Transformers Regenerated Comic: Issue 8 - Spotlight: Nightbeat

     Date: 9/26/2013

STORMBRINGER PART III: A GAME OF SHADOWS

    NIGHTBEAT: Another case?

    LONGARM: 'Fraid so, Nightbeat. Red Alert's been wary of everyone since the Kimia attack. He wants you to dig deep to find out if there's a snitch within our ranks.

    NIGHTBEAT: Right. So, about the Ultirex case--

    LONGARM: I'll give that to Stakeout. This is more important.

    NIGHTBEAT: All right. Thanks, Longarm (I guess...). Hardhead, it's Nightbeat. We've got a new case.

    HARDHEAD: What? Uh, I think you've got the wrong number. If you want Hosehead--

    NIGHTBEAT: Hardhead, I'm serious. I need you for this case.

    HARDHEAD: *Sigh* Fine... (cut to him walking through traffic, which he had been driving through) Uh, excuse me! Pardon me!

    DRIVERS: Hey! Watch it!

    HARDHEAD: So sorry...

    (Later...)

    HARDHEAD: What's new, Nightbeat?

    NIGHTBEAT: Longarm - or rather, Red Alert - wants me to find out how the 'Cons found Kimia.

    HARDHEAD: Think there's a mole somewhere?

    NIGHTBEAT: It's very possible.

    HARDHEAD: Maybe we should drop by Kimia and go snoopin'--

    NIGHTBEAT: No. If I were a mole, I would've left the crime scene long ago.

    HARDHEAD: How about I go to Kimia and find out who's recently visited.

    NIGHTBEAT: Good idea. I'll-- uh, Siren?

    (Siren has accidentally tossed his hot drink and dumped it on a waiter)

    SIREN: Eh, heh-heh.

    NIGHTBEAT or HARDHEAD: You're paying this time, y'know.

    (Meanwhile, the Trion...)

    DOUBLEDEALER: They're on to me... Perhaps it's simply my paranoia, but ever since I blasted that annoying Autobot... *sigh* They've bought my lie of shooting him being an accident, for now. But I think the captain is still wary of me--

    SFX: knock knock

    DOUBLEDEALER: Come in.

    HOT ROD: Hey, Dealer! We're approaching the Ki-Aleta system. Wanna arm yourself?

    DEALER: Why, sure, Hot Rod. Do you even need to ask?

    HOT ROD: Just thought I should,

    (Cybertron, the Dead End)

    SIREN: Why are we here again? This place is full of empties!

    NIGHTBEAT: Exactly. Empties with information. Hey, Wheezel.

    WHEEZEL: Nightbeat?

    NIGHTBEAT: We're here for information.

    WHEEZEL: Maybe for a beaker of fuel, I could--

    NIGHTBEAT: Here.

    WHEEZEL: Primus bless your spark! *gulp* Ah... Now then, what do you need?

    NIGHTBEAT: There's been a recent attack on Kimia Facility. We have reason to believe the 'Cons have a mole in our ranks. And since Polyhex - including the Dead End - is pretty much a ghost town, I have reason to believe that such a mole would visit here to hide.

    WHEEZEL: I see. Well, as it so happens, I have seen a familiar face appear here every so often.

    NIGHTBEAT: Who?

    WHEEZEL: Mudflap.

    (Meanwhile, Kimia Facility)

    DOWNSHIFT: Recent arrivals, eh? Well, not long before the attack, we were paid a visit by the Trion - Kup's ship - but Kup always makes sure each of his passengers is trustworthy. Before that, Jetfire and the Technobots dropped by. But same thing there.

    TRIPWIRE: If you ask me, I think it's that Rewind guy. He's always got that camera--

    DOWNSHIFT: No one's asking you, Tripwire.

    HARDHEAD: Well, thanks anyway, Downshift. I'll go see if Nightbeat's found anything.

    REWIND: Psst! Hey!

    HARDHEAD: Eh? Rewind?

    REWIND: Yeah, that's me. I have to show you something. I tried telling Downshift but he didn't believe me.

    HARDHEAD: This better be worth my time.

    REWIND: Okay, this is where Dealer accidentally shot Swerve. Now, watch... (He projects a video of Dealer clearly deliberately shooting Swerve) That doesn't look like an accident to me...

    HARDHEAD: Wait, you filmed Swerve getting shot?

    REWIND: Y-yeah...

    HARDHEAD: And you didn't try to tell anyone?

    REWIND: Well... no one likes Swerve.

    HARDHEAD: ...All right, I'll give you that. Thanks, Rewind. I'll go tell Nightbeat.

    (Cybertron...)

    NIGHTBEAT: Mudflap! Open up!

    MUDFLAP: Gee, Nightbeat. Could you get any louder?

    NIGHTBEAT: (points to Siren) Trust me, I have far worse with me.

    MUDFLAP: ... You're an eeevil cop. So! How can I help ya'?

    NIGHTBEAT: Wheezel said that he saw you in the Dead End.

    MUDFLAP: Who?

    NIGHTBEAT: Wheezel.

    MUDFLAP: Where?

    NIGHTBEAT: The Dead End.

    MUDFLAP: Where's that?

    NIGHTBEAT: Polyhex.

    MUDFLAP: Which is near?

    NIGHTBEAT: Iacon and Nova Cronum.

    MUDFLAP: Ah. Never been there in my life.

    (Beat)

    SIREN: Maybe we should've asked Wheezel to draw a picture.

    (Later...)

    NIGHTBEAT: What have you found out, Hardhead?

    HARDHEAD: I believe the spy is Dealer.

    NIGHTBEAT: Why?

    HARDHEAD: Rewind showed me footage of him shooting Swerve.

    SIREN: Uh... I'm pretty sure anyone would do that.

    HARDHEAD: Yeah, well, it's all we have to go on, so there!

    (Around the corner, a bot looking like Cybertron Mudflap throws a grenade at them)

    SFX: Clik! Tik-tik-tik-tik

    HARDHEAD: I don't like the sound of that. Get away!

    NIGHTBEAT: What about--

    SFX: SPOOM!

    SIREN: Wow.

    HARDHEAD: Got our "Mudflap."

    (Cybertron Intel H.Q...)

    NIGHTBEAT: Now are you gonna talk or what?

    LANDSLIDE: My name is Landslide.

    NIGHTBEAT: Progress. Are you a Decepticon?

    LANDSLIDE: What does my badge tell you?

    NIGHTBEAT: Right. Do you have anything to do with the Kimia attack?

    LANDSLIDE: Not directly.

    NIGHTBEAT: How so?

    LANDSLIDE: I work for the Decepticon Secret Service. I was tasked with covering for Dealer by acting as a link for him and by framing Mudflap.

    NIGHTBEAT: Why did the 'Cons capture Perceptor?

    LANDSLIDE: Banzai-Tron's plan.

    NIGHTBEAT: Which is?

    LANDSLIDE: To bring back Thunderwing.

    NIGHTBEAT: One last question: Why are you willingly telling us this? And why are you smiling?

    LANDSLIDE: 'Cause you're gonna die. (He deploys a gun and fires. Nightbeat dodges and it bounces off Hardhead, who deploys a chest cannon and shoot Landslide) Huh?! Oof!

    NIGHTBEAT: Lock him up, will ya?

    HARDHEAD: Sure thing.

    (Elite Guard H.Q....)

    ULTRA MAGNUS: Get a message out to the Trion! Kup must know about the spy!

    PLAYBACK: Trion isn't responding, sir!

    ULTRA MAGNUS: Then we must already be too late.

    [Note: Playback was not named when I made this comic; retroactively applying the name per AVP]

CHARACTERS

    Autobots: Downshift, Hardhead, Hot Rod, Kup, Longarm, Mudflap, Nightbeat, Playback, Rewind, Siren, Swerve (recording), Tripwire, Ultra Magnus

    Decepticons: Doubledealer, Landslide

    Others: Wheezel

Transformers Regenerated Comic: Issue 7 - Spotlight: Swerve

     Date: 9/20/2013

STORMBRINGER, PART II: THE SOUND OF SILENCE

    CAPTION: Kimia Station

    DOWNSHIFT: Sergeant Kup! This is certainly a surprise.

    KUP: Drop the "Sergeant," Downshift... I'm here for some weapons and supplies. Mostly weapons.

    DOWNSHIFT: What kind of journey are you on?

    KUP: Top secret. Elite Guard business.

    DOWNSHIFT: Ah. I see... Well, if you want the best, you can see Brainstorm. Though, fair warning... his creations are pretty... out there.

    BRAINSTORM: So what can I outfit you with? Mass-displacement guns? Sub-nuclear bombs?

    KUP: Uh, have anything normal?

    BRAINSTORM: "Normal?" What fun is that?

    KUP: Well, I guess I'll go see Perceptor--

    BRAINSTORM: No, no! Wait... I think I have something for you...

    (Meanwhile)

    HOT ROD: So, Dealer; you stayin' with us, or do you want us to drop you off here?

    DEALER: Well--

    SWERVE: Yo, who's this guy?!

    DEALER: Take me with you.

    SWERVE: You new here? Can't say I've seen you-- Hey! You've got wings! Yeah, you're totally new. Very few bots here have wings. Anyway, I'm Swerve. I'm a metallurgist. I study, er, metallurgy. Hey, wanna be roommates? No one wants to be roommates with me? Can I show you around? Let me show you around. There's a lot of great people here. Some of them are weird, though, but still great! Hey, you guys are on a quest? Love a good quest. Is it a moon quest?

    (Dealer gets into a fetal position as Swerve rambles on)

    (Later, on Styx...)

    LOCKDOWN: And an extra hundred for my ship repairs.

    GUTCRUNCHER: Of course... pleasure doing business with you.

    LOCKDOWN: Hmph.

    SFX: Bzzz

    GUTCRUNCHER: Call for you, Banzai-Tron.

    BANZAI-TRON: Report, Doubledealer.

    DOUBLEDEALER: I have arrived at Kimia Facility, Banzai-Tron. Now, before I begin, let it be known that... I. Hate. My. Job.

    BANZAI-TRON: ...Go on.

    DOUBLEDEALR: Anyway, I've overheard two Autobot scientists discussing the Pretender technology.

    BANZAI-TRON: Ah, Thunderwing's brainchild.

    DOUBLEDEALER: Correct. Perhaps if these Autobots were to develop an improved version of this process... our master's plan could be put at a quicker pace.

    BANZAI-TRON: Hmm... and how do you intend to get them into our hands?

    DOUBLEDEALER: Simple... your 'bots pay an unannounced visit.

    (Kimia...)

    PERCEPTOR: It just can't work, Quickmix! The formula you created would create a reaction so intense, it could destroy a moon!

    QUICKMIX: Okay... how about I switched Compound A with Compound Q.

    PERCEPTOR: That still wouldn't work! In fact, those aren't even correct names!

    SFX: Knock knock

    PERCEPTOR: Who is it?

    SWERVE: It's Swerve.

    (Beat)

    SWERVE: Guess he fainted from the awesomeness.

    SFX: Beep

    TRIPWIRE: Swerve, we've got new visitors.

    SWERVE: Oh, boy! I'll go greet them!

    DOWNSHIFT: Why are you sending him?

    TRIPWIRE: The ship isn't Autobot. Most likely solicitors.

    SFX: Bang! Bang!

    SWERVE: Hang on! Hang on! Sheesh! Hi! Welcome to Kimia--!

    SFX: BLAM!

    SWERVE: YEOW!

    FRACTURE: I said to shoot after I did the talking.

    BRAWL: Whatever.

    SWERVE: I... take it you aren't here to sell us anything. (BAM!) Oof!

    ONSLAUGHT: Attention, Autobots of Kimia Facility! I assure you that this isn't a raid! We have simply come with a request. You may decline it, but only on a few conditions. We request that you hand over the scientists--

    SWERVE: I'm a scientist!

    ONSLAUGHT: ...Anyway. Please hand over the scientist Perceptor--

    SWERVE: Ugh! He doesn't like me! I mean, I ask to enter his lab and he's like "No way!" It's no fair, I tell--

    ONSLAUGHT: Silence!

    SWERVE: Urk!

    ONSLAUGHT: This is your last warning! What shall it be?

    (The Autobots all draw their weapons)

    ONSLAUGHT: Death it is then.

    SFX: Thwoom!

    BRAINSTORM: What the heck is going-- on... (He sees the fighting) I'll get my briefcase...

    SWERVE: Hey! Dealer! Yo! Dude! Let's buddy up! You and me, shooting Decepticons! Together... uh, Dealer? (Dealer transforms into tank mode and aims at Swerve) What are you do--?! (He gets blasted out of the facility and towards the Decepticons' ship) WHOA!

    (Decepticon ship; Treadshot and Nightbird are playing cards...)

    NIGHTBIRD: Er, Treadshot? There's something going on out there.

    TREADSHOT: Oh, no, you don't! I ain't fallin' for that one, lady! Now I may not be as bright as you, but I've had tons of people try to do that trick... and I killed 'em all!

    NIGHTBIRD: Well... I'm being serious.

    TREADSHOT: Right, and I'm Emperor of Des--

    SWERVE: Yo! (He crashed through the window)

    TREADSHOT: What in tarnation?!

    SWERVE: Ow! I'm okay!

    TREADSHOT: Do you have any idea how close I was to winning a game of Praxus Fold 'Em?!

    SWERVE: ...Why? Is that bad?

    TREADSHOT: I haven't won a game in fifty years. (Catgut transforms into a gun and lands in his hands) Now you're gonna get it.

    SWERVE: C-can I just... say something?

    TREADSHOT: Hm. Last words, eh? Sure, go on.

    SWERVE: I love Praxus Fold 'Em! Me and Beachcomber play it all the time! Heck, sports in general are awesome! Ever play Fullstasis? Awesome! I also like racing! Blurr's my favorite! Who's yours? How 'bout Override? She's awesome! Override is a pretty common name. There's an Override I know who's loud as heck! Speaking of loud, I once saw an explosion that was so loud, I needed my audio receptors fixed! My optics melted too. Speaking of optics--

    (Treadshot collapses to the ground. Nightbird has also shut down.)

    SWERVE: Oh. Guess he has a weak spark. Hey! I wonder how you fly this thing! Wow. That's a lot of controls. Ooh! What does this button do?

    SFX: THWOOSH!

    SWERVE: Yee-haw!

    (Kimia...)

    ONSLAUGHT: We've got the scientist, Treadshot. Activate the ground bridge! Treadshot? Do you read--

    (Swerve crashes through in the ship)

    SFX: KROOOM!

    ONSLAUGHT: PRIMUS'S MOTHERBOARD! We need a shortcut! Fracture, activate the emergency one! Now! Quickly, Decepticons!

    ATOMIZER: They're getting away!

    KUP: It's too late, Atomizer.

    SWERVE: Was that awesome or--

    ALL: Shut up, Swerve.

    (Cybertron...)

    ULTRA MAGNUS: Perceptor's been captured?

    KUP: Yes, sir. By the Decepticons. No idea where they've taken him. However, we have taken two of their own captive, so perhaps we could make an exchange with them.

    ULTRA MAGNUS: Depends on how much the 'Cons care about them. Any idea why they captured him?

    KUP: None, sir. However, given how much Perceptor knows... it can't be good!

    TO BE CONTINUED

Characters

    Autobots: Atomizer, Brainstorm, Downshift, Drift, Hot Rod, Ironfist, Kup, Perceptor, Quickmix, Rad, Rewind, Swerve, Tripwire, Ultra Magnus, Windblade

    Decepticons: Banzai-Tron, Blast Off, Brawl, Catgut, Doubledealer, Fracture, Gutcruncher, Lockdown, Nightbird, Onslaught, Treadshot