Chapter 2
Disclaimer: I don't own transformers, they are the property of Hasbro. Any other copyrighted material is the property of its respected owner. Good reading.
Inside the briefing room, the assembled team of Astrotrain, Skywarp, Thundercracker, and Mixmaster await the first step of this new strategy. The door opens and Megatron with Shockwave in tow enter.
"Excellent..." the silver mech bellows. "...We can begin with our first step toward victory."
"So whats the mission?" Astrotrain inquires.
"You are all to go to the planet Traal. The people there have a secret that will be crucial to our overall strategic goal. They have something called: the Pool of Transformation. According to our records, whoever steps into this pool is transformed into whatever they wish. Our very own Rumble went into this pool and became a tree for some reason." The decepticon leader says with a tone of confusion at the end.
"How do we revert back to our original form?" The blue Seeker asks.
" Enter the pool again, and simply wish to be normal again. When you emerge, you'll be yourselves ." Megatron answers.
"In order to minimize detection, Astrotrain once you get close to the pool's position, cut your engines and glide, you will then land to a position two kilometres from the pool. Thundercracker, Skywarp, and Mixmaster, you three will jump out of Astrotrain while he is gliding near the pool's position with the equipment. Thundercracker, and Skywarp, you two will carry the containers and Mixmaster will carry the pumping kit." The one eyed purple mech. Speaks.
"Once you three have landed with the kit. Keep an eye out for patrols and sentries around the entrance to the Pool of Transformation as well as inside of it. Since our last venture at Traal, I'm sure the Traalicons will have it guarded. Take this with you, it's a jamming device which will render communications around the area useless.. Once you enter Traal's solar system, keep radio silence to help minimize dectection." Megatron explains.
"Any questions?" Shockwave queries.
The four adventurers look at eachother and shake their heads, each knowing what to do. Megatron and Shockwave nod their approval and the ensemble leave the breifing room and head to one of the hangar bays. They see the various containers bundled together along with the pumping equipment. Astrotrain transforms into his space shuttle mode and the three others load the kit into the shuttle. Once finished with the equipment, Thundercracker, Skywarp and Mixmaster board Astrotrain. He lifts off the floor and slowly flies into the huge docking tower. The docking tower rises over the waves,and the space shuttle shoots out.
Standing near the ledge, atop of one of the huge towers in Autobot City, Optimus Prime takes in the wonderful sight. The various mountains of the surrounding area, Lookout Mountain to the south is the most noticable since its actually a plateau, the almost tree covered valley with its river snaking htrough it, and a couple of towns dotted along the river. He stands with his hands on his hips, thinking, wondering, and contemplating.
Why am I, why are we here? Does it even matter anymore? Are the humans worth all the scacrifice? The Autobot leader thinks to himself.
The setting sun darkens the colours of the mountains and the trees below. The river's surface glows a marriage of red, orange, yellow and gold. His internal system registers a slight tempature drop in the air. The first sign of the coming evening. His attention is suddenly drawn to approaching footsteps and turns around.
"Hello my dear. I thought you were resting in your quarters." The pink coloured femme conveys.
"Oh, Elita. Can I help you with something?" The Autobot leader asks.
"Well...you can be resting like I asked before." She gracefully walks toward Prime. "What's on your mind?"
"Nothing at all. Just alot of data to take in the past days." Optimus responds.
"Liar...Tell me, whats wrong?" Elita One rebuttals.
Seeing that his mate won't let it go, no matter what he says. If I'm gonna confess to someone, I'd rather it be her. Prime thinks to himself.
He turns back around and walks to the ledge again. "Im wondering why we're still here. I'm wondering if anything we Autobots do on this planet matters anymore. We've been on this planet for many years, and we're still no better than what we were when we awoke on this world."
Elita One walks next to her mate and wraps an arm around his. "You're contemplating our role on this world. You're thinking if we should continue our presence here on earth...aren't you?"
"The Decepticons still have a very strong presence here. I send my Autobots to help the humans with disaster relief, provide security for their delegates incase of Decepticon attacks, defend the humans themselves from the Decepticons, deliver medical and food aid for those in dire need. And what do my Autobots and I get in return from the humans?" He voices.
"What?" His femme retorts with a curious tone.
"We get shunned by them. It's been like this for a while now. We get shunned more and more every year. We fight the Decepticons and some humans get killed or injured in the crossfire, the humans blame us. I send my Autobots to help with food aid somewhere and that aid gets attacked, they blame the attack on our presence there. My Autobots help to rebuild or repair some war torn country, and humans attack us for it. We help with disaster relief and someone gets injured or worse, I get blamed for not being more careful or for not doing enough. It seems no matter what I or my Autobots do, its never good enough for the humans, they always find fault in what we do." The depressed Autobot leader explains.
"I understand that some humans might see it that way. But, does that mean we stop helping them?" The pink coloured femme queries.
"It's not just SOME humans, it's alot of humans that are seeing that way now. I don't know wether we should stay longer or find somewhere else to be our temporary home. I...question if what we're doing here is worth the sacrifice." Optimus says looking at the descending sun.
Elita One tugs on her mate's arm, "If ever that time comes, I'll support your decision no matter what. I love you."
Optimus smiles under his faceplate and looks at his love, "Thanks for listening. I love you too."
Both embrace and return to their quarters. Prime lays down on his recharge bunk, his power level nearing dangerous levels, and shuts down. Elita quietly walks out of their quarters and locks the door so Prime can recharge in peace. She takes the elevator to the ground floor, walks down the lobby and exits the residential tower. The stars show brightly in the clear evening sky, the cool wind brushes against her body making her slow down her cooling system to bring up her tempature. Elita One decides to go for a drive and transforms into her earth alt mode. The pink 2004 Mercury Marauder crosses one of Autobot City's bridges and rides off into the evening.
Above the planet Traal. Astrotrain begins to make his descent. His three passengers examine the data that was input into their palm pads before they left. Thundercracker looks and stores the coordinates and all relevant data about the Pool of Transformation into his memory banks. Skywarp analyses the straps that are holding the containers together, and tightens up where it needs. Mixmaster looks at the pumping kit and runs a couple of tests, satisfied that the pumps work he tests them for any leaks. With no leaks detected, Mixmaster gives his two comrades a nod of approval. Skywarp confident the straps are on tight does the same.
"Hey guys." The Decepticon space shuttle says. "We're approaching the target's position. Best get ready for your jump."
"Ok. We're gearing up." The blue Seeker replies.
Astrotrain cuts his engines and glides the rest of the way. Nearing ever closer to the coordinates, he opens one of the doors. His three passengers line up next to the open door feeling the rush of the passing air. With the kit secured, the trio jumps out. Controling their descent with their built in anti-gravity units, they make their way to the landing position. Looking back, Skywarp sees the purple shuttle getting ever smaller in the distance. The two Seekers dare not use their jet engines as the loud noise from the turbines will easily compromise the stealthy approach. The three Decepticons land with grace, with the exception of the Constructicon who lands with more of a thud. They check to make certain the equipment is firmly attached to eachothers' back. With reassurance, they make their way to the Pool's entrance.
Astrotrain lands at his coordinates, a couple of kilometres from the Pool of Transformation. All he has to do now is sit and wait for his friends to arrive. From his memory banks, he pulls up a program and begins to pass the time with a game of Solitaire.
The blue Seeker peaks at the entrance. "I don't see anyone there. How 'bout you brother?"
"I don't see anything either. I don't get it, where are the sentries?" The black/purple jet answers.
"Dunno. We can't stay here and play Trivial Pursuit. I'm going to the enrance." TC points out.
"Go for it. We'll provide cover." The Constructicon says.
With that, Thundercracker quick steps to the entrance, keeping one of his cannons raised just incase. From behind a large rock his two companions have their weapons ready and provide overwatch. TC reaches the entrance and peaks in, no one is seen. He signals the OK. The two soldiers run out from behind the rock and run quickly next to TC.
"I don't detect anyone beyond the entrance. The Pool of Transformation is just over forty meters down this cavernous path. Don't make any noise. You guys ready?" TC queries.
The other two nod in agreement.
"I'll take take the rear. You two watch the front." Mixmaster says.
The three make their way down the path, trying to keep the noise level to a mininum. Weapons always at the ready. The trio eventually make their way all the way down the forty meter pathway. They stop at the end, and formulate a plan to enter the cavernous room.
"Hey 'warp, can you transport to the other side? Mixmaster and I will enter a second after. That way we have the entire room covered in one move." The blue Seeker plans out.
"Sure thing." His brother happily replies.
"I'm good to go. Lets get this over with." The cement truck says.
The purple Seeker disappears in thin air and re-appears on the opposite side of the room. A second later his two friends enter their side of the room with weapons raised. They quickly look around the room and find no one but themselves. The three trooops scratch their heads as to why the locals didn't have anyone on sentry duty.
Instead of standing around and playing twenty questions, the trio quickly gets to work. Mixmaster sets up the pumping equipment, while the Seekers begin to unstrap the containers. With everything good to go, the pumps activate and the fisrt two containers begin to fill.
The blue jet goes to the cavern's entrance and stands guard. He looks around and still no one comes by. His brother stays in the cavern and keeps watch as the cement truck analises the pumps and the containers. He disconnects the first two filled containers and attaches two other empty ones.
Walking along the mountain's base two machines chat away.
"It still boggles the mind that a flesh creature and a machine can be in love." The pink transformer says.
"Yeah, and to have that relationship last this long and still going strong. I'm so happy for them." The green robot replies.
"It was quite the party. Those Traalicons can really drink, not me though. I don't think my system can take their drinks." The pink coloured femme retorts.
"Same here, give me energon anytime." She giggles. " Arcee, remember when Cliffjumper drank against Ironhide? I can't beleive that little red Autobot thought he could out drink ole' Ironhide." The giggling green femme states.
Arcee begins to laugh herself. "Oh primus, what was Cliffjumper thinking? He got so drunk he had the gull to challenge Ironhide to a fight."
"Cliffjumper threw the first punch and missed big time, and then trips over his own feet landing on his face. He passed out." Arcee's companion says while giggling.
"I don't think anybody will forget that one Moonracer." Arcee replies.
Mixmaster disconnects two more containers from the pumping unit. The two jets strap the containers into two bundles.
"Ok, all the containers are full. We're done here." Mixmaster states.
"Sounds good to me. Lets get outta here." Skywarp claims.
"Fine by me, lets go." TC says.
The three Decepticons attach their respective equipment to their backs and leave the cavern. They walk to the end of the pathway. The sight of two female Autobots stops them in their tracks. The two femmes look at eachother in surprise and then pull out their blaster pistols. The Decepticons drop their kit and scatter.
Arcee takes aim with her twin pistols and fires a couple of shots at the black/purple Seeker. Skywarp falls back from the impacts. She yelps and drops her pistols as the blue jet tackles and slams her to the ground. Moonracer fires a quick burst from her own blaster pistol at the Constructicon. Mixmaster jumps out of the way but a couple of shots impact his chest and collapses.
Acree quickly puts her feet to the blue Seeker's chest and pushes him off with all her might. Thundercracker hits the ground several meters away. He quickly gets up on his feet and sees the pink Autobot lunge at him. Arcee slams into the jet's chest and wraps her legs tightly around his waist. She punches him repeadetly, but the Seeker tries to block the punches with his arms.
Skywarp teleports and reappears behind the green Autobot femme. He fires his arm cannons at her. Moonracer lunges forward as the shots slam into her back, she rolls over just in time to avoid the metal foot of the Constructicon smashing into the ground.
Thundercracker grabs Arcee by the throat, she then grapples that arm trying to pry away.
"GET OFF ME BTCH!" TC yells at her.
He punches Arcee square in the face which knocks her head back. She releases her grip on his waist, which then he grabs her shoulders and throws her several meters away. Arcee smashes to the ground.
Moonracer, still on the ground points her blaster at her closest opponent and fires. Mixmaster falls back a few steps from the impacts and then crashes into the mountain's side from Moonracer's follow up kick to the chest. From the corner of her eye she sees the purple jet take aim again. She dodges his cannon shots by leaping to the air. Skywarp jumps back to avoid the quick burst from the femme's pistol. The femme lands in front of the Seeker and ducks to avoid his punch. Her sweeping kick knocks Skywarp down.
The blue jet looks on at the pink Autobot slowly rising. He takes advantage of her disorientation and blasts her with his arm cannons. The impacts spin the femme around and she falls back down.
Moonracer stands up and aims her gun at Skywarp's face. His optics open wide at the sight. The Autobot's attention is broken by the firm grip of a hand grabbing her shoulder, and is spun around. She makes a yelp as Mixmaster punches the green Autobot at full strengh to the chest. Moonracer lands hard on her back and slides a few feet.
The two Autobots fail to rise. The three Decepticons gather their wits and run back to the equipment they dropped when the fight started. They strap their resptective gear to their backs and fly off to the evac position.
"Astrotrain. Warm up the engines. We're on our way." Thundercracker radios.
"Confirm. I'm preparing for dust off. Any contacts?" The shuttle asks.
"Yeah. Two Autobots. We beat them, but we don't know if there are any others." TC explains.
"Then hurry up you guys." Astrotrain replies.
The three Decepticons land quickly next to the space shuttle. They load the equipment and jump inside. The door shuts and Astrotrain lifts off. The passengers sit down and catch their breaths. Mission Accomplished.