I am starting my own season for TF: Prime, to say the least. It takes place in the middle of season 2, sorta after Nemesis Prime and let's pretend that the Armada episode never happened (I swear they got the cloning idea from me...) Anyway, I hope you enjoy the ride.
Episode 1: Send in the Clones
Rain ruled the skies over the sleepy town of Jasper, Nevada. A thin, tall figure sadly walked on the deserted road, craning his head back whenever he suspected a vehicle approaching. His thin arms wrapped around his thin body as he shivered violently.
"Oh, if I still had my T-Cog," Starscream moaned to himself. "I could transform into a jet and leave this wretched planet with its merciless precipitation."
He dreadfully knew that rust would devour his body in time, but it would be far better than meeting Megatron again. He shuddered when he pictured Megatron cornering him in the middle of the night, the tip of his sword at his face.
His thoughts were interrupted when he heard the familiar sound of grinding wheels. Starscream swiftly retreated into the shadows of the cliff next to the road, and waited patiently. Moments later, a dark red and black tanker truck came into his view. A thick cage covered the entire front cab section and its fog lights glowed ominously through the rain. Starscream detected a scratched Decepticon symbol on the rear of the truck, and he clumsily chased after it.
"Stop! Stop!," he exclaimed as he pounded the chemical tank. The vehicle ceased and he ran in front of the headlights.
"Thank the Allspark! Please help me!"
The truck then transformed into a monster of a robot. His arms were thick and long, with skeletal fingers. A massive blaster cannon rested on his spiky back. A red visor covered his optics, and his large face had a pointy chin.
"F-Flatline?" Starscream said. "Is it really you?"
"It is me, Commander Starscream," he replied in a husky yet sinister voice. "I sincerely regret betraying Lord Megatron when he sent me to scout for Energon only eons ago."
Starscream paused. Flatline did not know about his breaking away from the Decepticons. For a second, Starscream's spark brightened. His ingenious plan could be executed through Flatline, who was known as a mad scientist…
"Your apology is wise," Starscream commented. "But it will not save you from Megatron's deadly grasp." Flatline looked down miserably.
"However, if you complete a certain task I have in mind, your life will be spared."
"Only if it is in Lord Megatron's best interests. To only him, I obey."
"Yes, yes, Megatron demands it," Starscream said, annoyed at Flatline's senseless loyalty like the other Decepticons. "He sent me, his most superior lieutenant, to supervise your progress."
"Then I will commence the task. What does he require?"
Starscream smiled briefly. The continuous years of planning were finally paying off.
"You are to build an army for Megatron, more advanced than those drones you gave him during the war on Cybertron. They will be cloned versions of Autobots, with identical combat skills, trained to destroy our enemies for us," he proudly said.
"That is quite an ambitious project. I will execute his task once I return to my lab."
"You have a laboratory? May I reside there with you? I had to sacrifice my T-Cog for that imbecile, Airachnid. I have no where to go."
"Your request is granted, Commander Starscream." Flatline transformed back into tanker mode and Starscream awkwardly sat on the back of the truck. The truck began driving once more, and Starscream applauded himself for his genius.
"Soon, with my new army, I will become lord over all Autobots. And Decepticons," he fantasized, closing his eyes in peace.
Jack Darby couldn't believe what Mr. Huff was writing on the board. Five minutes after school had ended, he was still writing up more Chemistry assignments…and a surprise.
"Don't forget, test on Thursday," he announced proudly, and the class let out a synchronized groan. He slammed the pen loudly on the board and the students drowsily left the room. When Jack stepped outside and took his first breath of fresh air, he realized that his throat was as dry as sawdust. He quickly got on his motorcycle and sped away from his normal life.
"What took?" Arcee questioned, when they were away from earshot.
"Mr. Huff," Jack spat. "He's giving us a test in three days."
"Really? Didn't you just have one-"
"Last week? Yeah, he stinks."
"Sounds like Flatline," Arcee said. "He was this mad scientist back on Cybertron. I heard that he gave a test to his apprentices every hour on the hour."
"I bet he's chillin' with Mr. Huff right now," Jack joked.
"Impressive," Starscream complimented as Flatline drove through a hologram of a lake. A crash-landed Cybertronian troop-carrier lied in a ditch, with Vehicon drones guarding it. Flatline transformed and pulled down on a lever at the side of the ship, and the drop door revealed a high-tech laboratory inside. A surplus of Energon cubes lined the walls, and work tables were cluttered with unfinished projects. Starscream looked at a hologram screen on the wall, and recognized formulas for failed synthetic Energon. A dozen vats were filled with blue Energon, containing a Vehicon clone in each one of them.
"I will begin developing a DNA copying device for the Autobots immediately," Flatline said coldly. "One more advanced than the antique I used to create the Vehicons."
He threw a rusty scanner gun into a corner of the room.
"Excellent! I am pl- Megatron will be most pleased," Starscream stuttered.
Flatline nodded. "But first, let me make some room for you."
His scaly fingers morphed into a blade, and he stabbed the chest of a Vehicon in a vat. He mercilessly threw its crumpled body into an incinerator, and did the same to the other clones. Flatline then scooted the empty vats apart and revealed a gunner cockpit behind.
"Here it is," Flatline said, his visor glowing like fire. "If you'll excuse me, I have a cloning device to attend to."
He exited the cockpit, and Starscream slouched on the chair, still shaking from the horror he had witnessed.
"Flatline certainly lives up to his reputation," he quivered, watching a puddle of Vehicon Energon slowly leak inside.
The guardians drove into the base and transformed after the kids got off.
"That-was-wicked-awesome," Miko uttered to Bulkhead.
"What was?" Raf asked.
"Bulk was in a high-speed chase with a Con," Miko started, trying to gasp for breath. "Right when we were gonna be dead meat and metal, he turned around and the Con fell down a cliff. He just went KABLAMO!"
"I feel bad for the poor guy," Bulkhead said.
"What? A Vehicon?" Arcee shouted. "Bulk, they were practically made to be easy scrap metal. There will always be more."
Bumblebee bleeped.
"Yeah it is unfortunate, Bee," Raf agreed.
"Guys," Jack pointed. "Look."
They wheeled their bodies around and saw Optimus exiting theGroundBridge. His chest windows were cracked and his metal was bent and charred. Although it looked painful, he walked slowly and calmly.
"Optimus, what happened to you?" Ratchet asked as he prepared his medical tools.
"Nothing serious, old friend. Be concerned, however, over the Decepticons. They have successfully obtained all Energon deposits on this continent."
"Darn Cons," Bulkhead pounded. "They keep outnumbering us."
"Aren't there more 'Bots out there?" Miko asked. "Where are they?"
"Of course. But they're all scattered across distant galaxies," Ratchet explained while repairing Optimus. "Or they're like Wheeljack, and prefer to work alone."
"Well, why can't you use drones?" Jack spoke. "The Cons use them all the time."
"Yeah," Raf and Miko joined.
Ratchet face palmed himself. The guardians made hand motions to stop talking. They had all experienced Optimus' lecture on drones before. Optimus gently bent down to look closer at their faces.
"I will answer your question, Jack, but only once. We do not use drones because we believe that the life of every sentient being should be valued. The Vehicons are actually, not weapons of destruction, but clones of a feared Decepticon warrior. Megatron only saw a military advantage when they were created, only lifeless soldiers. Their prime purpose was to bring extra firepower. I do admit that Megatron's tactic has proved effective, but I refuse to rise through my comrades' fall."
He paused. "Is there more you want me to explain?"
"N-nope, we're good," Jack said, bending his head down. Optimus was about to comfort Jack when Agent Fowler appeared at the elevator.
"Prime!" he shouted, with a tinge of fear in his voice. "It's all over town! A local mine has been flattened into a pancake! I have a hunch that the Decepticons are to blame."
"I suspect that as well," Optimus agreed. "Jack, you are in charge."
"Aye, aye captain," Jack saluted.
"Ratchet, there might be survivors under the mine! They might require assistance! Autobots, transform and roll out!"
Raf activated the Ground Bridge to the location, and the Autobots rocketed inside. Ratchet stopped next to Fowler and reluctantly opened his door.
"Let's go, partner. The survivors won't stare in awe at you."
"Just quit your yap and drive," Agent Fowler smiled.
"Hands off dashboard," Ratchet said in a monotone. He started his engine and headed into the portal.
The vehicles skidded out of the Bridge and faced the collapsed mine. It looked like an earthquake occurred. A thick dust cloud formed around the blocked entrance and the carts were crushed under heavy boulders.
"Agent Fowler, you search for any survivors among the rubble. Ratchet, you will remain in ambulance mode. Rafael will bridge you to the hospital."
"Oh joy," he muttered.
The rest of the Autobots transformed and activated their weapons.
"Let's roll," Optimus uttered. He and Bulkhead trotted to the left side of the mine. Arcee and Bumblebee disappeared to the right side.
"Show offs," Ratchet said in vehicle mode.
Agent Fowler stepped out and walked up to the entrance. He cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled.
"Yoo hoo, is anyone in there?" Only echoes responded. Fowler carefully bent down and began moving the small rocks from the opening, sweating heavily.
"Man, I gotta get in shape," he heaved. "Say, Ratchet? Do you have a body temperature scanner? That would help a lot."
"I'm afraid I don't," Ratchet droned. "While Bumblebee and Bulkhead were lobbing, the two fools damaged my scanners, which I needed at that time."
"Good thing I'm always prepared," Fowler said. He ceremoniously pulled out his Lucky Pen, given to him by the President himself. He pushed its button and a blowtorch flipped from the side.
"Whoops." Agent Fowler purposely showed Ratchet every tool equipped on the pen first and finally made it transform into a heat scanner.
Fowler frowned as he moved the pen over the wreckage. "Not a single beep."
"What?" Ratchet shouted in a concerned voice. He hurried over and plowed the rocks with one swipe of his arm.
"Unless my visual scanners are faulty, it appears that this mine hasn't been used for at least a century." He looked up and saw a long ramp pointing down at the entrance. It was covered with thick dust and small pebbles gathered at the bottom. Pebbles created by a large amount of rocks that had rolled down the ramp…
"It's a trap!" Ratchet shouted at Agent Fowler. He instructed Fowler to stay put and ran to the left side of the mine.
Little did he know that one of Flatline's Cybertronian leeches was stuck on his back, secretly copying his spark that housed his DNA.
"What would Megatron do with a Ratchet army? Watch them bicker about tools?" Starscream scolded Flatline at the rear of the mine. Both of them patiently watched the Autobots' signals slowly reaching their location.
"Our master needs servants, does he not? What's better than a servant with intel on the Autobots?"
Starscream thought about it. "My apologies, Flatline. Megatron will praise your…consideration."
Flatline huffed indignantly. "You will be wise to know your place, Commander. For no one-"
Starscream rejoiced when his speech was interrupted by Optimus Prime.
"Stay behind me, Bulkhead. I detect a strong Energon signature around the corner."
The two Decepticons ended their argument and proceeded with the plan. Flatline transformed into truck mode and parked behind the abandoned construction vehicles. Starscream slid behind a toppled dump truck, where they had hidden an advanced cannon engineered by Flatline. He loaded it with four curled-up Cybertronian leeches, and trained it on Optimus approaching.
"My scanner's getting a signal," Bulkhead said behind Optimus' shoulder. The Autobot leader cautiously moved his scanner over each of the discarded construction vehicles.
"It's coming from there." Arcee pointed at a chemical truck behind the wreckage and Optimus fired at the target.
The truck transformed and dodged the Energon blast. Flatline smiled maliciously at the Autobots.
"Flatline," Optimus glared. "Why do you still fight for the Decepticons even after you have deserted them? Please, side with us, and we will end the war."
"You are foolish for a Prime," Flatline shot back. "Why should I join the losing side?"
Arcee couldn't control her anger anymore. She sprinted forward and launched powerful Energon blasts at Flatline as he driving away. With pinpoint accuracy, Starscream shot a leech at her back, and it crept inside her body.
Optimus, Bulkhead, and Bumblebee followed her, and Starscream fired the leeches at them.
"The leeches are inside their systems now," Starscream radioed to Flatline.
"Good, good. The leeches will duplicate their DNA quicker if their sparks are more energized."
He boosted his speed and easily left the Autobots in the dust.
"Let's get him!" Arcee yelled as she transformed. Optimus switched to truck mode and swiftly stopped in front of her, bracing for impact. Fortunately, Arcee screeched to a halt before she could hit him, and tumbled over.
"Arcee, I am disappointed. You are much wiser than this," Optimus stated. "What caused you to lose control over yourself.?"
"She's angry at everything," Bulkhead said, still tired from pursuing Flatline.
"I didn't need to be reminded," she grimaced. "Of how we lost Cliff."
"Just let him blab as much as he wants," Bulkhead said, a little annoyed. "He'll be dead soon anyway."
Bumblebee bleeped, punching his fist into his hand.
"I am sorry, Bumblebee, but Arcee will not be getting another chance to terminate Flatline," Optimus sighed. "Flatline is far too dangerous to battle alone."
He saw Arcee's face and added, "But Flatline will regret the mistake he made today."
"Optimus!" Ratchet yelled in ambulance mode. He transformed and came up to the Autobot leader.
"The mine collapse was a set-up! Quick, we must retreat!"
"We have taken care of it, Ratchet. This was all Flatline's doing."
Ratchet paused. "I thought Flatline quit the Decepticons."
"Well, he's back now," Arcee said resentfully. "What's stumping me is why he tricked us into coming here."
"Yeah," Bulkhead realized. "There was no Energon to steal, he obviously failed at killing us…what's his plan?"
"I don't know, and I'm not sure I want to find out," Ratchet replied. "Knowing him, it's probably sick and twisted beyond measure."
Soft footsteps were heard in the distance.
"I wait inside a moldy, dusty, foul-smelling crack in a cave for half an hour and I find you folks hanging out at the back," Agent Fowler grumbled as he emerged from the darkness. He looked like he just fell into a tub full of baby powder.
"Let's bridge back. It has been an exhausting day for all of us," Optimus said to his team and Fowler. "And may we be grateful that Flatline's strategy had failed."
Ironically, at that very moment, the leeches sent the copied DNA codes to Flatline's laboratory. After the information was transferred, the leeches crawled out of the Autobots' bodies and self-destructed when the Ground Bridge was opened. No traces were left.
Starscream hurried to Flatline's work station, a grin plastered on his face the whole time. He couldn't help but kick down the airtight door rather than knocking, as Flatline had instructed. It seemed like he was turning as frenetic as Flatline.
"Rejoice, for your brilliance has brought success!" Starscream exulted. "In my very hands are the codes that will spawn our master's deadly army!"
A hologram flickered on as he opened his palm excitedly. When there was no response, Starscream cracked an optic open and discovered that the room he stood in was no longer the lab. It was pitch black, except for the lighted path in front of him. Starscream took a huge gulp and slowly proceeded forward. He reached a massive Space Bridge generator and used the previous coordinates.
The Decepticon Air Commander emerged from the portal and stepped onto a pulsing asteroid. He recognized Flatline in the distance and scrambled up to him.
Flatline was furious when Starscream called out his name. In a swift motion, he took the cannon from his back and shot at the ground in front of Starscream.
"How did you find me?" he growled. "You don't belong here."
"I used your previous launch coordinates for the Space Bridge," Starscream cringed. "I am here to tell you that your plan was successful. Here are the codes for the-"
"Shut up!" Flatline roared. "I already have the codes. Now get back to the ship before I order Megatron to terminate you."
A large body materialized next to Flatline. Starscream cried out in fear when he identified the body as Optimus Prime.
Flatline sighed hoplessly.
"Commander Starscream, you must not tell anyone about the location of this shard. Even Megatron."
"Shard?" Starscream gasped, still staring at Optimus' clone.
"We're standing on the only shard left of the AllSpark," Flatline explained, in a calmer tone. "I'm sure you know that all Cybertronians are originated from it."
"The AllSpark? But it was destroyed with Cybertron!"
"Correct, but the shards were lost to the stars. This is the only one found."
"Then why keep it away from our master? Surely you pledged full loyalty to him," Starscream challenged, starting to admire Flatline's treachery.
"Megatron is legendary, but he is not wise."
"You dare say such lies of our master?" Starscream pretended. He was liking Flatline more and more.
"Our master would be destroyed if he attempted to absorb the information within this shard. Even he is not fit to hold such divine power."
"The knowledge of everything in the universe," Starscream grinned hungrily. He changed the subject.
"So you use this shard to create clones."
"There is no other way to engineer Cybertronians," Flatline boasted. "All I need to do is punch in the genetic codes and the Spark creates an exact duplicate."
He demonstrated it, and a Vehicon body formed on the shard.
"They are lifeless though without Energon," Flatline added.
"But once the bodies have Enerrgon, they'll have the same capabilities as the originals?"
"Correct. In fact, I have a demonstration for that as well. But only if you swear upon the AllSpark itself that you will never reveal this location."
"I accept your call of treason," Starscream bowed. "For our lord's safety."
Flatline motioned for him to follow and they went back through the Space Bridge. Starscream eagerly watched as Flatline loaded Energon cubes into a large machine and closed the hatch.
He gave a signal to Starscream and he dramatically pulled down the lever.
At first, the Energon cubes inside the machine were heated into a liquid, and it drained into the floor. The black room suddenly became illuminated with bright blue as the Energon gradually filled up a hundred clone vats. Starscream watched feverishly as each of the Autobot clones woke up.
"Flatline, your science continues to impress," Starscream rejoiced in the blue light. "Behold, our unstoppable army!"
The adventure continues in episode 2...
Compliments and/or criticism are welcome. Please, just add a comment (by review or PM) after you're done reading or spread the word. I know I'm asking a lot, but I just want other people's opinions. ROLL OUT.