The Orbs of Kaonica

888888

Optimus Prime stood at the balcony, while his bondmate Cliffjumper neatly tidied the room behind him. It was a cold night. The wind was blowing extra soft.

"I sure miss Ratchet and Prowl." Optimus said.

"It'll be okay." Cliffjumper said, comforting him. "That reminds me, Perceptor said he wanted to see you."

"What for?"

"Dunno, but it seemed real important."

"Alright." He stepped away from the balcony. "I'll go see what he wants. Stay here and don't work yourself too hard. We don't want to upset the little one, now do we?"

He walk over and nuzzled Cliffjumper on the cheek, while rubbing his bulging abdomen. Then he turned and walked out. Cliffjumper watched him go with a dreamy smile, and rubbed the spot where he had been nuzzled.

Just one more week, Cliffjumper thought. and we'll have a little one of our own.

888888

"You wanted to see me?" Optimus said.

"Yes! Yes!" Perceptor immediately ran over. "We have made the most wonderful discovery!"

"What is it?"

"Follow me, I'll show you."

Perceptor lead him to a large white room, filled with stainless steel objects, a video projector and a large white board.

On the white board were schematics. Optimus turned towards the video projector, waiting for Perceptor to turn it on. He did so, flicking a small lever button.

Immediately, a monitor flared to life, showing three orbs. A bright purple one, a dark red one and light blue one.

"What are these balls?" He asked Perceptor.

"They are the answer to the war and our dead friends! These are Orbs of Sentient Life."

"The Orbs of Sentient Life? I thought that was only a legend."

"So did I, but we have located them on Planet Kaonica. But there is a problem…"

"What?"

"It's located right next to Chaar. There is no way we can retrieve the orbs without the Decepticons noticing."

888888

Optimus returned to his room. His thought were a crazy mess. If they tried to get the orbs, the Decepticons had a chance of getting them too. The consequences of such an action were bad.

"Optimus!" Hot rod came running up. "I wanted to give you this."

Optimus took the paper card and looked it over. Hot Rod ginned and rocked back on his feet.

"It's a wedding invitation." Hot rod said. "Sideswipe finally proposed to me!"

"That's great, Hot rod! What is the wedding date?"

"Two weeks from now. We decided to have an earth themed wedding."

"Hot rod!" Sunstreaker came up behind them. "Sideswipe wants to see you."

He didn't wait for an answer, he just hauled Hot rod up and over his shoulder, and turned and walked away. Optimus stood quietly for a moment before returning on his way to his room and to a waiting Cliffjumper.

888888

"Cliffy! I'm back!"

Cliffjumper stood at the stove, stirring a pot of warm Energon, and wearing a frilly pink apron.

"Honey," Optimus said, sitting at the kitchen table. "Did you hear Hot rod and Swideswipe are getting married?"

"Really?" Cliffjumper asked, excitedly. "Oooh! When is the wedding?"

"Next week."

"Oh, what dress should I wear?"

888888

Elita-1 carefully set down her mango flavored high-grade. Ever since her lover, Optimus, broke up with her to marry Cliffjumper, she had been hitting the high-grade hard. She was usually found in an old bar, drinking away the memories. Her usual drinking companion was Kup, who was beside her right now.

"And so I said 'What'cha got there?'. And you know what he said? 'Nothin'." Kup leaned back and downed a Margarita Energonola. "And then I found two hundred pounds of dynamite in his codpiece. Gotta say, it's one of the best hiding places I ever saw. But few have the work ethic I have to do a strip search on Mixmaster. Slagging 'Cons."

Elita-1 ignored him, sighing sadly and looking at a little heart-shaped pendant Optimus had given her years ago.

This will not be the end. She thought. Not on my life.

888888

Ultra Magnus quietly patrolled the halls, thinking of Bumblebee. That cute little face. Those huge eyes. The rare yellow paint color. He was every thing Magnus wanted.

But someone else had him.

Grimlock.

Magnus didn't know what the T-rex had that he didn't, but it drew bumblebee like a moth to a flame. The small 'Bot barely had eye's for anyone else.

The only thing Magnus knew for sure, was that Grimlock needed to go. Permanently.

888888

Galvatron was seated in his throne. The throne was made of rusted steel and the heads of dead Autobots. Over on the console across from the throne was Cyclonus and Scourge, French kissing deeply as Galvatron had ordered.

"You!" Galvatron shouted, pointing at Wildrider. "Get me more Energon! And I want grape flavored this time, got it?!"

"Y-yes, sir!" Wildrider saluted and ran off.

Meanwhile, none of this even remotely interrupted Scourge and Cyclonus.

888888

Wildrider quietly stalked down the rock out croping. They didn't have an actual base. It was just rocks and desert. And more rocks and desert. But they did have a certain little niche where they kept the Energon.

Sorting through the cubes, he picked up the dark purple one.

888888

Soundwave entered the throne room, carrying a large board.

"Galvatron." He said in monotone. "All rocks have been painted purple, as per your orders."

"Excellent! This shall improve morale!"

Cyclonus broke his kiss with Scourge to look up. "How does that work, My liege?"

"Do not question me!!"

"Forgive me, Mighty one."

Wildrider entered the room carrying the grape Energon.

888888

Elita-1 dialed 3545-345345345-13116. After the first few rings, Swindle answered the phone.

"Hello, you've reached Chaar, hell-hole of the universe. How may I help you today?"

"Yes, hello, this is… Atile-2. I have inside information you could use."

"Atile-2? Never heard of you."

"I'm… An undercover agent. Real covert. Of course you would never have heard of me."

"I don't know… This sounds like some Autobot ploy to me."

"I've got 5,000 credits and my bank account number is 98761234."

"Ah, wait, yeah… I think I have heard your name somewhere. And if you have anymore credits, I think I could interest you in a fake ID?"

"Not now. I have information the Decepticon cause could use. It's… Pressing."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah… What is it?"

"The location of the Orbs of Sentience."

"Those don't exist-"

"Yes they do. And I know their coordinates. "

"Alright, tell me and I'll pass it on."

888888

Galvatron looked down a list of his soldiers, randomly checking them off for the next mission; To retrieve the Orbs of Sentience.

"How convenient." Said Scourge, "They're so nearby."

"Alright!" Galvatron announced." Cyclonus, you're leading. Soundwave, Motormaster, Dead end, and Brawl, you're going with him. Anyone with questions can ask my fusion cannon!"

888888

"Sir!" Tracks barged into the room just as Optimus and Cliffjumper were getting ready for bed. "Alert, Alert! The Decepticons are on the move! They are heading towards Kaonica!"

"No!" Optimus said, disbelieving. "They are after the orbs!"

Cliffjumper covered his mouth with his hands and gasped.

"Every one to the meeting room!"

888888

"Perceptor. You're leading this mission. Sideswipe, Arcee, Tracks and Elita-1, you are to follow him. Everyone else, stay on Alert. We can't let the Decepticons send reinforcements."

888888

The Decepticons landed on Planet Kaonica. It was a world of jungle. It was so dense, the 'Cons could barely slink through the foliage.

"It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack!" Motormaster complained.

"Indeed." Dead end agreed. " Such an endavour is useless. We may as well slit our wrists and die now. Or perhaps we could hang ourselves on a jungle vine. Or maybe-"

"Shut up, Dead end." Soundwave monotoned.

Cyclonus adjusted the map and looked at the compass, ignoring his soldiers.

888888

Chromia was just getting back to her room, having just come from the meeting and seeing Perceptor and the others deployed to Kaonica, to see a small sticky note attached to her door. It was entitled 'Really Secret' and written in a code only she and Elita-1 knew.

Taking it off the door, she read it:

Dear Chromia,

We must kill Optimus Prime, I have already set my plans in action.

I know you still blame him for Ironhide's death. I ask that you help me.

Together, we shall succeed

Chromia dried her tears. Finally, Optimus will pay for sending Ironhide to his death. She returned to reading the note.

Please refer to me as 'Atile-2' from now on, except in mixed company. These are the coordinates for your next instructions: 72-456-239847-10

Do not chat about this to anyone else.

We do not know who is on our side.

Love,

Elita-1

888888

They landed on the planet Kaonica, somewhere in the dense jungle. They had no idea where the Decepticons were. But confident in the power of good vs. evil, they went forward boldly.

Perceptor immediately set out west, the rest following him. In his arms he held the best tracking device devised yet. It looked like a box with a mini satellite on it. And it was the size of a propane tank.

"Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?" Sideswipe chanted.

"No. No. No. No." Arcee chanted back.

888888

The Decepticons found it first. A giant Mayan themed temple. Two giant lions lined the stone entrance, baring their fangs and being an ominous warning to what lay within.

"Ah." Dead end said, writing something down on a notepad. "We can add death by booby-traps now. That makes… 492 ways to die on this planet."

"We don't even know if there are booby-traps inside." Said Cyclonus.

"This is a spooky temple in the middle of a jungle. Of course it has booby-traps!"

Walking up, Brawl knocked on the door. It opened slowly, creaking all the way. Slowly, all the 'Cons entered.

It had a vague Egyptian tomb feel. With little birds and eyes chiseled all over the walls. Torches lined the hall, the flames flickering and casting shadows.

"Well," Cyclonus said. "who wants to go first?"

888888

The Autobots raced through the forest, trying to catch up with the decepticons.

"Faster, everybody!" Sidswipe said. "We've got to reach those balls before the Decepticons do."

"The shrubs are scratching my paint!" Said Tracks, appalled.

Elita-1 smirked. Time to put phase one into action.

Surreptitiously pulling out a can of Camo paint, she sprayed herself, immediately turning invisible. She carefully ran to the side, avoiding the other Autobots, and activated her super speed jetpack.

Zipping along, far ahead of the others already, she finally ran out of fuel, just at the entrance of the temple.

Smirking, she started to set up the traps. The Autobot's wouldn't know what hit them.

888888

The Decepticons were deep within the temple. Having strolled down to the bowls of the temple with out so much as a poisoned arrow being flung at them, they started to wonder if they were in the right place. They had not found a single booby-trap. Wether this was a good omen or not, they had yet to know.

Cyclonus activated his radio when they stopped to take a break.

"Hello, you've reached Chaar, hell-hole of the universe. How may I help you today?" Swindle asked.

"Yes, I'd like to speak with Galvatron."

"Alrighty then, please hold."

A few minutes later, he was finally connected. Galvatron's voice boomed across the line.

"Whaaaat is iiiit!"

"Mighty one, we are halfway there."

"Goooood. Goooood. Excelleeeent. Call back when you find the balls."

"Yes, my liege. The balls shall be yours."

888888

Optimus paced frantically in front of med-bay. Cliffjumper had gone into labor a week early. He was waiting for news now. With him was half the base, all crammed into the tiny waiting room.

Then First aid opened the door. He was smiling.

"Congratulations! It's a girl!"

First aid moved to let Optimus past, while the others in the waiting room crowded the door.

As he entered, Optimus laid eyes on the most cutest femme in the universe.
She was red, like Cliffjumper and speckled with tiny white dots. Her optics were an deep blue with gold lining. Cliffjumper held her to his spark, smiling softly.

Optimus went over and stood next to them.

"I've named her," Cliffjumper whispered. "Strawberry."

"Indeed," Said Optimus. "She does look like a strawberry."

Optimus gingerly picked up Strawberry and held her, letting Cliffjumper get some rest.

"Strawberry…" He whispered. "The future leader of the Autobots."

888888

Perceptor, Sideswipe, Arcee and Tracks arrived at the entrance of the temple. They still haven't noticed Elita-1 is gone.

They enter, tripping a wire. A hundred flaming arrows hurdle towards them, killing Arcee instantly and badly injuring the rest.

"Everybody get back!" Shouted Sideswipe, clutching his shoulder. "It's a trap!"

"T-the 'Cons," Whispered Tracks. "I-it had t-to be the 'C-cons."

"I'll call Optimus…" Sideswipe said.

Meanwhile, half a grove away, Elita-1 smiled evilly and chomped down on an Ener-apple. She let it's sweet juices dribble down her chin as she looked on at the carnage before her. It was sweet as blood.

888888

Optimus had put Strawberry to bed, tucked into a bright pink blanket with tiny unicorns on it. He just had settled down with Cliffjumper when Sunstreak burst into the room.

"Optimus! You've gotta come quick! Sideswipe is in trouble!"

Optimus through the covers off and leapt out of bed.

"What is it? What is the matter?"

"Booby-traps! They were caught in a volley of flaming arrows!"

"Oh, no! Was anyone hurt?"

"All of them, Arcee was killed and they can't find Elita-1."

"My, my… Quick, send help immediately."

"What about the Decepticons?"

"Organize a rescue team. The rest of us will attack Chaar head on."

"Yes, sir."

888888

Chromia snuck around the vents. Following Elita-1's orders, she kicked in a vent. Pulling out the note, she reread her instructions:

Dear Chromia,

I've sabotaged the landing party.

Optimus will send a rescue team.

Get into the hangar. Sabotage the lead jet with bomb (included)

Optimus will use this jet when he attacks the Decepticons.

Call Chaar. Let them know how the plan progresses.

Lay low. DO NOT GET ON SABOTAGED JET.

The Decepticons will have your next instructions.

Love,

Elita-1

XOXO

Crumpling up the note she placed it inside her handbag and pulled out the bomb. It was white and the size of a dinner plate. It had a single long wire with a tiny suction cup on the end.

Getting on the floor, she slid underneath the jet and hooked the bomb to the engine. Sliding back out she went to get inside the vent. Suddenly the doors slid open and Inferno walked in. Unable to make it to the vent, she hid behind a random engine block. She peeked through, watching him.

He set down a few packages and left. Chromia let out a sigh of relief and exited through the vent.

She'd just gotten back to her room when the sirens went off.

888888

Cliffjumper sat on the bed holding Strawberry as she waved good bye to Optimus.

Optimus turned. He gave a small wave and buffed with pride at his youngling. Then he left, off to fight the Decepticons.

888888

Chromia dialed the number and waited a few moments.

"Hello, you've reached Chaar, hell-hole of the universe. How may I help you today?" Asked Swindle.

"Yes, I'm Chromia and I'm calling for my instructions."

"Ah, yes. Please hold on for a moment."

Waiting, Chromia leaned back against the wall and fiddled with the phone cord as elevator music started to play.

"Thank you for holding. I'm patching you through now."

888888

Cyclonus put down the map and looked in awe at the cavern before him. Behind him, he heard the others gasp.

It was the size of five football stadiums and there, at the farthest reaches back, were the orbs. All three: red, purple and blue.

But between them and the orbs was a giant pit of lava, with streams of lava that seemed to randomly shoot up into the air and defy the laws of gravity. It would be like flying through a field full of land mines.

"It's like…" Motormaster began. "The biggest lava lamp in the universe."

"Yeah." Brawl agreed, thoroughly entranced by the floating lava.

"The floating lava would be hard enough to avoid," Dead end said. "But those lava geysers could be the death of us… I love it!"

"Well." Cyclonus said. "We'll have to go slow-"

"Go slow," Dead end interrupted. "And we risk getting shot by the geysers. Go fast and could run into floating lava balls. Don't you just love this? I love this."

"Shut up, Dead end."

"Suggestion: Use of shield. Action would result in fifteen percent better success rate."

"Really?" Asked Brawl. "What was our success rate without the shield?"

"Zero." Soundwave monotoned.

"… I like the fifteen percent one."

"Where can we get a shield?" Asked Cyclonus. "I didn't bring one."

"Answer: can make make-shift out of radio."

Cyclonus bit his thumb. If they tore up the radio, he couldn't call Galvatron. But did they really have a choice? It was that, or forfeit the mission.

"Alright." Cyclonus agreed. "But let me call Galvatron first."

He hastily dialed the numbers and waited.

"Hello, you've reached Chaar, hell-hole of the universe. How may I help you today?" Asked Swindle.

"Yes, hi. Please patch me through to Galvatron."

888888

Galvatron was lazing about and using Scourge as a footstool. He'd almost beat the final boss on a hand held gaming syster when Onslaught burst into the room.

"Sir, you've got a call on line one. It's Cyclonus."

Pausing his game, Galvatron picked up the phone and answered it.

"Mighty one, we have to destroy the radio. We'll be out of touch for a little while."

"Okay."

Galvatron hung up the phone and went back to playing 'Dungeons and Spiders 3: Attack of the Zombiebots'.

888888

"Alrighty then, Soundwave. Here you go."

Cyclonus handed Soundwave the radio and he started tearing it apart.

888888

First aid, Swoop, Bumblebee and Hot rod were the rescue party. They landed their aircraft in the jungle, close to where the first party were.

They unpacked the medical supplies and ran off into the dense jungle.

But, sneaking quietly through the foliage, they missed seeing Elita-1. She giggled hysterically as she boarded their parked jet and started it up.

She tapped in the coordinates for Chaar and took off.

888888

Review! ^_^ :D