Ratchet’s processor. A bright light on Dirtboss’ arm flashed red causing the Constructicon to smile. “Ya see, if that drill goes in an inch further, your medic pal over here will suffer permanent processor damage. Unless you’re willing to lose both your comrades today, you’ll let me and my buddy go brig free.”

Jazz reassessed the situation. There was no way out. If he dealt the final blow, there was no doubt that Dirtboss’ processor linked control device would activate faster killing Ratchet and then subsequently dropping Wheeljack from that great height. He suppressed his disappointment and relaxed the weapon’s grip.

“Alright dog, you win.” The Autobot ninja retracted his weapon and began to step back cautiously keeping his weapon locked onto the Decepticon foreman. He raised his other arm trying to calm the aggressor. “Now let’s be cool and you let both Autobots go…”

Ratchet began to lower Wheeljack towards the ground. In a split instance the drill that burrowed into his head popped out returning to Dirtboss’ head and Wheeljack plummeted from a safe height to the ground. Dirtboss faced Jazz, “I’m a bot of my word. Now how ‘bout your end of bargain?”

Jazz nodded. Dirtboss transformed into vehicle mode and extended its forklift. It slammed into Mixmaster’s silent frame and raced out and through the fire. Jazz heard the sirens of the human firetrucks arriving to quench the flames of the Decepticon attack. His internal sensor went off as he looked to the sky noting the landing of Sari.

“What took you so long?”

Sari rubbed her head and hovered over the wreckage below. “There was a break in at one of my father’s labs. Some sensitive material and goods were stolen unfortunately.”

“Anything I can help with?”

Sari wore a frown shaking her head. “No it’s been done, plus we’ve got our hands full here. Let’s get these Ratchet and Wheeljack out of here and back to base!”

Jazz pressed the side of his visor to perform a quick diagnostic scan. “No good, well not for Ratchet. It seems as though that gizmo or gadget that was controlling him is causing quite some system shock to his system.”

Wheeljack groaned weakly being held up by Jazz who scanned him. He forced his left arm to work while his right sparked and went offline. He lifted his chest frame off the ground. “I’m… I’m fine, but three fourths of my appendages are damaged… I… I can attempt repairs on site if needed…”

“No way,” answered Jazz waving his free hand. “You better take it easy or else you’ll get an amputation.”

Sari placed her right hand over Ratchet’s head and shut her eyes. “It’s fine, I can do this.” Her hand began to grow blue with a quiet pulse emanating through Ratchet’s frame.

“What… what are you doing?” questioned Wheeljack letting his scientific curiosity swallow his attention putting his pain to the side.

“Finding the cause of the damage,” replied Sari calmly. She pulled her hand off the crest and looked up. “That device caused severe damage to his nervous system. Likely due to how the mechanism works to control the victim’s movements. The device penetrated deeper than when Bulkhead got struck.”

“Meaning?” asked Jazz.

“I have to operate and fix him now otherwise he won’t stay in stable stasis for much longer.” Sari ran the process through her mind once more and looked up from Ratchet’s silent frame. She noticed the tools scattered around Wheeljack’s frame and the ones still connected to his waist. “Can I…”

Wheeljack noted what the human girl was referring to and decided that it may be quite an interesting experience to observe this unfolding phenomenon before him. “Borrow my tools? By all means.”

Sari thanked the damaged Autobot and received the tools from Jazz as she got to work. Her left hand transformed into several clamps that opened up Ratchet’s head. Sari’s eyes lit up bright blue tapping into the inner power that lay dormant within her. She picked up a tool with her right hand and put it to use.

Wheeljack watched in pure awe. The girl who appeared to be human now exhibited a blend of Cybertronian and organic nature that had never been documented before. He could not fathom the ability of this girl to operate flawlessly repairing the damaged Autobot medic.

The blue light left Sari’s eyes as she completed her task. Sari then sighed and rested her arms by her side. Ratchet wearily awakened and tried to move. Sari set the Autobot back down onto the ground and squeezed a smile.

“Did… did we get them?”

Sari’s smile widened into a grin and nodded. “Yup.”
==========
Dirtboss pulled up to a cave and transformed into robot mode. He moved around and started pushing Mixmaster’s frame into the darkened cavern. “Honey, I’m home!”

Footsteps could be heard increasing in intensity. A slender purple figure emerged from the shadows with a scowl on her face. “I told you to stop calling me that! Remember who saved your sorry fenders and led you back here!”

“So what if you’re calling the shots! I’m the boss! Dirtboss!”

“Right…” groaned the female Starscream clone rolling her optics. “Everything went off on your end without a hitch?”

“Who do you thin you’re talking to? Of course it went fine! But I do have one complaint. You interrupted me as I was about to finish those Autobots off for good! But then no… my alarm had to flash red as you made your getaway.” Dirtboss gave her a stare and then pulled the rest of Mixmaster into the cave. “Which reminds me did you manage to get what we did this all for?”

The Decepticon femme nodded. “Everything went as planned. The attack forced the humans to flee and the plant was easy to raid. Like taking candy from a protoform! Everything was done under the time limit.”

“Good, then can the plan proceed forward?” asked Dirtboss raising one of his mechanical optic brows.

An orange visor lit up in the darkness followed by a fourth Decepticon entering the conversation. “Affirmative, commencing operation Autobot Apocalypse.”

Getting good already. Any more?

Thanks for the support Anodythe, I'll try to finish up Episode 4# soon, trying to draw as much inspiration from the Allspark Almanac at the moment =)

Episode 4#: Into the Woods
A frail hand set down on the Elite Guard symbol of a blue chassis. Alpha Trion slowly sat down next to the injured Autobot supreme commander and weakly smiled. “How are you old friend? I bring good news, it’s almost over; peace is finally within our servo thanks to Optimus… and you.”

The elderly Transformer shut his optics and leaned his head towards Ultra Magnus’ silent frame seemingly to listen to him speak. No words came from Ultra Magnus’ mouth. A long pause filled in before Alpha Trion opened his optics once more.

“Yes, he lived up to your expectations and I have no doubt now that he will exceed them. He brought Megatron into custody. With two of the three Decepticon warlords accounted for – Cybertron’s safety is guaranteed.”

At that moment just as Alpha Trion was about to shut his optics once more, Sentinel entered the medical facility followed by the twin fliers Jetfire and Jetstorm. The ancient Autobot decided to keep his attention on the newcomer to prevent any unpleasant loud behaviour from Sentinel Prime.

“We heard voices, are you talking to yourself?” asked Sentinel provocatively with a chuckle. Perhaps age was finally catching up with Alpha Trion and his position up for grabs – something Sentinel Prime eagerly added to his list of things to acquire.

“No,” stated Alpha Trion noting the demeanor in Sentinel’s voice. “I was simply conveying the state of things on Cybertron to Ultra Magnus.”

Sentinel’s face emoted his surprise. “Right… Anyway, the medical bots will be down in a couple megacycles to finalize the repairs on Ultra Magnus. For the mean time, you should leave him alone and let him rest before the procedure.”

“That may be ideal.” Alpha Trion stepped up from his seated position and took a final look at the Autobot supreme commander. “Have we established contact with the other Primes?”

Sentinel nodded in accordance to confirm Alpha Trion’s query. “Communications are secured to finish the final touches on Megatron’s trial. The sooner we put this behind us, the sooner all of us will be at peace.”

“We’re not out of the woods yet, but call the council to order. Today justice will be decided upon.” Alpha Trion followed Sentinel and the twin Autobots out of the medical chamber.
==========
Ratchet and Arcee assisted in pushing away the large piece of debris that had once been the roof of the building. Professor Sumdac signed a piece of paper and handed it to his associate before following the two Autobots into the main laboratory that had been broken into a few days earlier.

“So, what exactly was stolen?” questioned Ratchet surveying the damage. The break in was through the roof, there was little damage done otherwise, but a large device had been ripped out from the ground in the center. Bending down on one leg Ratchet activated his optic scanner. “Wait a moment…”

“Destronium,” called out Professor Sumdac inspecting his new skylight.

“Exactly what I was about to say.” Ratchet returned to his full height and checked to see if the security cameras were still intact, unfortunately they had been reduced to spare parts. “Any chance those cameras were able to catch anything before…”

Professor Sumdac shook his head.

Arcee took a closer look examining the damaged cameras. “It seems to me as though the weapon ordinance that caused this damage must’ve produced a positronic impulse upon impact.”

Ratchet’s left optic arched. “And how would you know that?”

“The burn marks and the of course my scanners are picking up residual positronic readings.” Arcee tried to hide her laughter at her comrade’s surprise. “But if you want a more literal answer, I was trained as an intelligence officer. Investigation for the collection of data was one of the protocols I downloaded during my training.”

Professor Sumdac rubbed his chin trying to find a link between the weapon emissions and what was stolen but could not manage to find one. “Who… who would’ve done such a thing? And why?”

“Most definitely the work of a Decepticon,” announced Ratchet linking together the data he had just received from Arcee. “Positronic discharge is unique characteristic of Cybertronian military weaponry – namely Decepticon’s more dangerous than conventional weapons, but for these levels to be recorded… the weapon must’ve been quite concentrated and powerful.”

“Without Megatron or Shockwave, not many other Decepticons can produce such a powerful attack.” Arcee candidly smiled at Ratchet after the display of such comfortability with the information she downloaded from the Autobot headquarters’ database.

“Except for Starscream!” exclaimed Ratchet stumbling on his answer. He then recalled the data from the run in with Starscream’s clones. “With Starscream offline… This may very well been the handiwork of his clones…”

“But what would they want with such a large amount of Destronium?” questioned Professor Sumdac somewhat relieved that they had narrowed down the list of potential culprits. “When Nanosec stole the Destronium, the threat was an explosion – but no explosion has occurred!”

“Thank the Allspark for that. But that’s what Arcee and I will work on figuring out after we visit the moon for a bit. Have to make sure that Decepticon tech ain’t there for the pickings. Hopefully Sari, Jazz and Wheeljack have better luck in their investigation…”
==========
Jazz’s arm slammed into Wheeljack’s gut, wrenching the Autobot scientist from the ground and into the air. The white ninja spared no time looking back and rushed forward carrying the protesting scientist with him. Buzzing next to his head was Sari Sumdac whom had engaged maximum burn on her jet pack. The trio were rushing through the thicket thanks to the blood curling roar behind them.

“Whose idea was this anyway?” screamed Sari at the top of her lungs.

“It’d be this bot over here.” Jazz noticed a clearing ahead and accelerated his feet movement.

Wheeljack stopped waving his arms wildly and sealed his audio receptors with them. “If you could refrain from using your sonic attack I’d very much appreciate it! And I don’t appreciate your finger pointing either Jazz…”

The three cleared the thicket into a small forest clearing. Jazz pushed his feet into the ground coming to an abrupt halt. Wheeljack fell off Jazz’s arm as the white Autobot spun around and ejected his energy-chucks into the air and subsequently catching them.

“If I hadn’t swept you outta that situation you’d be roasting along with the forest right now ya dig? At least in this clearing not too much can catch on fire – I hope… Now I’m gonna need you to cool down and get ready to fight those terrible lizards!” Jazz spun the right energy chuck and poised to strike. He glanced over at Sari. “Think ya can dance toe to toe with those monsters?”

Sari activated her suit as a helmet enveloped her head protecting her. The mouth plate sealed her face with the visor completing the final transformation. “I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve.” Her hands opened up creating bright blue balls of energy.

Jazz’s optics narrowed. “Shiny.” The Autobot would have to wait before admiring Sari’s ability as a chrome tail whipped through the air sending Jazz flying into the air. Caught off guard, Jazz couldn’t avoid the damage but at least he could mitigate some by flipping in the air and creating a softer landing with his Circuit-su training.

Large and imposing, Grimlock stomped into the clearing deafening the Autobots with his roar. The rumbling caused Wheeljack to bounce up and down from the ground with each of Grimlock’s massive steps. Grimlock’s beady eyes captured the downed Wheeljack and raced towards him.

Noting that his comrade was incapacitated by the awe of such a creature, Jazz danced into action with a snap kick into Grimlock’s head sending the tyrant lizard off course. The mechanical T-rex’s momentum carried through, sending Grimlock crashing into the trees nearby.

Wheeljack stood his ground in amazement. He had only read about the Dinobot’s existence so far and was intrigued as to how the Allspark gave life to such a primitive yet potent fighting force. He had been tasked to study them by the Science Council and he had every intention of doing so. His processor had been running varying levels of scans since their encounter and even now in the midst of the fighting he continued running them.

“Get off your rear fender Wheeljack!” Jazz could spare no time when the second Dinobot screeched into the skies. Despite his best efforts to dodge, Jazz managed only to narrowly avoid the fire balls that Swoop spat from the safety of the skies. He turned on the defensive and knocked a few to the side with this nunchaku.

Sari engaged Swoop sending bristling blue energy into the winged Dinobot’s frame. “Come here you overgrown chicken!” Sari sent off a silent wish that she had a mute option on her helmet’s audio receptors as Swoop’s sonic screech pierced her ears.

Wheeljack slowly got to his feet catching Jazz as Grimlock knocked the white Autobot his way. “Woah!” Wheeljack winced upon impact and fell backwards sliding several meters back. The dirt and dust settled with Wheeljack helping Jazz back onto his feet. The Autobot scientist realized that there was little hope unless he stepped up.

Jazz wiped the leaves off his face and looked to his side. “You willing to help or what?”

Wheeljack quickly nodded.

“Cool.”
==========
Ratchet’s headlights illuminated the dark indigo Decepticon vessel’s hull as the two Autobots sped along the rocky surface of the moon. Ratchet felt his internal combustion engine turn when the shadow of the highest peak of the ship engulfed the two miniscule explorers.

“This ship…” stuttered Arcee studying the glyphic markings that appeared thanks to Ratchet’s light.

“Warship,” corrected Ratchet. “It’s a command vessel, commanded by none other than Megatron himself.”

The two Autobots transformed and inspected the deep gash in the side of the ship’s armour. Ratchet lifted out his right arm and switched to a laser cutting tool. Upon completing, Ratchet dug both hands into the widened gash and plied the metal plates apart creating an adequate entrance.

Arcee stepped in first and carefully treaded across the large chamber. “Affirmative, most definitely a command vessel… But that of Megatron’s?” The intelligence officer continued to make her way into the labyrinth of purple followed closely by Ratchet.

“What do you mean…”

Ratchet was interrupted by Arcee holding her hand back. The duo crept slowly from the shadows into the main chamber. Hallow and abandoned, there was nothing much left in the bridge. Nothing but wreckage and dozens of tears into the ship’s armour, tears due to the requirement of materials for the compilation of three Omega Supreme clones.

“Someone’s been here…” whispered Arcee turning three hundred sixty degrees.

“How do you know?”

Arcee waved her empty palm around in a semi circle. “The hollowness of this chamber indicates that a many things have been stolen.”

“Elaborate.”

“A command vessel bridge would be decorated with command consoles. None of which are present.”

Ratchet gave Arcee a suspicious optic. The detective aspect of her nature was a sure surprise. But he decided to give her a chance and logged into the archival data that he had of Decepticon command ships. Sure enough she was correct; there were a great many ordinances that were missing. “How do you know that they were stolen though? The Cons are known for their infighting, could have just destroyed their own gear in their madness.”

“True,” noted Arcee following up her investigation. She led Ratchet over to a tear in the ship wall. Crouching down, Arcee lifted some wires in her hands and held them to Ratchet’s optic.

“Could’ve been severed in their madness.”

Arcee shook her head. “No, these cables and wires have been disconnected. Someone took the care to separate them instead of simply severing them.” She stood back up and took one last glance around her surroundings. “There’s one more clue that puts this whole thing up to theft.”

Ratchet’s optic raised a mechanical brow in growing curiosity. “Oh yeah? And what’s that?”

Arcee stepped aside revealing the majestic moon’s scenery beyond the gash in the chamber. She pointed outwards to the ground. Surely enough the moon’s surface had been gouged into with deep tracks. “Normally bots would just attribute it to tread mode Decepticons, but note the depth.” Arcee took a careful step over the boundary between ship’s walls. “But the gouge is deep enough to suggest that heavy materials have been transferred this way.”

Ratchet once again followed the pink detective. The duo walked a few meters away from the ship noting the tracks stopping entirely. “An evac vehicle or transport?”

Arcee nodded. “That’s the only explanation I can come up with. This definitely adds to the list of growing problems.”

“Most definitely. With the theft of the Destronium and the other instance…” groaned Ratchet. He rubbed his forehead with the tips of his digits while contemplating what connection the recent turn of events possibly had. He looked up. “Arcee, contact…”

Before Ratchet had the opportunity to complete his sentence, Arcee’s frame came colliding into his. The two Autobots tumbled to the ground and rolled off to the side. An explosion went off where they once stood as Ratchet lifted his head to catch sight of it.

“Die Autobots!” roared a blue jet that transformed mid-air and hovered about while firing his null cannons.
==========
“We’re going to set the whole island on fire if this keeps up!” shouted Sari evading the slashes from Swoop’s wing blades. She ducked her head and sent another burst of energy at the Dinobot before retreating backwards. “Whose bright idea was it to come here again?”

Jazz ignored the last comment and transformed to vehicle mode and rushed away from Grimlock’s snapping jaws. “C’mon faster Wheeljack! This guy is giving my fender a run for its money!” He scanned the digital map downloaded into his hard drive and transmitted the data to Wheeljack. “Sari is right, we need to reach the harbour. Otherwise we’re toast – literally.”

The trio sped through the forest towards the bay with the Dinobots following closely behind. Jazz was the first to transform followed by Wheeljack as the two giant robots sank their feet into the sand.
“Trippy!” Jazz’s processor connected an idea and a smile grew across his face. “Lure the Dinobots in, we’ll trap them here!”

Sari caught onto the idea and ascended into the sky. “Gotcha!” Swoop came directly at her with talons at the ready. Sari decided to wait until the last possible moment when she flew towards the water luring the Dinobot after her.

Grimlock waded into the beach wobbling with each step. Jazz and Wheeljack coordinated their movement to pull the beast further and further into the water. Unleashing a fury of flames, Jazz could only smile as his plan came into place.

“You ready to finally put your tools to good use?”

Wheeljack’s arms retracted and out popped two welding torches. “I’m positive, at your command.” The science officer received a nod of approval and ignited the torches. He redirected his fuel lines to feed the fire and an inferno came spewing from his arms.

The added flames from Wheeljack and Grimlock produced a massive heat wave. Uncertain whether or not they could sustain such a sudden elevation in temperature, Jazz kept the temperature gage on monitor until the water around them reached boiling point. The heated water evapourated into gas and created a fog of war.

Jazz was relieved, there was no way the Dinobots could see them now. With the aid of Sumdac’s satellites the Autobots could track their Dinobot foes allowing them to evade their line of sight. “Alright Autobots, let’s retreat!” commanded Jazz over the intercom.
==========
Ratchet and Arcee ran for cover. Their twin clone attackers had the advantage, without any backup, Ratchet knew they were doomed. They had received a distress signal from Jazz’s group earlier, but they couldn’t attend to it. There only seemed to be one option left and he didn’t like it.

“Arcee!” shouted Ratchet over the noise of the null ray fire.

Arcee moved her head towards Ratchet to catch the medic’s words.

“I’ll take care of this. I need you to move back and secure the space bridge connection point. We can’t let those two make their way to Earth, you understand?”

Arcee nodded but couldn’t hide the worry in her system. “But… how will you survive?”

“Don’t mind me. I may have one leg in the rust pile but I’ve got more than a few tricks up my sleeve. Now go!”

Ratchet moved out of the hiding spot to draw the Decepticon fire as Arcee made her getaway. He made sure that Arcee was out of sensor range before making his direct assault on the twin Decepticons.

“Listen up ya clowns! Unfortunately it’s in my programming to do this – but surrender now or I’ll have to blast ya!” Ratchet hoped that they would go for the surrender option but deep down in his hard drive he knew by experience that they wouldn’t, so he charged up his EMP.

“Maybe we should… I don’t think this Autobot is lying!” exclaimed the cowardly black coloured Starscream clone. He whimpered a bit before being pushed aside by the more brutish and bluish clone.

“Puhh-lease!” The blue clone cackled looking down at the lone Autobot medic. “This third rate excuse for an Autobot is no match for me. Maybe for you, but not I!”

Ratchet groaned and fired his EMP at the blue self-pontificator and then fired at the coward. He retracted the EMP into his arm and pulled out two stasis cuffs from his back compartment. He strode over to the downed Decepticons and put them into stasis lock.
==========
Wheeljack sat down in the comfort of his own chair and made sure that his room was sealed. He carefully logged onto the main Cybertronian network and secured a frequency. Making sure the signal was untraceable he dialed in.

“This is Wheeljack, requesting line ARC84.”

The Autobot waited a few clicks until the light went green noting that the connection had been made.

“Scans were successful, they exceed my every expectation. I am transmitting the data to you now. However, there is one more thing that has come to my attention – something that intrigues me much more than these Dinobots. It is concerning the human named Sari Sumdac. She was excluded from all reports from Earth.”

The audio device crackled as a voice came over in plain talk. “Tell me more.”

Oooooo, now we have a mystery voice. Jack can't be a traitor, can he? Or could it be somesuper secret science project manager, who has no qualms about "studying" the girl?

Actually there is a clue about who the "mysterious" character is. Something about the way he talks, no big secret about that but definitely going to give an insight into his character and his interests. One of my goals in this project is to build upon what the Animated team has carved out for us while making extensions where I find it necessary. Going to try to introduce a few new characters but not many that will drastically change the course of the story. A long due update, thanks to the first wave of midterms letting up. Enjoy!

Episode 5#: Unexpected Outing
The Autobot craft rocked back and forth. Optimus Prime grasped both of the arm rests on his command chair tightly. “What’s the situation?” The ship rumbled once more causing the screens around him to flicker.

Hot Shot struggled to keep the immense ship stable. “They’re raining down heavily on us sir…” retorted Hot Shot through his teeth from the pilot’s console. He punched in a few keys and then brought the ship upward. “Ironhide! How about knocking those Decepticons out of the skies?”

Ironhide’s face appeared on the view-screen. His optics furrowed with intensity. Without looking towards the camera that captured the live feed, Ironhide rattled the cannon he was operating. “No good Hot Shot! The Cons have us outnumbered! And their using smaller crafts which are much more agile and thus evading Brawn and I!”

Optimus shut his optics and braced himself as the ship violently shook again. A rather large barrage of firepower had impacted the side of the ship causing quite a bit of a disturbance. “What’s the status of the other ship?”

Red Alert checked the messages from the communication’s console. “They’ve got a hull breach in sector seven. Guidance systems failing! Their shields are doing a major fade!” Her saddened face looked up from the monitors to give Optimus the final story. “They’re going down…”

Optimus grit his teeth and decided to do what was necessary. “Follow them.”

“What?” Hot Shot nearly stood up from his station over the commotion. “This is ridiculous; we’re a flag ship not a battle cruiser!”

Optimus shook his head. “No, they’re our allies and we need to protect them by whichever means. Red Alert relay a message to Cybertron with a request for backup. Fill Ironhide and Brawn in on our course of action, I want them to direct their fire to intercepting the shots, not attacking the assault armada. Hot Shot, turn the ship around and achieve planet fall. We’re going to shield the Axalon during entry.”

“Can we even do that?”

“Maybe, maybe not, but we’re going to take the chance. Our hull integrity is still at the point where we can sustain heavy fire and survive a re-entry. With our long range plasma weapons still intact, as long as we find a source of energon we can defend ourselves from the ground.” Optimus heaved his chest out and convinced himself once more that this was the best course of action. They could spend another megacycle or two fighting it out in space hoping for reinforcements but in the end, they’d share the same fate as the Axalon.

Red Alert and Hot Shot complied despite their own reservations towards Optimus’ latest command. Hot Shot turned the craft around to give Ironhide and Brawn an easier time with the weapon systems. He hesitated for a moment but put his trust into what he was about to do and rotated out the external armour flaps. The flaps slowed the descent into the planet’s atmosphere but at the same time provided more cover to the rapidly falling Axalon beneath.

Decepticon fighters too stubborn to turn back were pulled into the planet’s gravitational pull. Without any shots from the Autobot ships, they grew into glowing balls of molten metal due to the inability to put up with the massive heat build up. A few of the other attackers had the good sense to stay out of the gravity well and fired away at the Autobot ships at their leisure hoping to make sure that there were no survivors upon crashing.

Optimus sat tight in his chair along with the other two crew members on the bridge. He kept the visual of the Decepticon menace on his left monitor and the status of the Axalon on the right monitor. They were descending quickly and while everything was going ok at the moment, he noticed the rupture on the Axalon’s back thruster grow until the screen was swallowed by bright light.

“What’s their situation?”

Red Alert quickly went to access the data feed. She shook her head in
frustration trying to get something to report back with. “I’m not sure. Transmissions with the Axalon have gone dead. From what our computer can understand is that their trajectory has been altered.”

Optimus winced at the thought of casualties. “Hot Shot, any chance of landing near them?”

“Negative. We’re too far into re-entry and with the damage to our ship there’s no telling what will happen to our structural integrity at this temperature with a sudden violent change in direction and momentum.”

“Alright then, brace for landing!”
==========
Ironhide and Brawn came running on the bridge only to find the doors sealed. Ironhide hammered his fists on the doors trying to get the computer to open them but it became clear to him that the system had gone offline. Brawn stepped up and rammed his fingers into the crevice and flayed the doors open allowing access to the command center.

“Every bot ok?” Ironhide whipped out the fire extinguisher putting out the multiple fires that had crept over the computer consoles. He rushed from fire to fire putting them out until he came to the knocked over frame of Hot Shot. “Hey, buddy! Hot Shot! You online?”

Hot Shot groaned and turned his head slowly. “I’m never deploying flaps again during re-entry…” He forced a smile before noticing his frame rising from the ground.

Ironhide smiled as he sat his friend back on his chair. He scanned his comrade over to make sure there were no serious injuries. “You’ll live. Sit tight buddy.” He rushed over to Optimus and helped his commander off the ground. “You alright?”

Optimus nodded and thanked Ironhide. He stood up on his own and surveyed the state of the bridge. Luckily Red Alert was online too with minimal damage from the crash. Brawn had seen to making sure she was ok.

“Are we able to establish contact with the Axalon?” Optimus Prime knew that their best chances of survival on this alien world were to group up with the other Autobot crew. The other reason was to make sure that their crew was intact as well.

“Negative. Our communications are down now and we’d have to assume theirs are still from my own frequency scans. But their beacon is still active which is less than I can say about ours. I’ve got them tracked on the sensors. I can have them downloaded if you require them.”

“Please do.” Optimus gave each of his weary crew members a look. “Alright Autobots arm yourselves. We’re unsure what native life-forms maybe on this planet and we’re going to be doing a little exploring.”

“You can’t be serious!” shouted Ironhide who realized he was standing right next to his commander before toning down. He apologized and then pointed out the main view-screen which had collided into the branches of a rather large tree. “This slaggin’ planet is organic! There could be real dangers out there! Real dangers!”

“There’s nothing wrong with organic worlds,” assured Optimus reminding himself that there was a certain stigma amongst Cybertronians towards those that are biological in general. The crew for the most part had never come into contact with any organics and while he knew the dangers firsthand of stepping onto an organic world they had to. “Look we’ll be prepared for anything out there ok? Without communications – we’re stranded. While we’ve sent a distress signal to Cybertron, who knows how long it’ll be till they get here. And without our beacon online, the only way for the search party to find us, they’ll head to the Axalon.”

Ironhide grunted, giving into his commander’s words. He longed to return to Cybertron and feared the unknown that existed beyond the safety of the ship’s metal walls. “Then sir, permission to access the ship’s armoury?”

Optimus rolled his optics over the comment and suppressed his urge to sigh. “Granted.”
==========
Far above in the overgrowth of leaves a black shelled insect peered through with its vividly crimson optics. It sighted a group of five Autobots leaving from the lower hatch of the blue ship. Led by a red and blue figure, the detection sent up a flag in the cerebral processor. It zoomed up following the other Autobots but focused once more on the red and blue individual.

Keeping an optic on the departing Autobots, a scan over the entire ship was carried out. Three Decepticon signatures flagged another subroutine in the observer’s processor. He decided to engage a secondary more intensive scan but was cut short as the ship raised its protective force shield.

“Interesting… more test dummies for the…” muttered the observer to himself.

“Anything to report, report?” A sleek stag beetle ruffled its wings and retracted them while sharing the perch with the locust.

The first insect used its powerful hind legs to push the newcomer off the branch. “Buzz off ya fragger! I will let the mistress know of our new arrivals.” Watching his companion spread his wings, the locust leapt several meters away onto the next branch then doing the same over and over leaving the stag beetle behind.
==========
Optimus lifted the branch out of his way and pushed forward. He could hear the muttering of Ironhide and easily detected the disdain in Brawn lingering behind the group.

“The prisoners are all secured?”

Hot Shot took a few clicks to realize the question had been poised at him. He saved the image of the jungle scenery he had been admiring earlier to peruse at a later time. “Oh, yea… They’re locked up good. They won’t be causing us any trouble especially with that force field running.”

“Good, one less thing to worry about,” thought Optimus while scanning the foreign terrain ahead of him. He climbed over some rocks making sure to have good footing for there was much moss covering the rocks.

Hot Shot followed closely eager to explore the planet. “Say Optimus, are there any similarities between this world and Earth?” He turned around to help Red Alert climb over the rocks.

Optimus smiled at the sight of such camaraderie. He halted at the peak and gazed towards the farthest reaches of his optics. “Somewhat. So far what we’ve encountered is similar to what humans call jungles. I’ve never been there myself but from what I’ve downloaded on Earth the flora and biodiversity are quite similar to Earth’s jungles.”

Red Alert tapped Optimus on the shoulder to grab his attention. She hesitantly pointed over at the bottom of the rocky elevation. “Is that a species you have on Earth?”
==========
Far below, Brawn had been trapped part way into the mouth of a large green creature. The diminutive Autobot was attempting to rip apart the creature’s flesh but the armour like hide prevented any real damage. Ironhide was in the air battering down on the vines with his hardened fists. Without any luck, Brawn was devoured by the creature as it turned its attention to the next course of its meal.

“Definitely not!” yelled Optimus grabbing for his axe. “Plants don’t eat robots, not the last time I checked anyway.” He dashed down the rocks preparing to hack down the monstrous attacker. “Red Alert, see if you can electrocute it – organic systems use electrical signals to transmit messages organ to organ. If possible we can cause it to regurgitate Brawn!”

Hot Shot landed nearby Optimus and whipped out his pyrotechnic tools. “What about me boss?”

“Negative Hot Shot. I don’t want to risk a forest fire breakout. Stay back and let me handle this.” Optimus’ faceplate shielded his visage while racing into the fray. He swung his battle axe into the monster plant’s side. Unable to make an incision, Optimus pulled back and sent a more powerful swing with the thruster aflame.

The monster screeched through its large bell head and lashed out with its vines. Watching the cause of its pain fly away, the plant changed its attention to the second part of its meal and tossed the now silver armoured Autobot into the nearest tree.
==========
“Red Alert, attend to Ironhide. Make sure he’s ok!” Optimus re-boosted his axe and swung again. Clearly the attack was having some affect on the plant. Loading the data he collected from Earth, the closest living organism he had on hard disk were some of the carnivorous plants but there was no indication where the equivalent of its stomach would be. Deduction was all that was left. Optimus swung downwards tracing what seemed like a logical location for his comrade to end up.

Hot Shot couldn’t take it anymore and decided to jump back into the action. The warrior hoisted himself over the cover he had been using and rushed into the attacking plant, knocking one of its vines away from his commander.

“Looks like you could use some help!”

Optimus silently thanked Hot Shot but knew that this plant was more than they could handle. Having already disabled two of his soldiers and displaying a significant immunity to most of their attacks, getting out of this functional was unlikely.

“Get back, we need to get Brawn out before he gets digested!”

Hot Shot evaded the lunging vine and wore a startled visage. “Digested? What’s that?”

Optimus too jumped off the ground to avoid getting carried away by the vine. “Trust me, you don’t want to know.” Before Optimus could elaborate, the two Autobots were sent flying with the plant racing underneath. “Wha?”
==========
The two Autobots were slapped back down to the ground as the plant toyed with them in the air. Crashing several kilometers from their original position, Red Alert magnified on their position.

“Are… they alright doc?” Ironhide weakly lifted his head trying to ascertain the fate of his comrades.

Red Alert detected their movement through her enhanced optic sensors and nodded. “For now. But I’m still detecting Brawn’s energy signature from within that monster. Judging on some of the more potent organic solvents in my databanks, I don’t think his armour can withhold much longer.”

Ironhide used his good arm to push Red Alert gently away from him. “Go help them, I’ll be fine on my own for now.” He noted how Red Alert didn’t take him seriously and frowned. “Seriously, I’ll be ok!”

Red Alert acknowledged and stood up. She reached up and ripped off large branches with leaves and concealed Ironhide’s frame beneath them. “Stay out of sight alright? Who knows whatelse is lurking on this planet…”

Ironhide squeezed an uneasy smile as he activated his armour plating. “Will do doc, just get back quick.” He watched Red Alert jolt in the direction Optimus Prime, Hot Shot and that plant had gone off in, then frowned again. “I hope these leaves aren’t oxidizing to my armour…”
==========
Hot Shot jammed his super heated cutting tools as far into the plant as possible as an anchor. He winced and turned his head as some organic juices splattered over his helmet. “Slag… I’m going to need an oil bath after this!”

Optimus noted the opportunity and with the monstrous fiend anchored into place, he raised the axe over his head and smashed it into the plant’s gut. He roared as the axe thruster ignited causing the blade to cut deeper into the plant’s hide. “Almost... there!” Using both arms, Optimus pulled the axe towards him to enlarge the wound.

The plant turned and tossed in pain only intensifying its screeching. It wrapped a vine around Hot Shot and yanked the thorn out of its side. The flailing plant tightened its grip on Hot Shot to halt him from retaliating. With one Autobot out of the way, the plant proceeded to turn its attention to Optimus Prime.

Hot Shot felt his frame collapse inwards but forced himself to maintain optic view of what was going on. “Optimus…” He mustered what strength he could to push his flame-torches out and ignited the vine that was rushing towards Optimus. Causing the plant more pain, Hot Shot’s vision went blank just as he caught sight of Red Alert emerging from the thicket. “Optimus… Red Alert… she’s… behind…”

Optimus jammed his fist into the plant’s entrails and pulled out Brawn whom was barely functional. He pulled the tiny Autobot out in one swift yank. “Hey… you alright?”

Brawn nodded and tried to contort a smile which was made difficult by the slime he was covered in. His teeth showed as the face formed a mouth. “Bout time…”

Optimus smiled and detected Red Alert’s energy signature behind him. “Catch!” He threw Brawn over his shoulder into the waiting arms of the team’s medic and jumped to avoid another attempt to capture him.

“Hot Shot!” Optimus’ call prompted no response and knew his friend would soon be offline if not already. He jumped from the plant’s moving base to a higher vine to launch his projectile grappling hooks. By yanking with enough force, the vine that clutched Hot Shot came crashing down. Optimus Prime retracted the hooks and pulled out his axe. With a rapid whirl he sliced the vine off releasing the captured Autobot.

Red Alert rested Brawn on the trunk of a tree before getting up again and dashed to attend to Hot Shot. She picked up the yellow warrior and slung his left arm over her shoulder to help walk Hot Shot over to Brawn. Turning her head to check on Optimus, her optics widened in fear.

“Optimus!” screamed Red Alert.

Optimus crashed into the ground and was constricted by a vine waiting below. He was then hoisted into the air as another vine lashed out and secured him. Red Alert was whisked off her feet when a vine came out of nowhere grabbing her, Hot Shot and Brawn. The four Autobots had been captured and were rushed into the air.

Red Alert glanced around in all directions and then noticed that the vine that captured her had not come from nowhere – but from another plant. She scanned the area below her, detecting four monster plants in total. “Looks like it invited its friends… Any bright ideas commander?”

Optimus wriggled and tried to break free but to no avail the multiple vines had created a bonding case that prevented any escape. The Autobot commander refused to give up trying but knew ultimately that with more enemies below them, the chances of survival had dropped drastically. He was hesitant to say no, but could not cause his crew anymore panic.

The thickets below shook violently, Red Alert feared more plants. There most definitely were not enough of them to go around. However to her surprised an ordinance blasted out and blew up the vines holding Optimus and his crew.

A black robot emerged from the green shrubbery followed by a sleek yellow robot carrying high caliber weapons on their arms. On the other side of the battlefield, two more robots emerged armed with weapons similar to those by the first two robots.

“Well, looks like we got here just in time!” announced the smaller of the two new comers. He cracked a grin and retargeted his weapon at the plant tapping his finger lightly on the trigger. “What does that make us?”

“Heroes?” postulated his larger green buddy arching one of his metallic brows upwards.

The small bronze and silver robot smiled and laughed all the while keeping his weapon trained on the menaces before them. “Ain’t we just.”