Not the comic. Not Marvel, not Dreamwave. Rumble is blue, Ratbat
squawks, and Shockwave is loyal.
September 11th, 2001
Cobra Commander was brooding. He'd just seen the second plane hit.
"Someone has gone too far..." Destro commented. "You're right, Destro.
WE should be the ones doing this, not the Arabs. We're a laughing stock
now!"
Destro could tell that Cobra Commander didn't so much as begin to
care. He left the office. The Baroness was on a mad dash in the other
direction. He stopped her. "I wouldn't disturb him right now!" "Let me
guess," she said in her thick Russian accent, "he's upset that he didn't
think of this plan himself!" "Oh, was it that obvious?"
"You honestly think he cares about anyone but himself?" she said.
"He didn't think of it because he'd lose far too many people to rule
over, not to mention the towers. Of course he doesn't care that they
were hit. And even if they collapse, he'll only try to outdo it!"
Destro sighed. "I will not turn into such a monster. This has to
end now." "You speak of defection?" she asked. "If necessary." He
walked off.
In the lounge, Zartan was watching. He wasn't sure what to think.
He'd never witnesses something like this. Tomax and Xamot were
watching over his shoulder. "You know the-" "-worst part?" they
said. "Let me guess," Zartan replied, "the business loss?" "Of-"
"-course!" they replied.
The twins never spoke alone. They always finished each others'
sentences. Zartan was disturbed by it, but now wasn't the time.
The two were not only terrorists but also raked in cash through
legitimate business means. People were an commodity to them.
Zartan, of course, thought of flying to New York. Even if GI Joe
arrived, he'd have no choice but to side with them. But he knew
he couldn't. Even if Cobra interceptors didn't chase him down,
the sunlight would kill him in minutes. He hated the rare skin
condition he and his family suffered. It may very well be what
drove them to terrorism.
"You'll live," he said. He left. The Dreadnoks were due for an
emergency meeting.
Optimus Prime was far too concerned to worry about their job.
Applying the anti-corrosion agent Corrostop to the various
monuments of the city would have to wait. He thought he had
witnessed war, but it never got any easier. He kept hearing his
name called out in the back of his mind as if the past holders
of the Matrix were somehow speaking to him.
"PRIME!" He snapped out of his thoughts. It wasn't the elders
calling to him. It was Jazz. "There's another plane in the no-fly
zone! It's headed towards the Pentagon!" He ran. The Aerialbots
were waiting. "Silverbolt, there's another plane on its way to
the White House! Try to stop it but save those people!"
Silverbolt didn't bother to acknowledge, he merely transformed
and flew. The other Aerialbots followed. They approached the
plane. Transforming in mid-air, Silverbolt grabbed the plane. He
others got under it, trying to steady it. Whoever was flying knew
what was going on, and shook the plane. Air Raid was knocked away.
Fireflight transformed, grabbing the tail.
They had diverted the plane at the very least. But the pilot was
too willing to die to give up. The plane spun, knocking the smaller
Aerialbots away. Silverbolt clung on, trying to use the reverse
thrusters in his feet, but it was no use. The plane hit the water,
knocking Silverbolt like a rock on a pond. The plane was torn
apart as it hit.
"Prime!" Again, someone called to him. It was over his communicator.
"This is Camshaft! I've spotted a van near the Lincoln Memorial, I
think it has a bomb in it!" "Be careful!" he ordered. "I'll send
help-" "DAMN! No time!"
Camshaft sped down the road. The silver car chased the van. He'd
spotted the bomb when the back was opened. Pulling in front of it,
and with a decent distance, he transformed. The van pulled to a
halt. He could see the driver held a remote.
'Come on... these human bombs are simple... where's that trigger!'
He scanned the van with his x-ray filters and infrared sensors.
"THERE!" Kneeling, he aimed the plasma beam cannon on his back.
A thin beam hit the van, sending a small trigger device out
through the other side. The driver stepped out. Camshaft held
him at gunpoint. "You're coming with me!"
He pulled a pistol, blowing his brains out. Camshaft had him,
a perfect prisoner to interrogate, and he lost him. "DAMN!" He
pounded the street with his fists, cracking it.
Prime didn't know what to do. Again, snapping out of his
thoughts, he realized Prowl was talking to him. "I just got
word... the World Trade Center towers have collapsed. There's
nothing left of them."
Megatron watched the news feed. "You see, Soundwave? I told
you that these flesh creatures would destroy themselves given
time. They're far too inferior to even live with each other,
and that fool Prime still believes he can be their allies!"
Starscream was laughing. "At this rate, they won't even NEED
our help!" "For once, Starscream, you say something relevant!"
Megatron shouted. "Prepare to attack! The time is right for
us to drain the energy from these flesh creatures! They are
weak!"
Soundwave pondered his options. Something about this seemed
to stir a feeling inside him that he thought he was rid of.
"Megatron, forgive me," he said in his monotone drone, "but
perhaps attacking right now is not a good idea. The humans
are expecting an attack, they may be more likely to fire
upon us, and they may not take prisoners."
"You're weak, Soundwave! It's no wonder I outrank-" "SHUT
UP, Starscream!" Megatron shouted. "Perhaps you are right,
Soundwave. We can wait a day or two, it is not worth being
attacked right now, even IF the Autobots will be busy..."
Notes: existing characters are property of Hasbro/Takara.
Everyone else is mine.