TWO: THINKING OUTSIDE THE QUESTION BOX
“You know what bugs me?”
Perceptor barely glanced at Brainstorm as he stepped around Expanse. The massive blue and yellow mech was standing as still as he possibly could, holding his arms out horizontally as the two Autobot scientists studied him. “What?”
“When I made a time machine to change history, I got reprimanded and punished for it—rightly so,” Brainstorm quickly added. “But lately, a whole bunch of other bots have been time traveling and dimension hopping, going to alternate realities and all that… and they don’t get so much as a slap on the servo.”
Unsure as to what the context behind this conversation was, Expanse glanced at Perceptor and saw that the Autobot scientist had a contemplative look on his face.
“I will admit, I have been rather… taken aback by recent developments,” Perceptor said. “Your time machine, regardless of what you attempted to do with it, was an impressive feat of technology—”
Brainstorm stopped what he was doing to look at him in surprise. “Impressive?”
“—and it has caused me to reconsider what I thought I knew or understood in regards to quantum mechanics. Just when I thought I had gotten a firm grasp on the concept again, we had the situation involving Dion, and then again with the duplicate of Bumblebee. And now, this.” Perceptor stepped away from Expanse, holding his chin as he studied the other mech. “I feel that there might be some sort of pattern here; that these phenomena are all connected in some way. But I am not yet comfortable with formulating any hypotheses.”
Brainstorm was still staring at Perceptor. “You… you thought my time machine was impressive?”
Perceptor seemed to disregard his partner’s question as he looked up at Expanse and gestured to the red X-marked orb in the center of his chest. “I take it that is your transwarp drive?”
“Yes,” Expanse replied. “Don’t ask me how they made it though; I can barely recall them installing it along with all of the other things they built into me.”
“Have you ever been able to jump to a different time period within the same universe?”
“I don’t know. The first time I used it was to escape from the Decepticons, which is how I ended up on Earth and met the X-Men… although I suppose that was a different Earth than the one you know. Then it somehow acted on its own and brought Sari and that mercenary to Mojo’s world. I’m… not sure what caused that to happen.”
“It could be they were somehow caught within subspace and it took you activating your drive again to bring them back,” Brainstorm suggested. “Did you ever use your Transwarp drive in between those two times?”
Expanse shook his head. “No. I kind of made it a point not to. My allies in the X-Men already had enough trouble with time travel and dimension hopping that I didn’t want to add to the headache. I mainly stayed in alt mode for most of our missions.”
“That would explain it then; if you had, then Sari and the bounty hunter would have been brought out of subspace at that time. Judging by the schematics, this Transwarp drive is an experimental one, likely more advanced than anything that would’ve been tested by either faction during the war. You first used it twenty-five years ago, correct?”
“Yes….”
“That would place its use—and potentially its development—during our false peace with the Decepticons.” Perceptor glanced at Brainstorm. “You would have still been operating as a double agent during this time, yes?”
Brainstorm winced. “Eeesh. Talk about opening up old wounds….”
“Did you have any idea about what the Decepticons were doing regarding this?” Perceptor glanced at Expanse’s Transwarp drive.
“Nope. Believe me, if I had, I would have been all over it. Guess there was some tech that no amount of intel would’ve been enough for them to just hand over to some random spy.”
Perceptor rubbed his chin. “A part of me is also wondering whether they even knew what it was they had developed; whether the ability to cross into different dimensions—different realities—was an intended feature of this particular model of Transwarp drive.”
“Too bad we’re on opposite sides with the Decepticons again so we can’t just like, you know, question them,” Brainstorm lamented. “Not that I think they would’ve been 100% honest with us anyway….”
Expanse glanced between the two Autobot scientists. “So… what now? What does this mean?”
“You let us worry about that,” Perceptor said. “We still need to go over our findings before we can formulate anything to present to the Primes.”
“Primes?”
“Ah, yes. Optimus is no longer the sole Prime; he is sharing that role with Cybertron’s current leader Rodimus. Of course, he insists on going by ‘Star Convoy,’ I believe…”
“…But no one’s gonna do that,” Brainstorm finished for him. “Look, just leave it to us and we’ll get things figured out. In the meantime, take some time relax and maybe introduce yourself to some of the others. I get the feeling you’re gonna be hanging around here for a while, so make yourself at home.”
“Right. ‘Home.’” Expanse frowned as he said the word. After everything he had been through, he wasn’t sure what the word even meant anymore. For the past twenty-five years, he had considered the X-Mansion to be his home, but that apparently was no longer the case. Perhaps it never had been. But if that was the case, then did he ever have a home?
The Academy hadn’t been home. The Decepticons certainly hadn’t given him one.
Only time would tell if the Autobots would provide him with the home he sought.
* * *
“So… have you been seeing anyone?”
Sari looked up at her father in surprise. Isaac Sumdac was laying on the hospital bed the Autobots had set up for him; thankfully none of the injuries he had sustained while in captivity actually required it, but it was the only thing they had for him to relax and rest on. He had his hands clasped over his admittedly plump stomach, his eyes focused on the television screen playing some old 80’s cop show rather than on his daughter.
“Where’s that coming from?” Sari asked.
Sumdac shrugged. “It’s been half a year. I wasn’t sure if—”
“Dad, I haven’t been back to university since you disappeared. I’ve been spending the last six months looking for you. I didn’t have time for relationships.”
“What about before then? You were always pretty brief in your letters about campus life; you always want to hear I’m doing but never willing to tell me how you’re doing.” Sumdac chuckled as he shook his head. “But anyway, you’ve mentioned some of your friends before and I was just curious if any of them were more than that.”
Sari snorted as she shook her head. “No. Jack is too aloof for me—plus I feel that he and Miko might have a thing, even though they both deny it. And Raf is nice and all, but seems to care more about his computer than anyone or thing. To be honest… I don’t think I’ve ever felt attraction for anyone. Not yet, anyway. Nothing real, at least.”
“Ah.” Sumdac nodded sagely. “And perhaps finding out you are not fully human also puts a damper on things.”
Sari closed her eyes as she sighed heavily. “So we’re having that conversation now, are we?”
“I figured it was past time we had it. I thought you would’ve wanted to—”
“Dad, I’ve already come to terms with it. Kind of.” She shook her head. “Look, I don’t even want to think about it right now. I’m just happy you’re safe and sound.”
“Actually, Professor Sumdac, I would be very much interested to hear the full story about your daughter’s origins.”
Both Sari and her father looked up to see Optimus Prime standing in the doorway to the room they were in. The Autobot leader stepped in and carefully got into a sitting position; he was still nowhere close to their eye level, but Sari understood the sentiment.
“Your daughter has already informed us of what she learned from your and Old Snake; about how you and your company were manipulated by Porter Powell to aid Cobra and its endeavors.” Optimus Prime then inclined his head. “However, I am more curious about your family’s involvement with a certain Scorponok.”
Sumdac’s face blanched. “You… you know of him?”
“Yes. Scorponok is a Decepticon, one that my Autobots and I have fought on more than one occasion during our first adventures here on Earth. Recently, when my chief engineer Wheeljack was trying to solve Sari’s origins, he discovered a connection between your father, Newton Sumdac, and Epsilon Holdings—a front for Scorponok’s organization Machination. Later on, we learned that Newton Sumdac was head of Project: Cadmus, which resulted in your daughter’s creation.”
Sumdac nodded slowly. “Yes, that is all correct. What more did you want to know?”
“How far back does your family’s connection to Scorponok and his operations go? And is your father still involved in any way?”
“Oh, I have not seen my father in years. He disappeared shortly after I took Sari under my care. I’m not sure if he would even still be alive—he would be nearing his nineties by this point.”
“If he has had access to Cybertronian technology, then age may be an inconsequential factor for him,” Optimus said. “And you did not answer my first question.”
“My father was never forthcoming on details regarding his life or career,” Sumdac admitted. “I didn’t even learn about Project: Cadmus or Machination until after I had graduated college and he brought me into the project.”
“Did you have any personal conversations with Scorponok?”
Sumdac considered the question. “No. The closest I came to speaking with him was through Abraham Dante, who I believe was his intermediary. Unless I am mistaken?”
“The term is as good as any,” Optimus replied. “Are there any other contributors to Project: Cadmus that you can name?”
“Oh, there were so many; I only became acquainted with a few. Dr. Brian Jones was one, Dr. Onishi another… they both left after Project: Cadmus’ completion, and as far as I know they no longer have any association with Machination. That I know of, of course….”
“Do you know the current whereabouts of Dr. Jones or Onishi?”
“Jones I am not sure, but I know Dr. Onishi is from Tokyo and I believe he still lives there with his wife and son. I do hope nothing bad has happened to them given their association with this Scorponok entity.”
“I can speak with the EDC and see if they will authorize a welfare check on Dr. Onishi and his family.” With that, the Autobot leader began to stand up. “Until then, Professor Sumdac, I thank you for your honesty and being open with your answers.”
Sumdac blinked as he slowly nodded. Sari figured her father was still trying to adjust to the fact he was speaking with an alien robot. “Um, of course. Any time.”
Optimus Prime nodded back to him before shifting his attention to Sari. “Ms. Sumdac, I am preparing another team to investigate any potential activities from Cobra or lingering Machination remnants, if you are interested.”
“Of course,” Sari said. “Just give me the call and I’ll be there.”
The Autobot leader nodded again in appreciation before taking his leave. Once he was gone, Sumdac looked to Sari with a bewildered look on his face.
“You have been quite busy since I’ve been gone, haven’t you?”
Sari smiled back at him. “You could say that.”
* * *
“Welcome back, my prehistoric friends! It is fruitful that fate has caused our paths to cross once more!”
“Oh, Primus,” Snarl groaned as the six Dinobots approached the awaiting Sky Lynx. “You sure we can’t use different transport?”
Grimlock ignored his fellow Dinobot’s complaints as he regarded the massive saurian Autobot Sky Lynx. As Transformers went, Sky Lynx was certainly one of the more unique and atypical in terms of body-types. If rumors and legends were to believed, Sky Lynx was old enough to remember the War of the Primes, having served in the tribe of Onyx Prime. After the departure of the Primes and the subsequent Galactus Crusades, Sky Lynx had went on to enjoy a reputable military career in the Primal Vanguard during the eras of Nova, Nominus, and Guardian Prime. However, when the Functionists rose to power, Sky Lynx foresaw the oppression they would bring to bots like him and departed for Eukaris, where he would remain until the Predacons took over, leading him back to the Autobots by the time the Great War broke out.
Because of this, it made sense that he would be chosen for this mission, beyond the fact that he had worked with the Dinobots before. If the Maximals had gone missing on this mysterious island, then it stood to reason that the Predacons may have had a part in this, and out of all the Autobots currently in service, Sky Lynx was the one who perhaps understood the Predacons the best.
Of course, that didn’t make his self-aggrandizing nature any less grating….
“Truly, you could not have picked a better means of transportation than yours truly,” Sky Lynx said as he lowered the ramp of his space shuttle form. “You should feel honored to be flying with such a distinguished flier; space bridges and Titans have nothing over one such as I!”
“Yeah, yeah,” Snarl groused. “Just get us there in one piece and you’ll get a pass in our books.”
As the Dinobots stepped into Sky Lynx’s interior, Grimlock took a moment to regard his teammates as they took their respective seats. It didn’t surprise him at all that Slash seemed to be the one with most cheer; in the century they had spent on Earth prior to being found by Optimus Prime and his crew, Slash had bonded with Sky Lynx, enraptured by any story he would regale her and Scorn with. She took a seat next to Swoop, who like Sky Lynx also had a distinguished (if not quite as long) military record that provided him with enough stories and wisdom to impart on the younger Dinobot.
Meanwhile, Sludge did his best to fit in the seat next to an irritated Snarl. The two were pretty much the opposite in terms of personality—Snarl being the loner that he was and Sludge being the second-nicest Dinobot after Swoop (third if you included Slash)—but Snarl tolerated Sludge’s presence the most if only because Sludge was better at being quiet, and didn’t butt heads with him nearly as much as he did with Slag… who was sitting alone, his back turned to everyone else.
There was an empty seat next to his, but Grimlock chose not to take it. The last thing he needed now was to start a ruckus inside Sky Lynx before they had even taken off. Whatever grievances Slag apparently had with him would have to be settled another time… if ever.
Instead, Grimlock simply remained standing as Sky Lynx began to lift off from from the landing pad and take off into the sky, heading in the direction of the mysterious island.
* * *
As Prowl stepped into Metroplex’s command center, he caught a glimpse of Sky Lynx’s alternate form flying up into the sky, disappearing into the clouds. Standing at the main station were Elita-One and Jetfire, the latter viewing a monitor that seemed to be tracking Sky Lynx’s trajectory. Nearby, Blaster was at his station monitoring communications.
“Would that be the Dinobots?” Prowl asked as he walked up to join the pair.
Elita acknowledged him with a glance. “Yes. We’re keeping an eye on them to make sure they don’t vanish like the Maximals have.”
Prowl nodded in response. He was about to say something in regards to the Dinobots’ destination, when his internal comlink suddenly chimed. He raised a hand to his helm to answer it, only to hear nothing on the other end.
“That’s strange,” he murmured, frowning.
Elita looked down at him. “What is it?”
“Someone tried to hail me but I didn’t hear anything.” Prowl’s frown deepened. “And they were using a frequency that only agents in the Secret Service use.”
“Are all of your agents accounted for?”
“I haven’t been able to access my files since I was brought back online; I don’t think Tarantulas managed to back those up. Hell, I only just recently learned about Getaway’s death….”
Elita raised an optic ridge. “Do you trust us enough to have us take a look at it and see if we can trace it?”
Prowl held her gaze evenly. “After everything we’ve been through? I’d be a fool not to.”
Elita proceeded to have Blaster get his station ready to receive the silent call Prowl had gotten. She and Prowl then joined the communications officer at his station as he worked on tracing it.
“Looks like a distress signal to me,” Blaster commented. “Triangulating its origin is pretty tricky, but I think… ah.”
“What is it?” Elita asked.
“It’s coming from the same direction that Sky Lynx is headed. Must be from the island.”
“It could be the Maximals calling for help,” Elita suggested.
“But how would they be using a frequency that only Autobot Secret Service agents can access?” asked Prowl.
Before anyone could propose an explanation, Jetfire looked up from his station, a grim look on his face.
“Elita,” he started to say.
Elita shuttered her optics. “Don’t tell me….”
“They’re gone. I’ve lost track of them.”
Prowl frowned. “Sky Lynx and the Dinobots?”
“This,” Elita said, “is a much bigger problem than I thought it was going to be.”
