Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Circling the star Alpha Centauri, ages ago, was a planet unlike any other we know: Cybertron. No rock or soil or sand contributed to its bizarre geography. It's content was entirely... mechanical! Cybertron existed, from metallic surface to core, as a vast Saturn-sized machine world... a world whose origins were seemingly lost in the dead past. Yet, life had evolved here. It had grown and adapted and thrived in its environment remarkably well! And cities rose across a broad mechanical expanse... cities that were the products of Cybertron's dominant life-form: the Autobots. Whereas life elsewhere in the cosmos usually evolved through carbon-bonding, here it was seemingly the interaction of naturally occurring gears, levers and pulleys that miraculously brought forth sentient beings. They created a mechanical paradise... a machine-filled landscape where each Autobot went about their pursuits in peace and prosperity. But every paradise has its serpent... and on this world it was Megatron, commander of those who called themselves: the Decepticons. One such Decepticon, Ravage, watches the Autobots with contempt, perched on a ledge alongside Megatron himself.

RAVAGE: Look at them below. Contented fools ripe for conquest.

MEGATRON: Indeed, Ravage. We have lived peacefully with the Autobots for eons, slowly, secretly gathering our strength and pursuing our technology. Now we shall strike at those who have brought the stagnation of peace and plenty to Cybertron. They shall learn the way of conflict... the way of war... the way of Megatron!!

In the weeks that followed, Decepticons from everywhere reported for clandestine meetings to learn the logistics of the coming clash, and their parts in the struggle. The wonders of their technology bestowed upon the Decepticons the awesome ability to transform into weapons of unprecedented power. With these tasks completed, all was in readiness for the first assault. Megatron addresses his troops.

MEGATRON: STRIKE! STRIKE! With all the might at our command! Death to the Autobots and the decay they stand for!

The war spread until it was a global conflict. The forces unleashed were staggering, inconceivable. And each attack upon an Autobot stronghold was orchestrated with the precision of which only finely tuned machinery is capable. As the powers at play grew in strength, Cybertron itself was shaken loose from its orbit... and sent hurtling through space. And still the war raged across the battle-scarred surface of the runaway planet. Though taken by surprise, and destroyed by the billions in the initial assaults, the surviving Autobots were not defenseless. Each was gifted with the ability to alter their configuration into strange, unearthly vehicles of great offensive potential. And while the Decepticons in their armored aircraft shapes swooped down upon the many Autobot city-states erected during the war... the Autobot warriors stood firm and fought back! In time, the magnificent armies on each side of the struggle became known as... The Transformers!

BIG RED: You're going down, Decepti-creep!

The Autobot warrior Big Red shoots down a Decepticon flier. Small victories...

Despite the valor of the Autobots, the Decepticons had planned the pattern of the war too well. Autobot casualties mounted everywhere. And in the forefront of the most devastating attacks stood: the malevolent Megatron, whose deadly fusion cannon spewed endless streams of energy that laid waster to entire Autobot strongholds. Megatron chuckles to himself, and proclaims:

MEGATRON: Soon we Decepticons will have ground our enemies under our heel, and we shall begin our prime task... rebuilding Cybertron into a cosmic dreadnought! We shall turn our very planet into the single most deadly weapon in existence! Then, let the universe beware! Mua-ha-ha-ha-ha!

But, from Iacon, greatest of city-states... there came a leader to inspire the Autobots in their hour of deadliest peril: Optimus Prime! Of all the Autobots, only he, wise and powerful beyond understanding, was able to unite the scattered warriors into a fully effective fighting force. Using his ability to transform into a combat vehicle, Optimus possessed a firepower potential that none but Megatron could match. Under the leadership of Optimus Prime, the Autobots repelled the Decepticons' assaults with renewed vigor, and rebuilt their fallen city-states until, again, they functioned as sanctuaries. And so the war raged for over one thousand years, as Cybertron continued its mad rush through the cosmos... until came the day when danger threatened from without as well as within. Cybertron's course had placed it directly into the path of... an asteroid belt! Autobot astronomers relayed the danger instantly. A meeting of the Autobot elders was called.

TOMAANDI: Optimus Prime. Jazz. This is what confronts us, my friends. The home-world will perish unless we act now.

OPTIMUS: Whether racked by war or not, this is our world, sire. One day we will reclaim it. But first, this threat must be met. I shall lead a specially selected group of 20, including myself, into space itself to clear a path through the asteroids! But there is another danger... our flight will expose us to the attack of the Decepticons. Those accompanying me might all perish in the attempt to save Cybertron. But I shall be there to meet the enemy should he strike!

XAARON: This... this is foolish, Optimus! We cannot risk you going on this mission.

OPTIMUS: It is... the only way. Trust me.

Unknown to the Autobots, their words were heard by the Decepticon Ravage, whose detection by any monitoring device was virtually impossible.

RAVAGE: Megatron will be pleased to hear of this, I am certain.

The Autobots labored to construct a craft that would propel them into the void... a craft dubbed the Ark.

Meanwhile, inside the foreboding Castle Decepticon that was home to Megatron:

MEGATRON: You have done well, Ravage. Your abilities to absorb electromagnetic radiation and thus remain undetected are enviable qualities.

STARSCREAM: Hmph! They're okay...

RAVAGE: And ever shall they be in the service of the Decepticon Empire, my lord.

MEGATRON: See that you never waver, Master of Stealth. All too often, the nature of the spy is to weigh his loyalties and switch when he feels the time is right.

RAVAGE: Never, great Megatron! Now, what is our course of action?

MEGATRON: We shall construct our own spacecraft, pursue Optimus and his fools into space, and strike when they are weakest: after completed task. The death of their beloved ruler will so demoralize the remaining Autobots, that their surrender will be a certainty!

STARSCREAM: Surely you are not thinking of going through with this yourself, mighty Megatron? The risk of something happening to you so far from Cybertron is too great to chance!

SHOCKWAVE: I concur with Starscream, such an action would be illogical.

MEGATRON: It is not illogical! Optimus Prime himself will be there! This is my opportunity to extinguish his spark once and for all! I am going, end of discussion! And Starscream... you're coming with me!

STARSCREAM: What?!

MEGATRON: As will you, Shockwave. We will also have a group of 20, including all of us. I need my top military commander with me to oversee this crucial strike.

SHOCKWAVE: ...understood.

Starscream notices a change in the tenor of Shockwave's voice as he says that. Is the one-eyed freak expressing... hesitation? That would be a first. Or is it something more... did he just need more time than usual to calculate a proper response to Megatron. And if so... why? What is he thinking... what is he planning?

At the moment of truth, the sons of Cybertron unleash a celestial display of power seldom seen, as huge chunks of space-born rocks are pulverized, clearing the necessary pathway. Inside the spacecraft, Optimus Prime addresses his troops.

OPTIMUS: Fellow Autobots! We have succeeded through your efforts, and soon our world will pass safely through this dangerous segment of space... and travel near that... lifeless blue and green third planet of this solar system before going beyond. Let us rejoice in our achievement as we return to Cybertron. And let us redouble our efforts to end the slaughter that has consumed our world for so many centuries. Aboard this ship all of us, including myself, are 20 of some of Cybertron's strongest warriors, with 300 more in reserve offline. But despite our great physical strength and firepower, the greatest strength of all... is compassion. We must endeavor to make peace with the enemy, with the Decepticons.

But the words of Optimus Prime were lost in the sudden din. The surprise attack violently shakes the Ark and its occupants. Swiftly, the Autobots regrouped and retaliated... but their efforts were impossible to sustain.

OPTIMUS: We're too weak after the exertion of destroying the asteroids. Our firepower... no match.

Even the safety of the Ark was insufficient.

SHROOM!

OPTIMUS: Our hull is breached! Prepare to resist Decepticon boarding party!!!

But the Decepticons were fresh, fully fueled for the battle... and the enervated Autobots were cut down where they stood!

BUMPER: Gah! N-no! You're not taking us out, Decepti-scum! You're not!!!

Three Decepticon Seekers surround the brave, but fatally wounded Autobot Bumper.

SUNSTORM: Ha! And what exactly are you going to do about it, little Autobot?

BITSTREAM: He'll do absolutely nothing!

HOTLINK: Say goodbye...

BUMPER: ...goodbye.

Bumper presses a button, as he suddenly explodes... taking the three Decepticon Seekers with him!

BUMBLEBEE: Bumper! No!!!

STARSCREAM: My Seekers!!!

PROWL: Optimus, Bumper just sacrificed himself to destroy 3 Decepticon fighters. Given that they appear to be an initial group of 20 just as we are, there are 13 more currently onboard the Ark, meaning 4 are curiously absent. Even so, among the 13 are Megatron, Starscream, and Soundwave.

OPTIMUS: 13... why is that always such an unlucky, yet prophetic number for us...

PROWL: Ahem. Even with us having the numbers advantage, due to who their fighters are and how freshly fueled they are... my computations show defeat is imminent, within 5.7 minutes. Optional courses of action include-

OPTIMUS: We have but one course open to us, Prowl, most trusted of my advisors.

PROWL: ...sir? Why did you emphasize that point?

OPTIMUS: Because I want it known how much I value you, just as I value all of our crew... before I go ahead and do this.

Optimus presses a button, and suddenly the Ark turns around and flies, full-steam ahead, toward the nearby planet.

OPTIMUS: I had anticipated such a move by the Decepticons. In fact... I planned for it. Megatron must never be allowed to menace our planet ever again. The Decepticon movement must be ended, and with him gone, it will be. I plotted an alternate course that would take us on a suicidal heading... directly into the third planet of this solar system!

PROWL: Sir?!

OPTIMUS: Farewell, my friend. Though we die, at least our enemies are taken with us.

PROWL: Noooo!!!

Before anyone else could fully comprehend what was happening, the Ark entered the planet's atmosphere. The impact was awesome, huge clouds of dust and ash blanketed the nearby terrain as the spacecraft embedded itself in a volcanic mountain. The 32 active Transformers onboard join the other 300, in that they were all knocked offline upon impact. There are 332 Transformers aboard the Ark now... and as some may know, 332 is a fascinating number.

Silence, for over 4 million years.

Nothing disturbed the crypt-like atmosphere within that dormant structure... until, like a sleeper rudely awakened, the volcano erupts in a crescendo of explosive brilliance!

VASHTROCHA!

The eruption uncovers an object buried some forty thousand centuries ago... an alien object pocked and pitted by the passage of time... time which has changed the face of this planet and those who dwell upon it. The currently dominant species has named this world they rule: Earth. This volcano: Mount St. Hillary. They have marked the movement of time numerically. As it is reckoned, the year is 1984.

But all that means nothing here. Time and place have seemingly little significance to those who lay within this rotting hulk. The shroud of darkness has descended again here, for perhaps another 4 million years...

...

Perhaps not! Pinpricks of light appear inside the craft... and the barely audible hum of machinery awakened by the titanic blast. Beacons flare, probing the darkness, illuminating the dank cavernous walls. In the side of the great ship, a hatch that has remained closed for millennia now opens! From it, a device is launched forth. It is a sensor drone, nicknamed a "sky spy." Its mission: gather data for transmission back to the Ark. The scout craft relays its telemetry to the mothership. Although it was state-of-the-art technology when designed... its data banks possess only the capability of perceiving mechanical life-forms. Thus, the many carbon-based species pass below unnoticed by the active drone.

SKY SPY: Sensors confirm this is not Cybertron, nor any world in the Alpha Centauri star system. Scanning sequence continuing.

Finally, miles from its point of origin, the probe picks up signals from what its logic circuits say must be one of this planet's indigenous life forms! A fighter jet... the configuration bears a striking resemblance to Decepticon attack forms. The drone swiftly plots its return to the Ark. Forests teeming with countless life-forms appear literally dead to the drone... but an Oregon interstate highway sends a stream of data back into the Autobot probe, almost overloading its circuits with information! Functionally, they resemble the vehicular Autobot forms... an automaton affinity exists and that seems enough. But there is more, much more! Creatures of seemingly unending variety and shapes, like a mini-cassette player... all mechanically and electrically alive to the drone's sensors. Even a handheld firearm qualifies. Now, back to the Ark... and resurrection. The ship's brain dispatches revival drones to reawaken its long dormant crew, both Autobot and Decepticon...

AUNTY: Commencing revival procedures!

Chapter Text

True to its programming, the Ark alters the structure of its inhabitants, rebuilding them to be able to change their shapes in accordance with the mechanical life detected beyond the Ark... the better to ensure survivability. But its memory banks were damaged in the ages-ago crash, and knowledge of the Great War was erased. Thus friend and foe alike are equally subject to its attentions. The Ark's alterations are such that the basic nature of each robot is preserved: the Autobots are programmed to imitate Earthly vehicles; the Decepticons will resemble Earthly weapons and communications devices. Both factions, if necessary, can revert to their original robotic forms.

SOUNDWAVE: Megatron... what has happened? Where are we?

MEGATRON: The ship's brain imparted the information on locale to our circuitry, can't you access it? We crash-landed on this world ages ago, and have been in a state of dormancy since - until an explosion reawakened the Ark, and it revived us. The Autobots too, though groggy, have arisen from their stasis. Thus, let us finish what we started. But first... are we all accounted for on this brave new world?

SKYWARP: Skywarp's up for raiding, sir. And my teleportational power'll pop me right into their midst to make mischief.

THUNDERCRACKER: As ever, your cause is Thundercracker's, Great Megatron. Our land-bound enemy will be picked off at will as I soar over them, striking with rockets and sonic booms.

STARSCREAM: As the fastest, most maneuverable of Decepticon jet flyers, I, Starscream, shall continue to accumulate Autobot bodycounts that enhance the reputation of our leader.

RUMBLE: Can the speeches, huh, Star? Rumble's back in town and I'm gonna shake the place up with some low frequency ground-waves. You hit 'em from up top, and I'll do the job down here.

FRENZY: And I, Frenzy, will shatter our opponent's equilibrium, using high-pitched soundwaves. I will not cease until every Autobot is slain. And you, Soundwave?

SOUNDWAVE: I will monitor transmissions and read Autobot electrical impulses to learn their plans. Even my photographic memory serves as a defensive weapon.

RAVAGE: Does even that compare with Ravage's power to slip in and out undetected anywhere? And my own monitoring devices in my nose module allow me to smell, hear, and detect electromagnetic radiation beyond that of any Decepticon!

BUZZSAW: It all pales next to the artistry of Buzzsaw. I can pinpoint a hex-nut at 20 miles with my optical sensors. And my beak has carved many an Autobot warrior into a masterpiece of scrap metal.

LASERBEAK: Just save some for Laserbeak, comrades. Allow me a few struggling survivors of our battle and I'm certain I'll pry some useful information from them with my optical lasers... even if they die in the telling.

VIEWFINDER: I too can pry information from those pesky Autobots. I am a master of observation - there's nothing I love more than watching someone and dissecting their flaws. I view them and find what I need... perhaps that is why I am named Viewfinder.

SPYGLASS: If that is how you got the name Viewfinder, then I certainly got the name Spyglass from my expert spy techniques. I'm an eager-beaver go-getter when it comes to espionage and surveillance.

SPECTRO: I am not quite as confident as you are. Other than announcing my name like the rest of you have done... I am Spectro by the way, for those who don't know... I don't have any discernible offensive skills. I am good at paying attention, and like the rest of my Reflector trio I am pretty skilled as a medic in a pinch. So... yeah. That's me.

MEGATRON: Come. Our time to strike is later. The ship's brain has placed in our circuits the knowledge that this world possesses enormous untapped fuel resources... resources we can exploit in our struggle against the Autobots.

STARSCREAM: Why not strike now, my leader? End the Autobot threat and this world is ours for the taking! What flawed logic persuades you otherwise?!

MEGATRON: Sound logic persuades me. We are still weak, ourselves... and few in number. Four of us are missing, and three are dead. Our fuel sources are uncertain. Should our attack fail, the might of Optimus could well decide the outcome. No. We leave now. We will fight, Starscream... but at a time and place of our choosing!

At that, Megatron orders his Decepticons to turn and retreat... and, while retreating... to transform! The Decepticons tear through the Ark's ancient walls and flee out of the volcano.

PROWL: Did you see their shapes, Great Optimus?

OPTIMUS: War-like forms, native to this world, no doubt. The Ark has given us the information necessary to understand this, Prowl. Apparently, we can now transform into likenesses of beings who inhabit this world, as the Decepticons have done. Now, let me ensure that our people have each survived intact.

PROWL: (mutters) Yeah, like you care.

OPTIMUS: What was that, Prowl?

PROWL: ...nothing, Great Optimus.

IRONHIDE: Ironhide's ready to roll, Optimus. I may be old and ornery, but my steel-alloy skin hasn't been dented yet in battle. And I've got a bunch of new liquids I want to test out in my liqui-gun, yessiree.

HUFFER: Oh, I say we leave right now and forget about traipsing after the stupid Decepticons. I'll use my stress testing sensors and mathematical skill to rebuild the Ark and get us back to Cybertron where we belong.

BUMBLEBEE: C',mon, Huffer, get with it! I only require a small amount of fuel to run, so I'm going to explore this whole planet - especially since the Ark said so much of it is water. And Bumblebee's little levers love a good swim!

SUNSTREAKER: Well, Sunstreaker isn't leaving until the rest of this world gets a look at the sleekest Autobot in the bunch! And if any Decepticon dares to mess with the finish - he'll get two ground-to-air missiles stuffed where he won't want them. Yessir, I'm not going down easy!

CLIFFJUMPER: If you were as fast as Cliffjumper is, Sunstreaker, you wouldn't worry about your finish. And while I'm dodging fire, my "glass gas" can make any Decepticon brittle as ice.

BRAWN: Huh? Brawn don't need no gas to rip things up! Nobody's stronger'n me! One punch and yer building... or Decepticon... goes bye-bye! I wouldn't want anyone to mess with me!

SIDESWIPE: Sideswipe's right up there with you, Brawn, because I use my arms as pile-drivers. I admit, it's a little rash to rush headlong at Decepticon fortifications, but not one of them's stopped me yet!

MIRAGE: Frankly, I'd rather be elsewhere hunting turbofoxes than with you roughnecks. But while we're here... my electro-disrupter is charged up, after all. It not only interferes with Decepticon circuitry, it also makes me appear to be where I'm not. That's why I'm called Mirage.

BLUESTREAK: NiceToHearHowYouGotYourName,Mirage.Now,IGotMine,Bluestreak,ByBeingAsFastAsABluestreak,WhateverThatIs.SomeWiseGuysEvenSaidITalkABlueStreak,WhateverThatIs.Anyway,HereIAm!

PROWL: Listening to you, Bluestreak, taxes even the endless patience of Prowl. I have... little to say right now, but my logic center dictates the most advantageous course of action in any situation.

JAZZ: Well, that is neat-o, Prowl. But me, Jazz, I'd like to just cruise around and take in the sights, and if I've got to fight, well, my photon rifle and overhead flamethrowers can make things hot for the big nasties!

HOUND: You burn 'em, Jazz, but let Hound here sniff them out for you. My infra-red radiation collector makes me the best tracker on or off Cybertron, and if I ever get lost, my hologram gun projects terrain maps to get me back on track.

WINDCHARGER: Just let Windcharger zoom ahead and scrap a Decept' between my magnetic arms. I'll take in this planet's scenery later. I hate me those Decepticons.

RED ALERT: Red Alert's right there with you, Windcharger. As for the planet, we must be careful. As security director, we don't know for sure what dangers may lurk out there. But if there are any, my mounted rocket launcher and high-energy particle beam rifle should be enough to handle any scenario. Though I am nervous, it's my job to, so I need to learn all I can about this planet!

GEARS: The only thing Gears wants to learn about this planet is how to get off it. I hate this place already, I just know you're going to use me as a mobile transport unit again, once we have to set up. Nuts, let's go home.

RATCHET: Well, at least you don't have to patch Autobots up like Ratchet does, when one of us busts himself up playing hero. But I've got the tools to fix anything. Although I do wish I could experience some genuine combat heroism like the rest of you do. But I doubt that'll ever happen, so for now, patching you lot up is what I do.

WHEELJACK: And Wheeljack is the guy you've had to patch up most! I can't help it; I love to mess with gadgets... especially our weaponry, like my shoulder cannons. I try to be careful, but sometimes it doesn't work. Thanks for being around, Ratchet.

TRAILBREAKER: I don't know how many times I, Trailbreaker, had to use my force-field projector and hide behind my own barrier when you're experimenting with those shrapnel shells. You're worse than a wild Decepticon, Wheeljack.

OPTIMUS: And I am Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots.

Silence. Everyone looks at him, but nobody says anything.

OPTIMUS: I suppose I should address the elephant-bot in the room. Yes, I planned to sacrifice all of us to end the scourge of Megatron. Do any of you not think this would have been a worthwhile sacrifice?

Everyone pauses to think for a moment, and eventually, almost all of them nod their heads or give approving looks.

OPTIMUS: We can be thankful that all of us have survived to this point, other than Bumper. And, perhaps even our Ark is not irretrievably damaged. What say you, Huffer?

HUFFER: I don't need any detailed analysis to know the damage was extreme. But I guess I'll have to take a sensor survey to see just how great. I'll try my best to effect repairs... but I don't have much hope. I'm really afraid we're stranded on this scrapball forever.

IRONHIDE: Don't be so pessimistic, Huffer. It's hard enough to keep everyone's gears in gear without you gummin' up their motivation circuits.

OPTIMUS: My comrades, we must accept the sad truth that Cybertron may no longer even exist. But if it does... I swear, as leader of the Autobots, I shall return us there some day, after Megatron has been destroyed. But our immediate concern must be the repair of the Ark, and the learning of all we can about this alien world where fate has cast us. Let Aunty, our ship's computer, transmit signals she is receiving from across the world and place them on the monitor screens that we may partake of knowledge: our greatest weapon.

For the next few hours, the Autobots stand motionless, their memory receptors absorbing masses of information regarding the machine "life" that seems predominant upon this planet. Soon, armed with this knowledge, they will venture forth...

OPTIMUS: Life... the Ark's sensors did not detect it here those millennia ago when we sought to pass through the asteroid belt nearby. And all of it unaware of the Decepticon menace in its midst. Our mission is clear: the renegade Decepticons are to be found and defeated. It is our fault they are here. Thus, it is our duty to see to their downfall.

HOUND: Optimus, this world is fascinating, my reconnaissance missions will be far more exciting than mere logistics gathering.

OPTIMUS: Agreed, Hound. But, let us never forget our primary purpose: to spare this world from the scourge we have unwittingly unleashed upon it!

(some bullshit with Buster and Sparkplug, don't feel like typing it)

A group of 5 Autobots zoom on down the freeway: Prowl, Hound, Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, and Brawn.

BRAWN: Well, Prowl, yer leadin' this expedition... so when do I get to start throwin' punches??

PROWL: Optimus has assigned us the task of reconnaissance, Brawn. We are to avoid hostile contact unless absolutely-

CLIFFJUMPER: I'm with Brawn. Let me at 'em!

PROWL: Stay in line, Cliffjumper. You'll get your chance on my command only.

CLIFFJUMPER: Hmph! Wanna bet, Brawn, that I'll be the first to spot an Earthling?

Meanwhile, Bumblebee converses with Hound.

BUMBLEBEE: Umm... so, what do you make of all this, Hound? Nobody notices things like you do. I wish I had half your tracking talents.

HOUND: That's very kind, but I'm too busy sorting my impressions out to give you an opinion, Bumblebee. But I will let you know. Prowl, my turret scope has locked onto some vital machine signs... just over this ridge.

PROWL: Roget that. Prepare for contact, Autobots! Defensive modes if necessary!

Reaching the top of the ridge, the transformed Autobots draw silently to a stop. Sensors sweeping the scene below, they strain to understand what it is they are scanning.

BUMBLEBEE: Is... is that them, Prowl? Have we found the Earthlings?

PROWL: I... I don't know, Bumblebee!

Indeed, the Autobots have found the Earthlings... but not the ones they think they have! What they are observing is a drive-in movie theater, with people in their cars watching a huge screen. But to them, it looks like a bunch of unmoving cars staring at a screen.

HOUND: They look like the inhabitants the Ark scanned... but what was that giant screen? What were they all doing assembled before it?

CLIFFJUMPER: Probably some sort of religious ritual, Hound!

BUMBLEBEE: Why would machines worship moving pictures of strange objects?

PROWL: The only way we're going to find out, Bumblebee, is to ask!

The Autobots don't realize it, but at this very moment, they are being spied on by:

LASERBEAK: This is Decepticon Laserbeak reporting to Decepticon Leader Megatron! The Autobots have ventured forth from the volcano, and seek to make contact with this planet's inhabitants!

Laserbeak's transmission causes consternation among the Decepticons assembled on an inaccessible mountain peak.

MEGATRON: The Autobots... in alliance with the inhabitants of Earth!

STARSCREAM: We cannot allow that, Megatron!

SOUNDWAVE: We have already learned that Earth possesses abundant fuel resources that we can exploit as we prepare for the conquest of this world.

MEGATRON: We must deny those resources to our enemies! Go forth, then, my Decepticons! Destroy the Autobots!!!

Their curiosity piqued by the strange "ritual," the Autobots move into the drive-in... and they speed right past the startled cashier.

BUMBLEBEE: I'm gonna be the first to greet an Earthling!

PROWL: Bumblebee, come back! We must reconnoiter first!

HOUND: You can't check the exuberance of youth, Prowl!

However, Bumblebee quickly realizes something's wrong.

BUMBLEBEE: Uh-oh, not used to this terrain yet... not going to slow down in time... going to collide with that guy!

"That guy" that Bumblebee refers to is another car. A car belonging to one Buster Witwicky...

CRUMP!

BUSTER: We've been hit! Bumped from behind by a fender-bending Beetle! Dad'll cream me! Listen you, I- say, that's weird. No one's in there! Did its brakes slip so that it rolled into dad's car? Or is this some kind of a joke?

Bumblebee doesn't say or do anything, mortified that he crashed into an Earthling, and that the Earthling is saying nothing in response, only one of its pets is. Just then... the Decepticons attack! Starscream, Thundercracker, and Laserbeak fly out from the cover of clouds and shoot directly at Bumblebee, knocking Buster and his two friends down to the ground.

SHREEEEE-BAVROOM!

BUMBLEBEE: Ohhhh!

BUSTER: What the hell is going on?! We're being shot at by fighter jets and... did I... hear this Volkswagon cry out in pain?! No one's inside! I have to find out what the hell is happening here!

The other Autobots watch the scene in horror.

PROWL: This is almost beyond belief! The Decepticons have launched an assault and the Earth vehicles have done absolutely nothing to defend themselves! Can this strange ritual be so overwhelming an experience that it has put the Earth robots in a trance? Or... was the data from the Ark wrong somehow? I must put my logic circuits to work on this...

BRAWN: Prowl, I don't intend on sittin' here all day bein' used for target practice! I say we make a stand, here and now!

PROWL: Sigh. I had hoped to Optimus we could avoid this, but... it seems our adversaries have left us little choice. Assume defensive configurations!

Before the humans' startled eyes, the 4 empty cars shift and transform... into giant robots!

BRAWN: Now yer talkin' my lingo!

The first Battle of Earth begins. Hound shoots out a hologram toward the jets as Starscream shoots laser fire at the Autobot fighters.

BRAWN: Get close to me, boys, 'cuz I can take the brunt of their firepower without flinchin'.

STARSCREAM: I told Megatron this frontal assault tactic he's so proud of is foolish, Thundercracker. Guile and stealth are far more effective in the long run.

THUNDERCRACKER: We have to follow Megatron's way, Starscream! It's been successful up to now. I don't think we should openly defy him as you've been known to do.

STARSCREAM: Me? Openly defy Megatron? Oh, I'd neverrrrr!

As the humans scatter in panic, Prowl shoots up at Starscream, who dodges the attack.

PROWL: Come, Starscream! Surely you don't fear to strike at a foe that is unable to fly, do you?

Thundercracker follows up by shooting at Prowl, as Laserbeak flies at Brawn... which was a mistake. Brawn punches Laserbeak's lights out.

BRAWN: Try to take a bit out of me, will ya, Laserbutt? Well, here's somethin' to chew on!

Cliffjumper readies his own weapon as Hound heads off to locate Bumblebee in all the carnage.

CLIFFJUMPER: I'll hold my attack for just a moment, until the Decepticon scum gets jussssst within range. And then...

STARSCREAM: Thundercracker, look! Cliffjumper is alone! Slay him!

CLIFFJUMPER: So, Starscream, you strike at me because you think isolation make me vulnerable? You have obviously never flown in the face of my glass-gas gun!

Cliffjumper shoots said gun at Starscream's wing, hardening it instantly.

STARSCREAM: Yarrgh! The gas coats me, making my metal brittle and breakable as glass!!!

Cliffjumper does the same to Thundercracker.

STARSCREAM: Flee, Thundercracker, fly!

CLIFFJUMPER: Ha! I hope my comrades have witnessed my triumph!

But one of Cliffjumper's companions has other concerns at the moment...

HOUND: We must not let the battle divert us from locating our friend, Bumblebee! The little one may be lying somewhere hurt... or wose!

Hound's tracking abilities would soon pick up Bumblebee's trail... were not the Autobot's own immediate location suddenly revealed to the Decepticons... by one who skulks in the shadows: Ravage!

RAVAGE: Rowrr!

Hound shoots out a hologram at Ravage, causing him to flee.

HOUND: Ravage! Finally you reveal yourself, Master Spy! Now back, back to your leader, Megatron! And tell him who defeated you this day!

Hound also thinks: I can imagine Ravage's anger were he to learn that he fled from nothing: mere three-dimensional holograms cast by my turret gun. But wait... if both Ravage and Laserbeak are here, that has to mean their carrier, Soundwave, is present too!

Indeed, the smaller Decepticons all operate in tandem with Soundwave, who can store them all within his chest. Soundwave makes himself known by shooting at Prowl and Cliffjumper.

SOUNDWAVE: It will only be a matter of time before my concussion cannon strikes, and there will be two less Autobots clanking around!

As Prowl shoots back at Soundwave, he turns and starts paying attention to the scattering, fearful humans.

PROWL: Cliffjumper! My logic circuits have just determined that the Ark was in error. Look, do you see the movement exhibited by those bizarre-looking objects?

CLIFFJUMPER: Yes, but what does it mean?

PROWL: It means that... the mechanical vehicles we saw were not alive! But those small figures are! That's why the vehicles made no move to defend themselves. They are not sentient! When they moved upon the roadway we saw, the small beings were controlling them.

Prowl lowers his weapon.

PROWL: What we are seeing is non-machine life, as hard as that may be to accept! But that is the only logical explanation!

CLIFFJUMPER: Hmm. This changes things considerably. What should we do now?

PROWL: Now, we report our findings to Optimus Prime... in-person! Radio-waves can be monitored. Only he possesses the wisdom we need to deal with these new contingencies. Follow me to the Ark, Autobots!

Prowl transforms to vehicle mode, and Cliffjumper follows suit. Hound and Brawn, spotting them, also transform and join them. As they drive off, Starscream and Thundercracker head toward them and shoot at them.

HOUND: But what of Bumblebee?!

PROWL: Perhaps he was not injured too badly and has already left. In any case, we must leave immediately, and draw the Decepticons' fire, because these non-mechanical life-forms do not appear capable of defending themselves from our kind!

And, not far away, Buster takes a look at Bumblebee.

BUSTER: The noises coming from this car are really weird! Almost like... crying! It's been badly damaged... leaking something that looks like, but isn't, oil! And I haven't got the slightest idea what to do for it! I'm no mechanic! That's dad's field! ...dad? Say! If I can get this bug to his garage, he'll know how to patch it up!

And so, Buster Witwicky climbs behind Bumblebee's wheel, only to discover...

BUSTER: No key! No ignition! No gas pedal! How does this car start...?!

VROOM!

BUSTER: ...all by itself?! It's moving out... slowly, sluggishly! It seems like all I'm doing is guiding it away...

(more bullshit I don't care about)

BUSTER: Dad, I wouldn't know how to fix a car if I tried! That's why I brought this one to you! Only... it's not a car!

SPARKPLUG: It's got wheels, boy, and fenders! Headlights, too! Just what would you call it?

Suddenly, Bumblebee shifts uncomfortably. To the humans, it look as if the car just rocked from side-to-side... all on its own!

BUSTER: A-Alive?!

BUMBLEBEE: Help me, please! I'm dying!

Chapter Text

On a craggy Oregon cliff, the Decepticons, under cover of darkness, gather! Megatron, their ruthless leader, speaks...

MEGATRON: There! Below us is what we most desperately need to survive: fuel! And we shall take it!

STARSCREAM: Forgive me, Great Megatron, but would it not be wiser for Spyglass to scout the Earth compound first?

MEGATRON: As always, Starscream slyly seeks to undermine my command, but his advice is sound! Curses!

Megatron gathers himself.

MEGATRON: Perhaps caution is called for, Starscream, but I choose Ravage to be our scout!

STARSCREAM: As you wish, Great Megatron!

SPYGLASS: Aw man, I never get to do nuthin'!

Within moments, Ravage has penetrated the security of the complex below... the half-completed Harrison Nuclear Power Plant.

RAVAGE: At last I am free to prowl alone! That is how it should be!

His walk is soundless! In the shadows he literally disappears! No hint of his presence is betrayed!

JASON BOYD: ...with crews working around the clock, it is now only a matter of days before-

CLIK!

JASON BOYD: Whoops! Cassette's run out!

RAVAGE: Perfect! I cannot imagine a more ideal opportunity!

As the engineer reaches for a blank cassette tape, the invisible Decepticon leaps... and transforms... changing, and shrinking through a process known mass shifting, undetected, from his Decepticon mode into a cassette tape... an ability mistakenly given to him by the Autobots' spacecraft, the Ark! Engineer Jason Boyd grabs Ravage and continues his progress report, never suspecting that it is being recorded onto an alien from beyond the stars!

JASON BOYD: ...only a matter of days before the project is back on schedule! Harrison's maximum power output in megawatts per hour will far exceed any other nuclear-

Hours later, Ravage reverts to his Decepticon mode and returns...

MEGATRON: What have you learned?

Ever obedient, Ravage plays back the engineer's report on his internal recording mechanisms to the assembled Decepticons! After the tape concludes:

RAVAGE: Great Megatron, those were the words of a "human" describing their energy-harnessing technology! Thanks to our built-in universal translators we can understand them. The entire compound is surrounded by this strange life-form that we encountered during our battle earlier this evening.

MEGATRON: Once again you have served me well, Ravage! It appears that we are marooned on a world where, strange as it seems, humans have created the machines from which the Ark designed our combat modes! Unlike ourselves, these machines have no will of their own! These selfsame humans also possess the technology to provide us with limitless life-sustaining fuel! We were given enough to last for a good while, but it is not limitless!

STARSCREAM: Megatron's deductions are most shrewd! I must be careful not to ever let my desire for power cause me to underestimate his cunning! It is only a matter of time before I, Starscream, commands the Decepticons!

MEGATRON: Our course is clear! We need fuel and a base from which to obtain more fuel! Decepticons: prepare to attack!!!

At Megatron's command, Skywarp, Starscream, and Thundercracker transform into jet fighters....

SKYWARP: Action, at last!

...as Soundwave, the Decepticons' communications relay station, amazingly transforms into a cassette player and jumps into Thundercracker, but not before Frenzy, Ravage, and Rumble jump into him! Still in their Decepticon modes, Laserbeak and Buzzsaw take off. Megatron stays behind with the Reflector trio, who act as reserve warriors/medics.

MEGATRON: Decepticons, away! Prepare to strike at Megatron's command! Thundercracker, let the helpless humans hear your battle cry!

BOOM!

Thundercracker's defeaning sonic boom is heard over a hundred miles away! The onslaught has begun! The attack is swift, deadly! Starscream takes the lead, shooting cluster bombs to scatter the workers! Thundercracker continues his ear-splitting assault...

BOOM!

THUNDERCRACKER: They fall so easily before our might!

JASON BOYD: Argh! It must be the Soviets!

OTHER WORKER: Jesus Christ, Jason Boyd. You might be right!

There is no let up! Skywarp showers the buildings with machine gun fire, killing many of the workers!

SKYWARP: The humans employ far better design standard on their machines than on themselves! What a backward world!

The second wave of Decepticons attack: with uncanny precision, Laserbeak's laser cannons take out their target...

KA-BLAM!

...while from out of the shadows leaps Ravage!

RAVAGE: Rowrr!

JASON BOYD: What in the world?! A giant... mechanical cat?!

Through reinforced concrete walls slashes the diamond-hard, micro-serrated edged beak of the Decepticon fittingly known as Buzzsaw!

BUZZSAW: Ah, another masterpiece!

OTHER WORKER: Mayday! Mayday! This is the Harrison Nuclear Power Plant! We're under attack! Many of us are dead... we need help, fast! What... my walkie-talkie... it's gone dead!

Unbeknownst to the startled worker, the malfunction is no accident! It's due to the ultra-high radio frequency emanating from the form of Frenzy! Finally, communicating via Soundwave...

MEGATRON: Cease fire! We need their technology... begin the dismantling procedure!

To loosen vital equipment, the drum-like constructions in Rumble's body begin to roll... transmitting through his feet immense low-frequency ground-waves! The result is not unlike a small earthquake! Finally, Soundwave, Skywarp, Starscream, and Thundercracker transform back to their Decepticon modes! Along with the Reflector trio, they strip the power plant of all its technology and begin to carry it off... the sight is as awesome as the panicked workers could ever imagine! Until finally, their mission accomplished, the Decepticons disappear into the night!

JASON BOYD: No one will ever swallow this!

OTHER WORKER: Hey, I don't believe it!

(more bullshit I don't want to type)

The repaired Bumblebee begins to transform.

KLAK KLIK!

SPARKPLUG: Oh, no! It's falling apart!

BUSTER: No! It must be changing into its robot form... like the others did!

KLIK KLAK!

SPARKPLUG: i-i-it's a-a-alive!

BUMBLEBEE: Yes! Thanks to both of your heroic efforts! Sparkplug Witwicky, your skill rivals that of my friend, Ratchet, the Autobots' greatest physician!

SPARKPLUG: You mean there are more like you??

BUSTER: Dad! I told you about the battle at the drive-in!

SPARKPLUG: Who are you?? Where do you come from?? What do you want?? And how'd you end up in my garage??

BUSTER: I already fuckin told you...

BUMBLEBEE: I am called Bumblebee, I'm from the planet Cybertron, I'm in desperate need of fuel, and your son drove me here! Do all small, pink things ask so many questions?

SPARKPLUG: Great! Just what I needed! A smart-mouth giant robot!

Sparkplug collects himself.

SPARKPLUG: Uh, if you need fuel, you've come to the right place!

BUSTER: Daaaaaadddddd! You can't expect an extraterrestrial to guzzle premium unleaded!

SPARKPLUG: Uh... right!

BUMBLEBEE: Perhaps Huffer and Wheeljack can devise a conversion process... whereby we can adapt to your primitive, um, "premium or unleaded"!

SPARKPLUG: Heck, maybe I can figure that out for you!

Sparkplug kicks himself.

SPARKPLUG: I can't believe I'm hacing this conversation!

BUSTER: Where are the rest of you "Auto-bots"?

BUMBLEBEE: That's "Autobots"-

BUSTER: That's what I fuckin said-

BUMBLEBEE: And they're probably back in the Ark... our spaceship!

BUSTER: Gee, I'd give anything to see a real spaceship!

Bumblebee transforms.

KLIK KLAK KLIK KLAK!

BUMBLEBEE: I'll be able to reach the Ark inconspicuously if I assme the shape of this Earth vehicle! Now, hop in, Buster! I promise I won't eat ya, heh heh!

SPARKPLUG: ...son, wait a minute-

BUSTER: This is the chance of a lifetime, daaaaadddddd! I've always dreamed something like this would happen to me!

SPARKPLUG: Okay, I'm convinced.

BUMBLEBEE: Fear not, Sparkplug Witwicky! I merely plan to relay your generous offer - finding some way to convert Earthly resources to fuel for Autobot use - to my leader, Optimus Prime! I shall safely return with your son!

SPARKPLUG: Okay whatever.

BUSTER: Isn't this the most incredible thing that's ever happened to us?! Okay, Bumblebee, like, take me to your leader!

BUMBLEBEE: ...fuckin loser.

BUSTER: what?

BUMBLEBEE: Nothing!

Bumblebee speeds off with Buster.

SPARKPLUG: Be careful, son-ah who the hell cares, I can always make more kids.

(recap bullshit)

Meanwhile, Ravage skulks unseen in the shadows of the city...

RAVAGE: While Megatron oversees construction of the Decepticon base, I am free to prowl anew! Wait... those humans... they are friends of the one with whom the accursed Autobots have established contact!

With the speed of thought, Ravage transforms...

RAVAGE: My optic sensors recognize them from the battle earlier this evening.

...and lands in the radio carried by Buster's friends, just as he pulls up next to them in Bumblebee.

(more bullshit)

The complete conversation is recorded by Ravage, as he stealthily exits the radio, transforms, and prowls away...

RAVAGE: Megatron must be informed at once!

Meanwhile, lying deep within Mount St. Hillary...

RED ALERT: Optimus, the Ark's computer has completed the reserve fuel analysis, as you requested!

OPTIMUS: Aunty, report!

AUNTY: Fuel reserves are somewhat low, and efforts to repair me have only further reduced them. Unless minimum fuel requirements are swiftly met, not only will this vessel remain immobile, but Autobot resistance to Decepticon attacks ultimately will be insufficient!

OPTIMUS: We can hold our own for a while with the fuel we have here... but we'll still need more fuel eventually! I wonder if we can utilize Earth fuel? And how would we obtain it?

WINDCHARGER: Without fuel, we are helpless, Optimus! What do we do?!?

MIRAGE: The answer is obvious, Windcharger! We simply take it!

PROWL: Your solution, Mirage, is both simple and simple-minded! You fail to address this planet's life-forms right to their resources.

SUNSTREAKER: "Life-forms," Prowl? They are not like us! They are not awesome and sexy and metallic like us!

IRONHIDE: Ah, you're all just leaking lubricants while we waste what's left of our fuel! The time for talk is over! Ironhide demands action!

OPTIMUS: Yeah, okay Ironhide. Fear not, I have reached a decision! We must contact the humans, forge an alliance with them and then barter for the fuel we need! Cybertron's advanced technology can be offered in exchange! Be there an Autobot among us that finds fault with this plan?

Mirage secretly does.

MIRAGE: Bah! The Decepticons will not pander to this world's populace! They'll simply seize what they need! Perhaps Mirage is on the wrong side...

OPTIMUS: I hear no dissent! The plan is accepted by one and all!

Suddenly...

BEEP BEEP!

HOUND: Optimus! I'm receiving an emergency broadcast on a standard Autobot distress frequency!

OPTIMUS: That, Hound dog, must be a signal from our missing friend, Bumblebee!

Indeed it is! With spare parts and Sparkplug's help, Bumblebee has constructed a communicator...

BUMBLEBEE: Optimus, the Decepticons have acquired an awesome power source! We must find a fuel source of our own, and fast!

SPARKPLUG: Don't forget to tell 'em that I'll help you find a way to convert our fuel for your use! ...wait why am I doing this again?

BUMBLEBEE: Because otherwise I'll step on you. Optimus, a human has offered to help us adapt Earth fuel to our special needs!

OPTIMUS: You have done well, Bumblebee! You've established the very alliance we need!

BUMBLEBEE: Thank you, Optimus Prime! Does that mean I'm second-in-command now?

OPTIMUS: No.

SPARKPLUG: Hey, you didn't tell 'em how to get here! ...again why am I doing this?

BUMBLEBEE: That won't be necessary! They have already homed in on this frequency!

Indeed they have!

OPTIMUS: Autobots, convert to Earth-modes!

All of them except for Ratchet, Wheeljack, Huffer, and Red Alert do so.

OPTIMUS: Let's move out!

Engines roar as the Autobots leave the Ark, climbing a road forged by engineers Huffer and Wheeljack... while Ratchet remains behind with the other 3 to continue repairs on the Ark!

RATCHET: Without fuel, even my considerable skills are useless! I hope this works...

Chapter Text

Meanwhile, on the mountain where the Decepticons have just begun to construct their base- yeah you know I'm changing things from the original comic, because how the FUCK do the Decepticons build a secret base in hours?! What is this, the second episode of Transformers Cybertron? Anyway-

MEGATRON: Ravage reports that a human has agreed to aid the Autobots! We must have that human! Either he converts fuel for the Decepticon cause or he dies!

SPECTRO: Or we could just leave him alone and find someone else! Because there's like billions of humans on this planet... right? Why does it matter if we kill one or not, it's inconsequential to us.

MEGATRON: ...because we're evil, that's why. Anyway, Decepticons, away!

Once again, Skywarp, Starscream, Thundercracker, Laserbeak, and Buzzsaw fly off into the brightening Oregon skies... because it's becoming daytime. Across the street from Sparkplug Witwicky's garage, the Rolands are rudely awakened by the sound of 14 Autobots showing up...

DORIS: Those cars don't have any drivers in them, Mitchell!

MITCHELL: Aw, Sparky probably developed some kind of remote control device, Doris! Still, I have never seen his yard quite so busy before!

SPARKPLUG: Now I've seen everything!

BUMBLEBEE: That's a dumb fucking expression, no you haven't. Optimus Prime, fellow Autobots, meet this piece of shit: Sparkplug Witwicky, and his son, Buster!

And as not only the Witwickys, but the Rolands as well watch, Optimus transforms...

OPTIMUS: I bring you greetings from Cybertron!

SPARKPLUG: This one's even bigger than Bumblebee!

BUSTER: Uh... hi!

OPTIMUS: I believe Bumblebee has already informed you of our vital fuel needs... in fact we kind of need some right now.

SPARKPLUG: I'd... uh... be honored to help mach-er, beings like you!

OPTIMUS: The Autobots are grateful, human!

Suddenly, the deafening sound of a sonic boom fills the air...

BAROOM!

...followed by the streaking sight of three F-15 jet fighters swooping down and shooting!

SHREEEEE!

OPTIMUS: Decepticon attack! Autobots, prepare to defend this position!

BUSTER: Aw, no, not again!

OPTIMUS: Bumblebee, shield the humans! We must not allow any harm to come to them!

BUMBLEBEE: As you command, Optimus!

SPARKPLUG: Run, son! This is turning ugly! Take cover in that old car-body!

They do so.

BUMBLEBEE: Hey, I was going to shield you! ...whatever.

FOOM! BLAM! KLANG!

SPARKPLUG: They're turning the scrap in my yard into, well, scrap!

BUSTER: Good one. Somehow it all didn't seem this real back at the drive-in!

A once quiet junkyard rapidly turns into a blazing battleground!

KA-BLAM!

Sideswipe and Sunstreaker transform.

SUNSTREAKER: Somehow, Sideswipe, the Decepticons knew we were going to be here!

SIDESWIPE: Well if it's a fight they want, Sunstreaker, we can give it to them!

SUNSTREAKER: Yeah! My electron pulse gun shouldn't disappoint them!

SIDESWIPE: While you get 'em in your sights, I'll go meet 'em up close and personal!

SUNSTREAKER: Ever-eager for battle, my brother has rashly employed his energy-draining rocket backpack!

Indeed he has.

SIDESWIPE: Take a look at this, De-Scrap-ticon!

THUNDERCRACKER: That line sucked-AIEE!

STARSCREAM: That Autobot's flare gun has blinded Thundercracker!

SPARKPLUG: What have we gotten ourselves into?

BUSTER: I... I don't know!

STARSCREAM: Follow me, Skywarp! No matter what the cost, we must capture the human called "Sparkplug!"

Starscream and Skywarp transform and land on the ground, and begin shooting at the Autobot cars. Hound transforms.

HOUND: What the hell are the rest of you waiting for?!

Sideswipe lands in front of Hound.

SIDESWIPE: Sorry to jump in front of you, Hound, but you know there's nothing I enjoy more than destroying Decepticons!

Sideswipe begins shooting at the Seeker pair in front of him.

HOUND: I appreciate the sentiment, Sideswipe.

SUNSTREAKER: Just don't get in my way, brother! I like my opponent to see me... before I slay him!

Sunstreaker starts shooting at them as well.

HOUND: I keep forgetting you two used to be gladiators...

Suddenly, Laserbeak swoops down...

OPTIMUS: The human shall not be taken... so swears I, Optimus Prime!

Optimus's laser rifle easily repels Laserbeak's attack!

VOOM!

LASERBEAK: Aieee!

Buzzsaw then swoops down... but Prowl transforms in an instant, aims his gun, and shoots and hits him.

KTANG!

BUZZSAW: Squawkk!

PROWL: My logic-center predicted the Decepticon's trajectory perfectly! Direct hit! I'm so cool.

Optimus hits Laserbeak again.

POOM!

OPTIMUS: We have them on the run... fight on! Mirage, cover my flank!

MIRAGE: Certainly, commander...

Mirage transforms.

MIRAGE: ...although I'd prefer to leave this mess entirely.

Minutes later, every Autobot has joined the fight... but so has every Decepticon, with the exception of two: Megatron and Ravage. This changes when, from out of the shadows, Ravage springs, surprising Mirage!

MIRAGE: What?! Where did you come from?!

RAVAGE: Rowrr!

MIRAGE: Caught me off-guard! I'm unable to use my electro-disrupter against him!

Ravage lands on top of Mirage.

MIRAGE: Brother Transformer, this is madness! Who benefits from this battle?! Back on Cybertron we could be enjoying the good life!

Brawn sees the struggle.

BRAWN: Mirage is in trouble!

Brawn knocks Ravage away.

SWAT!

BRAWN: Is this little kitttycat giving you trouble, Mirage?

MIRAGE: Not any longer, my powerful friend Brawn!

BRAWN: Yeah, that's right. I'm the strongest there is!

Meanwhile, Bumblebee is guarding the Witwickys from a safe distance away... but not enough away from Megatron!

MEGATRON: While the battle rages on... the time has come for Megatron to take matters into his own hand!

BUSTER: The Autobots are winning! We're saved!

BUMBLEBEE: I'm inclined to agree with you and I don't usually rush to conclusions. But we are low on fuel, so-

Megatron appears behind Bumblebee and knocks him out with one whack on the head.

THUD!

MEGATRON: Overconfident fools! They entrusted the human to their weakest member!

SPARKPLUG: He K-O'ed Bumblebee with just one shot! Holy shit!

MEGATRON: You are the one I seek!

Megatron picks up Sparkplug.

SPARKPLUG: Run, son! Don't let 'em get you too!

MEGATRON: I care not about the boy! I'm here for you!

BUSTER: Dad! Leave him alone! Somebody, please, help!!!

OPTIMUS: Eh?

Optimus Prime hears Buster's scream... and acts!

OPTIMUS: Megatron! Surrender the human or suffer the consequences!

MEGATRON: In a word, Optimus... no!

Megatron shoots his powerful fusion cannon at Optimus.

WAWOOOM!

The force of the blast knocks even Megatron back a bit, and forces him to release his grip on Sparkplug, causing the human to fall out.

SPARKPLUG: Geronimooooo!

OPTIMUS: My desperate ploy worked! The human is freed... though I was nearly reduced to scrap!

Optimus shoots his rifle at Megatron, who blocks by picking up a car from the junkyard.

WAM!

OPTIMUS: How dare you endanger the lives of this world's people! This isn't their war!!!

SPARKPLUG: Ungh! Hurt my leg, but I gotta get out of here!

MEGATRON: Ha! After four million years, you haven't changed... you still fight with your mouth! Perhaps this will halt your endless prattling!

Megatron throws the same car at Optimus.

SMASH!

Optimus leans down and picks up... a car engine? I'm actually not sure what that's supposed to be.

OPTIMUS: Why do I persist in trying to reason with you, when the only language you understand is... violence!!!

Optimus throws the... engine at Megatron.

KLUNG!

Buster runs toward Sparkplug.

BUSTER: Dad! Dad!

MEGATRON: Arghh! You self-righteous dolt! Soon, all your precious Autobots will be reduced to lifeless slag! I will seize control of this puny world and turn it into a launching ground for my ultimate goal: the invasion of lost Cybertron!!!

Buster reaches his dad.

BUSTER: Dad! I'm here!

SPARKPLUG: No, Buster! Stay back! It isn't-

A giant hand suddenly reaches down and lifts Sparkplug into the air.

SPARKPLUG: -saaaaafe!

BUSTER: Daaaaaaddddddd!!!

STARSCREAM: Ha! You may have eluded the great Megatron... but Starscream has you now! Your fuel conversion plan belongs now to the Decepticons!

BUSTER: Come back!!!

Starscream transforms, and Sparkplug....

BUSTER: That thing, it... it swallowed Dad into its cockpit like he was a snack!

Starscream flies away with Sparkplug. Megatron sees this.

MEGATRON: Ah! My presence here is required no longer! We have what we came for! Decepticons, away!

Before Optimus Prime can react, Megatron, Frenzy, Ravage, Rumble, Soundwave, and the Reflector trio transform into their Earthly incarnations... and board Skywarp! And, as quickly and as suddenly as they came... they are gone!

BUSTER: They're getting away! Optimus, you've got to go after them! They have my dad!

OPTIMUS: I... agree, my little friend-

Suddenly, Optimus and many of the Autobots fall to their knees.

THOOM!

OPTIMUS: -but without immediate refueling, it's impossible!

BUSTER: Shit. How will they be able to rescue Dad... when it looks like they can't even help themselves?!

Chapter Text

SPARKPLUG: Let me outta here, you stupid machine!

STARSCREAM: A foolish request! Our analysis of your species find that if I were to release you at this height, your frail form couldn't possibly survive! We need you, for our purposes, whole!

If conversing with a living, alien jet fighter didn't induce symptoms of advanced future shock in Sparkplug, perhaps seeing the beginnings of the soon-to-be awesome Decepticon fortress... or, while still inside him, witnessing Starscream's amazing transformation, will!

Upon reaching the barely-constructed fortress, Starscream transforms.

STARSCREAM: Machines have been slaves on this backward world long enough! Today the roles are rightly reversed!

Starscream picks up Sparkplug from his cockpit.

SPARKPLUG: Ulp! Uh... you'll never get away with this! I'm an American citizen!

But... Sparkplug's protests go unnoticed as Decepticons Skywarp and Thundercracker transform and land. Then, a tape player, three cassette tapes, a camera, and a Walther P-38 fly forth from the former... and astonishingly they enlarge hundreds of times over and change into Soundwave, Megatron, Frenzy, Ravage, Rumble, and the Reflector trio! Finally, Buzzsaw and Laserbeak, the slower flying Decepticons, arrive...

STARSCREAM: As incredible as it may seem, the human holds the key to our survival on this repulsive world!

SPARKPLUG: Why don't you guys pick on someone your own size?!

Starscream ignores him.

STARSCREAM: Fortunately, my superior design enabled me to easily wrest this lowly, carbon-based creature from our enemy's grasp!

MEGATRON: You performed your duty well, Starscream!

STARSCREAM: I do whatever must be done, Great Megatron!

MEGATRON: Indeed, Starscream! Like presenting yourself as the Decepticon most worthy to lead us! But you over-estimate your worth as well as your comrades' gullibility!

STARSCREAM: ...um, shall we attend to the task at hand, Great Megatron?

SPARKPLUG: What do you want from me?!

MEGATRON: Let's begin at once! I weary of the human's prattling!

Starscream places Sparkplug down on the ground.

MEGATRON: As well as your insolent tone, Starscream! As long as I wield the power of my fusion cannon, my position of command is assured! But my patience is not unlimited! I haven't remained in power for millennia by surrounding myself with assassins! Watch your step, Starscream! The day may soon come when your services are no longer required!

Megatron looks to Sparkplug.

MEGATRON: We are not of your world-

SPARKPLUG: No kidding!

MEGATRON: Silence! Listen closely! Just as you depend on oxygen and food for survival, we require fuel! My spies have ascertained that you possess the technical facility to convert your world's hydrocarbon fuels into the life-sustaining fuel we need! You will provide us with that fuel!

SPARKPLUG: It's beginning to make sense! Despite their advanced science, they can't comprehend Earth's "primitive" technology! Just look at what's here... it's materials stolen from the Harrison Nuclear Power Plant! They had possibly Earth's mightiest fuel source in their hands and they tore it apart! It seems like they're trying to build a shelter! They're like modern men trying to hack it back in caveman days! And these guys ain't any friendlier than my jailkeepers when I was a prisoner of war in Korea. Well, if that's the case...

Sparkplug tries something stupid.

SPARKPLUG: Now you listen here, you big oaf! My name's William Witwicky! Sergeant First Class, United States Marines! Serial number-

Megatron lifts Sparkplug into the air by his leg.

MEGATRON: Enough! you will cooperate, or cease to exist!!!

(more bullshit I don't want to type)

Mount St. Hillary... where, for four million years since it first crashed on Earth carrying 332 Transformers, the Ark has rested peacefully. Ratchet spies the approaching Autobots and heads out to greet them. He also has important news.

RATCHET: Welcome back, Optimus! The repairs you requested on the Ark proceed well, but we also found something that-

OPTIMUS: Later, Ratchet! Right now we must deal with a crisis situation! We need more fucking fuel, stat!

BUSTER: The Ark's unbelievable! I've never seen anything like it before! It's constructed on such a huge scale that I'm beginning to feel very small and insignificant before it!

OPTIMUS: You're only starting to feel that now?

Meanwhile...

SPARKPLUG: Uh... I... I think I'm beginning to see your point, Megatron!

Laserbeak is shooting his lasers dangerously close to Sparkplug.

MEGATRON: I knew you would! You may turn off your eye-beams, Laserbeak!

SPARKPLUG: Th-thanks, big guy!

MEGATRON: You will now devise a conversion process that will turn the primitive propellant you call gasoline into Energon... our special fuel... or you will die!

SPARKPLUG: No... no problem! But I'll need a sample of your fuel!

MEGATRON: You'll receive all you require! Viewfinder...

VIEWFINDER: Whatever you say, boss!

Viewfinder twists his arm around so liquid Energon starts to spill out. He aims the stream into an empty bucket.

SPARKPLIUG: These stooges'll do whatever the Big Cheese tells them!

VIEWFINDER: Say "when," scraplet!

SPARKPLUG: Er- that's enough!

Viewfinder twists his arm back in.

SPARKPLUG: But I still need raw materials to work with and a lab to work in.

MEGATRON: Nothing is beyond the reach of Megatron, human! What do you require?

SPARKPLUG: A lot... how long will it take to build this base of yours? And in the meantime... I need food and water, too!

Later, at the University of Oregon, the sound of incredibly heavy footsteps echo through the nearly-deserted campus!

THOOM! THOOM! THOOM!

Inside these hallowed halls of learning, the super-strong Decepticon known as Soundwave removes a large piece of the chemistry department...

SOUNDWAVE: This is what the human requested!

As Soundwave leaves with it, a security guard starts shooting at him... to no effect. And elsewhere...

RUMBLE: End of the line, pink-thing!

Rumble wrecks the road and causes an earthquake, while Frenzy wraps steel cables around a tanker truck.

FRENZY: Got to tie this up nice and neat for Starscream!

Frenzy attaches the other end of the cable to Starscream, who uses it to fly the truck away.

FRENZY: Yah-hoo! I'm getting to like it here!

STARSCREAM: You did well, Frenzy!

OPTIMUS: Alright, we're fueled up again... for now. So, what was so important, Ratchet? What did you find?

RATCHET: A few things! Some footage from Aunty-

OPTIMUS: Ah, who cares-

RATCHET: And an active signal halfway across the planet.

OPTIMUS: What? A signal?!

RATCHET: Yessir!

OPTIMUS: ...a Cybertronian signal?! On Earth?!

RATCHET: Yessir!

OPTIMUS: Where?!

RATCHET: ...according to what the humans call it, it is a place called Stansham, England.

OPTIMUS: How far away?

RATCHET: Not too far, if we send a shuttle ship we could make it there before nightfall.

OPTIMUS: ...no.

RATCHET: No?! What do you mean, no?!

OPTIMUS: It could be a rescue craft.

RATCHET: ...exactly!

OPTIMUS: We can't leave.

RATCHET: But-

OPTIMUS: We can't! Not as long as Megatron still lives, not as long as Megatron is still here! We have to finish this war, here! On Earth!

RATCHET: ...okay. Sorry, sir.

OPTIMUS: No, I... I am sorry, Ratchet. I am stressed. We have refueled, for now... but we won't have long until our fuel reserves are completely tapped out. We need to end the Decepticon menace, and soon. We cannot take time for a... a "side quest" to fucking "England!" The only reason-

Optimus suddenly stops, realizing something.

RATCHET: ...sir?

OPTIMUS: ...the only reason we'd go would be to destroy it before the Decepticons ever found it.

RATCHET: Sir?!

OPTIMUS: It's what we'd have to do.

RATCHET: ...well, let's hope the Decepticons never find it, then.

OPTIMUS: Agreed. For now, we must focus on finding them! In order to end them, and to rescue Buster's father.

Weeks later...

SPARKPLUG: Man... I don't know if this is Stockholm Syndrome talking or what... but you guys build one hell of a fortress!

By now, because yes it wouldn't take just a day to build a huge fortress, the Decepticons have built a huge fortress.

MEGATRON: Indeed. And now, to test it. Soundwave, turn on the main computer and see if we can track the Autobots' energy signatures.

Soundwave presses a few buttons at the computer... only for nothing to happen.

SOUNDWAVE: It... appears that they have concealed their energy signatures somehow.

MEGATRON: Blast it! We took too long building the base, Aunty probably helped them out, and meanwhile they can probably track us! They already one-upped us after that battle at Sherman Dam! It's a good thing the human has been able to provide us fuel, because-

BEEP BEEP!

Megatron turns toward the computer.

MEGATRON: What was that?! What was that noise? Soundwave?!

SOUNDWAVE: We got a... ping. A Cybertronian signal, halfway across this planet.

MEGATRON: ...interesting.

PROWL: Great Optimus!

OPTIMUS: What is it, Prowl?

PROWL: All the Decepticon fliers are heading away from their base! This could be a good opportunity to rescue Sparkplug, and maybe even end the Decepticon menace for good!

OPTIMUS: ...where are they heading?

PROWL: Sir?

OPTIMUS: What is their trajectory?!

PROWL: Let me check with Aunty.

After some calculations:

PROWL: A place called... England, sir.

OPTIMUS: ...damnit.

Chapter Text

Stansham Castle, somewhere in southern England, at the end of a long, hot summer... who knows how many feet had trodden these paths in its 900-year history... or how many invaders had been broken on its bleak stone walls? There were very few visitors now... just a trickle of tourists passing through the village of Stansham less than a mile to the north... but enough to keep George Cosins, the castle attendant, busy at his post. Almost... yeah, let's be honest, he usually just sleeps on the job. But not today...

BOOOOOOM!

With a sonic boom, three jet fighters fly directly overhead, quite low to the ground. A kind of stunned excitement descended on Stansham Castle. Nothing was said, nobody moved... until a single craft peeled away from the formation... and came screaming in on an almost suicidal run. It was then that George realized that something was wrong. Something was impossibly, dreadfully wrong!

GEORGE: ...bombs. Oh, dear god he's bombing us! The stupid...

George ducks for cover as the jet releases two payloads.

WHAAAAAMPH!

"Whaaaaamph"? That's not the sound of an big, fiery explosion... but before he can fully comprehend that, the jets were gone. George phones emergency services.

GEORGE: ...Stansham Castle... ambulance and police! Please hurry... there's been an accident... no... a bombing... somebody might be hurt...

But nobody was hurt. Shocked, stunned, confused and bemused... but not actually injured... officer Peter Whitley reports his findings.

PETER: Well, it's either a miracle... or the chaps in those planes knew exactly what they were doing... you see, the explosion wasn't a big one. Little more than a dummy, really, hardly left a crater. But the second bomb has buried itself very deeply into the ground and remains unexploded. We'll have to dig it out... has the curator been notified?

GEORGE: Yes, sir. He should be on his way by now.

And in the home of that curator...

EDITH: Roy? Are you going out?

ROY: Yes, Edith. That was George Cosins on the phone, there's been a bomb scare at the castle. I'll have to go over there...

EDITH: You don't think that thunder we heard was a bomb, do you?

ROY: I don't know... George wouldn't say much.

EDITH: Roy! Sammy's been playing in the woods by the castle all say! If you see him, send him straight home will you? Take care!

ROY: Of course I will. Don't worry...

As Roy gets in his car, he thinks:

ROY: What kind of bozo would want to bomb the castle? The Saxon Liberation Front? The mind boggles...

Roy Harker, the castle curator, stopped his car half a mile from the castle. His son, Sammy, liked to play here... and in the 1980's his parents just let him. The woods were thick and silent. A boy could lose himself for hours on end... Roy steps out of his car and shouts:

ROY: Sammy! Sa-mm-eee!

Roy had the strangest feeling that he was being watched... and he was! By his son.

ROY: Sammy! Your mum says go home!

But Sammy does not want to go home.

SAMMY: Running Wolf says... many moons must come and go until he tastes venison once more in his father's lodge... until then, he must stalk the Great Bull Moose and hear his roar...

ROY: Sammy!

SAMMY: Must send message to Crow Foot, tell him bring many braves...

Sammy shoots his toy bow and arrow up at a tree.

THWAAANGGG!

SAMMY: Rats! I've lost an arrow! I've only got one left! I'll have to climb up and get it!

He does so, precariously crawling onto a tree branch.

SAMMY: Just hope this branch holds...nearly there... just stretch a... bit more...

Suddenly, the Autobot Jazz appears right in front of him!

SAMMY: G-g-gaaahh!

He loses his balance.

SAMMY: Nyaaaah! Dad! Dad! Haaaa... helllllp!

Sammy luckily falls on his feet...

SAMMY: Unnh!

...and keeps running.

SAMMY: Daaaad!

The tree branch Sammy was on falls. Jazz moves closer, stepping on the branch and crushing it instantly beneath his heavy, steel foot.

CRUNCH!

Sammy sees his dad's car pull away. He tries running after it.

SAMMY: Daaad! Wait!

But the car goes out of sight. Sammy turns, and sees Jazz walking towards him.

SAMMY: Oh, no... please... no!!!

Sammy ran, in blind, numbing panic he ran as fast as he could... and he didn't stop running until he reached the street where he lived... and home... while Jazz, in his vehicle form, pulls up to the spot.

SCREEEECH!

Jazz observes where Sammy ran into.

JAZZ: Number ten... Millbank Road... 2 miles east + Stansham Village + grid reference 5401. Autobot Jazz to Autobot leader: subject under surveillance. Security threat minimal + advise.

Optimus answers Jazz over radio.

OPTIMUS: Autobot leader to Jazz, maintain surveillance. In event of security uprate, engage and restrain.

And, at the castle...

ROY: What I can't figure out, Captain... is why the planes chose the castle as their target...

PETER: The Air Force boys don't know either. According to your man George, the aircraft were unmarked. We have no idea of their identity or nationality... until we dig up that second bomb, the whole thing remains a mystery...

GEORGE: Mister Harker!

Roy and Peter turn to see George heading toward them.

GEORGE: Your wife's been on the phone... it's your boy, Sammy. he arrived home in a state of shock...

ROY: What?

GEORGE: She's called the doctor in, but can you get home as soon as possible?

That night, Roy reads a story to Sammy.

ROY: 1017 at the castle of Stenshame, a great force led by Godwin the Strongarm did surround and besiege the castle and plunder the neighboring village for food and cattle... there many men fell dead... and women and children burnt in their houses-

Oh my god this is a children's comic?! Sorry, anyway-

ROY: -and some hostages taken... and Godwin gathered his most fearsome force to breach the main gate with great trunks of trees and loathly missiles of fire, which they did, although many fell... then the ground was seized by a great shaking... as if by the hand of God. And many men cried out and made the sign of the cross, pleading with our lord to spare them... but the Lord had seen fit to send an apparition amongst them, to strike fear into their fierce hearts. And the apparition was horrible to behold. and did fright even the horses... and the apparition was fearful, being a Man of Iron of great height and girth, seeming unheedful of quarrel, speak or sword... the Man of Iron forded the stream at Eldric's Cross, making great strides for the abbey... and some brave souls followed, though none dared come too close... for he carried a sword of dire, and a javelin of flame... and thunderbolts came from his hands... so that the priest Aethelric did fall in his path and offer him the blessings of our lord, and beseech him to return from whence he had come. Which he then did... and did make off at great haste into Stanewood... leaving no man harmed, except by the fear that had pierced their hearts... each man believing this was the wrath of God. The Man of Iron was seen in this vicinity three times in all. There seems no pattern to his appearance, other than one thing... according to Parish records, an Earth tremor preceded each visitation. Isn't that interesting?

SAMMY: I think it's scary...

ROY: Sammy... the, er... robot you saw in the woods today...did it look like this?

Roy holds up an image of the Man of Iron from the story.

SAMMY: Yes... yes it did. That's more or less what it looked like! But how did you know?

ROY: I didn't draw this. This is a drawing taken from an illuminated manuscript found in the castle chapel by my predecessor 25 years ago... it's the Man of Iron... the manuscript was completed in 1070, Sammy... it's over 900 years-old!

Chapter Text

A Midsummer Night's Dream... clear, warm, and sparkling with stars. In the Village of Stansham, strange forces are abroad... a night that reeks with magic, and the hushed expectancy of unknown adventure... permeating the sleeping mind of the boy called Sammy Harker... waking him from the sleep of reality... to the world of dreams. Sammy awakens in bed and sees flashes of light outside his window. The lights are moving. He crawls onto the roof and sees... that they're lights of a spaceship! The spaceship flies away... but when Sammy looks down, he sees a familiar-looking jet fighter parked on the ground below.

...and then he wakes up! But his bed is in the middle of an open field near the castle! He tries closing his eyes to hurriedly go back to sleep.

...and then he wakes up! His bed is back in his room... but a giant robot wanders through the village. This robot looks slightly different than the one Sammy saw before... could this be the Man of Iron? The robot comes closer...

SAMMY: Get away... don't come here... I don't want you here...

The robot pops right up to Sammy's window.

MIRAGE: Sammy...

Sammy keeps his fearful eyes closed.

SAMMY: I can't talk to you now! I can't come with you!

...and then he wakes up!

SAMMY: I said I can't! ...uhh?

Sammy sees that his room is shaking.

SAMMY: Who's doing this? What do you want??

A mysterious force starts to pull Sammy... out the window!

SAMMY: No!!! Let me sleep! It's not fair! Stop bothering me now! Leave me alone!

Things in his room start flying around, as if there is a tornado in the room. The picture of the Man of Iron floats near Sammy's face...

SAMMY: The Man of Iron! He's flying! He's flying away!

Indeed, the picture floats out the window... and it's picked up by a giant, mechanical hand. A second hand then grabs Sammy.

SAMMY: Put me down! I don't want to go!

Outside his room, his concerned parents, having heard him, try to open the door.

EDITH: Sammy! Sammy! What is it? What's wrong?

ROY: This is insane! His door's locked! Get out of the way, love... I'll have to break it down!

He does so.

ROY: Sammy! ...oh, Lord.

Sammy is sleeping soundly in his bed, but the window is open, and objects are flying around everywhere.

ROY: There's a hurricane blowing through here... no wonder the little beggar couldn't sleep... it wouldn't surprise me if...

Roy looks out the window and gasps in astonishment. He sees the Autobot Mirage walk away and disappear into the woods!

ROY: What the heck is going on around here?!

ROY: Just what the heck is going on around here, Captain?!

In the daytime, soldiers stand guard at Stansham castle.

PETER: Ah, Mister Harker. I'm afraid the whole area has to be cordoned off... it's not a question of special security.

ROY: Special security?! I don't understand.

PETER: Let me try and clarify things for you. We've done a sonic scan of the hill beneath the castle, hoping to locate what we thought was an unexploded bomb... Mister Harker, you may find this difficult to believe... there's a very large object buried under the hill. Very large indeed.

ROY: How large?

PETER: Well... ahh... at a rough estimate? About the size of an ocean-going liner.

ROY: Whaat? Well, for god's sake what is it?

PETER: We don't know. I've called in extra men and we're going to excavate... we want to discourage speculation at this point. No press... no visitors. Everything hush-hush...

ROY: Yes, I understand.

PETER: I would also suggest that you don't speak of this to anyone... family or friends...

ROY: It's a bit late for that, Captain... there's somebody who may know more about this than you or I... my son Sammy...

Sammy walks down his street, and spies:

SAMMY: Nice car. Porsche... yeah, really nice.

He walks up to it and observes it closely.

SAMMY: Strange... no driving mirror. No wing mirrors either. Wonder how fast it goes?

Sammy suddenly gasps.

SAMMY: There's no speedometer! And there's my drawing!

Indeed, the drawing of the Man of Iron is in the backseat of the porsche... who is secretly the Autobot Jazz. Jazz opens his door.

JAZZ: Get in, Sammy! There's nothing to be afraid of. Get in... we'll go for a drive.

SAMMY: I... c-can't...

JAZZ: Why not? It's a nice day... and you're on holiday. Well?

SAMMY: My m-mum told me not to take lifts from strangers!

JAZZ: But I'm not a stranger, Sammy. Deep down, you know... don't you? You've been waiting for an adventure all your life... besides, I have something to tell you. Something really important! Why not just sit for a while in the front seat? Just pretend you're driving?

Finally, Sammy relents.

SAMMY: Wow! This is great. I feel like a racing driver!

JAZZ: Sammy... those men at the castle. The men your father's been seeing. What do you know of them?

SAMMY: Oh. They're digging up a bomb. Some planes came over and dropped a-

At that moment, Edith walks out of the house.

EDITH: Sammy! Sammy, what are you doing in that car?!

Suddenly, Jazz's doors slams shut.

EDITH: Sammy! Get out of there! Get out!

Sammy tries to open the door... it won't budge.

SAMMY: I can't, mum! I can't!

Aaaaand Jazz speeds off, with Sammy inside.

SAMMY: Mum! Help meee!

Chapter Text

SAMMY: Where are you taking me?

JAZZ: Don't worry, Sammy, I'm not going to hurt you! There's something I want to tell you... and there's something I want you to tell me. I'm taking you to meet some of my friends.

SAMMY: Friends? You've got friends?

JAZZ: Oh, yes... quite a few really... perhaps you've even seen some of them... they crop up in the most unlikely places. Sometimes we disguise ourselves... so we can move around without being noticed... and sometimes we're discovered by accident. Like yesterday when you saw me in the woods!

SAMMY: You mean, the robot I saw in the woods was you?

JAZZ: That's right, Sammy. That was the real me. Call me Jazz. And that's Mirage right behind us!

Sure enough, when Sammy turns around he sees a blue racing car driving behind them... without a driver! He also sees a black camper truck, similarly without a driver. 

JAZZ: This is where we rendezvous with Trailbreaker. All set, Sammy?

SAMMY: Sure thing, Jazz!

JAZZ: Then let's go!

Half a mile above the motorway, two unmarked aircraft circle... scanning the terrain below... and, having sighted their prey... they dive... and shoot!

FOOM! BA-WHAAAMM!

Direct hit on Trailbreaker!

TRAILBREAKER: Jazz! I'm hit... I'm hit bad!

SAMMY: Jazz, what's happening?

JAZZ: A Decepticon attack! Our enemies have found us, Sammy! Trailbreaker, report on damage! Can you hear me, Trailbreaker?

TRAILBREAKER: Ugh... I hear you, Jazz... it's not good.

MIRAGE: Decepticon coming in for another attack... I'll try to throw him off the scent!

Throwing his reserve power into an electro-disrupter, Mirage scrambles the Decepticon sensors... and quite simply vanishes from sight! Completely disoriented, the Decepticon fighter tries to climb... too late! Thundercracker crashes right into the road.

THUNDERCRACKER: Gah!

MIRAGE: How about that?!

JAZZ: Good work! But watch your front! It's a head-on attack!

Starscream swoops down and fires at the Autobots.

WHAAP! FWOOOM!

Sammy suddenly grabs Jazz's steering wheel and swerves to avoid the blasts, as they instead collide with the pavement.

CRUMMP! WHOMM!

JAZZ: Well done, Sammy! You saved me!

SAMMY: You? It wasn't you I was thinking about, Jazz! It was me!

JAZZ: Ha ha, fair enough!

MIRAGE: Don't start crowing yet... he's coming back around, right behind us!

Out of nowhere, Bluestreak zooms in, transforms, and shoots Starscream down with his shoulder-mounted rifle.

SHOOOMMM! BAKOOOOMM!!!

Starscream falls and skids on the road.

WHOOOOOM! CRAAANG! SCREEEEEEEEEEEEE!

BLUESTREAK: AutobotBluestreakToPatrolLeader,JustBrushedSomethingOffYourTail,Jazz.TryToBeMoreCarefulInTheFuture,Hmmm?BluestreakOut!

Turning off the motorway at the next exit, the two Autobots glided unnoticed through the English countryside as dusk fell... but the excitement had proved too much for Sammy...

JAZZ: Sammy. Sammy? Wake up... it's time to start walking.

SAMMY: Mmmm? Whassup? Time for school...? Naaa... gimme five more minutes, mum.

JAZZ: Come on, Sammy... shake a leg...

Sammy steps out of Jazz as he transforms.

SAMMY: I'm c-cold, J-Jazz.

JAZZ: I'm sorry, Sammy. But there was no time to pack a suitcase. We only have a short walk, then you'll be warm again.

Jazz picks Sammy up and places him on his shoulder as he walks. Sammy looks around and doesn't see anyone else.

SAMMY: What about Mirage?

JAZZ: He's staying behind to keep watch.

Finally, Jazz and Sammy arrive in a field... where an Ark shuttle ship is parked.

JAZZ: Here we are, Sammy!

SAMMY: Gosh! Is that a spaceship? A real spaceship?

JAZZ: Not really. It's a shuttle-craft... now stand back... Autobot Jazz to Autobot leader... approaching shuttle with surveillance subject. Request permission to board...

Deep inside the shuttle, unseen machinery whirred into life...

CLIK!

A hatch opened, revealing the gigantic figure of Optimus Prime!

OPTIMUS: Welcome back, Jazz. Bring the human inside, will you?

Once inside, Sammy makes himself comfortable. His mind could not accept that all this was happening... as far as he was concerned, it was all still a dream.

JAZZ: Sammy, tell us what you know about this.

Jazz holds up the Man of Iron drawing.

SAMMY: That's the Man of Iron... my dad says he's been seen around the castle since historic times! He's sort of a legend... he looks a bit like you, Jazz!

JAZZ: Maybe that's because he comes from the same place.

OPTIMUS: We are Autobots, Sammy. We come from the planet Cybertron. We are stranded here on Earth. We came to your country after... picking up a signal. We tracked the signal halfway 'round the world, all the way to Stansham. The signal is in our language. It has acted like a beacon, beaming out its message for millions of years... we believe that our homeworld have sent a rescue craft for us. That craft is somewhere near the castle of Stansham. It may even be underneath it!

SAMMY: Wow! Underneath the castle?! That means... if those soldiers keep digging, they'll find it!

OPTIMUS: No! ...uh, I mean, they musn't find it, Sammy. If they do... the Decepticons will destroy the craft, the castle, the village... everything!

JAZZ: You see, the Decepticons have already dropped a probe into the hill beneath the castle... they suspect there's something buried there. This drawing has convinced us that there are Autobots under the hill... hiding... waiting... we've got to get to them, Sammy. Our future, and yours... and your parents' and your neighbours' depends on it. We've got to get there first!

Optimus nods approvingly. Way to sell it, Jazz. How can you explain to a boy younger than Buster their real reason for wanting to find the shuttle...?

Chapter Text

Captain Whitley is calling his boss.

PETER: Major Dawes? Peter Whitley here, sir. Something big has developed at Stansham that you ought to know about... I think it's out of our hands now, actually.

DAWES: Do you want me there, Peter?

PETER: Yes, sir. I can't emphasise enough the scale of the operation. It's quite the most remarkable thing I've ever seen.

Indeed it is. Whitley's men have uncovered... an Autobot ship underneath the castle!

DAWES: Give me a rundown, Peter. Just tell me briefly what the problem is.

PETER: It's not just a question of scale, sir. We simply cannot identify it. Our instrument read-outs indicate a high level of electrical activity and a low level magnetic field. There's also a reading in the subsonic spectrum hitherto undetected. A series of low frequency emissions in a regular pattern... I'm only guessing of course... but I'd say it's a signal of some kind.

DAWES: I'll get there as quick as I can, Peter. Half an hour at the most.

Whitley hangs up the phone. Roy Harker is there with him.

ROY: Alright, now comes the big question. What is it? What exactly are you going to tell your superior officer when he arrives?!

PETER: We have reason to believe it's a craft, Mr. Harker. Possibly extraterrestrial, though we have no proof of that. The signal my be a distress call... or an attempt to contact extraterrestrial beings near to Earth... or even here on the surface!

Just as he says this, the ground begins to tremble.

PETER: It's an earth tremor! Spread out!

Roy turns around... and sees the most unbelievable sight.

ROY: Look!

A patch of ground starts to rise up into the air. There are metal poles underneath the corners of it, leading down into the ground. As the patch of ground, and the poles, continues to rise, so does... something else. A giant, humanoid figure. Until finally, the patch of ground comes to a halt. The being has fully risen, with more ground underneath him now. It was evidently an underground elevator, allowing this... being to rise to the surface.

ROY: Oh, lord. It's him! It's the Man of Iron!!!

PETER: Everybody back! Back to the car park! At the double! Move!!!

Everyone follows what Captain Whitley orders... just as Major Dawes's car arrives on the scene. Whitley runs toward him.

PETER: Major! Major Dawes! Turn back!

DAWES: Peter! What's going on, old boy?

Dawes looks up and sees the towering, metallic figure... raise his gun!

DAWES: Good god!

The Man of Iron fires.

FWOOMAH!

Dawes jumps from the car before it becomes engulfed in a fiery explosion.

FWAMM!

The Man of Iron keeps walking forward, stepping on top of the wreckage.

KKRUMPPP!

DAWES: That was some welcome, Peter!

PETER: I tried to warn you, sir! The whole world's gone bananas!

Roy turns toward the castle and sees:

ROY: Captain, there's another one! It just seemed to appear from nowhere!

And sure enough, he had! As this particular Decepticon is...

MAN OF IRON: Skywarp! One of the missing 37! So... this is the right planet after all.

SKYWARP: No way... Fastlane?! How the fuck did you get your ass trapped on this mudball?! And where's your annoying brother at?

The Man of Iron... AKA the Autobot Fastlane, evidently finds the mention of his brother a sore subject, as his face begins to swell up with rage.

SKYWARP: You know what, actually? ...I don't care!

Skywarp fires at him twice.

SHOOOM! FOOM!

The lasers hit him square in the chest.

BKOW! FWAAAAM!

FASTLANE: Gah!

He falls down backward.

FASTLANE: Systems... failing... too long without... Energon... been runnin' on fumes for... millennia...

SKYWARP: Have you now? That sucks. We just got a human who's making fuel for us! Maybe we'll share some... if you tell us how you got here, and if you can get us back to Cybertron.

Half a mile to the north, the village of Stansham was shaken to its foundations... as a flight of unearthly aircraft grazed its rooftops and hurtled out across the countryside! It's Buzzsaw, Laserbeak, Starscream, and Thundercracker chasing the Autobot shuttle ship! Inside, the Autobots do their best to steer away from humans.

OPTIMUS: Follow the road beneath! Zero altitude!

MIRAGE: Decepticons closing in, Optimus!

OPTIMUS: Are you ready to roll, Jazz?

JAZZ: Ready!

OPTIMUS: And you, Sammy?

SAMMY: Ready!

OPTIMUS: Then go!

The hatch of the shuttle ship opens, and Jazz in vehicle mode, with Sammy inside, speeds out and lands on the road.

VRAAM!

JAZZ: We're underway! Heading for the castle! Climb, Optimus! As high and fast as you can!

As suggested, the shuttle ship starts to launch higher into the air.

JAZZ: Okay, when I give the word, Sammy... you jump, got it?

SAMMY: Yep!

JAZZ: Okay... now!

Jazz's driver-side door suddenly opens as Sammy jumps out of it, rolling on the soft grass. Jazz keeps building speed to launch over a hill-

ROOOOOOOM!

-and hits Skywarp dead on!

KRAAANG!

SKYWARP: Gah!

FASTLANE: Jazz... I'm saved...

Sammy runs toward a familiar face.

SAMMY: Dad!

ROY: Sammy! Thank heavens you're safe!

They embrace.

SAMMY: Dad... we've got to get out of here! Jazz says clear the area!

ROY: What?

SAMMY: Jazz is trying to help us!

ROY: Don't worry, Sammy, we're getting out now. If you've got any sense, Captain, you'll do the same!

PETER: We'll be right behind you, Mr. Harker!

Four miles up, a Decepticon formation fell into a screaming powerdive... their sights locked onto the Autobot shuttle below. The Autobots themselves, however, were more than prepared... as evidenced by Bluestreak manning a turret gun.

WHOOM!

The gun makes direct contact with Laserbeak.

WWAAANG!

While on the ground, Jazz had transformed into an attack configuration... taking up the battle in earnest... deadly earnest as he hits Starscream with laser fire! The castle of Stansham once again bore witness to the sight and sound of battle... a flaming, wheeling dance of destruction. Instead of sword against sword, or spear against shield, this was the scream of laser cannon and the howl of rockets... and the tortured shriek of exploding metal! Starscream hits the ground in a fiery explosion.

SKVFFOOM!

STARSCREAM: Agh! That does it! Decepticons, retreat!

Finally, the Decepticons break off their attack... leaving the Autobots victorious! But far from jubilant...

FASTLANE: Optimus Prime... can it be?

OPTIMUS: Fastlane... you're the Man of Iron? Where's Cloudraker?

FASTLANE: In... in our ship.

OPTIMUS: So there is a ship... is it functional?

FASTLANE: It was damaged in... a fight.

OPTIMUS: A fight? With who?!

FASTLANE: Other Decepticons... trying to stop us from finding you... we got them all though, Optimus. Their corpses are in the ship as well. This planet hasn't been advanced enough for us to make repairs to our ship... but now that you're here...

Silence. Optimus takes a moment, weighing the options, and realizes what must be done. He turns to Jazz.

OPTIMUS: We have won this skirmish, yes. But who knows how fast the Decepticon threat is growing?

JAZZ: Sir?

FASTLANE: Optimus?

OPTIMUS: We cannot leave the Earth now, Jazz. The Decepticons would soon overrun the planet. Only we few stand in their way. We cannot leave.

FASTLANE: We can though... we can take the Decepticons with us... only 17 of them... and 20 of you...

OPTIMUS: There's 13 of them. 3 died, and 4 disappeared. Also, we lost one of our own...

FASTLANE: No... 3 returned, Optimus. To Cybertron, after your fight. It took a lot to get that Decepticon intelligence, but thanks to the Coneheads, we learned that you were on this planet.

OPTIMUS: So... there's only one "disappeared" Decepticon on Earth... we must find whoever that is too, as soon as possible.

JAZZ: Wait, if the 'cons knew we were here... why weren't they trying to rescue Megatron?

FASTLANE: Straxus... commands the Decepticons now. Or at least... he did, when I was last on Cybertron.

OPTIMUS: He must not want Megatron back either... returning Megatron to Cybertron would be a fool's errand for multiple reasons, then. It's settled, he remains here. And thus, so do we.

FASTLANE: No... you're making a mistake...

OPTIMUS: Not only that... we cannot leave this rescue ship intact. We have no choice but to destroy it!

FASTLANE: No... my brother is in there... you can't...

OPTIMUS: Was he the pilot?

FASTLANE: The Navigator... yes...

OPTIMUS: So, he knows the location of Cybertron?

FASTLANE: Yes... as do I.

OPTIMUS: ...I'm sorry, Fastlane.

Optimus aims his rifle at the shuttle ship and shoots. The craft, and all its contents become instantly vaporized in a massive implosion... nothing remained.

FASTLANE: No...

Fastlane then goes offline from his weak state.

OPTIMUS: Well, that saves us an awkward execution.

JAZZ: Execution?! We could've brought him back with us!

OPTIMUS: He never would've made it, and if he had, he knew the location of Cybertron. We couldn't ever have allowed him to be captured by Megatron. It's a blessing that the planet moves, and that we ourselves do not know where it currently is. I know you may disagree, Jazz, but this was the right course of action.

JAZZ: ...so why doesn't it feel like it?

There is no good answer to his question.

The shuttle ship flies over the Atlantic, with the 5 Autobots inside.

OPTIMUS: I hope Prowl's been okay leading in my absence.

MIRAGE: I'm sure he has, sir. He's quite capable. And besides, it's not as if your absence will become a regular thing!

TRAILBREAKER: So... what do we do now, sir?

OPTIMUS: Our next priority is rescuing Sparkplug. He's been held prisoner for far too long, and now we finally know where he is.

BLUESTREAK: ButTheFlyingDecepticonsWillReturnToTheirBaseSoIt'llBeTrickyToRescueHimNow!

OPTIMUS: I'm aware, Bluestreak. But we can't just sit back and do nothing.

JAZZ: We could always just blow up the Decepticon fortress, which would kill Sparkplug. Then we wouldn't have to worry about him possibly helping the enemy. That's what we should do in that instance, right? Let him die?

Optimus gives Jazz a look.

OPTIMUS: I know you disagree with my decision in England, but-

JAZZ: Nah, I get it. It's just... weighing on me, is all. Plus... I can't believe I'm saying this but... I miss Sammy.

OPTIMUS: Well. Maybe we'll see him again someday.

SOUNDWAVE: Starscream's report has just come in, Great Megatron. The Cybertronian ship was destroyed.

MEGATRON: Curses! Optimus intends for this world to be my resting place... this will prove to be a grave mistake once I raze it all! Now... human!

SPARKPLUG: Gulp! Y-yes, Megatron?

MEGATRON: Surely you must be done with the most recent batch of fuel by now.

SPARKPLUG: Almost! Uh... just need another... couple months to-

MEGATRON: You have one day.

SPARKPLUG: Gulp! Y-yes, Megatron.

Meanwhile, in Stansham... instructions were issued by nameless authorities... trucks came... all traces of the craft were obliterated. The seasons eventually changed... tourists descended, attracted by stories of UFOs and mysterious sightings... they found only an empty ruin, echoing with memories. When next Autumn came, leaves fell... Sammy was a year older and a year wiser. He never saw the Transformers again... but on clear, sharp nights, when stars glittered like needles and the night winds rattled his window... then he slept a fitful, fearful sleep... and the Man of Iron walked once more through his dreams.

Chapter Text

HOO-BOY my favorite chapter so far! Y'all don't know this bc I haven't written any fanfiction for it (but maybe I will one day), but I'm an even BIGGER Spider-Man fan than I am a Transformers fan! Even more than I am a Green Day fan! So let's fucking go...

By now, the public has discovered the Decepticon fortress. The military currently surrounds it, as do a swath and reporters and photographers. Including:

SPIDER-MAN: You gotta be kiddin' me! Another out of town assignment, right after the last one! Well, I fought Killer Shrike in Cleveland with Iron Man... but this mess here in Oregon really takes the cake! Giant, flying robots? Who could be behind this, Dr. Doom? Ultron? Well whoever or whatever it is, I'm not going to find out just by guessing! I should swing in closer for a better view... and then what? If people are in trouble, I'm honor-bound to help! But what the heck am I supposed to do against giant robots?! Well, one thing's for sure: this new costume I have makes things really convenient! I don't have to change in and out of it, it just does it for me itself! Yessiree, I hit the jackpot when I found this baby. It's only made life better. Not that everything else is completely peachy, but hey this helps. I do wish I got more rest before I flew out here though, it feels like I didn't sleep at all last night! I fell asleep while on the phone with Black Cat, and I know I slept the night away, but it just doesn't feel like it. Rats! Anywho, I should cease my usual blathering if I want to concentrate and get a good shot! Let me just find the riiiiight angle and-hey! What's that?!

Meanwhile...

SOUNDWAVE: I'm picking up a signal from the humans, Great Megatron!

MEGATRON: Let's hear it, Soundwave!

MCBREGG: This is General McBregg of the United States Army! We come in peace and only wish to talk!

SPARKPLUG: It's about time! I was wondering when the cavalry would arrive! Not that I mind though, it's pretty nice here-ah shit I have Stockholm Syndrome don't I?

MEGATRON: Ha! Sure they do. Starscream can handle this petty annoyance... unless he's too jet-lagged from his trip across the pond!

STARSCREAM: You can count on me, my lord!

THUNDERCRACKER: And me!

SKYWARP: And me!

STARSCREAM: ...posers.

Within seconds Starscream takes off with Skywarp and Thundercracker...

STARSCREAM: The humans never learn! How many times must they be fired upon before they realize how vulnerable they are?!

Starscream lets loose on the army.

POOM! POOM! POOM! POOM!

MCBREGG: Look out! They're hitting us with cluster bombs! Fire the anti-aircraft missiles! Blow that sucker out of the sky! And get our jets up there now!

THUNDERCRACKER: Ah, let's see what happnes when they can't hear their leader's commands!

Thundercracker's deafening sonic boom stuns the soldiers! Then Buzzsaw enters the fray, slicing wings off American jets.

BUZZSAW: Primitive Earth vehicles are no match for me!

His diamond-hard, micro-serrated edged beak cleanly severs the jet fighters' wing!

PILOT: Blue Leader's been hit! But I got one right in my sights!

Indeed he does! But before his missiles are fired, the Decepticon jet known as Skywarp... vanishes!

PILOT: What?! The target's disappeared!

Skywarp reappears above him.

SKYWARP: Ha! The hunter is now the hunted! That brainless aircraft is no match for my teleporting talents!

PILOT: Now he's right on top of me!

SKYWARP: My Earthly form is fast and strong, but I'm a Decepticon warrior, and my victims are entitled to see the true face of their destroyer!

Skywarp transforms, landing on the American plane and ripping its wings off with his bare hands.

PILOT: Mayday! Mayday!

Meanwhile...

SPIDER-MAN: I spy with my little spidery eye... a transforming robot!

Indeed he does! ...I've been saying that a lot. Furmanisms, meet Jaybedisms! Anyway; Spider-Man spots Gears!

GEARS: How did I get stuck with this scouting mission? What do I care about these pesky little creatures? I've always suspected Optimus Prime had a perverse sense of humor! Always the mobile transport unit, never a genuine soldier. When will I ever get the chance to prove myself?

SPIDER-MAN: Heya big boyo! Let's have a chat, shall we?

People on the ground look and see Spider-Man crawling onto Gears.

ONLOOKER: Spider-Man's with the robots! Jameson's right, he's a menace!

GEARS: Huh?

Gears notices Spidey, and tries to shoo him away.

GEARS: Shoo! Go away! You're endangering my mission!

SPIDER-MAN: Well, we wouldn't want that to happen, now would we? Don't tell me... you want to take over the world! Am I right?!

GEARS: Blasted idiot! I'm on your side!

SPIDER-MAN: Then explain why your buddy is tossing that at us!

GEARS: What?!

Thundercracker, in robot form on the ground, tosses a tank towards Spider-Man and Gears... and a bunch of onlookers!

SPIDER-MAN: They don't see the tank!

Fortunately, Gears does! Despite his gruff facade, Gears reacts as any noble Autobot would when innocent lives are threatened! Even if those lives are "pesky little creatures." He catches the tank.

GEARS: Got it!

SPIDER-MAN: Good catch!

Gears safely lowers the tank to the ground, and the driver inside throws up.

GEARS: Are you convinced now that we're both on the same team?

SPIDER-MAN: You... you saved all those people. Yeah... yeah, I know we're on the same team. So... why are the other robots doing all this, then? Do you know?

GEARS: There's a war. We, the Autobots, are fighting to stop the Decepticons from stripping your planet of all its precious fuel resources! Already the Deceps have captured a human to help them replenish their own dwindling fuel supply!

SPIDER-MAN: Woah, mama! And I thought I've seen all the Secret Wars there are! There's a secret robot war going on?! And the bad guys are going to ruin our planet, and they've already taken a hostage? What are we waiting for then?! Let's get to work!

GEARS: Not so fast! Optimus Prime must be informed of... this new development.

SPIDER-MAN: Who?

Meanwhile...

MCBREGG: Pull back! We're totally out-gunned! We don't have the hardware to stand up against those mechanical monsters!

Meanwhile again...

BUSTER: Aw man, why didn't Optimus take me along with the others? He even fuckin took Gears, man, Gears!

RATCHET: Optimus has his reasons! I imagine not endangering your life again is one of them!

BUSTER: ...think you're sooooo funny. What are you, Spider-Man?

Meanwhile a third time...

SPIDER-MAN: I've fought alongside some weird characters in my career, Optimus... a talking duck, a cyborg from the future, the cast of Saturday Night Live... but living vehicles, this has to be a first! You sure the Tinkerer doesn't have something to do with you, like that time he brought the Spider-Mobile to life?

OPTIMUS: I can assure you, we have no connection to your life. And I am sure that tales of your exploits would be interesting, Spider-Man-

SPIDER-MAN: I mean, where do I even start? Okay, this one time, Doctor Octopus zapped me with a ray, and I got amnesia! I had no idea who I was... but it took me hitting the water at a high velocity to jolt back my memory! When I came back, I was next to this caveman named Ka-Zar, from a place called the Savage Land, where dinosaurs roam the-

OPTIMUS: Yes, yes, as I said, I'm sure it's all very interesting-

SUNSTREAKER: I want to hear more about this "Savage Land!"

SPIDER-MAN: Well, wait 'til you hear about Gog!

OPTIMUS: I apologize, but time really is of the essence here. Humans are in danger.

SPIDER-MAN: RIght, right, sorry, sir. You know, maybe it's just your color scheme... and the fact that you're the head honcho, but you remind me a lot of another swell guy I know, Captain America. He's just the pinnacle of morality.

OPTIMUS: ...sure. Anyway, can you inform your military to step aside and allow us to deal with the Decepticons?

SPIDER-MAN: They won't listen to me! But luckily for all of us, I've got a plan!

Spider-Man shoots a web, stealing a soldier's helmet. His symbiote suit then morphs into an army uniform. The webspinner then "drives" Hound through the retreating front line, with the other Autobots following...

SPIDER-MAN: Pardon me, Sarge! The lieutenant gave me orders to return to the front line!

Spider-Man and Hound zoom on ahead, with the other Autobots in tow.

SPIDER-MAN: Sometimes the best plans are the simplest!

BRAWN: The plan's working! We're past the first hurdle!

GEARS: The rest of you draw the Deceps' fire! I'm going in with Spider-Man! Other than Brawn, I'm the smallest one here, and thus the best to sneak in. And not only do you need Brawn here, he's not exactly "stealthy" anyway!

OPTIMUS: Affirmative. Autobots, transform!

But just as they do.. the army attacks again!

HUFFER: Cliffjumper, look out!

BRAWN: Can't they see that we're not attacking them?!

CLIFFJUMPER: No, Brawn! The spider-human was right! They can't tell us apart from the Deceps! ...and we can't strike back!

BRAWN: Speaking of whom...!

Skywarp, Starscream, and Thundercracker are aiming straight for them! Skywarp shoots!

DAK-KOOM!

THUNDERCRACKER: Ha! The Earth creatures fire upon their would-be saviours!

Sunstreaker's shoulder-mounted, laser-guided, ground-to-air missile finds its target...

BUH-RHOOM!

SUNSTREAKER: You're not as fast as you thought, Skywarp! This proves that I'm Cybertron's greatest warrior!

Rumble enters the scene.

RUMBLE: Oh yeah? All you stupid, Earth-bound Autobots are helpless before the power of Rumble!

Rumble shakes the ground, causing Huffer to fall backward and Cliffjumper to fall over.

HUFFER: Can't keep my balance!

Brawn runs up to Rumble.

BRAWN: Guess again, you dirty little Decep! Brawn's coming through!

RUMBLE: Bah! You're nothing but talk!

BRAWN: Then let my actions speak for me!

KT-ANG!

Brawn punches the daylights out of Rumble... which upsets Frenzy.

FRENZY: Over-charged buffoon! You'll pay for striking my brother!

ZZZZT!

BRAWN: ARGHH!

The high-pitched grating sound produced by Frenzy severely disrupts the electrical flow within Brawn's circuits... knocking him out! He falls to the ground.

THUD!

Frenzy leans over the unconscious Rumble.

FRENZY: Fear not, brother, I'll see that you are restored to fighting strength!

Meanwhile...

SPIDER-MAN: We're in luck, Gears! With the army and your buddies keeping them busy out front, they're not guarding the back door! Of course, this sheer drop is enough to discourage most visitors, even traveling salesmen, but not your friendly out-of-town Spider-Man!

GEARS: This human reminds me of Bluestreak... they both seem to love the sound of their own voice!

Gears and Spider-Man head up to the fortress.

GEARS: Do all humans have powers like yours?

SPIDER-MAN: Not since I last checked! I'd feel real foolish if they did!

SPUT SPUT

SPIDER-MAN: What's that sound? Gears!

GEARS: Power's giving out... I'm going to fall!

Time slows down. Spider-Man sees the robot Gears about to fall to his death. Just like... just like Gwen fell. Gwen... Spider-Man's greatest failure. He's thought about it so many times... and in the future, he'll relive it many more... but right now, he sees it once again. And he can't fail, not again! He needs to be better than he was... that's why he kept this costume he got in the Secret Wars. So he could be better than he was. No more failures. No more Gwens.

SPIDER-MAN: Quick... grab onto this web!

THWIPP!

And, for the first time since that fateful day... Spider-Man catches a falling star.

SPIDER-MAN: Gotcha! You're too heavy... I don't know how long this line can hold you!

GEARS: Then we'd best move fast!

SPIDER-MAN: Right!

Gears climbs using Spider-Man's web line. That was too close...

SPIDER-MAN: Once we grab their prisoner, let's get out fast!

Inside...

MEGATRON: So, human, have you completed your task?

SPARKPLUG: Yeah, bullet-head... I've done your dirty work for you! Take your stinking fuel and leave me alone!

MEGATRON: Be warned, human... insolence from slaves whose value has ended is not tolerated by Megatron!

But then...

MEGATRON: My sensors detect an Autobot intruder entering through the rear of the fortress! But not even the weakest radio can evade Soundwave, ha!

Meanwhile, Spider-Man and Gears run inside.

SPIDER-MAN: This place is big enough to hold the Super Bowl in! Where do we even begin to look?!

Frenzy, carrying an unconscious Rumble, walks obliviously right past them.

SPIDER-MAN: Hold it... allow me!

THWIPP!

With a web, Spider-Man trips Frenzy, and Gears then rams into them both.

KKRATOOOM!

SPIDER-Man: That takes care of Tweedledum and Tweedledee! Woah! My Spider-Sense is going wild!

From the shadows leaps Ravage...

RAVAGE: Rowrr!

GEARS: Where did he come from?!

Spider-Man leaps onto the wall: I thought I saw a puddytat!

Ravage leaps at Spider-Man, who dodges him.

SPIDER-MAN: He's fast! And almost as agile as I am!

Spider-Man bounces around.

SPIDER-MAN: This game of cat and mouse isn't much fun for us mouse-types!

RAVAGE: This human is unlike any I've seen before.

Ravage runs at Spider-Man, who dodges him again.

SPIDER-MAN: Hey! Don't you know it's Be-Nice-to-Spider-Man-week?

RAVAGE: You... you avoided my charge!

GEARS: But you can't avoid my fist! This will send you back to shadow-land!

KTAM!

SPIDER-MAN: Good teamwork, gears! Now let's hustle...

Soundwave suddenly appears out of nowhere and begins firing.

SOUNDWAVE: How touching! The Autobots have a new friend!

SPIDER-MAN: Yeow!

FOOM! FOOM! FOOM!

SPIDER-MAN: Can't dodge these blasts forever!

GEARS: What do you know about friendship, Soundwave?! I hear that even your fellow Deceps can't stand you!

Gears punches out Soundwave.

CROOM!

SOUNDWAVE: Ungh!

Soundwave falls, unconscious.

ZZT-ZZT!

GEARS: Your distraction were of great value! Soundwave is seldom so easily beaten!

SPIDER-MAN: Glad I could help! But now we've reached a dead end! The only way out is the way we came in!

GEARS: Not necessarily!

Gears tears open the closed door in front of them.

RENCH!

SPIDER-MAN: Bet you're lots of fun at parties, too!

Gears and Spider-Man enter the room where Megatron is holding Sparkplug.

SPIDER-MAN: We've hit the jackpot! Don't worry, friend, we'll get you out of here.

Spider-Man swings webbing around Megatron.

MEGATRON: What-?!

SPARKPLUG: Didn't expect to see one of you guys again!

SPIDER-MAN: Bazooka Joe's all tied up... let's call a cab and split!

SPARKPLUG: Remind me to thank that masked fella!

GEARS: This is worse than I expected! We don't have a chance against Megatron!

Gears grabs Sparkplug.

GEARS: Spider-Man, hurry! We must-!

RRIP!

Megatron frees himself in an instant.

MEGATRON: Who dares attempt to ensnare Megatron?!

GEARS: No! It is too late!

SPIDER-MAN: Uh-oh.

MEGATRON: Here! Let Megatron help you escape! The human has served his purpose and is no longer required!

Megatron blasts a hole in the floor underneath Gears and Sparkplug.

BZZZT!

SPIDER-MAN: They'll fall to their deaths!

Spidey swings after them.

THWIPP!

SPIDER-MAN: Sorry I can't stay and chat, but I really must be going! Hang on! I'll shoot a web to each of you!

THWIP! THWIP!

SPIDER-MAN: My webbing was barely able to hold Gears before! Now with the added momentum of his fall, I don't...

SNAP!

SPARKPLUG: His web! It broke!

As he's falling, Gears says:

GEARS: Mission accomplished... friend!

SPIDER-MAN: Nooooo!!

Gears falls.

BOOM!

Spider-Man, still having Sparkplug safe in his web:

SPIDER-MAN: There... there's nothing we can do! Nothing we can do...

History repeats itself. Inside, Spider-Man's soul screams in anguish.

Soon, after the other Autobots have disengaged from their battle with the Decepticons on the other side of the mountain...

SUNSTREAKER: That's the last piece... we've collected all that's left of him.

SPIDER-MAN: How can you all be so cold and unfeeling?! He died a hero!

SPARKPLUG: Don't you even have mechanical hearts?!

OPTIMUS: The humans don't understand! Our form of life is vastly different from theirs! But there is no time to explain now!

Later, back at the Ark...

BUSTER: Dad!

SPARKPLUG: Buster! I can't tell you how good it is to see you again!

BUSTER: I was so scared!

SPARKPLUG: So was I, son! So was I!

The father and son embrace. And, while above the happy reunion...

SPIDER-MAN: This ship is literally out of this world! Even Reed Richards would feel lime a kid at his first science fair in here!

Spider-Man crawls over on the ceiling near to Optimus.

SPIDER-MAN: I'm... I'm sorry about what happened to Gears, Optimus. Even the good guys die... sometimes.

OPTIMUS: Die?

Spider-Man's eyes light up.

SPIDER-MAN: You mean... he's still alive?!

OPTIMUS: No! But neither is he what you would term "dead"!

SPIDER-MAN: ...you lost me, OP!

OPTIMUS: No matter! What's important is the valor you've shown today will always be an inspiration to our struggle! But this is our war and I can ask no more of you, Spider-Man!

SPIDER-MAN: That's fine, 'cuz I've got a plane to catch! If the rest of you are just half as brave as Gears... those Decepticons are in big trouble! Good luck!

BUSTER: Goodbye, Spider-Man! And thanks! Wow... so that's Spider-Man.

Soon..

RATCHET: I've managed to revive him to minimum operating level! Gears certainly acted heroically... hang on! Incredible! He's trying to speak!

GEARS: Meg... Meg... Megatron... got what he wanted... from human...

BUSTER: Dad! Say... say it ain't so!

Chapter Text

SPARKPLUG: Er... let me explain, son!

HUFFER: That does it! Gears got totaled protecting this human... and for what?! So he can help the Decepticons destroy us all!

Huffer's words hit hard! Even Ratchet pauses to reflect as he labors to repair the fallen Gears...

RATCHET: Yeah, like the narrator said, even I find it difficult to be my usual cheerful self when my friends are being blown apart all around me!

HUFFER: I'll show you how we deal with traitors!

SPARKPLUG: Are you calling me a traitor?

HUFFER: Yeah I just said that.

SPARKPLUG: Why, when I was fighting back in Korea-

IRONHIDE: Stop! You forget how frail the humans are! The Decepticons abducted him... he could not help but cooperate.

HUFFER: Have your logic circuits decayed with age, Ironhide? Do you defend him?

IRONHIDE: Listen, young one... you know as well as I do that the Decepticons are capable of getting what they want by any means... including torture!

HUFFER: So what? This is war!

BUSTER: I've never seen the Autobots act like this before!

Sparkplug takes Buster's hand and runs.

SPARKPLUG: There're too many loose screws around here! C'mon! Let's get out while we still can!

BLUESTREAK: HufferIsRight,Optimus!TheHumansHaveJustAsMuchToLoseAsWeDo!

OPTIMUS: Yes, Bluestreak... but we brought this war here! It's our responsibility, not theirs!

BLUESTREAK: ThoughYouAreLeaderOfTheAutobots,IMustDisagree!TheHumansMustPayForTheirTreason!ISay,Let'sFixTheArkAndLeaveThisHorriblePlanet!LetTheDecepticonsRuleThisWeak-WilledRaceOfTratiors!

OPTIMUS: Enough! To debate further is not only useless, but dangerous! We cannot afford to waste anymore time while the Decepticons undoubtedly are preparing a final assault against us! It matters not how the Decepticons got their fuel... but how fast we can make more of our own!

MIRAGE: Great Optimus is right! If Huffer had harmed the human, all would be lost! The Decepticons are at full power now, while our fuel levels are somewhat low!

HUFFER: If you stopped babbling for a moment, Mirage, you'd discover that your "heroic" humans are making a run for it!

jAZZ: Never fear! Jazz'll make sure they won't get far! I'll just use my flamethrower on 'em, that's an appropriate response.

SPARKPLUG: We're almost ther- what the?!

A wall of fire from Jazz's flamethrower blocks the humans' path... and Sparkplug writhes and falls over in pain.

SPARKPLUG: Oh no the paiN!

BUSTER: Dad! What is it? What's wrong?

(some random bullshit I don't want to type)

JAZZ: Is your father still functioning?

BUSTER: My father's not a machine you fucking idiot! He's flesh and blood! And if we don't get him to a hospital fast... he'll die!

RATCHET: Perhaps I can help! After all, Ratchet is an Autobot above all... but thanks to Aunty's work, I am also an ambulance!

Ratchet transforms into an ambulance. Optimus picks up Sparkplug and puts him in Ratchet.

OPTIMUS: I hope your father can be repaired!

(more random bullshit)

Meanwhile, all's quiet on the Decepticon front... until...

MCBREGG: Look alive! 'cuz here we go again!

From the fortress emerges the Decepticon leader... Megatron! Refueled... and at full power!

MEGATRON: Go ahead, little ones, do your worst!

MCBREGG: Fire! Let 'em have it!

BAM! K-BAM! BRAM! BA-POW! BUDDA-BUDDA!

MCBREGG: That's it! Don't spare the artillery!

The army hits Megatron with everything short of nuclear missiles! The barrage lasts fifteen minutes... why the fuck would Megatron wait that long oh whatever... and when it's over and the smoke finally clears... Megatron is still standing!

MEGATRON: Ha!

Megatron walks back inside.

SOLDIER: So what do we do now?

MCBREGG: We call the President!

Wow that was a short chapter.

Chapter Text

This is Megatron. Leader of the evil Decepticons... and he is not amused!

MEGATRON: How dare you? My orders will be obeyed without question, Starscream. I will not tolerate these attempts to usurp my authority...

STARSCREAM: Ha! There comes a time when even the mightiest rulers must be challenged, Megatron. Your plan to wait and observe is both weak and stupid... we must strike now and destroy utterly our enemies, the Autobots! Others feel as I do... why not put it to the vote? Attack... or sit here and wait while the Autobots grow ever stronger?

Rumble and Skywarp stand in the background, observing...

MEGATRON: There is much to learn on this world, resources unheard of on Cybertron that we can tap... even some of the humans themselves prove to be useful. Our experience of the costumed adventurer, Spider-Man, proved that they are not all helpless. No! Your plan is rejected, Starscream. I will discuss the matter no further!

RUMBLE: I don't like this, Skywarp. Starscream should have the right for a vote. I, for one, think attack is always best.

SKYWARP: Perhaps, Rumble, but it is unwise to provoke Megatron. His tolerance is not limitless.

STARSCREAM: I won't let this drop. The Mighty Megatron can just...

MEGATRON: Then Starscream is dead!

Megatron shoots his fusion cannon right next to where Starscream is standing.

PHATOOM!

Starscream immediately cowers in fear.

STARSCREAM: No, no! Great Megatron, I beg you! I...

MEGATRON: Silence! Your groveling offends me more than your insolence! Begone before I change my mind!

As Starscream departs, his fellow Decepticons look on... many thoughts pass through their minds... thoughts that go unsaid for now, thoughts that will smolder, thoughts that say Starscream was right... treacherous thoughts! And Starscream smiles! Ravage walks up to Megatron.

RAVAGE: Was it wise to let Starscream off like that?

MEGATRON: Had I destroyed him many may have turned against me! I have great faith in Starscream continuing his treachery, and once discovered giving me the excuse to dispose of him once and for all... find me that excuse!

Ravage smiles wickedly.

The Ark. A masterpiece of technological design... millions of years ago, it brought the Autobots through countless light years of space... it has seen better days! As Jazz works on the monitor, Bumblebee observes Mirage working on a large piece of equipment.. that Brawn is holding up.

BRAWN: Are you going to be much longer Mirage?

MIRAGE: Stop complaining, Brawn. I should be finished ina  minute...

BRAWN: Huh! You said that an hour ago, and an hour before that, and...

Mirage finishes.

MIRAGE: There! That should do it! I think we'll give it a test run before you put it down... are you ready, Brawn?

BRAWN: "Are you ready?" he asks. I've been ready for the past few hours! Sometimes I think you're just using-

Mirage flips the switch.

BRAKOOM! Brawn immediately gets a nasty electric shock!

BRAWN: meeeaaarrgh!

Jazz turns around in shock. Windcharger runs over.

WINDCHARGER: Quickly, the main lead... rip it out! Hurry! He's in agony!

Prowl rushes over and does so.

PROWL: There! Done it!

Brawn falls over.

KERASHH!

PROWL: Brawn!

The sound of his name keeps repeating... and repeating... and repeating. Brawn had just recently had a nasty shock by Frenzy during his last battle. And now, this electric shock... seems to have fried his sensors! He is sent into the darkness... and surprisingly, he likes it. But they keep calling his name... keep trying to wake him up. And he starts to think... uncharacteristic thoughts!

BRAWN: Why won't they leave me alone? It's warm in here... dark and warm... peaceful. It's not use... they're getting louder... leave me alone! I'll have to leave here curse them!

Brawn starts to open his eyes. He sees the blurry shapes of Prowl, Windcharger, and Bumblebee.

BUMBLEBEE: Brawn...? Brawn? Look! He's opening his eyes. He's all right. Soon have him back to work!

BRAWN: Back to work? We'll see... I'm through being used... you'll all find that out soon enough!

At the Decepticon fortress, Starscream watches his fellow Seekers fly off... taking Megatron, the Reflector trio, Soundwave, and seemingly all the mini-cassettes with them!

STARSCREAM: At last! The other have all gone on some foolish survey mission, leaving me free to plan... to plan the downfall of Megatron! It's so beautifully simple... the Autobots have shown concern for the pathetic carbon-based beings of this planet... so, if I destroy enough of them, it's sure to bring the Autobots running to their aid... and into battle with me! And, once the Autobots attack me, my fellow Decepticons will have to join in the fray... resulting in the total destruction of the Autobots! This will prove me right and give the others no choice but to accept me as their true leader!

However, Starscream is unaware that he is being watched by one who never left... Ravage, the spy!

RAVAGE: It's a good plan, I'll give him that... a trifle over-confident, but good. It appeals to my devious nature! However, I know where my loyalties lie... I must report this to Megatron!

Preoccupied, Ravage is careless for a moment... and...

STARSCREAM: What the-? Something moved over there... that reflection! Ravage!

RAVAGE: Discovered! Now I've got problems!

Ravage runs away.

STARSCREAM: Wait, Ravage! We can talk... don't make me come after you! That way only leads... outside!

Indeed, Ravage exits outside, and looks around.

RAVAGE: A barren, featureless desert... and I'm being chased by someone who can become a fighter jet! This may call for a major reassessment of my loyalties!

Starscream arrives. Ravage flees.

STARSCREAM: So you choose to flee... so be it! Now face the unfettered wrath of Starscream!

RAVAGE: "Unfettered wrath?" Ha! I'll pit my powers against yours any day... even in these conditions!

STARSCREAM: Now you shall see why I am the most sophisticated of the Decepticons... for not only am I a master tactician...

Starscream transforms.

STARSCREAM: But, in this form, I am the fastest and deadliest of them all!

But...

STARSCREAM: What?! He's vanished! But that's impossible... he needs cover or shadow!

Starscream flies close to the ground.

STARSCREAM: Where could he have...

Suddenly, Ravage pops out from beneath the sand! He had dug himself underground!

STARSCREAM: ...gone?

RAVAGE: Surprise, sucker!

Ravage shoots his twin missiles at Starscream.

VAROOOOOSH! SHOOOOM!

But Starscream dodges them with ease. Fleeing, Ravage heads for higher ground...

RAVAGE: I had him cold, and he still evaded my proton missiles! He's all the flier he says he is... and more!

But then:

RAVAGE: Uh oh! Dead end!

STARSCREAM: Ah! I have you now!

Ravage then leaps towards the Seeker.

RAVAGE: It's not over yet! I'll tear you wing from wing!

But before he can, Starscream shoots missiles of his own.

CHUUROOM!

Some 90 tons of rock are ripped free by the force of the explosion... its impact rocks the valley floor below and echoes for long minutes after the last stone has fallen on top of Ravahe... and then there is just silence. Starscream transforms back to robot form.

STARSCREAM: Hmmm, a pity. Ravage would have made an excellent ally. Still, I must thank him for one thing... now I have done this, there is no turning back!

Meanwhile, on the Ark... Brawn sits in a corner, fuming, as Sunstreaker, Jazz, and Bumblebee look on. He's still thinking uncharacteristic thoughts...

BRAWN: There is no turning back... they think that Brawn is their tool to be used as they see fit. And that I will not allow!

JAZZ: He's been like that for hours. Won't speak to anyone!

Mirage walks up.

MIRAGE: I know, I've tried to talk to him, but he doesn't even want to know his old friend, Mirage, anymore!

Sideswipe enters the conversation.

SIDESWIPE: Well, all I know is that, without him, we can't get on with some of the heavy work... I'm going to have a word with him!

Sideswipe walks right up to Brawn.

SIDESWIPE: Now look, Brawn, we need you to work on the-

BRAWN: Work! Work! Work! Work! That's all I ever hear!

Suddenly, to the horror of Bumblebee, Sunstreaker, and Jazz, Brawn lifts Sideswipe into the air.

BRAWN: I'll show you! I won't be used! I won't!

Brawn throws Sideswipe onto the floor.

KERRUMP!

SIDESWIPE: Unngh!

Brawn tackles Sideswipe.

MIRAGE: Quickly, we must separate them! Before Brawn kills him!

BRAWN: From now on it's no longer Brawn: Autobot! it's just... Brawn! Just Brawn!

As Brawn's vice-like grip begins to crush his metallic head, Sideswipe's only thought is... "what a stupid way to die!"

Mirage and Prowl pull Brawn away from Sideswipe as Windcharger and Bumblebee watch.

MIRAGE: No! Whatever madness has gripped you has made you confuse friend with enemy. And we are your friends!

Brawn looks around at them, and screams to Sunstreaker (for no reason in particular):

BRAWN: Wrong! you are all my enemies! And this is what I will do to you, if you cross my path again!

Brawn rips a hole in the side of the Ark-

KERRANG!

-and walks on out into the forest. Sideswipe recomposes himself.

SIDESWIPE: Was it something I said?

MIRAGE: I fear, my friend, that our troubles with Brawn may only just be beginning! If he takes action against the human populace... we will have to stop him!

U.S. Air Force Base: Oregon Four-Alpha. One of America's defense stations designed to counterstrike in the event of airborne invasion... its precise location is a closely guarded secret and, thankfully, to date has seen no action... that is about to change. An air traffic control man rushes outside.

CONTROLLER: Sir! Sir! Major Gordon, radar control reports a UFO on their screens... closing in on us fast!

Major Gordon rushes inside as the control man goes back to his screen.

GORDON: Any scheduled air traffic in this sector?

CONTROLLER: None, sir. I've tried to contact is but it refuses to respond.

Gordon gets on the P.A. system.

GORDON: Red Alert! Red Alert! We are under attack from enemy aircraft! Ground and Air staff to full alert defense positions! This is not a drill... repeat... this is not a drill!

The control man looks at his screen in horror.

CONTROLLER: Oh, Lord! Th-that's impossible!

GORDON: What is it man? Quickly!

CONTROLLER: The UFO has picked up speed to a phenomenal degree... its ETA just dropped from five minutes to about five seconds!

Gordon rushes outside to see:

GORDON: Oh... my...

...Starscream completely blowing up the base around them!

STARSCREAM: Tremble humans! For today you die!

Chapter Text

He drags himself painfully across the desert floor, each yard seems like a mile with his shot-up foot... battered and broken, the Deception spy, Ravage, is only kept going by a burning desire for revenge! Revenge on the one who has left him for dead, revenge on the one whom he recently called teammate, revenge on...

RAVAGE: Starscream! I'll see you destroyed for this! I'll make you suffer for daring to attack me... and for not making sure that you'd finished me off! Always were too sure of your abilities, weren't you, Starscream? You thought I'd been destroyed by your missiles. You were wrong! They almost succeeded... the shockwave took me over the cliff and threatened to tear me apart... but I wouldn't give up, like I won't give up now. I struggled... I fought for a foothold, anything to stop me from falling. And I found it! An impossible narrow ledge... but enough to keep me alive! Now... if I can just keep going a little l-long... errrr...

Ravage collapses in the sand.

RAVAGE: I can't go on. I've failed...

Or has he? A shadow appears to block the blazing sun. The shadow... of Megatron! Along with Rumble and Skywarp!

MEGATRON: Ravage?

Ravage looks up, unable to believe his eyes.

RAVAGE: M-Megatron?

MEGATRON: We have returned just in time... quickly, Ravage, which Autobot did this to you? Not that it matters, I'll kill them all anyway, but still!

RAVAGE: N-not... Autobot... was... Starscream!

Rumble and Skywarp are shocked! Megatron is not. Megatron... is angry.

Meanwhile, nearly one hundred miles away at U.S. Air Force Base Oregon Four-Alpha, the rebel Decepticon, Starscream, was continuing his campaign of terror! He shoots down every plane he sees on the tarmac.

STARSCREAM: Now begins the rightful rule of Starscream!

Doing his best to forestall Starscream's "rightful rule is the base's commanding officer, Major Gordon.

GORDON: I want every plane that's airworthy off the ground. Blow that fighter out of the air!

Starscream stops bombing things and observes what the humans are doing.

STARSCREAM: Hmmm. The humans are launching their own flying machines... no matter. I am far superior in both speed and firepower. All proceeds as planned... soon my ambition will be realized... I will be leader of the Decepticons! Yes... leader! In place of the accursed Megatron! How well I remember our last confrontation... I was forced to back down in the face of superior firepower... but the other Decepticons were unhappy with this resolution... I knew it was time to strike decisively! My play... attack the humans and draw the Autobots into battle... leaving the other Decepticons with no choice but to aid me! The Autobots would be beaten by the combined might of the Decepticons, proving me the greater tactician and leader! A superb plan... but I was overheard... by Ravage! Being faithful to Megatron, he fled. I gave chase... he was destroyed... there was now no turning back and I launched my assault on the human settlement.

While Starscream was busy fucking narrating, the military launches fighters into the air.

ALPHA: Alpha Leader to all planes... let's show this fella what we're made of at Oregon base... over.

PILOT: Roger, Alpha Leader... however good a pilot he might be, he's got to be worried now...

STARSCREAM: I'm worried! Why haven't the Autobots shown up yet?

But, on the Ark, the Autobots also have trouble in their ranks...

HUFFER: You mean to say he actually tried to destroy Sideswipe?

JAZZ: Said he'd deal with all of us if we tried to stop him!

PROWL: ...straight through the wall-

OPTIMUS: Enough!

The silence is instantaneous and absolute as the voice of the Autobot leader, Optimus Prime, rings out...

OPTIMUS: Now, briefly and concisely, let's review the events that led to Brawn's impromptu exit... Mirage, you first.

MIRAGE: Oh great, narration time again. Well, he was fine until the accident... a machine we were working on exploded, he suffered a severe neuro-shock... this may account for his actions, for I found that I-

OPTIMUS: Enough! Just the facts. Sideswipe, you next.

SIDESWIPE: After he'd recovered from the accident he became moody and unapproachable... when I asked him to do some work he went mad... he threw me at a wall, then tried to throttle me! Then he smashed through the Ark's hull and left... warning us not to try to stop him.

OPTIMUS: I don't like that sound of that at all. He may mean to harm the humans. And that we cannot allow!

At that moment, in the small town of St. Petersburg... a man gets in his car and waves goodbye to his wife.

MAN: See ya later, Mabel... won't be more'n an hour...

Brawn spies from the trees as the man drives away.

BRAWN: In some incredible way, the carbon-based units have enslaved my fellow beings... and although Brawn is nobody's ally, I shall show these humans the folly of daring to use us in such a way!

Brawn transforms.

BRAWN: Take heart, my oppressed brethren, Brawn is coming to liberate you!

And, seconds later, Brawn hurtles through the busy streets...

BRAWN: Ha! There are none who can match the peerless power of Brawn! ...I'm beginning to enjoy myself!

Oblivious to such traditions as stopping at a red light... Brawn drives straight through an intersection of oncoming traffic. One driver is forced to-

DRIVER: What the-?! Gotta swerve!

He does so, as the car makes an unnatural sound.

SCREEEE!

DRIVER: C-can't hold her, she's going over... noooo-!

Indeed, the car collides with another in a fiery explosion-holy shit did Brawn just kill people? Fuck.

BRAKOOOM!

The explosion is seen by a couple of police officers.

OFFICER: Holy...! That maniac! Phil, get over there and see if you can help... I'm going after that lunatic!

He does so. Within seconds the patrol car drew level...

OFFICER: You've got five seconds to pull over before I shoot your tires!

BRAWN: Hmm... at last a being worthy of my attention! I shall free this poor, enslaved soul.

After both had pulled over...

OFFICER: Okay, fruitcake, out of the car now... slowly, with your arms high and palms forward so I can see they're-

The officer aims his gun at the driver's side window. Furious, Brawn transforms.

BRAWN: Insolent human! You dare threaten Brawn? Now go! Before you incur my wrath! And be thankful I consider you beneath my notice!

The police officer falls back in shock... then quickly remembers his fury.

OFFICER: D-don't come any closer... or I'll fire!

BLAM! BLAM! CLICK!

The officer shoots Brawn with the two bullets he has... they do nothing.

OFFICER: Oh my... my bullets have no effect!

The traffic cop fled, but already Brawn has turned his attention to the car...

BRAWN: Well? You're free! Off you go, then...

The car doesn't do anything. Immediately, Brawn becomes impatient.

BRAWN: You ungrateful imbecile! If you won't take that brand of freedom... take this!

KERRUMP!

Brawn smashes the car with his fist, then turns to the other parked cars in the lot nearby.

BRAWN: And what of the rest of you? Will you just sit here and let these puny humans rule you? No answer? Then I'll destroy you all!

KAARRACHH!

Brawn attacks the cars.

Meanwhile... Starscream destroys the planes.

WHAAM!

STARSCREAM: Ha! This is far too easy... already three of their planes have been destroyed and this last one poses no problems!

But... the last plane has homing missiles.

STARSCREAM: Hmm... homing missiles! Well, no point dodging about... I'll just take them back to their source...

Starscream leads the missiles into the path of the plane that shot them.

PILOT: Nooo!

NEWS ANCHOR: This is OBTV News... live from a U.S. Air Force base, the location of which we cannot divulge. An unidentified fighter plane has been wreaking havoc here for the past hour. And... oh! The last of the U.S. fighters has been shot down... this is terrible! Other air bases have been put on full alert and back-up planes are on their way, but... wait... the enemy aircraft seems to be coming straight at us... I think it's going to land! The aircraft seems to be hovering right in front of us... and it's... it's... transforming! Yes, it appears to be one of the huge robots that have been terrorizing parts of Oregon recently-ah shit we said where the base is. Anyway... and it's speaking...

Starscream moves right up to the camera.

STARSCREAM: Hear me, Autobots! Unless you face me, I will destroy all human life here... and everywhere! Where are you, you cowards?!

NEWS ANCHOR: So where are these "Autobots," and can they stop this being's rampage? In the meantime, we take you live to the scene of a similar riot of destruction in St. Petersburg, a small town in-

Elsewhere... the Autobots watch the news report, and see Brawn rampaging.

OPTIMUS: I have seen enough! Come... he must be stopped!

In St. Petersburg... Brawn is wrecking the place.

BRAWN: Run! It'll do you no good! I'll level this town!

At Oregon Four-Alpha... Starscream is wrecking the place.

STARSCREAM: Where are you, Autobots? I swear I'll destroy everything!

In St. Petersburg...

OPTIMUS: Stop! You must do no more harm, Brawn!

BRAWN: Who dares...?

At Oregon Four-Alpha...

MEGATRON: Starscream! Turn and face us!

STARSCREAM: Ah... at last!

In St. Petersburg...

BRAWN: You?!

At Oregon Four-Alpha...

STARSCREAM: You?!

MEGATRON: Yes, Starscream... us! Your ex-teammates... the Decepticons! And we've come to destroy you!

Indeed, all the other Decepticons are there... except for Ravage.

STARSCREAM: B-but the Autobots...!

In St. Petersburg... the Autobots have problems of their own to sort out...

OPTIMUS: We cannot allow this to continue, Brawn... you must come back with us to the Ark.

BRAWN: Over my dead body! The only way you'll take me back is in pieces! And I'll take most of you with me!

Chapter Text

Witness the Autobots in pitched battle against a Transformer of immense power... it is a battle they must win for the sake of the entire human race... and it is a battle they wish they could just walk away from! For their foe is none other than their friend and fellow Autobot - Brawn! Brawn plows past Sunstreaker and through Windcharger to knock Prowl down, which also knocks back Gears.

BRAWN: You'll never take me back!

As a horrified Bumblebee and Optimus Prime look on, Brawn jeers at the fallen Autobots.

BRAWN: Ha! The Autobots have fallen! None can challenge the might of Brawn!

Brawn runs away from the assembled Autobots... not seeing Red Alert hiding behind a corner. Red Alert cracks his knuckles.

RED ALERT: None? Did you really think Optimus Prime would let you escape so easily? It falls to Red Alert to stop you now...

Brawn turns around to face the Autobots again.

BRAWN: I shall be generous, Autobots, and let you live... but bewa-

Red Alert decks Brawn.

WHAAAM!

Ratchet rushes over.

RATCHET: Well done, Red Alert, he's down!

RED ALERT: But not out! Quickly... the neuro-tranquilizer!

RATCHET: Good thinking! It's a good thing you've been here this whole time, Red Alert, and didn't only magically appear in this one story and then never again!

RED ALERT: Huh?

RATCHET: ...never mind.

As the Autobots' medic, Ratchet, administers the neuro-tranquilizer, Brawn's body is racked by electric shock...

BRAWN: Aargh!

...for the second time in a matter of hours. Optimus Prime walks over to the scene.

RATCHET: I really don't like using that device... there's so much we don't understand about its effect!

OPTIMUS: We had no choice. It was either that or risk destroying Brawn in an all-out battle. And, as it was an electrical accident on the Ark which caused him to behave this way, that wouldn't be right.

Optimus picks up the unconscious Brawn in his arms.

OPTIMUS: Come, let us leave... I wish to avoid contact with the human authorities.

And, with those words, the Autobots depart... leaving the stunned populace of St. Petersburg wondering what had hit them!

Meanwhile... Starscream is being chased by his fellow Seekers.

STARSCREAM: How? How did it all go so badly wrong? One moment I was on the verge of victory... and the next I find myself on the run from Skywarp and Thundercracker, two of the Decepticons who should, by now, be under my command! In order to prove myself the superior tactician and leader to Megatron, I attacked a human settlement, hoping to draw the Autobots into battle... but, instead of the Autobots, it was my fellow Decepticons who called a halt to my rampage... my treachery had been discovered! Boy, I sure do love recapping. What was it Megatron said next? Oh yeah:

MEGATRON: For crimes against myself and your fellow Decepticon, Ravage, I sentence you to utter destruction! After him!

STARSCREAM: Against the combined might of the Decepticons I had no chance... I had to flee.

Thundercracker shoots at Starscream. He dodges.

STARSCREAM: You'll have to try harder than that!

Starscream chuckles to himself.

STARSCREAM: They are no match for me in the air... I shall escape, plan, and one day return to destroy Megatron!

SKYWARP: He's outdistancing us, Thundercracker.

THUNDERCRACKER: Prepare to execute containment maneuver four-eight. Shut down audiosensors now!

SHRAAKOOOM!

Thundercracker's sonic boom is unleashed with full devastating force... plunging the unprepared Starscream into a wild tail spin!

STARSCREAM: Screee! S-sensory overload! C-can't handle it!

Given time, a flier of Starscream's caliber could pull off an amazing recovery and still escape... that time has just run out!

STARSCREAM: Oh no! Skywarp!

SKYWARP: Bang! Bang! You're finished, Starscream!

Skwarp shoots Starscream twice. He plummets to the ground in a fiery crash.

KROOMF!

Transforming in mid-air, the two Decepticon warriors land... and, from within Thundercracker comes a Walther P-38, transforming and enlarging several times into... Megatron!

MEGATRON: And so it ends, Starscream. Transform and meet your fate as a Decepticon warrior! I hereby sentence you to obliteration beyond all possibility of reanimation!

Starscream transforms.

STARSCREAM: Wait! Indeed I am a Decepticon warrior, Megatron... and, as such, I demand my right to trial by combat!

Megatron turns to the other two Seekers.

MEGATRON: Well?

THUNDERCRACKER: It is his right.

SKYWARP: I know I'd Like to go out fighting.

MEGATRON: Very well.

Megatron grabs Starscream by the neck.

MEGATRON: But understand well that this is just a temporary reprieve!

Meanwhile... back in the Ark, Optimus Prime questions a recovered Brawn... recovered in all sense of the word!

BRAWN: I tell you, I wouldn't try to escape... even if I could! All this you're telling me... it's like you're talking about someone else. I have, and always will be, loyal to the Autobots.

OPTIMUS: I wish I could believe you, Brawn. But until I am sure, I will not sanction your release.

Optimus leaves and speaks to Ratchet.

RATCHET: It seems Brawn's memory of events extends only as far as the exploding machine... if this was the cause of his behavior... the second shock of my neuro-tranquilizer might have cured him.

OPTIMUS: If! Might! I need more than that!

Mirage walks over.

MIRAGE: Perhaps I can help. You see, I was also involved in the original accident and I'm-

OPTIMUS: -perfectly alright. Please, Mirage, let us stick to the matter in hand!

MIRAGE: But, but...

OPTIMUS: Enough! For the moment, Brawn will be kept restrained, until I have devised a solution to this problem. Ratchet, keep the patient under close observation.

Optimus starts to walk away.

MIRAGE: Wait! You must hear me out!

Optimus turns back around, exasperated.

OPTIMUS: What is it, Mirage?!

MIRAGE: This is important, Optimus. You see, the same accident that affected Brawn also had considerable effect on me!

Mirage talks and, at last, Optimus Prime listens.

Meanwhile, in the Decepticon fortress...

MEGATRON: Curses! Ever the opportunist, Starscream has clutched the very straw that may save him from my wrath... trial by combat. As a warrior race it is only fitting that we should have the right to fight for our existence... no matter what the crime.

Megatron turns on a projector screen, which displays images of:

MEGATRON: Ah, Cybertron, how I yearn to tread once more your gleaming lands... lands which I, by right, should now rule over. Instead, I find myself trapped on this backward mudball... not knowing if the war with the Autobots still rages... or if we won! These history tapes do nothing to quench my desire to return. But perhaps if I review a trial by combat, I may find a way to have Starscream destroyed!

The tapes then show a scene of two Decepticons fighting.

MEGATRON: Ah, yes. I remember these two from my gladiator days... Tornado and Earthquake, one, a traitor, the other a rebel... both had opted for trial by combat.

EARTHQUAKE: To the end, then...

TORNADO: Enough talk... let's fight!

EARTHQUAKE: Unngh!

MEGATRON: Like his namesake, Tornado spun, creating winds that threatened to tear Earthquake apart... but Earthquake was strong and needed only to make contact with the ground...

EARTHQUAKE: Not so clever now, eh, Tornado? Mine is the power to warp the very surface of Cybertron!

Earthquake causes the ground to move around Tornado, making him fall.

TORNADO: Wha-?

Earthquake jumps and prepares to pummel Tornado.

EARTHQUAKE: Let's see what it does to you!

Tornado ducks out of the way just in time.

EARTHQUAKE: Missed!

TORNADO: Yes... but I won't!

Tornado shoots laser blasts at Earthquake.

EARTHQUAKE: Aaarrgh!

Tornado stands over a seemingly defeated Earthquake.

TORNADO: Your brute force was never a match for my speed... farewell, Earthquake!

MEGATRON: But, even though mortally wounded, Earthquake summoned up his remaining strength... and struck!

Earthquake causes the ground to start to swallow Tornado.

TORNADO: Nneeaarr! ...nooo! G-got to spin... pull free...

MEGATRON: But the overall force of both sets of energies was far too great for any one being to contain... the result was inevitable...

Both Earthquake and Tornado explode.

BATHOOM!

MEGATRON: The perfect solution! But where could I find a dispensable foe for Starscream to battle?

RAVAGE: Perhaps I know of such a foe...!

Megatron turns around to see Ravage standing behind him.

MEGATRON: Who...? Ravage! Have you now taken to spying on me?

RAVAGE: Forgive me, Great Megatron... but I couldn't help overhearing your predicament. You see, I have been monitoring the humans' broadcasts and I believe I've found an opponent for Starscream...

Sometimes later, on the Ark... Red Alert approaches Optimus.

RED ALERT: Sorry to disturb you, but I needed more to do-I mean we've received a vidi-transmission from the Decepticons... it's Megatron, for you!

Optimus is communicating with Megatron over vidi-transmission.

MEGATRON: So you see, it seems we have a mutual problem... do you not agree with the simplicity and neatness of my solution?

OPTIMUS: Perhaps. But it remains to be seen if Brawn is willing to participate in such a trial...

Optimus ends the transmission.

MEGATRON: Ha! Perfect!

He turns to Ravage.

MEGATRON: Go and tell Starscream that he has his opponent and so should prepare himself for battle.

RAVAGE: But surely the Autobot has not yet agreed to this solution...

MEGATRON: I know the way these Autobots' minds work... Brawn will believe this is his chance to redeem himself in Optimus Prime's eyes. He'll jump at the chance!

And, as Megatron predicted:

BRAWN: Of course I'll do it!

OPTIMUS: But are you sure you understand the consequences should you lose?

BRAWN: Yes, but I would rather die than remain disgraced! Not that I intend to lose!

OPTIMUS: ...dumbass.

And so... through another vidi-transmission:

OPTIMUS: Therefore we agree to your proposition... Brawn will battle Starscream. The winner being cleared of all charges, the loser will be utterly destroyed... but... I insist on two conditions: first, that the combat be staged in a remote area of the desert away from any humans; and second, that each combatant is accompanied by an observer to ensure fair play.

MEGATRON: Agreed. Ravage will accompany Starscream.

OPTIMUS: And Mirage is my chosen observer.

And so it was that the two warriors went forth... both bent on the destruction of the other. Both carrying the conviction that they would be the victor... for defeat was unthinkable!

But, in secret, both Megatron and Optimus have... contingencies.

MEGATRON: Ravage, you understands what you must do... if Starscream wins...?

OPTIMUS: Mirage, you must put what you have told me to good use!

And so the combat began... each combatant unaware that the observers were not to be quite so neutral...

BRAWN: For the Autobots!

STARSCREAM: For myself!

Chapter Text

They battle ceaselessly... each clash blurring into the next... for both combatants defeat is unthinkable. For the Autobot, Brawn, victory would redeem him in the eyes of his leader, Optimus Prime... whilst the Decepticon, Starscream, seeks merely to escape the sentence of destruction he finds himself under, following his traitorous actions. But, for the conflict to end...  only one must survive! Brawn uses his great strength to lift and toss a huge boulder at Starscream... who effortlessly dodges. And so, they fight on... pitting might against might... agility against endurance... one pursued, the other pursuing... for Brawn has transformed to vehicle form, and Starscream shoots missiles at him.

FWOOM!

BKOW!

Brawn dodges them all.

RANOOOON!

WHUM!

BATHOOM!

When, suddenly... Brawn skirts to avoid a cliff wall... on purpose.

SCREEEEEEEE!

STARSCREAM: Wha-? Oh no!

With a mighty roar, Starscream struggles to avoid disaster... he manages to fly parallel to the cliff wall, at the last moment scraping the bottom of himself with it. Sparks fly off of him.

STARSCREAM: Unnhh!

Brawn transforms.

BRAWN: What does it take? I'm running out of ideas and stamina... and if I don't finish this soon, he'll nail me for sure!

Overhead, the battle was being recorded and relayed... the Sky Spy recording Brawn climbing up the side of the cliff. On the Ark, the Autobots watched tensely, their concern for their comrade mounting steadily...

RED ALERT: Where is he going? If Starscream spots him, he'll be able to pick him off easily!

BUMBLEBEE: He must have something in mind... but it had better be good... this is probably his last chance!

PROWL: And where's Mirage? He's supposed to be keeping an eye on things!

OPTIMUS PRIME: Yes, where are you, Mirage? The way the battle's going, we'll need your power very soon!

Each camp had nominated an observer... for reasons of his own, Optimus Prime had chosen Mirage... for very different reasons, Megatron, leader of the Decepticons, had chosen Ravage... who has a giant cannon mounted to his back!

RAVAGE: The battle goes well... it will soon be time for me to play my part... I must get into position.

Starscream flies near the cliff, unable to spot Brawn.

STARSCREAM: Where are you, Brawn? ...afraid to face me?

Suddenly, Brawn runs from ON TOP OF THE CLIFF over the side, about to do pile-drive onto Starscream.

BRAWN: That'll be the day!

STARSCREAM: Nooo!

KEROOMP!

Brawn hangs on grimly...

STARSCREAM: Idiot! You've played straight into my hands... you see, I know how to land from this position...

Starscream transforms in mid-air, making Brawn fall to the ground... with a mighty crash!

WHAM!

STARSCREAM: You don't!

Brawn slowly crawls into a nearby cave.

STARSCREAM: And now I have the pleasure of finishing you off! That cave will afford you little protection!

But, hidden by the cave, waits Mirage...

MIRAGE: It is time for me to act... I must concentrate!

Suddenly, Brawn runs out of the cave, waving his hands in a surrendering fashion.

STARSCREAM: Surrender?! How quaint! How futile!

Starscream launches missiles at Brawn. They say that a man's life flashes before him in moments like this... can the same be said of an Autobot? Does Brawn see his life on Cybertron, the war with the Decepticons, the arrival on Earth in these last micro-seconds? The trial by combat reaches its end... when Starscream spots the figure of Brawn emerge from a cave and ignores the signal for surrender...

BRAKKOOM!

On the Ark, the Autobots witness the explosion.

RED ALERT: No... no!

SUNSTREAKER: Brawn?!

SIDESWIPE: Brawn has been destroyed!

A stunned silence descends on the assembled Autobots... this cannot be! But, gradually, realization begins to sink in... but no hint of emotion is shown by Optimus Prime... his expression is unfathomable.

Meanwhile...

STARSCREAM: Ah... the perfect end to a perfect day. Not only am I now cleared of all charges against me but I also got to destroy that Autobot... I hope all my fellow Decepticons were... watching me.

Ravage aims at Starscream with his giant cannon.

RAVAGE: Starscream! I faced your "unfettered wrath" and survived...

Ravage shoots.

RAVAGE: Now you face the unfettered wrath of Ravage!

SKREEEEEE!

Direct hit!

STARSCREAM: Neeeaargh!

Starscream falls, flaming to the ground.

RAVAGE: Ha! "High-flier."

Starscream bounces off the ground.

KROOM!

KRUNG!

BAWOOM!

Soundwave, Frenzy, and Thundercracker rush over.

SOUNDWAVE: Starscream! But what happened? We saw him victorious with only minimal damage.

RAVAGE: I saw what happened!

Ravage comes rushing over, having ditched the giant cannon.

RAVAGE: It was the Autobots... their observers fired at him... I'm amazed he made it this far!

FRENZY: The backstabbers! They couldn't take their defeat and so they shot him down! We must strike back! Show them we're not to be tricked! Destroy them once and for all!

THUNDERCRACKER: Yeah!

MEGATRON: Enough! I will decide what is to be done... take Starscream to the infirmary then assemble in the war room.

They all do so... except for Ravage, leaving him and Megatron alone.

MEGATRON: Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Forgive my exuberance, Ravage, but this little episode has resolved itself so neatly... we have destroyed an Autobot; taught Starscream the error of his ways; and give you your revenge on him...

RAVAGE: And your restless troops...

MEGATRON: ...are no longe restless. They craved action, enough it seems to question my authority. But now, thanks to Starscream, it is Megatron who will give thme what they desire... come, it is time to bang the final nails into the coffins of Starscream's ambition and the Autobots!

Megatron's satisfaction at the conclusion of events is not shared by the Autobots... the awful spectre of defeat stares them in the face... a friend, a comrade at arms, has fallen. How long before they too share his fate?

BRAWN: Hey, why all the long faces?

Mirage and a limping Brawn enter the room!

RED ALERT: B-but.. Brawn? We saw...

MIRAGE: You lot going to stand there stammering, or are you going to give us a hand?

Gears goes to help Brawn.

BUMBLEBEE: But we saw Brawn destroyed... how?

MIRAGE: Just give me a chance and I'll explain. You'll remember the explosion that caused all the trouble in the first place? The one that caused Brawn to act so out of character? Well, it also affected my power to create holographic images of myself... my power was increased a thousand-fold. I found I was able to project images of whatever I pictured in my mind. Autobot, Decepticon, even the audio-visual monitor at the battle site, saw Starscream's missiles destroy Brawn, who was, in fact, safe in the cave.

RED ALERT: That's convenient.

OPTIMUS PRIME: I told Mirage that, once Brawn had proved his loyalty, he was to find a way to convince the Decepticons that Starscream had won... but enough of all this self-congratulation, Brawn... welcome back to the ranks of the Autobots. You have acquitted yourself nobly.

MULTIPLE BOTS: (in unison) Long live Optimus Prime and the Autobots!

And back at the Decepticon fortress...

MEGATRON: When Ravage and I were leaving, we saw Mirage and a still-living Brawn walk away! They used illusions to trick us! No doubt they're all laughing and sneering... thinking they've got the better of us... but they shall soon learn the error of their ways... when Starscream advocated attack earlier it was too soon... but now... now is the time to crush the Autobots! Are you all solidly behind me?

MULTIPLE BOTS: (in unison) Yes... we're with you... the Autobots are finished!

MEGATRON: Yes... finished! This time there will be no mistake, the Autobots will perish... and the Ark will finally belong to the Decepticons!

SPYGLASS: And we can go home, right?

MEGATRON: Shut up, Spyglass.

Chapter Text

While preparing his Decepticon soldiers to invade the Ark, Megatron looks back on his upbringing...

MULTIPLE BOTS: (in unison) Megatron!

The first blow fractured Sunstreaker's battle mask. Fluid seeped across his forehead and down towards his face.

MULTIPLE BOTS: (in unison) Megatron!

A second blow, this time unseen, splintered the Autobot's shield and almost severed his left arm.

MULTIPLE BOTS: (in unison) Megatron!

Yet another blow and another. Another. A rythmic assault timed to the crowd's growing chant.

MULTIPLE BOTS: (in unison) Megatron! Megatron!

Sunstreaker took a step backwards. He raised his broken arm and with a single graceful movement he cast the now useless mask to the far side of the arena. Fuel and lubricant impaired his vision and the crowd blurred to a deafening roar. Sunstreaker had expected a hard contest; Megatron was a citizen of Tarn, and here in this arena he had the advantage of fighting in front of a home crowd. But something else was wrong...terribly wrong. Gladiatorial contests were common throughout Cybertron. Steeped in tradition, they were primarily designed to test an indivdual's althletic ability, his aptitude with shield and energy weapon, his acrobatic skill. The actual combat itself was far less important. Yet from the moment of entering the arena, Megatron had fought with an unbelievable ferocity. Every vulgar movement timed to the swaying of his frenzied supporters. Each bestial attack punctuated by their screams. With growing horror, Sunstreaker realized that this was no ritualized conflict he was engaged in. This was... circuit numbing agony as Megatron's energy ace lodged deep in the golden Autobot's shoulder. The world became dull, the crowd somehow remote and then Sunstreaker was thrown to the arena's smooth surface as with a brutal tug, Megatron tore his weapon free from his opponent's body. Tarn's crowded citizenry howled their approval as their champion loomed towards his stricken foe. He raised the energy axe once more, his pace slow and deliberate. His weapon shimmering in Cybertron's cool night air.

MULTIPLE BOTS: (in unison) Megatron! Megatron! Megatron!

The Autobot Overlord slowly opened his eyes. His circuits were now fully charged and the growing chant from the arena outside told him he'd soon be presenting another winning gladiator with an award. Electricity hummed and sparked as with weary resignation he pulled away from the circuit-encrusted wall he’d been imbedded in. The fact that his energy levels now needed almost constant replenishing was but another indication of the Overlord’s great age. He was the last in the line of Autobots that once ruled Cybertron and this fact weighed heavy on him. What had finally caused the planet wide autocracy of his forefathers to give way to the loose collection of independent states that existed today, the Overlord could not say. But he was convinced that the Autobots thirst for fuel sources had contributed to the change. The overlord himself was testament to the fact that the people of Cybertron were a hardy race. For thousands of years, perhaps longer, natural death had been an alien concept to them; yet with the creation of new Transformer life continuing unabated, it should’ve come as no surprise that one day the planet would face an unprecedented energy crisis. That day had arrived. Cities swelled to capacity and competition for fuel had become an intense and bitter struggle. The largest of Cybertron's cities were able to monopolize the planets' meagre resources and as the crisis deepened, not even the Overlord of the time could prevent his people from fragmenting into countless groups. Iacon emerged as the strongest of these newly-created city states and its council of governing elders use their powers to ration and distribute fuel to the city's less advantaged neighbors. Not so Shockwave, the military ruler of Cybertron's second largest city Tarn; nor Starscream, figurehead of the controlling dictators of Vos, Who use their not inconsiderable fuel stocks to create and maintain vast armies.

NIGHTSTALKER: You seem tired.

An ebony cat-like Transformer padded into the cavernous room. He moved with heavy lumbering steps, and pointed fangs, well kept and incredibly long protruded from his mouth as he spoke.

OVERLORD: What? Oh... Nightstalker.

The Overlord turned with stiffening joints towards his visitor.

OVERLORD: No, old friend, at least, no more than usual.

NIGHTSTALKER: Then you need much rest.

Nightstalker grinned. Along with Ravage, he had been bodyguard to the Overlords for generations and now he thanked the celestial spires he had been spared the peculiar melancholy that seemed to take hold of them in the final centuries of their lives.

NIGHTSTALKER: Do the Games progress well?

OVERLORD: The Games...

The Overlord shook his head slowly.

OVERLORD: The Games do not progress at all.

He placed an ancient hand on his companion's shoulder. Recent years have seen an alarming increasing tensions between the city states. It appeared that now the unthinkable was no longer so and many openly expressed their fears that Cybertron was moving rapidly along a path towards global warfare. In order to promote goodwill, the Overlord had used his still considerable influence to organize an inter-state competition. However, the Games, as the competition had become known, had if anything widened the deadly rift between the city states, particularly Iacon and Tarn. The Overlord rose.

OVERLORD: It is time to prepare for…the award ceremony.

The spectacle of Gladiatorial combat held little interest for Ravage. He was a creature at home in the shadows and the incessant noise of the spectators to such affairs held little appeal to his solitary nature. Yet now he watched, with mounting curiosity as spectacular drama unfolded in the arena before him. Megatron was indeed a formidable warrior; he fought with a skill and determination ravage had not seen for centuries. But there was more to Megatron than combat. His perfectly executed movements suggested the sharp, calculating mind of a true tactician and the manner in which he incited the crowd and bent them to his will, needed a particular spark of leadership Cybertron had not seen since the time of the ruling Overlords. Yes, there was more to Megatron than combat - much more. In the arena, Sunstreaker could no longer hear the crowd. The spectators continued to mock him but there was no sound. There was nothing but an icy grip at the base of the Autobot's neck. Megatron bent lower, his voice a whisper.

MEGATRON: It is time this farce ended.

ORION PAX: That is enough!

The auditorium fell silent and Megatron, shoulders hunched, turned to see a tall crimson figure.

MEGATRON: Pax, I'll brook no interference from the likes of you!

The savage assault took Orion Pax by surprise, and Iacon's chief athlete found himself lying on the floor of the arena. He tried to regain his footing but Megatron followed his attack though and a gleaming energy axe creased Pax's chest. Sunstreaker now forgotten, Megatron lurched towards the fallen Iaconian. He raised his energy weapon and... his arm fell limply to his side. His eyes widened and he simply stared into the barrel of Pax's photon pistol.

OVERLORD: Put an end to this violence.

The Overlord's voice carried poorly across the arena. He was now dressed in the heavy robes of his office and appeared, to many amongst the crowd, old and feeble. Pax stood and holstered his weapon.

ORION PAX: My Lord, Megatrin tried...

OVERLORD: Silence! You shame these games, but more importantly you shame yourselves.

ORION PAX: But...

OVERLORD: Enough, Pax. I shall postpone the award ceremony for another time cycle, and until then, we should all endeavor to re-establish friendly relations.

Ravage rose from this vantage point in the crowd and followed Nighstalker into the tower that housed the Overlord's chambers. Was the Overlord so naive as to be unaware of Megatron's true nature? Perhaps. Perhaps not, it mattered little anyway, for the Overlord would be gone soon and with him the planet's ties to the past. And as he was swallowed by the shadows, Ravage reflected that quite possibly, what he had witnessed in the arena this day, was the opening chapter in the bold new history of Cybertron.

Framed by a lightning-streaked sky, Tarn's power plant lay ominously silent. Since the start of the Games, only a minimal workforce had been on duty. Which was unfortunate, for had the full engineering staff being present, the group of saboteurs would undoubtedly have been intercepted long before they located the main generator. Tornado placed a hand on the generators cooling system.

TORNADO: It would take little effort for me to unleash the power necessary to level this pitiful city. Why do we cloak ourselves in darkness, like common criminals? Why?

A tall Autobot moved determinedly towards Tornado. He silver-colored body was uncharacteristically free from markings, save for one small insignia and this identified him as a commanding officer in the armed forces of the city state of Vos.

OFFICER: We do so because we have been ordered to do so, and that is all you need to know!

The officer stepped back and began to lay the explosives the group had brought with them around the base of the generator. The destruction of this power plant was crucial to the future plans of Vos. After such a blatant act of sabotage, Tarn would almost certainly demand retribution and if evidence suggested Iaconian agents... the neighboring cities would soon be at war. Of course, Vos would maintain a strict neutrality... at least until Iacon and Tarn were virtually destroyed, and then, with little effective resistance left to meet them, the armies of Vos would embark on a campaign of global conquest. It was a simple yet effective plan. But it was a plan that failed to account for a solitary Autobot engineer strolling into the generator room. The engineer stared with horrified fascination at the small group of saboteurs.

ENGINEER: By the Primal program, I recognize you... you're members of the athletic team from Vos!

The engineer turned and began to make for the room's exit. That a group of supposed athletes had infiltrated such an important power station was cause enough for concern, but the engineer had seen the explosive strapped to the generator and even an Autobot of his limited thought process could guess at the saboteurs' grim intention! He opened his wrist communicator and began to broadcast a frantic message to the power plant security guard. Yet this action proved futile as with ease, Tornado used his wind-creating powers to hoist Autobot aloft and throw him violently against the side of the enormous generator. The engineer fell to the room's floor, his limbs twisted under him. The only evidence of life was a faint crackle coming over his communicator:

SECURITY GUARD: Second engineer... we need confirmation of your last statement. Has station security being breached by Agents from Vos? Second engineer, please respond...

A full quarter of a time cycle after the small band of agents returned across the border into Vos, their explosive detonated, consuming Tarn's power station in a hideous fireball. Night turned today and across the city, countless Autobots stared at the brilliant radiance that filled the horizon with mounting apprehension...

Emirate Xaaron enter the celestial temple. Iacon's ruling council is deadlocked, and had been since Tarn declared war on Vos. However, the Autobot was determined that today's meeting would produce some positive action.

TOMAANDI: How goes the war?

XAARON: It is as we suspected, agents from Vos destroyed Tarn's power plant, and...

TRAACHON: Yes... but there's been only minimal penetration of Vos defense net and shock troops from both cities seem to cross the border indiscriminately.

TOMAANDI: And the refugees, what of them?

XAARON: They're being housed in various cities.

Autobots from both warring states had flooded into Iacon. They were offered fuel and shelter, but Xaaron was convinced that the refugees were only a symptom of a disease that the council had as of yet failed to combat. He raised his head and looked across the council room.

XAARON: General Traachon, I urge you once more to send a peacekeeping force to the war-zone.

Traachon rose.

TRAACHON: No! I will not allow an Iaconian force, peacekeeping or otherwise, to be caught in this conflict. Besides, have you considered that it's perhaps in our best interests if Vos and Tarn continue to destroy each other?

Megatron looked out across the scarred wasteland that had once been his home city. Tarn held little for him now; his destiny lay in Iacon. It was only there he had hoped to create a power base large enough to fulfill his ambitions. Ambitions that would transform Cybertron into a mobile battle-station, which could be then used to establish a galaxy-wide empire. Megatron smiled, and was still smiling when Ravage approached.

RAVAGE: You find our situation amusing?

MEGATRON: Oh, I find our situation amusing in the extreme!

The gladiatorial champion of a dying city laughed long and loud at the twist of fate that had allied him to both Orion Pax and the Autobot Overlord. Pax had been determined to escort the Overlord to the safety of Iacon, yet with the destruction of Tarn's power station, the only way to do so was by traveling through the central combat zone on foot. A treacherous journey at best, so recognizing safety in numbers, and having already decided to travel to Iacon himself, Megatron offered to help Pax in his endeavor. The group's progress had been slow, hindered by frequent encounters with groups of shock troops and by the Overlord's constant need to recharge his aging circuits. But now they were nearing the border. One final expressway to cross and they would be safe inside Iacon's boundaries. Megatron turned and stared at where the Overlord lay in the shadow of a building that had once been one of Tarn's border fortresses. The journey across the city had placed two great a strain on the Overlord's feeble circuits and he was undoubtedly now very close to death. Pax was bent low, administering what help he could to the aged Autobot. This was the opportunity Megatron had been waiting for, and with cautious steps he began to negotiate the non functioning bodies of the Autobot warriors that littered the expressway into Iacon. Maintaining a precarious balance, he managed to walk halfway across the gleaming structure before before a weakened support shattered - producing a gaping hole in the expressway. There was no time to react and Megatron, all thoughts of war-worlds and galactic empires forgotten, found himself falling to Tarn's lower levels. The last thing he experienced before losing consciousness was a sharp, tugging pain in his right arm.

Megatron awoke to see Pax standing above him

ORION PAX: It was fortunate I was able to prevent your fall, for we'll need all our strength if we're to find an alternative route into Iacon.

NIGHTSTALKER: I'm afraid that will be impossible.

Pax slowly turned to see Nightstalker approaching.

ORION PAX: Why is that?

NIGHTSTALKER: The Overlord cannot be moved just now... he would never survive another journey.

ORION PAX: Then you free must remain here to guard him, I'll travel to Iacon alone and return with help.

NIGHTSTALKER: But that will take days! The Overlord is in need of immediate medical attention and...

ORION PAX: I do not intend to try to map a different route into Iacon.

With that, Orion turned, let over the hole in the expressway and was soon out of sight. To Nightstalker, Tarn had never seemed more peaceful. Before the war the city had teamed with life... boisterous and loud; yet now all seemed silent. It was a deathly silence which reminded Nightstalker of the Overlord's deteriorating condition and he began to walk towards his master, hoping all the time that Pax would return. An electron pistol suddenly flared in the darkness and almost simultaneously a high intensity laser beamed melted Nightstalker's missile launcher.

NIGHTSTALKER: What?

Nightstalker raised his head and saw a small force of shock troops, members of Tarn's now all but defunct military, moving quickly towards him.

MEGATRON: Down!

Nightstalker ducked and the first of the advancing shock troops were caught in a tremendous explosion. The smoke and debris cleared and the catlike Transformer turned to see Megatron, a fusion cannon from one of the dead warriors on the expressway strapped to his arm. Ravage was standing by, his missiles primed and ready to launch.

MEGATRON: Quickly, move back! They'll re-group soon and attack a second time!

MEGATRON: Ravage! This is proving fruitless. Our only hope of survival lies in somehow bridging the hole in the expressway. Are you with me?

Time cycles passed and despite Megatron's deadly weapon, the group found themselves trapped between the shock troops and the impassable expressway.

NIGHTSTALKER: No!

Nightstalker leapt into the pack of shock troops.

NIGHTSTALKER: You can't abandon the Overlord now - you can't!

The ancient bodyguard soon began to buckle beneath the troops' relentless blows and as an officer prepared to render Nightstalker non-functional, the entire group were destroyed in a thunderous explosion. His eye circuits momentarily blinded, Megatron could do nothing but remain still.

MEGATRON: What happened?

RAVAGE: A bomb. Quite a large bomb, to be precise. All Overlord bodyguards are fitted with them. They're designed as a last line of defense. Most effective, don't you agree?

OVERLORD: Help... please.

Forgotten in the heat of the battle, Megatron now walked over to the Overlord.

MEGATRON: Yes?

OVERLORD: Your energy... I need some of your energy. Please, just until Pax returns... please.

MEGATRON: No, old one, no energy for you!

He smiled a humorless smile. With the Overlord dead, there would be one less to oppose his future plans. And it would be easy to convince Pax and the other Iaconians that the shock of coming under attack had proved too much for the Overlord's weakened circuits... the Autobot Overlord turned his gaze towards his bodyguard.

RAVAGE: Do not even consider asking the same of me, the balance of power on Cybertron is changing and I have chosen to ally myself with the planet's future ruler.

The final sight to greet the Overlord before becoming non-functional was Ravage slowly stalking over towards Megatron.

From his raised dais, Megatron gazed at the seemingly countless Autobots that had crowded the auditorium - Autobots who had once been proud citizens of Vos and Tarn. But Vos and Tarn longer existed. They had been consumed in the fiery light of two exploding photon missiles. Megatron did not know what had led to both cities simultaneously launching Cybertron's "ultimate deterrent"... he didn't care to know. All that mattered now was that the survivors of the war were united as never before. United in their feelings of hopelessness and frustration. It had been such a simple task for Megatron to play upon this bitterness, to convince the refugees that Iacon could have ended the conflict, but had failed to do so. And it was with satisfaction that Megatron had learned that many of those gathered in front of him now believed Iacon had actually caused the war, in an attempt to be rid of its more powerful neighbor. The ex-gladiator raised his arms and the restless crowd fell silent.

MEGATRON: Our ranks have swollen, our stockpiles of weapons grown, but still we must bide our time. From this day forward, we are not merely Transformers, we are not Autobots — we shall call ourselves Decepticons. And when they least expect it, we will have our revenge on the Iaconians!

As he left the auditorium, Megatron could hear the war of the crowded Decepticons. They were chanting a name. His name.

MULTIPLE BOTS: (in unison) Megatron! Megatron! Megatron!

Satisfied with this reminiscence, in the present day, on Earth, Megatron gets back to preparing.

Chapter Text

For some reason, Optimus Prime finds himself looking back on when he was first made leader of the Autobots...

XAARON: High Councillor Traachon, I beseech you, use your right of veto... free the Autobots to fight as soldiers, not politicans.

TRAACHON: Do you know of one who could shoulder such responsibility?

XAARON: Yes. Yes I do. He is a natural leader. His name is... Optimus Prime.

On the battlefield:

OPTIMUS: Strike Force Alpha, hold your ground... Hound, Pulsar, Big Red, you're supposed to be giving the gunners covering fire... Tempest... see to the survivors of Gamma Squad, makes sure they're taken to Ratchet...

The planet Cybertron, millions of years before the Transformers awoke to their exile on Earth... the Decepticon war machine is in full action; one by one, the great city states of the Autobots are being overrun... and the Decepticons take no prisoners! Now, the Decepticon forces have launched what could be their final offensive, against the capital city itself... Iacon.

TOMAANDI: We are doomed...

And within the heavily protected Celestial Temple, the Council of Autobot Elders is in session... for what may be the last time!

TOMAANDI: The Decepticons have breached all but our final defenses, our troops are in disarray... we are defeated!

XAARON: Never! Our forces are in disarray because fools like you, Tomaandi, insist on Council control. We must let them off our leash... entrust control to an individual... a warrior!

OPTIMUS: Thanks to the High Council, I must stand here and watch my comrades fall around me! If only Bluestreak and Fusion would get here with those shatter bombs. Where are they?

Bluestreak and Fusion are on their way, being shot at by Decepticon Seekers.

BLUESTREAK: Faster, Fusion, you're dropping behind!

FUSION: You just make sure you get those bombs to Optimus Prime, Bluestreak... I'm expendable! ...although perhaps I can take out a few Decepticons to buy you some time...

Fusion aims his weapon. Range 10 Klix. Compensate for wind vectors. Lock on target. Fire.

CRAABOOM!

One of the Seekers explodes.

BLUESTREAK: Good work, Fusion... oh no! The expressway's been wrecked!

FUSION: Jump it, Bluestreak... I'll cover your back...

As Bluestreak makes the jump, he says:

BLUESTREAK: Yeah... but who'll cover yours?

The luck of the day is with Bluestreak...

KROOM! SCREEEE!

He makes it. But unfortunately, for Fusion it is another story... as a Seeker locks on.

FUSION: Oops!

Fusion is blown to bits.

BLUESTREAK: No! Noooo!

Bluestreak can do nothing to aid his comrade-in-arms... nothing but swear revenge!

Meanwhile, in a command post in Iacon...

OPTIMUS: Give me your report quickly, I must return to the battle...

IRONHIDE: Emirate Xaaron on Security Channel One, Commander.

OPTIMUS: At last...

Optimus goes over to the communication device. Xaaron appears on the screen.

OPTIMUS: Xaaron, this has gone too far...

XAARON: Fear not, Optimus. Traachon is handing over full control of the army to you... the fate of the Autobots is in your hands now. Good luck.

Xaaron's image disappears.

OPTIMUS: At last, now I can strike positiviely against the advancing Decepticons... have Bluestreak and Fusion reported in yet?

IRONHIDE: Fusion didn't make it... but Bluestreak's back... we're unloading the bombs now...

And whilst Optimus Prime assumes his new role of leader of the Autobots, his opposite number, Megatron, surveys the damage wrought by his troops' aerial bombardment.

MEGATRON: Finally, total victory is within my grasp... once Iacon has fallen, the remaining Autobot strongholds will be easy to pick off when it suits me... all Cybertron will be under Decepticon rule... my rule! Soundwave... status report...?

SOUNDWAVE: The Decepticon advance has drive the Autobots back within the outer perimeter of the central dome. They were ordered to regroup a few moments ago...

MEGATRON: Perfect! Alert the strike force... we attack Iacon Central immediately... no one can stop us now!

But then, once the Decepticons reach Sherma Bridge...

OPTIMUS: Halt! I will allow you to go no further! I am Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots!

MEGATRON: ...Orion Pax, is that you? You're "Optimus Prime" now?

OPTIMUS: Yes. It is... a long story. I suggest that you surrender now, Megatron... or face the consequences!

MEGATRON: Surrender? Surrender?! Attack! Kill them all!

And so the battle is joined... however, it soon becomes evident that the Autobots are heavily outnumbered... and will soon fall. Unless, of course, they have one more hand to play... underneath the bridge.

GEARS: That's it, Optimus, just keep them there a few moments longer... incredible to think that we've been planning this moment for weeks and it has, at last, become a reality! Weeks of patiently weakening this particular pair of expressway supports, of commando raids... each one a desperate search for shatter bombs. And all without the Council suspecting we were acting without their approval. And now, to come together so neatly... the shatter bombs, the Decepticon attack, and the Council ruling... I just wish I played a more active role rather than just "overseeing" the project. Perhaps one day I'll be more a "classic hero." Sigh.

Gears becomes lost in thought for a moment. But only a moment. Then, he comes back and sends Optimus the signal.

GEARS: We're finished here. It's up to you now, Optimus...

Megatron shoots at Optimus, who barely gets out of the way in time.

SHRAACK!

OPTIMUS: That was too close for comfort... but, now that Gears has signaled he's ready, it'll have to be closer still...

Optimus does his best acting job.

OPTIMUS: I may be defeated, Megatron... but I'll take you with me!

Optimus leaps at Megatron.

MEGATRON: Somehow, Optimus Prime... I don't think so!

KROOM!

Optimus is hit right in the chest plate!

OPTIMUS: Unngh...! Flee, Autobots! Carry on the struggle for me.

Obeying their leader's last command, the Autobots stage a somewhat panicked retreat... somewhat.

MEGATRON: Ha! I must thank you, Optimus Prime, seeing your troops flee in abject fear has almost completed my victory... only one task remains...

Megatron aims his cannon at Optimus's head.

OPTIMUS: You're so right...

Gears presses the detonation button. The bridge supports explode, collapsing the bridge.

KAABOOOM!

Thousands of tons of metal crash to the ground... smashing and crushing the Decepticons to the ground. It seems impossible that anyone could survive such a maelstrom of destruction... but perhaps today is a day for miracles... as Windcharger uses his abilities to "catch" Optimus Prime!

WINDCHARGER: Got 'im! Told you my magnetic powers could pluck him out of there!

But Optimus still looks worse for wear.

GEARS: Quickly, get him to the med-bay. We'll need him back in action when the Decepticons send in reinforcements!

WINDCHARGER: Do you reckon we've finally got rid of Megatron?

GEARS: Must have. I mean... nothing could have survived that!

Oh Gears, you minuscule fool...

SCHRAAAK!

Megatron blasts out of the rubble.

MEGATRON: I... live! Your ploy has failed, Optimus Prime! You have won a battle but the war goes on... I will not rest until I destroy you utterly!

And go on the war did... stretching from Cybertron to Earth. But never once did Optimus Prime shirk the responsibility that had been handed to him... the responsibility of a leader!

Back in the present moment, Optimus reminds himself to thank Windcharger again for that save all those millions of years ago. He's a good asset to the team... hopefully he makes another great contribution again soon.

Chapter Text

Created by the Autobots, the Ark was a marvel of technology... impossibly fast, enormously powerful... but, ultimately, vulnerable. It took the might of the evil Decepticons to breach its hull. They were fresh and fully fueled for battle... the Autobots were not. As her troops fell, the computerized brain of the Ark swung into operation... Auntie, as she had been nicknamed, evaluated internal defenses, calculated probabilities and finally arrived at the only logical course of action... one Optimus Prime agreed with. A button was pressed... and the Ark committed suicide... hurtling itself at an uninhabited planet... Earth! And now, history is about to repeat itself... as the Decepticons once again seek to capture the last of the Great Arks... in the present day, the Decepticons line up outside the Ark.

MEGATRON: Now... attack!

Hound receives an alert.

HOUND: Figures closing fast... alert Optimus Prime... we're under siege!

As Laserbeak's force beam tears through the hull, Buzzsaw carves his own entrance...

SSSHHRR!

Jazz ducks for cover. Laserbeak flies through a crowd of Mirage, Gears, and Huffer.

LASERBEAK: Ha! look at them fall before our might... the others will only be left with the piecessaaargh!

SCRHRAK!

Optimus shoots right through Laserbeak, sending him crashing to the ground.

OPTIMUS: Call yourselves warriors? Arm up and follow me outside!

Buzzsaw flies out of the Ark to alert his teammates.

BUZZSAW: Laserbeak's down! And here come the Autobots... it's your turn now!

While Optimus commands his own troops...

OPTIMUS: Pick your targets... and make sure your shots count!

And so the battle begins... with no quarter asked... and none given! Simultaneous fights break out, overlapping with one another. Thundercracker shoots down a flying Sideswipe.

ZAKOW!

Sunstreaker shoots at Buzzsaw... but misses.

ZZAK!

Ravage tackles Prowl, and Rumble shoots at Gears.

WAZ!

The shot connects and Gears goes down!

SPLOW!

Mirage punches out Frenzy. And Jazz corners Soundwave.

JAZZ: Let's see if Jazz can make things hot for you Soundwave!

Jazz blasts Soundwave with his flamethrower.

FWOOSH!

Soundwave, however, is just fine!

SOUNDWAVE: Impressive, but my armor's more than a match for your weapon... a pity the same cannot be said of yours...!

Soundwave shoots Jazz in the chest.

ZOW!

JAZZ: Arrgh!

Ravage now jumps on top of Windcharger, remembering a battle from millions of years prior. When he and Megatron turned on an Autobot overlord, cementing their destiny of Decepticon rebellion. Windcharger too remembers a battle, in which he saved Optimus Prime from an exploding bridge, proving his worth to the Autobots. Both Ravage and Windcharger are true believers in their respective causes. Neither one of them is going to back down! Behind them, Skywarp shoots.

RAVAGE: I'll claw you to bits, Autobot!

WINDCHARGER: Loathsome creature... you repulse me... or should that be the other way around?!

Windcharger's powerful magnetic field hurls Ravage away from him, but...

RAVAGE: You forget... the electro-magnetic shield that helps me avoid detection can also negate your power! Prepare to meet your end, Windcharger!

Behind him, Skywarp is shot down. Meanwhile, Rumble tangles with Sideswipe. Rumble makes the ground quake.

RUMBLE: See why they call me Rumble, Autobot? I'm tougher than you'll ever be!

SIDESWIPE: You imbecile! You have no conception of the meaning of tough! Let me enlighten you!

Sideswipe hits the ground with his piledrivers. Rumble goes flying, bits of rock shooting through him.

CHARKOOM!

Optimus Prime thinks on the battle.

OPTIMUS: This goes badly. We're more low on Energon than ever before, and the Decepticons have plenty, thanks to Sparkplug Witwicky! We are outgunned, and even with the courage and spirit the Autobots are showing, I fear we are destined to fail. It would be another matter if the Ark's defenses were active, but Auntie controlled those directly... Auntie! Of course! Until now, we've merely used the basic computer functions of the Ark, but Auntie was far more than that... she was the Ark! If I can get her to even a fraction of her operational capacity... the Decepticons are as good as dead...

Optimus runs off. As Red Alert shoots at Spectro, Megatron turns around from who shooting down Cliffjumper to see his rival, seemingly fleeing.

MEGATRON: I cannot believe it! The great Optimus Prime fleeing from a battle? No. He must have a plan he feels will turn the tide of the battle. Perhaps the Ark contain some awesome weapon...

Megatron punches past Huffer and runs after Optimus.

MEGATRON: Whatever. He must be stopped!

Optimus reaches Auntie's controls.

OPTIMUS: Almost there. I've reconnected the main terminals... trouble is I don't know how badly she was damaged in the crash.

He types the words: Wake up Auntie... we need your help...

OPTIMUS: I need time to do this properly...

Suddenly, the terminal explodes!

KREEECH!

OPTIMUS: Wha-? Uunngh!

Optimus is blasted back... and it was Megatron who caused it with a shot from his fusion cannon!

MEGATRON: A wasted effort, my old enemy. By now you should realize the futility of struggle.

OPTIMUS: He's right... after all this time... I've failed...

AUNTIE: I... function...

Optimus and Megatron tangle with each other as Auntie secretly boots up.

AUNTIE: Memory... logic circuits reassembling... all systems operational... activity in nearby vicinity... audio, visual, and speech centers activated...

Optimus and Megatron stop fighting at the sound of a voice, and the apparition of a golden face.

AUNTIE: Cease hostilities forthwith. I am the Ark... I am Auntie!

While outside... the battle still rages!

Red Alert shoots at Spectro again, as Frenzy and Gears prepare to exchange blows.

FRENZY: And now I'll...

But then... a beam of energy grabs hold of Frenzy's fist.

FRENZY: Hey! What the-?

And suddenly, ALL the Transformers are magentically thrown against the wall.

KLAANGG!

PROWL: Oof! just what is going on here?!

And back at where Optimus and Megatron are... Auntie now has shot energy at them as well, causing them to be frozen, and suspended in the air.

AUNTIE: There, that takes care of that. Now where were we? Oh, yes, I can clearly see the reason for your request for help... all that fighting, not necessary. I'll settle your dispute for you. I'll hear both sides of your problem, and eradicate the less deserving of you!

OPTIMUS: Auntie, listen to me... some of your memory circuits must be dysfunctional. I am Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots, we built you! The Decepticons are our enemies, they are evil...

MEGATRON: He lies! It is we who are the wronged party in this war, the Autobot seeks to fool you...

AUNTIE: Silence! Nobody built me. Nobody's fooling me. I shall judge your case. One group walks away, the other doesn't. It's as simple as that! Let the trial begin...