CHAPTER FIVE
--Earth--
"Yes, yes. Of course I know about the giant robots on the beach. That's why I'm telling you to mobilize our giant robots."
Tommy Kennedy watched as Garrison Blackrock paced around his office, phone glued to his ear as he wore a look of exasperation.
"I don't care if they're not 'ready' yet. Does it look like we have time to.... Look, just do as I tell you or else you're fire. Or dead. Or both. Thanks, bye."
With that, Blackrock hung up and let out a long, drawn-out sigh. "Sorry about that," he said, turning to face Tommy. "Just mobilizing our defenses. As you do. What can I help you with?"
Tommy cleared his throat. "Uh, I was wondering if you could let me go home early today."
Blackrock looked bemused by the request. "What on Earth for?"
Tommy couldn't tell if his boss was joking. It was probably safer to assume not, even if the prospect scared him.
"Well, you see, my partner's house is right by the beach," he went on. "And if these... robots are making their way here, then they might... they might--"
"Hey." Blackrock put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry about it. I've got it under control."
Tommy blinked at him. "You do?"
"Of course!" Blackrock flashed him a grin. "I care for the safety of all my employees, and that extends to family as well. Your wife is in safe hands."
"Uh, she's not actually my... we're not... I mean--"
Blackrock patted his shoulder. "Yeah, I don't care. Just relax and let me take care of things. Everything's going to be fine."
Tommy nodded in agreement even though his heart didn't believe that last part for a second.
* * *
The Autobot who called himself Bumblebee rolled out of the garage, hearing the sounds of mayhem.
It had been a very long time since he had last seen action; indeed, 1944 was the last time he ever saw another Transformer, his fellow Autobots having either died or vanished. Since then, he had remained predominantly in his vehicle mode, only transforming when he was in trusted company.
But now more of his kind had suddenly arrived, and they were bringing harm to those he called friend. He could not allow that. Even after seventy years, he was still an Autobot. He would defend the humans at any cost.
Smoke billowed from his tailpipe as he accelerated down the street. Screeching around the curb, he was immediately faced with a horde of robots, several of them featuring animalistic kibble and features. The leader of the pack, a blue bot with a wolf-like appearance, grinned wickedly at the yellow car.
"I thought Carnivac said there weren't any more Autobots," Steel Jaw purred.
"'Least we got something to play with," said Fracture, brandishing his gun. "I've been itching for some prey."
Bumblebee hit the gas and advanced towards the Decepticons. Transforming, he lunged at Steel Jaw only for the wolf to grab him in midair by the neck.
"He's a small one," Steel Jaw remarked, eyeing the Autobot in his grasp. "Maybe we can feed him to Underbite."
"We don't have time for games," growled a bot with polar bear kibble. "Leo Prime wants us all at the Onyx facility; you especially so you can set up your--"
"Bumblebee!"
The yellow Autobot's optics went wide as he glanced to see Charlie running out of the house, followed closely by the other humans.
No, he silently pleaded to her. Get out of here. It's too dangerous for you. Don't come near them.
"Would you look at that!" Fracture grinned savagely as he brandished a rifle. "We've got vermin to play with too. Can I pick them off, Steel Jaw?"
"No!" Bumblebee thrashed in the wolf's grip. "Don't hurt her!"
Steel Jaw chuckled. "How cute. He's keeping one of them as a pet, it seems. Maybe we should save that one for last and have him watch us pick it apart piece by--"
"Ey, Steel Jaw?" A blue elk-like 'Con tapped him on the shoulder. "Somethin' big's fallin' from the sky."
Steel Jaw and the others all looked up to see a dark shape dotting the sky, growing bigger and bigger as it came closer to the ground.
"Scatter!" Polar Claw cried just as the tank landed, creating a shock wave that sent everyone within its radius flying....
* * *
"I can't believe he just did that." Springer stared from the open ramp of the Xantium which Guzzle had just jumped from... from several thousand feet in the air.
"I can," Kup grunted. "Kid hasn't been the same since Ragnarok tore him in half. Should've kicked him off 'soon as he started taking the syk."
Spring shook his head. "We can discuss this another time." He raised a hand to his comm. "Rodimus? Springer here. We've found a bunch of Decepticons terrorizing humans on the west coast."
"That's gotta be a clue, if anything," Rodimus replied. "Think you can handle them until we can meet up with you?"
Springer smirked. "Please. There'll be nothing left for you guys by the time you get here."
"That's what I like to hear."
With that, Springer turned to the assembled crew of the Xantium, which consisted of Roadbuster, the Jumpstarters, Broadside, Arcee, Apelinq, and Cyclonus.
"All right, Wreckers. Let's wreck and rule!"
* * *
In the relatively short time she had gotten to know them, Verity had never seen any of the Transformers express something akin to pure, unadulterated terror, to the point of begging for mercy. Yet now she was witnessing just that, leaving her utterly confused as to who she was supposed to be rooting for.
Gunfire bounced off the Autobot tank's armor like nothing as it lumbered over and grabbed a hold of a small brown rat-bot. The Monstercon squeaked in agony as the giant Autobot proceeded to crush him inward, compacting him into the approximate shape of a cube. He then threw it at a hovering dragonfly-bot, knocking them to the ground.
"Brakepad!" Polar Claw roared as he continued unloading his gun on the tank. "Slow him down enough so Terrashock and Overhead can tear him down!"
A sloth-like robot climbed onto the shoulder of a white ape 'Con and fixed his beady eyes on the rampaging Autobot. The brute saw him however and charged at the pair, punching a hole through the yeti's chest as he grabbed Brakepad with his other hand and crushed him in his grip.
As the tank continued his rampage, Verity caught sight of nine more Transformers -- most of them appearing to be Autobots, to her relief -- descending from the sky and landing near the gruesome scene that was taking place.
"Guzzle!" cried a green and yellow Autobot just as the tank threw a buffalo-themed 'Con into a nearby house. "We're in a populated area! Watch for--"
"Frag off, Springer!" Guzzle bellowed. "I'm in the zone! And I ain't comin' out of it!"
He grabbed a hold of Polar Claw, seizing his arms in one hand and his legs in the other.
"Wait, Pneumatix!" the polar bear-bot cried out in panic. "It's me! Polar Claw! Your old drill sergeant!"
"Yeah, I remember," the tank growled. "Class of 7826. Nothin' but mode-drillings and physical abuse. Good times. By the way, it's Guzzle now."
With that, the Autobot tore Polar Claw in half at the waist, eliciting a scream that made Verity's blood run cold. Guzzle then retracted his mouth plate and proceeded to drink the green fuel pouring out of the mutilated machine.
"Guzzle!" Springer exclaimed. "What the blazes are you doing?!"
"Livin' up to his name, evidently," muttered Kup.
Horrified by the fate that had just befallen their comrade, the remaining Monstercons quickly transformed and fled from the scene, with Steel Jaw taking the lead. Once they were gone, all that remained were Guzzle, his shocked comrades, the remains of his victims, a scared Bumblebee, and six petrified humans.
"Who the hell are you guys?" Miko exclaimed.
Springer sighed. "We're the Wreckers and... we're here to make things better."
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