Transformers Regenerated / WALL-E: Chapter Four

CHAPTER FOUR

    Carrying WALL-E in her arms, EVE flew up the Axiom's side to where the communications array was being built. It was here that BURN-E and SUPPLY-R were supposed to be working on the device, but the welder bot was mysteriously absent. And SUPPLY-R had been deactivated....

    Concerned for his fellow robot, WALL-E jumped out of EVE's arms and rolled up to the larger, boxy robot. He tried waving his hand in front of SUPPLY-R's visor screen and tapping the screen itself, but the robot generated no response.

    Whirring in concern, WALL-E turned to EVE with a worried look. EVE then approached SUPPLY-R and reached behind him. Finding a manual switch, she turned it on and the supplier bot's blue eyes came back online.

    "--Ouuut," he droned, as if he had been cut off from saying something just before being deactivated. He then noticed BURN-E's sudden absence and looked down at WALL-E and EVE. "BURN-E?" he asked. 

    Both robots shook their heads. "Gone," WALL-E added with a sad note. "Know... where?"

    SUPPLY-R's eyes narrowed in concern and contemplation. He then said, "Captured."

    "Captured?" EVE repeated.

    "Big... robot. Scary looking."

    Exchanging concerned glances with EVE, WALL-E then pointed at the door that BURN-E normally used to enter and leave the Axiom. "Inside?"

    "Don't know."

    Deciding it was worth a shot to venture into the ship, EVE used her security codes to open the door before leading WALL-E inside. The garbage bot looked behind him and gestured for SUPPLY-R to follow but the larger bot simply backed away in refusal. With a shrug, WALL-E followed EVE as the door closed behind them.

*  *  *

    "Intruder alert. Intruder alert. Intruder--"

    Windtrail silenced the alarm system before bringing up a visual of the new arrivals. They were a pair of Earth robots; one was boxy and yellow, covered in grime, while the other was white and slender with a pristine appearance.

    Smirking, Windtrail turned to Skids, giving him a clear view of the screen. "Friends of yours?"

    "Never seen them before in my life."

    "You know, Fearstorm has been dabbling in the art of mnemosurgery. He could tell me if you were lying."

    Skids rolled his optics. "Of course I'm lying. That wasn't a lie you were supposed to fall for."

    Windtrail waved a dismissive hand before turning on his communicator. "Viral, we have guests. Please give them a warm welcome."

*  *  *

    When the Axiom had been in space, the Lido Deck had served as a means of recreation for its passengers. Its domed ceiling used to imitate the sky of Earth, representing its day or night patterns while humans relaxed in luxury. Now though, the Lido Deck was devoid of life and activity, the Axiom's passengers having since migrated to Earth itself. All it had to offer now were memories.

    As he and EVE scanned the deck for their Autobot friend, WALL-E caught motion in the corner of his optic. He rotated his head to see BURN-E approaching them. While he was at first delighted to see the missing welder bot, he came to his quick realization that BURN-E's movements were rather sluggish and off.

    WALL-E silently tugged on EVE's arm, signaling her to stop, and they both waited for the welder robot to finish his approach. It was then that WALL-E noticed that BURN-E's optics were a more greenish color rather than their usual blue.

    Speaking in a voice that definitely was not his own, BURN-E said, "Visitors. Such a welcoming sight."

    The voice was hollow, as if coming from beyond the grave. WALL-E whirred nervously as he clung onto EVE's hand.

    "Do not be frightened of me," the faux BURN-E said, his tone not at all reassuring. "I come to you in peace, as a fellow robot."

    The couple were still way of him. Her optics narrowing skeptically, EVE said, "What happened?"

    BURN-E was silent for a moment before saying, "I'll take you to the bridge. You'll find your answers there."

    The welder robot then turned to leave, not waiting for the other two to follow. WALL-E and EVE glanced at each other before trailing after their changed friend.

*  *  *

    Skids had witnessed WALL-E and EVE's encounter with the welder bot on the viewscreen. Although he hardly knew this BURN-E person, he was still disturbed by the way he had acted.

    "What was up with that 'bot?" he asked Windtrail. "I thought you were going to send Viral."

    "That was Viral," Windtrail casually replied. 

    Skids blinked in astonishment. "Say what?"

    The Decepticon laughed coldly. "Oh, come now. You mean you didn't know? That's Viral's trick; to hack into CPUs and control them remotely. Don't you Autobots have filed on all of us?"

    "Yeah, but I hardly ever read them. I let Que do that for me."

    Windtrail shook his head, chuckling to himself. "If you're really the best they had to offer, I'd hate to see worse." His gaze flickered to the elevator, which WALL-E, EVE, and Viral would soon be emerging from. The Seeker suddenly frowned. "Er, those two robots... they wouldn't happen to both be armed, would they?"

    "No," Skids replied.

    Windtrail visibly relaxed. "Ah, good."

    The elevator doors then slid open and the three robots rolled and hovered out. Upon seeing Skids, WALL-E cried out in joy and rushed towards the Autobot. Before he could reach him, Fearstorm stepped forward and intercepted the Earth robot's path. Frightened, WALL-E rolled back and compacted himself into a box.

    "Huh," Skids muttered. "I had no idea you could change shape."

    Coming to WALL-E's rescue, EVE brought herself between him and Fearstorm and aimed her blaster at the Decepticon.

    "Hey!" Windtrail exclaimed. "You said they were unarmed!"

    Skids gave him a lopsided grin. "Sorry. You only asked if they were both armed. Only one of them is. Phrase your questions better next time."

    Seething with anger, Windtrail said to Fearstorm, "Leave them be. If you start any gunfights here, it could damage the computer and ruin all the operation."

    The Vehicon grudgingly relented and retreated back to the shadows. Viral, in the body of BURN-E, then rolled up to Windtrail.

    "I've brought the robots. What else do you need of me?"

    Windtrail gestured at EVE. "Scan the probe's mind for the next part of the Axiom codes."

    Now it was WALL-E turn to be defensive. Emerging from his box form, he rolled in front of EVE and splayed his arms as if to shield her from the Decepticons.

    Windtrail rolled his optics. "Oh, for spark's sake. Fearstorm, you do the honors."

    Coming forth from the shadows once more, Fearstorm strode towards EVE and injected a pair of needle-like fingers into the back of her head. Two seconds passed and he quickly retracted them, leaving the probe bot dazed but unharmed.

    "THX-1138," the Vehicon muttered.

    "Hmm," Skids said sarcastically. "Where have I heard that phrase before?"

    Ignoring the Autobot, Windtrail punched in a command into the computer and a spindly shape suddenly descended from the ceiling. Colored in white and black, the robot was shaped like the steering wheel of a naval ship, its multiple spokes rotating. A single red optic glowed in its center.

    WALL-E shrank away in terror again. EVE deployed her blaster again. Skids found himself completely bemused again.

    "AUTO," Windtrail said to the wheel bot. "THX-1138."

    The robot turned to the computer and punched in random commands at rapid speed. Then, in moments, the ship was rumbling, preparing for take off....

Transformers Regenerated / WALL-E: Chapter Three

CHAPTER THREE

    "Nickel, iron, cobalt, chrome."

    The welding robot paused in his work. His optical sensors darted around, searching for the source of the eerie voice. He then turned his head around; no one was with him on the Axiom's hull besides the supplier robot. SUPPLY-R looked bored and impassive as always, but for all BURN-E knew, his partner could be pulling a prank.

    Eying his friend warily, BURN-E returned to work. Barely a minute later, the voice spoke again: "He'll eat your soul."

    BURN-E yelped before whirling to face SUPPLY-R, beeping to him in the binary code language all Axiom robots were accustomed to. Stop it!

    SUPPLY-R looked down at him innocently. Stop what?

    That... that voice thing! BURN-E waved his arms widely. The eating souls thing!

    What's a soul?

    I don't know, but... it sounded creepy when you said it!

    I didn't say anything.

    BURN-E merely huffed before turning back to his work, welding another panel on the communications array shut. It was the Captain's hopes that this device would summon the rest of the BnL ships back to Earth, since the Axiom's own communications system had been mysteriously disabled....

    "Turn your spark to stone."

    BURN-E spun to face SUPPLY-R again, optics twitching. This isn't funny.

    Do you hear me laughing?

    The welder bot pointed his claw hand accusingly at the supplier bot. Admit it! You're the one doing that creepy voice!

    I don't even know what you're--

    "Nickel, iron, cobalt, chrome."

    Both robots froze, fully aware now that neither of them was responsible for the voice. A shadow fell over them and BURN-E turned to see the figure of his nightmare.

    "Run, little robot, run away home."

*  *  *

    "Eee-vah?" WALL-E poked his outside his truck, where he found EVE helping other robots maintain care for the plants beginning to emerge on Earth. "Where... Skids?"

    The probe robot turned to face him, an inquisitive look on her face-screen. "Can't find him?" she hummed.

    WALL-E shook his head. "Gone."

    EVE looked around, seeing no sign of their new-found Autobot friend either. She then took off, utilizing the scanning feature that was customary to her model. WALL-E trailed after her, anxious to find Skids.

    After several minutes of searching, the two robots arrived at the landing site of the Axiom. The massive ship loomed over them, its silver hull gleaming in the sunlight. It hadn't seen much use in the months following its return to Earth, serving more as a reminder of what humanity had been through and a historic monument for future generations to witness. However, it's last Captain had recently ordered a communications array to be constructed so that the other BnL starliners could be summoned back to Earth.

    EVE's sensors suddenly pinged. She abruptly came to a stop, causing WALL-E to nearly bump into her. She then tugged at his arm while pointing at the ship straight ahead.

    "Axiom."

    WALL-E's metal brows raised as he looked at her questioningly. "Huh?"

    "Skids. At Axiom."

    He turned to the ship with a curious expression. Why would Skids be at the Axiom? Were its decks even big enough to accommodate his large size? Then again, he was no bigger than the WALL-A units that used to work the garbage compactor area.

    Exchanging curious glances, the two robots headed for the ship.

*  *  *

    "Rise and shine."

    Skids gasped as he was jolted awake-- literally. Energon prod in hand, Fearstorm walked past him and stood off to the side. Moving in the darkness of the room was a tall, winged mech in silver and red. When he spoke, the mech carried a lilting Vos accent in his voice. It was a voice Skids recognized all too well.

    "How nice of you to join me, Skids," Windtrail said. "I am moments away from the endgame of my plan."

    Skids smirked. "What plan? I thought you were just taking some sort of time traveling tour or something--"

    "Don't mock me!" the Decepticon snapped, instantly loosing his confident tone. "You couldn't even begin to comprehend my plan! Its layers are thicker than your skull!"

    Skids shivered mockingly. "Ooh, I'm trembling with fear. Seriously, Windtrail, you're no better than that teleporting Seeker-- Skywarp, right? You've got a special, incredibly useful power-- in your case, Transwarping at will-- and you have no idea how to use it properly."

    "I do so know how to use it! What do you think I've been doing with it this past century?"

    "Nine centuries, you mean." Skids chuckled to himself. "Sorry, time traveling joke. I'm sure you'd get it."

    "I do so get it, and it is not the least bit funny!" Windtrail snapped. "Regardless of how long its been, I've finally gathered everything I need for my plan! ...Well, almost everything."

    Skids smirked. "Oh, really? And just what exactly is your plan?"

    "Ha! Like I'd tell you the details of my plan before I'm even finished with it! I'm not that stupid of a villain!"

    "Could have fooled me...." Skids muttered.

    "Enough! Fearstorm, tell Viral to retrieve the next part of the plan. Then... see what you can get out of our Autobot friend here."

    The Vehicon chuckled. "With pleasure, boss."

    Skids inclined his head towards Windtrail. "Are you expecting me to talk?"

    "Of course not!" Windtrail laughed. "I'm expecting you to die."

    Skids shook his head. "Wow, you're a walking cliche, aren't you?"

Transformers Regenerated / WALL-E: Chapter Two

CHAPTER TWO

    The solitary mole robot-- known by its designation of GO-4-- moved through the labyrinth of secret passages which had been made for it. It had just borne witness to the fight between the three giant robots. One of them-- the blue and red one-- instantly registered in its memory banks. It knew now what had to be done.

    Emerging into a darkened room, GO-4 called out in a monotonic voice. "He is here."

    A large shape moved in the darkness. Orange optical sensors glowed as their owner turned around to face GO-4. 

    "Just as I expected. Unfortunately, I am not quite done with things here. We need him out of the picture."

    GO-4 did not respond. It was not programmed for conversation.

    After a moment, the hidden figure said, "Send out Fearstorm. At the very least, he should be able to stall our interloper."

    GO-4 said nothing to acknowledge the order. It merely turned to carry it out.

*  *  *

    "That's some story you guys got," Skids said as he finished off his oil can. "A corrupt corporation, a plant in a boot, an evil robot steering wheel... you could turn it all into a full-length feature movie."

    He sat next to WALL-E and EVE (not Eva, as he was originally led to believe) on a small hill under the moonlight. While Skids sat idly, rolling the can around in his hands, the two Earth robots sat close to each other, holding hands while gazing at the stars. Or into each others eyes. They tended to switch between the two.

    Skids revved quietly to get their attention. "So, uh, I take it you two are, uh, together?"

    WALL-E looked up at him and nodded sheepishly. "Uh-huh."

    Skids smiled. "That's nice. You know, I--"

    Before he could finish, his internal comlink chimed. He excused himself-- though the two lovers did not seem to notice-- and he moved a few feet away from them before answering the call.

    "Hey, Que. What's up?"

    "Agent Skids," the Autobot inventor said in a scolding manner. "It's been two megacycles. You should have contacted me by now. I was worried that something had gone wrong with the Transwarp jump."

    "Sorry, Que. I got sidetracked."

    "You never get sidetracked."

    Skids rolled his optics. "Well, you have a run-in with giant bots with swords and tell me how focused you still are."

    "Forget it," Que muttered. "Anyway, any progress in finding Windtrail."

    "None," Skids said bitterly, looking around. "But I've only just started. Do you know if he's picked up any new cronies?"

    "According to Agent 332's report, when he attempted to apprehend Windtrail in Earth Year 2017, he spotted two other Decepticons with him: Fearstorm, a modified Vehicon trooper, and Viral, a rogue scientist."

    "Danger level?"

    "Extreme, for both of them," Que said gravelly.

    Skids smirked. "That just ups the fun level."

    "Now don't go do anything rash, Skids," Que said sternly. "Remember the rules: Watch where you step and keep your head on straight."

    "And don't date Femaxians."

    Que paused. "That's a rule?"

    "Just ask Cloudburst."

    He heard a sigh on the other end. "Whatever. Just make sure to give me regular updates." With that, Que ended the connection.

    Skids chuckled to himself as he returned to WALL-E and EVE. To his surprise and mild concern, they were not where he had left them. He then looked up and saw them spinning and twirling around in the nighttime, the moon serving as their spotlight.

    He smiled at the scene before converting into his car form and driving off.

*  *  *

    Masked by the cloak of darkness, the black automobile watched as the Autobot known as Skids drove past it. Revving up its engine, it pulled out of its parking place and took off after the Autobot.

    Skids did not seem to notice his pursuer, who kept a safe distance and remained as quiet as a glitch-mouse. It was only when they reached an abandoned intersection that the Decepticon was proven wrong.

    As Skids abruptly transformed, Fearstorm was unable to stop in time and crashed into the Autobot's leg. Skids then grabbed the car by either side and hurled it into a heap of trash. The Decepticon quickly transformed and picked up his bearings.

    "Ah, crony number one," Skids said, planting his hands on his hips. "You're Fearstorm, right? You look and drive as bad as a Vehicon."

    "I'm in no mood for pre-fight banter," Fearstorm growled. "Either shoot first or let me do the honors."

    Skids shrugged. "If you say so." He then pulled out a blaster and fired.

    Fearstorm ducked and rolled, coming up face-to-face with the Autobot. He threw his large fist into Skids' faceplate, sending the latter sprawling to the ground. As he fell, Skids fired his arm blasters, though Fearstorm easily dodged the shots before leaping. He landed on Skids' fallen form, pinning him to the ground.

    "Are you really the Autobot Windtrail is so afraid of?" Fearstorm said mockingly. "I've fought other Vehicons tougher than you."

    "Wow, way to set your standards," Skids said as a pair of cannons flipped out from his back. Fearstorm reacted quickly and neutralized the weapons with an EMP gun.

    "We're up to all of your tricks and gadgets," the Vehicon growled as he brought out a pair of stasis cuffs and slapped them onto Skids' wrists. "It helps that you're something of a... 'fable' among Decepticons: the Unbeatable Autobot Warrior, we call you."

    "Aw, I'm flattered. Do you want my autograph?"

    Fearstorm chuckled darkly. "Oh, there'll be plenty of time for autographs. Trust me."

    He then raised his fist and punched Skids in the face, throwing him into darkness....

Transformers Regenerated / WALL-E: Prologue & Chapter One

    A crossover I felt like writing. Mainly takes place away from the main story, but the prologue is right after Volume XIII, and the ending leads into Volume XIV.

OUTSIDER OF YONKERS

A Transformers / WALL-E Crossover

Timelines: AD 2805 (791 years after the main story; six months after the events of WALL-E)

PROLOGUE

--Earth, AD 2014--

    Blue optical sensors carefully perused the stream of data that passed on the monitor screen. The owner of these eyes was the only one privy to the information they browsed through; some may have been away of its existence but, for their own good, did not know the details.

    Pulling away from the screen, Prowl steepled his fingers. The news he had just received was far from pleasing; a Decepticon by the name of Windtrail had been detected at random intervals in time, appearing in places where he should not have been before. Despite the Autobots' best efforts, he was still up to his antics.

    This called for drastic measures. Picking up his comlink, which was connected to a secret channel only he had access to, Prowl contacted the one person he knew was capable of handling the situation.

    "Agent Skids, do you read me?"

    Static at first. Then, a gruff "Yup."

    "Are you busy?" Prowl asked.

    "Um, kinda. What do you need?"

    "I need you to make a Transwarp jump. To seven hundred and ninety-one years into the future."

    "Okay... just let me see if this ship is capable of withstanding a Transwarp jump."

    Prowl frowned. "Don't tell me you've changed ships already. The one we gave you was a state-of-the-art MagEx Crusader-class--"

    "I know, I know," Skids replied. "Long story. And good news: this ship won't break apart if I make a jump."

    Prowl sighed. "Whatever. We've spotted Windtrail. You know what needs to be done. And remember: watch where you step. I don't want you stepping on some insect and cause the universe to collapse unto itself."

    The agent let out a bitter chuckle. "I'll do what I can."

    And with that, he was no longer present in today's time.

CHAPTER ONE

--Earth, AD 2805--

    Treads rolled across dirt as the small garbage-collecting robot traversed the barren field. Well, it wasn't completely barren; tiny strands of green were sprouting out of the ground, indicating a burst of life where there hadn't been originally. But the robot had not come to watch plants grow.

    He had come to watch a spaceship crash.

    Seeing the golden ship streak across the sky reminded him of the day the love of his life arrived in a similar vessel. Of course, that ship wasn't gold and burning at the rear thruster, but it was close enough in his mind.

    As he chased after the plummeting ship, he looked over his shoulder to see another robot close behind him. Sleek with glistening white plating-- a contrast to his boxy, dirt-covered yellow appearance-- she watched with similar curiosity, her blue eyes twinkling in a way that made the other robot's power core melt.

    So lost was he in his loving gaze that he almost did not notice the ship's crash until the ground rumbled and a column of flame erupted in the distance....

*  *  *

    That... could have gone better.

    Skids ruefully looked upon the smoking wreckage that had been his means of transportation. For some reason, he could not recall how he had gotten to be on it, or why it was suddenly on fire, but he supposed it didn't matter anymore.

    The Autobot agent took in his surroundings. He had been to Earth previously during his time travels, but in none of them did it look like a barren world with a hazy sky. There was some floral growth here and there, but it was far from the lush gardens that were normally abundant. Then there was all of the towers of trash surrounding him....

    It's like I ended up on some Junkion's dream home.

    As Skids prepared to search for an alternate mode to adopt, he heard a booming voice speak behind him. "Nineteen eighty-four."

    He spun around and froze. Emerging from the wreckage were two giant robots, wielding swords as big as they were. They had narrow, empty slits for eyes and mouths that were merely rows of fangs. At their feet were the remains of a third robot of their model, who had suffered the worst of the crash.

    "Nineteen eighty-four," the robots said again, this time in unison.

    Skids smiled weakly as he waved at them. "Um, hi. Sorry about your friend... and sorry I hitched a ride on you. In fact, I don't even remember boarding you. So, yeah, this is all just a big misunderstanding."

    One of the giant bots stepped forward menacingly. "Nineteen eighty-four."

    He put up his hands defensively. "I'm unarmed! Come on, you wouldn't hurt an innocent, defenseless mech, would you?"

    His response came in the form of a jet of flame emitting from the robot's mouth. Skids narrowly dodged it in time, dropping down and rolling up to a nearby mount of trash. Right next to it was a rusty old truck with a miniature rocket ship attached to its roof. The words "Pizza Planet" were visible but faded on its doors.

    An idea sparked in his head. Tearing off the truck's hook, he put his hands into the engines and began to rearrange its wires, setting it to explode in any minute. He then turned to his adversaries with a mad grin.

    "Who wants some pizza?" he said as he hurled the truck at one of the giant robots. Upon contact, both vehicle and mech exploded.

    "Ha!" Skids pointed tauntingly at the remaining bot. "I just destroyed your friend with a slaggin' pizza truck! What do you say to that?"

    The giant glared at him. "Nineteen eighty-four."

    Skids rolled his eyes. "Figures. Guess it's time to bring out the big guns."

    He sent out a mental command for his body to deploy all of his weaponry. Nothing happened. Confused, he looked over his shoulder and saw a claw of some sort attached to his back. He instantly recognized it as an inhibitor claw, used to restrain a Cybertronian's transformation and weapon systems.

    "You have got to be kidding me," he muttered as his golden opponent fired another jet of flame from its mouth.

*  *  *

    WALL-E cried as the large blue and red robot came flying at him. Moving in a white blur, EVE scooped him up in her arms and pulled him away in time just as the 'bot came crashing down. Up ahead, an even larger one in gold charged towards them, toting a massive sword.

    Scrambling to his feet, the blue robot looked from the giant to WALL-E and EVE. He then pointed them to a strange device on his back.

    "Claw," he said bluntly.

    The two robots stared at him in bemusement; the device didn't look anything like a claw to either of them.

    He sighed exasperatedly. "Just take off the stupid claw!"

    Startled by the sternness in his voice, EVE moved forward and quickly removed the claw from his back. In an instant, guns furled out from his shoulders and arms. With a mad grin, he charged towards the giant.

    "All right, Goldie. Let's dance!"

    "Nineteen eighty-four," was all the giant said as the blue robot jumped at him, guns ablaze, and began pummeling his opponent.

    WALL-E shielded his optics from the carnage that followed. He could still hear metal being torn away and oil being splattered everywhere. When the horrible sounds finally stopped, he dared to peek through his fingers.

    The blue robot was standing triumphantly over what was left of the gold one. Dusting off his hands, he jumped down from the heap of metal and stored away his weaponry, though he still held a small handgun. When he began to approach the two Earth robots, EVE intercepted his path, aiming her blaster at him.

    "Stop," she beeped sternly.

    The blue robot held up his hands defensively. "Whoa, calm down! I just saved your lives. I even put away my weapons!"

    She gestured at the gun in his hand. "No. Haven't."

    He looked at the gun and seemed utterly baffled by it. "What the--? How did that get there?" He immediately dropped the weapon and disregarded it. "Okay, now I'm unarmed. You can stop pointing that thing at me."

    Still wary of him, EVE folded away her blaster. Tentatively, WALL-E rolled up to the larger robot and tilted his head. "Who... are you?" he asked, utilizing his limited vocabulary.

    "You can call me Skids." He knelt down and squinted his optics at the writing on WALL-E's chest. "And you must be... WALL-E."

    WALL-E nodded eagerly before gesturing at EVE. "Eee-vah!"

    "WALL-E and Eva." Skids chuckled. "Can't say I've ever met robots with human names, but, eh-- different cultures and what not."

    EVE looked up at the mysterious robot, her skepticism replaced by curiosity. "Directive?" she hummed.

    Skids scratched the back of his head. "Directive? Classified, I'm afraid."

    WALL-E looked at the remains of the gold robot. "Nineteeeen--?"

    Skids shook his head. "I'm as in the dark about that as you are, pal. Now then... do you have any energon? I'm starving."

    WALL-E and EVE glanced at each other, befuddled. Energon?

Transformers Regenerated: Unicron Saga XIII, Chapter Ten

CHAPTER TEN

--Earth--

    With Scorponok defeated and the Decepticons having fled the scene, the Autobots returned to their base, where Ratchet set about getting Optimus' nerve circuits operating again. As he laid on a repair slab, the Autobot leader-- as well as the others-- looked to Sunstreaker expectantly.

    "So... mind filling us in?"

    Sunstreaker sighed as he slumped against a wall. "When those Machination guys brought me to their labs, they started... experimenting on me."

    "Experimenting?" Arcee asked.

    He nodded. "They took me apart, checked out my gears, all while I was still online... it was really disturbing. Then they made a... mental link of sorts to those drones of theirs, though all it was for was to make them stronger and fight better. It was... I really don't know how to describe it."

    "How did you get free?" his brother Sideswipe asked.

    Sunstreaker smirked. "Tell him, pal."

    Suddenly, his head detached from his torso, morphing before the Autobots' startled eyes. When it was finished, it was in the form of a two meter high being. When it removed its helmet, it revealed a head full of shaggy red hair.

    "Hunter?!" the Autobots exclaimed.

    He smiled. "That's me. I woke up in the middle of a brainwashing operation and broke free. I went through their labs and found Sunstreaker's head in one of them. When he told me everything he had found out about Machination's, er, machinations, I found out about the binary bonding process, which Scorponok had already gone through with the CEO."

    "So you went through the process with Sunstreaker?" Wheeljack asked.

    Hunter nodded. "It was the only way he-- or we, I should say-- could break free and sever the mental link with the drones."

    "Wow," Optimus murmured, slowly sitting up with his nerve systems restored. "I like that word. 'Wow.' It perfectly sums up my feelings on that story."

    Hunter laughed. "It is pretty wicked." He then put his helmet on and became Sunstreaker's head again. "Something we'll both have to get used to."

    "Well, with that out of the way...." Ratchet gave Optimus a meaningful look. "Any thoughts on what the Decepticons were after back there?"

    "My guess would be the same thing they were after in Arizona," Prime said. "Whatever that thing was--"

    "I think I know what it might be," Sunstreaker murmured, his arms crossed.

    "Well?" Ironhide said impatiently. "Tell us!"

    "It's called Ultra-Energon. The Machination folks have been holding it for a while, probably for a future experiment. It has a wonky signature; you can only detect it if you're really close to it or very far away from it, like in the air."

    "What can it do?" Prowl asked.

    "Make one utterly indestructible."

    "Yes, that's something the Decepticons would want their hands on," Optimus muttered. "It's practically got their name all over it."

    "So what do we do?" Bumblebee asked. "Storm the Nemesis and get it back?"

    All of the Autobots were silent. Then Prowl said, "I think I could make that work."

    Bumblebee stared at him. "You can?"

    The Autobot strategist smiled. "Sure. Just give me a few days; I'm sure I'll cook something up."

*  *  *

    Joshua Joyce watched as the headless form of Scorponok was lifted up and placed into a repair bay by Stinger and another Machination drone. Nearby, a team of medics were examining the damaged form of Abraham Dante, the Decepticon's Headmaster partner. Just by looking at him, he could already form his own conclusions.

    "He's dead, isn't he?" he said under his breath, heard only by Lyman, who stood next to him.

    Lyman sighed. "I'm afraid so. I suppose that leave Attinger in charge."

    "What about Scorponok?" Joshua motioned his head to the Decepticon.

    "He's still functioning, thankfully. Perhaps Attinger will replace Dante in more ways than one."

    Joshua smirked. "I don't see why not. He is, after all, the head of this organization."

    Both men laughed harshly at their cruel joke.

--Velocitron--

    "Nightbeat!"

    The Autobot detective did not respond to Elita's cry as he stood on the edge of a cliff. His nine teammates finally drove up to his position and transformed. Windblade was the first to reach him.

    "Nightbeat, what's going on? What are you doing?" She shook him. "Come on, answer me!"

    The detective did not. Windblade gave the others a worried look.

    "I don't know what's wrong with him. Maybe we should--"

    Before she could finish, the ground beneath them vanished and they fell into darkness. Swerve's scream was the loudest, ringing in everyone's ears, though it was mercifully ended when they all landed hard on rocky ground.

    "Okay," Strongarm grunted as she got to her feet. "What the blazes was that all about?"

    Elita got up and surveyed their new location. They were in a rocky field of sorts, devoid of life, although a city could be seen in the distance. Dark clouds clogged the sky and a cool breeze passed through the air.

    "Do you have any planets like this in your databanks, Rewind?" she asked the archivist.

    "Actually, I know this place," Glyph said. "It's Gorlam Prime. I studied it while I was learning at Drouhard University."

    "Did you learn about dead people there too?" Swerve asked, a shocked look plastered on his faceplate.

    Glyph looked at him in bemusement before following his gaze. She then gasped, as did Elita and the others.

    Approaching them was a tall figure. His red and silver armor-plating gleamed in the few rays of sunlight that leaked through the clouds. Two metal panels flowed behind him like a cape, while a small royal crest adorned his crimson helmet, giving him a regal appearance.

    His blue optics fell on the ten Autobots and he smiled. "Visitors. How wonderful. We almost never get any."

    Elita gawked at him. "You... you're supposed to be dead."

    A metal brow arched. "Am I?"

    "Yes. Megatron killed you, shot you dead in front of everyone."

    He laughed. "Clearly he did not do a very good job." He then beckoned them with his hand. "Come with me to the city. I promise you that everything will be explained."

    He then turned and began his trek back to the distant city. Left with little choice, Elita and her team followed the once and former-- and very much alive-- Autobot leader, Sentinel Prime.

TO BE CONTINUED

Transformers Regenerated: Unicron Saga XIII, Chapter Nine

CHAPTER NINE

    "Where's Optronix?"

    Brawl barely heard Starscream, his mind too focused on the Machination drones he was currently shooting at. "Who?"

    The Seeker huffed. "Megatron."

    "Oh. Dunno. Haven't seen him."

    "Wasn't he with you when you arrived here?" Starscream said irritably.

    "Yeah. But now he's not."

    Starscream wished he had a wall to bash his head into. Sometimes he wasn't sure if Brawl was stupid or just painfully blunt and apathetic. Or a mix of all three.

    "Fine. I'll search for himself," the Seeker said. "You just stay here... and destroy things."

    "Whatever."

    While Brawl continued firing, Starscream dodged enemy fire as he made his way through the battlefield. Luckily for him, both the Autobots and the Machination drones were preoccupied with each other and the other Decepticons, leaving him free to move without being shot at.

    He followed the Ultra-Energon signal, presuming that Optronix had went to find it; the massive hole in the Machination facility's wall was his first clue. He stepped through it and followed the trail of destruction....

*  *  *

    Optimus grunted as he hit the ground. Seeing Scorponok storming towards him, he quickly rolled out of the way just as the Decepticon fired twin bolts of energy from his stinger tail. He then jumped up to his feet and lunged at Scorponok, only to be bashed away by a massive claw.

    Harsh laughter filled the air. "Tell me, Prime. Do you know why I never attempted a grab for power? Why I never tried to challenge Megatron for the throne?"

    Optimus struggled to get up but was pinned down by a large foot.

    "Because then the war would be over. Cybertron would be under Decepticon rule, the Autobots would be history, and the galaxy would be conquered... and where would the fun in that be?"

    "Well," Optimus muttered as he raised his gun at Scorponok's face. "Fun is subjective."

    He pulled the trigger, shattering the Decepticon's visor. Screaming in pain, Scorponok removed his foot from Optimus' chest, allowing the Autobot leader to rise and slam his body into Scorponok's. The impact caused the Deception to stagger back, but failed to topple him. He then retaliated by plunging his tail into his opponent's back.

    Optimus screamed as energy ran through him, rendering him immobile. When Scorponok removed his tail, the Autobot leader fell to the ground again. 

    "The natives of this world have a great aversion of the insect they call scorpion." Scorponok grinned savagely. "Now you know why."

    He readied his tail for one last attack. Unable to move, Optimus braced himself for death....

    Suddenly, a yellow shape landed on the Decepticon's tail, wrenching its aim away from Optimus. Scorponok yelled as he thrashed at his attacker, who quickly jumped off so that his claws cleaved his tail instead. He then turned to face his new adversary only to receive a gunshot to the face. The Decepticon fell unceremoniously to the ground.

    Optimus did not see his savior until they were standing over him. Even then, he could not believe his optics.

    "Sunstreaker?"

    "Know any other Autobot with a handsome face like this?" Sunstreaker said with a smirk. However, something about him-- the way he spoke-- seemed off to the Autobot leader.

    "Sunstreaker... what happened to you?" Optimus asked. "Where's Hunter?"

    "I'll explain later," Sunstreaker replied. "Right now, I've got some heads to bash. Can you move?"

    "No."

    Sunstreaker bent down and lifted his leader up, having him lean on his shoulder with one arm behind the Prime's back and holding a gun in the other.

    "Then we'll have to do this Rambo-style," the yellow Autobot said.

    Optimus blinked. "Huh?"

*  *  *

    Starscream's null rays finished off the drone that had been standing guard in the corridor. It wasn't much of an accomplishment though; it and all of its comrades had already been destroyed or heavily damaged when he came across them. The door to the main lab had already been torn open, so he stepped through it.

    The first thing he noticed, lying at his feet, were the deactivated forms of Runabout and Runamuck, practically torn up into spare parts. At the end of the chamber, standing before a vat containing a bright, violet ore, was Optronix, basking in the light. This was no doubt the Ultra-Energon which they had detected.

    As Starscream approached him, Optronix said, "How good of you to join me, Starscream."

    The Seeker froze. That voice... it was the same as always, but its tone carried an all-too-familiar ambiance to it.

    "M-Megatron?"

    The Decepticon leader turned to face him, a cruel smile on his metal visage. "That's Lord Megatron to you, from here on out."

    Starscream was flabbergasted. "But... but your amnesia--"

    "Was a ruse. A means to an end."

    "What means? What end?!"

    Megatron smirked. "To lead me to whatever Scorponok was cooking up. The last thing I recalled before being reawakened was Scorponok downloading schematics from my mind. I knew he had to be up to something."

    "But... surely you could have investigated yourself instead of leaving things to me!"

    "Ah, but that was the entire point, Starscream." Megatron chuckled. "I wanted to see how you had handled things in my absence. My figuratively continued absence gave me a glimpse."

    Starscream slowly nodded. "And your thoughts?"

    Megatron answered him with a blast from his fusion cannon, sending the Seeker crashing into the wall. An open wound formed in his abdomen.

    "You send your forces in without strategies," Megatron growled as he stormed forward. "You waste resources and lives. You fail to think ahead. You wreak destruction for no purpose. You fail to inspire morale."

    He now loomed over Starscream, who cowed in his presence. 

    "I will give you credit for retrieving the Ultra-Energon... and my body, of course. But I had Soundwave fill me in on everything... and I must say, I have never seen such a pathetic excuse for a leader in my life."

    Starscream looked up at him with fearful optics. "Are... are you going to kill me?"

    Megatron laughed harshly. "An easy punishment like that would do you no good. No, I have something far more fitting in mind."

    As he grabbed the Seeker by the wing, Megatron called into his communicator, "Decepticons, this is your true leader speaking. We have the Ultra-Energon. Return to the Nemesis."

    He then fired his fusion cannon at the ceiling, creating an opening. Then, with the vat of Ultra-Energon in one arm and the broken Starscream in the other, he activated rocket boosters in his feet and took off into the nighttime sky.

Transformers Regenerated: Unicron Saga XIII, Chapter Eight

CHAPTER EIGHT

--Earth--

    Military tanks were hardly a common sight on the highway, but that was the least of Brawl's concerns. As long as the humans got out of his way, he couldn't care less.

    Driving alongside him were Megatron-- or "Optronix", rather-- and Barricade, while Starscream, Blitzwing, and Lugnut flew overhead. Blackout had already gone ahead to herald their arrival at the human base.

    The flames rising in the distance told them all that he had succeeded in that.

    "Effective as ever, that Blackout," Starscream said. "I believe we should repay him by giving him a hand. Lugnut, Blitzwing, would you like to be the first to give the honors?"

    "With pleasure," the jet bomber growled as it shot forward with its cackling wing-mate close behind.

*  *  *

    "Human-made Transformers?" Had he been in robot mode, Optimus Prime would have looked baffled by what Arcee and Bumblebee had just told him.

    "Well, it certainly didn't look or even transform like any bot I know," Arcee replied.

    "This is worse than I feared," Optimus murmured. "We should find where this Machination is located, and quick."

    "Way ahead of you, Prime," Jazz said over his radio. "I think I've just found them. Sending you the coordinates now."

    "Are you sure it's Machination?"

    "Well, I'm getting strong energon readings...."

    "Good enough," Optimus said as he and the Autobots sped forward.

*  *  *

    When Blackout had arrived at the Machination base, he wasn't expecting much in the form of resistance. A few tanks here, some missile launchers there, but nothing he couldn't handle. Transformers that could alter their molecular structure at will to change shape... that was something new.

    They weren't utterly invincible, though; they could only dodge attacks they saw coming, mainly in the form of blaster shots. Spinning blades, on the other hand, was a challenge for them.

    As he shredded a small white robot to pieces, Blackout saw a larger one in navy blue charging towards him. He unfurled a cannon from his chest and fired it. While it did little to harm the drone, it did impede its assault, allowing the Decepticon to finish it off with his blades.

    Hearing the roar of engines, Blackout looked up to see Lugnut and Blitzwing approaching. About slagging time.

    The two Decepticons transformed and Lugnut came down with his "explosive punch" arm prepared. Blackout moved to get out of the way only to see the big lug be whisked away by a large shape, which moved in a blur.

    Blackout froze. Very few things were as big as Lugnut, let alone big enough to physically move him. Only one such Cybertronian came to mind, and there was no way they could have been here on Earth.

    He was proven wrong when that same Cybertronian appeared before him. Blackout could only utter his name before he too was taken out.

*  *  *

    "He's left the base?"

    Most of the panic in dispatching the Machination drones in response to the Decepticons' attack had died down, allowing Joshua to have a normal conversation with one of the operatives. Now it was his turn to feel anxious.

    "Yes, sir," Doctor Lyman Smith said. "About ten minutes ago. He said something about taking matters into his own hands."

    Joshua's face blanched. He knew that their leader-- the true mastermind behind Machination-- was binary-bonded to the organizations' founder, Abraham Dante. Over the decades of their bond, they had grown to rely on each other in more ways than one. While becoming meshed with Cybertronian technology had allowed Dante to live well over a hundred, that did not make him immortal. If something serious were to happen to one, it would leave the other in critical condition... and Machination would be in ruin.

    "Did he take any drones with him?" Joshua finally asked.

    "Nearly all of them," Lyman said. "I hope he knows what he's doing."

    "Of course he does," Joshua said, though he was trying more to assure himself. As a dozen worst-case scenarios ran through his head, he barely noticed another scientist running up to him.

    "Sir!" Doctor Chang called, her black hair disheveled. "N.B.E.-18 has escaped!"

    Joshua gaped at her. "Impossible. What about the kid?" 

    "He's gone as well. I don't know what happened--"

    "Sound the alarm," he interjected. "Send out whatever drones we have left to find them."

    And pray that this is just all part of our mastermind's plan, he finished to himself.

*  *  *

    The twelve Autobots, having rejoined, burst through the front gates of Machination's headquarters. A trio of tanks came to confront them, followed by five sports cars that "transformed" in the same way Arcee and Bumblebee's opponent had.

    Morphing from his truck form, Optimus Prime lunged at one of the drones and quickly severed it in half with his axe. Sideswipe and Arcee handled the other four while Ironhide and Bulkhead took out the tanks.

    "Not much of a welcoming party," Sideswipe commented when nothing else attacked them. His statement was punctuated by sounds of battle coming from nearby.

    "Think the Decepticons might be in on this?" Hot Rod asked Optimus.

    Before Prime could answer him, the defeated form of Starscream flew past them, crashing into a wall.

    "If I were to wager a guess? Yes, I do think so," Optimus said.

    Starscream groaned as he rubbed his head. Upon seeing the Autobots, he scowled. "Great. As if my day couldn't get any worse."

    Optimus sighed. "Starscream, I'll do you a favor by not asking you why you're here. Instead, I'll ask you this: what the spark is going on?"

    Starscream grunted as he got to his feet. "That's something you should ask him," he said, motioning his head forward.

    The Autobots looked to see a large mech storming up to them, colored in purple and green. His massive claws were clenched and he grinned with the hunger of a murderer, his visor gleaming with malice.

    Optimus narrowed his eyes. "Scorponok."

    "Prime," the rogue Decepticon replied, spreading his arms. "It's been a while. Do you like what I've built up so far?"

    "Would you care to explain what exactly this is?"

    Scorponok chuckled. "Innovation. Evolution. Mixing of cultures. It can be called many things."

    "It is also a violation of the Code of Interplanetary Conflict," Prime said darkly.

    The rogue Decepticon waved a dismissive claw. "As if anyone's cared about that in this war. How is that going, by the way?"

    "Still going on, from what I can tell," Optimus said, glaring at Starscream.

    Scorponok grinned menacingly. "Good. Because I'm itching to use my army."

    As if on cue, a group of automobile drove up behind him, morphing into their robot modes.

    "And my army is itching for a fight."

Transformers Regenerated: Unicron Saga XIII, Chapter Seven

CHAPTER SEVEN

--Velocitron--

    "Well, that was a wonderful trip," Chromedome said sardonically as he and the rest of the team drove from the city of Delta. "I hope on the next planet we visit, no one gets assassinated."

    "Why would someone kill Nitro like that?" Tailgate asked innocently. "He didn't do anything wrong, did he?"

    Elita said nothing. Several things ran through her processor, primarily questions regarding Nitro's murder and the motives behind it. The fact it had happened on the same day she needed to seek him out did not bode well either....

    "If you want, I could investigate things," Nightbeat said, driving up alongside her. "It is my specialty."

    "Yes, but it's not our business here," she replied. "If anything, we would just look suspicious."

    The Autobot detective indicated a frown by dimming his headlights. "We could get answers from doing so...."

    "We'll just have to get them from somewhere else." Elita and the others transformed to their robot forms upon reaching the ship. "Rewind, what would you suggest to be our next destination?"

    The archivist was silent as he checked his databanks. "Well, going by inhabited colonies, we have Combatron, Gigantion, Animatron, Junkion, Theophany--"

    "Theophany's not a colony," Glyph corrected him.

    "Well, it might as well be, with the Circle of Light living there."

    Elite shook her head. "After how things went down between Dai Atlas and Zeta Prime, I doubt Optimus would have visited them."

    "And Combatron's not a great place to visit," Chromedome said, "neither is Animatron."

    "And Junkion would be a waste of time," Windblade commented.

    "Well, we'll just have to try them just in case, won't we?" Elita retorted.

    "Um, guys?" Swerve interjected. "Nightbeat's gone."

    The other Autobots looked to see that the blue and yellow detective was driving away from them, but not back towards Delta.

    "Slag," Elita cursed.

--Earth--

    The green portal materialized in a remote location in Florida and a convoy of Autobots drove out. In the lead was Optimus Prime, with Bumblebee, Ironhide, Ratchet, Sideswipe, and Arcee behind him.

    "Jazz, this is Prime. Do you read me?" the Autobot leader said over his communicator.

    "Loud and clear, Prime. Prowl's detective friend says that Arkeville has a residence in Tampa."

    "Then that shall be our destination," Optimus said. "Autobots, roll out!"

*  *  *

    "Lord Starscream, Runamuck and Runabout have ceased responding."

    Flying high over the state of Florida, Starscream cursed to himself. "Those two bags of bolts couldn't lead a turbofox to energon, let alone make it drink. Blackout, have you found the Ultra-Energon's location?"

    "Yes, sir," the military helicopter flying below him replied. "I am providing you with the coordinates."

    After receiving the coordinates, Starscream said, "Then we needn't stall things any further. Decepticons, attack!"

*  *  *

    Climbing out of their Pagani Automobili, Joshua and Darcy took long strides towards the main Machination laboratory. In the distance, Joshua could hear alarms blaring, while operatives rushed to and fro.

    Stopping one of them, he said, "What's going on?"

    "Scanners have detected multiple Transformers converging on our location," the man said. "I think we've been found out."

    "Are any of the drones prepared?"

    "Yes, about three dozen."

    Joshua smiled. "Then we haven't anything to worry about."

*  *  *

    On Prime's orders, Arcee and Bumblebee broke off from the convoy and sped towards what had been deduced to be Doctor Arkeville's residence. Parking in front of the house, Arcee sent out her holomatter avatar rider-- which she had dubbed "Sadie"-- to walk up to the front door.

    "Are you sure this is going to work?" Bumblebee asked her via radio.

    "Trust me," she said.

    "I don't think people in motorcycle gear are considered acceptable visitors--"

    "Just be quiet and let me concentrate."

    Upon reaching the door, Sadie knocked on it, being careful to not let her hand accidentally phase through it. In moments, it was answered by an old man with wild, receding gray hair. Going by his irritated expression, he had clearly just been woken from a nap.

    "What do you want?" Arkeville said rudely.

    "You are Doctor Henri Arkeville of Sector Seven, correct?" Arcee asked via Sadie.

    His expression softened somewhat. "Er, yes, I am. What of it?"

    Sadie suddenly vanished and the two Autobots transformed. Arcee stepped forward and knelt down to make level eye contact.

    "My name is Arcee, and this is my partner Bumblebee. We're Autobots," she informed the scientist. "A few days ago, a device made of Cybertronian tech was stolen from Sector Seven labs. Agent Walker told us that you were running the lab on the day it was stolen."

    Arkeville's face was impassive. "It wasn't stolen."

    Arcee blinked. "It wasn't?"

    "No. I personally removed it from the labs and took it with me here to Florida."

    "So, where is it now?" Bumblebee asked.

    "In good hands." The scientist smiled mirthlessly. "Specifically with Machination."

    Arcee rose to her full height. "Wait. You're with Machination?"

    Arkeville's grin widened, showing yellow, crooked teeth. "Of course. And consider this my resignation."

    Suddenly, bursting out of a garage was a white Aston Martin, though in seconds it went from a swarm of atoms to a Transformer-sized robot. At Arkeville's beckoning, it charged towards the Autobots.

    Unfurling her arm blades, Arcee locked the robot's first attack. As she parried, she called to Bumblebee, "Get back to Optimus and warn him! I'll hold this guy off!"

    "I'm not leaving you!" Bumblebee protested, flipping out a pair of stingers.

    Arcee let out an exasperated sigh. "'Bee, this is no time to argue."

    "Now that I can agree on." The yellow scout punctuated his statement with a well-aimed shot to the drone's head. Despite the accuracy, it missed when the drone's head made a hole within its molecular structure.

    Arcee then began to stab at the Aston Martin robot, but it avoided those strikes as well. It then converted its arm into a blaster and fired it at her face. She performed a backflip to dodge it and transformed into her motorcycle form upon landing.

    "I have a better idea," she muttered. "Let's both warn the others."

    Transforming as well, Bumblebee followed her and drove away from the battle. Arkeville and his drone merely watched them flee, knowing that others would take matters into their own hands.

Transformers Regenerated: Unicron Saga XIII, Chapter Six

CHAPTER SIX

--Velocitron--

    Even over the clamor of bots trying to reach their idolized racers and get a word in from them for their news station, the high-pitched squeal of an over-excited fan could be hear. Those with the misfortune to be right next to the source were forced to clamp their hands over their auditory sensors.

    "Primus, is he always like this?" Nightbeat muttered.

    "This is a new one for me," Glyph replied.

    "It's him!" Swerve exclaimed, jumping up and down while pointing excitedly at a tall blue mech. "It's Blurr! The amazing Blurr!"

    Blurr seemed to have noticed this display of fan worship for he grimaced and was now trying to make his way out of the stadium. Swerve took pursuit with Tailgate close behind.

    "Let them go," Elita said exasperatedly. "I see Nitro over there. Let's go talk with him."

    "All of us?" Chromedome gestured widely to the entire team, currently consisting of eight with Swerve and Tailgate gone. "Won't that seem a little... suspicious?"

    "I agree," Windblade said. "I think you should speak with him by yourself."

    "And what will the rest of you be doing?" Elita asked.

    "Waiting for something bad to happen."

    Elita sighed. "All right, just... just don't go anywhere."

    With that, she turned and head straight for Nitro. The former Velocitronian leader, flanked by bodyguards, was fleeing from reporters, fans, and paparazzi, and trying to exit the stadium. Elita figured it was probably not the best time to bother him, but she had no intention of waiting for a better one.

    "Nitro!" she called, trying to push her way through the crowd. "I would like to speak with you!"

    "You and everyone else," Nitro shouted back. "Try again later."

    "I really must insist--"

    She was cut off by a small Velocitronian bot pushing past her, a blaster in hand. She moved to stop him but was pulled away by a pair of large arms. The smaller mech raised his weapon and fired.

    Nitro was on the ground, energon leaking from the wound in his head. As the crowds reacted in panic, Elita freed herself from the large Velocitronian's grip and spun around, shooting her leg out to kick the brute in the head. He barely flinched and instead flipped out a pair of shoulder launchers.

    In an instant, Windblade was upon him, plunging her blade into his back. The brute let out a cry of pain before dropping to the ground, unconscious. With the larger Velocitronian down, Elita returned her attention to Nitro's assailant, who was lost amongst a sea of law enforcers and security guards. There was another gunshot and the crowd of guards instantly dispersed, revealing the murderer's deactivated corpse, the barrel of his gun smoking hot.

    Elita and her team stood in silence while Velocitronians murmured in shock and despair. As if to make the situation worse, Swerve returned with Tailgate in tow, having lost their quarry.

    "What did we miss?"

--Earth--

    "At what time was the device stolen?"

    Leaning against her car, Sector Seven agent Samantha Walker checked her notes. "Twenty-fourth of July, around 3:25 A.M., according to our security cameras."

    Parked in front of her in his police car form, Prowl added this info to his memory banks, not requiring a notepad. "Did your cameras capture an image of the culprit?"

    "Yes, but they're wearing all-concealing garments; gloves, a thick coat, snowpants, a face-hood... we can't even determine their gender."

    "Who had access to the lab where the device was held?" Prowl asked.

    Walker thought for a moment. "Doctor Henri Arkeville, myself, and Agent Simmons."

    "Can you get into contact with either Arkeville or Simmons?"

    "Simmons has been in Washington for the past four months, so he wouldn't know anything. As for Arkeville...."

    "Yes?" Prowl said when she paused.

    "He left for Florida yesterday, about three days after the theft." She looked down at the Autobot car, an eyebrow cocked. "You don't think...?"

    "The probability is there," Prowl said as he revved up his engine. "We just have to investigate it."

*  *  *

    The black and red sports car was parked right at the sidewalk outside the residence of Joshua Joyce and his fiancee Darcy in Tampa, Florida. No one had emerged from it and its windows were too tinted to see anyone sitting inside. It had been like this for a day now.

    Sipping a mug of coffee as she opened the front window's blinds, Darcy Tirrel furrowed her brow. The black car had now been joined by a white one of the same model.

    "Is the car still there?" Joshua called from the kitchen.

    "Yes, but now there's another one with it." She craned her head slightly. "I think it's blocking the driveway."

    "Dang kids." Joshua stormed out of the kitchen with a half-eaten waffle in one hand and a cell phone in the other. "Think they own the world just because they can afford fancy hot rods."

    Darcy turned to him with a raised eyebrow and a smirk. "Says the man with a Pagani."

    "Yeah, well, it's a special kind of Pagani." After contacting the local police office, he raised the phone to his ear. "Yes, there are two cars-- I think they're Pontiacs-- parked right in front of my driveway, and I need to get to work. I live on 332 Dolphin-- no, Dolphin Drive. It's the big, white three-story house on the left, can't miss--"

    Before he could finish, the two cars were suddenly no longer just that, but rather two towering giants made of machinery. He swallowed a lump in his throat.

    "Actually, never mind. They're gone."

*  *  *

    "Did Barricade say he wanted the human alive or dead?"

    "Dunno," Runamuck replied. "Wasn't listenin'."

    Runabout chuckled as he cracked his knuckles. "Heh. Me neither."

    Two rocket launchers flipped out from his back and he fired them at the house. The facade of the building exploded and was reduced to rubble. Once the smoke and dust had settled, he found two humans cowering before him, covered in cuts, bruises, and asphalt.

    "Would you look at that," Runabout laughed. "Two humans for the price of one. You can play around with the skinny one while I get the one we need."

    "Fun," Runamuck said.

    However, before either of the two Decepticons could make a move, they heard the revving of an engine. From a garage adjacent to the destroyed house, a red and black car sped out, heading straight for them.

    Runamuck quickly brought out his gun and shot at the moving vehicle, which exploded... but not in the way he was expecting.

    Instead, it "exploded" into a swarm of particles, twirling like a storm of atoms. They then began to reform, this time as a bipedal figure rather than an automobile. Two razor-bladed discs sprouted from its back and shot out into its hand as the robot assumed a combative stance.

    "What. The. Scra--" Runamuck was cut off as the robot flung a disc at him, embedding it into his face. As the Decepticon screamed in pain, Runabout started firing wild shots at the anomaly, who simply shifted its materials to avoid them.

    "The slag are you supposed to be?!" the Battlecharger exclaimed just as the robot threw another disc, which shaved off the barrel of his gun. It was then upon him, pinning him to the ground while aiming a stinger at his face.

    It was the male human who answered him. "That is Stinger. He is the first step towards a new revolution of human technology... and the first step towards your extinction."

    Stinger then fired its weapon and Runabout's world went dark.