Chapter 2:

Optimus Primal had been searching the computer's database for the past hour, and he had barely scratched the surface. There were literally billions of choices. How did Vector Prime expect him to choose his troops? At random? He didn't even know how many Decepticons he and his supposed army would be facing. He would need to find some scouts. Then there was what Vector said about the teleporter breaking. He would at least one mechanic. And that's what Primal was looking for first, because he did not want to be cut off if he needed reinforcements. But the numbers were starting to get to him "By the Pit, this is hopeless!" he said hitting the console. The computer began to beep, and a voice said "Confirmed. Retrieving subject now." Primal looked up. "Wait, what? No! I haven't decided yet! Blast it!" He must have hit the selector when he hit the console. He shouldn't have let his emotions get the better of him. But there was nothing he could do about it now, the teleporter was already warming up. "At least it'll be a mechanic..." Primal thought as he checked to see exactly who he had selected. An Autobot engineer by the name of Quickmix. Oddly enough, his profile in the computer stated that he wasn't from Cybertron, but from another world called Gigantion. Apparently, the Transformers who settled there were all builders. Primal had never heard of it before, more than likely because it was in a different dimension than his own.

Primal looked to the teleporter. It looked basically like a large, empty chamber. Large enough that it could accomodate even the largest Transformer, within reason of course. There was a bright flash from inside the teleporter as the new recruit arrived. Quickmix was still in vehicle mode as Primal entered the chamber. Quickmix's vehicle of choice appeared to be some sort of cement truck. Suddenly, the cement truck stood up and transformed, revealing Quickmix. The mixer barrel of his vehicle mode was were his right hand should be, which gave the Transformer the appearance of holding a club. Quickmix looked around and yelled "Ey! Who are you? Where am I? I want answers, ya hear me!" pointing his cement barrel at Primal.

Primal held up his hands to show he was unarmed. "Easy there. I can explain. My name is Optimus Primal. I'm a Maxi...er, I mean an Autobot." Primal decided that this Quickmix might react better if he wasn't confronted by a faction he had never heard of. "And I brought you here because your skills are greatly needed. Just let me explain..." Primal told Quickmix all that Vector Prime had told him about the situation they had found themselves in.

Quickmix was skeptical. This 'Optimus Primal' character seemed familiar. He reminded Quickmix of the Optimus Prime he had met back on his own world, but he definitly wasn't the same bot. "That's the most ridiculous story I've ever heard. I've buit some crazy things in my time, but an interdimensional teleporter that can snatch up Transformers? You'll excuse me if I find that rather hard to believe."

Primal looked Quickmix in the eye and said, "I know it's hard to believe, but you have to. There is so much at stake here. We have to..." he was interrupted as the base was shaken by the force of an impact and warning sirens blaring. "What was that!?" Quickmix asked.

"I have no idea." Primal said as he ran to the nearest computer console. "Computer, report!"

"Warning. Decepticons detected at perimeter of base." The computer said in an annoyingly calm voice. "Enemy fire detected. Minimum damage sustained to outer defenses. Initiating shields and automated defenses."

"Decepticons!?" Primal and Quickmix said at the same time. "Computer, visual. Main monitor." the biggest screen in the room flashed to life. It showed five Decepticons attacking the base. One of them looked somewhat like Optimus Prime, but different. He looked...evil. Quickmix looked to Primal. "Okay, I might be starting to believe you."

Suddenly, automated turrets popped up from the surrounding rocks and began firing on the Decepticons. It drove them back a little, but failed to chase them off. Optimus stared at the screen. "We have to get out there."

"What? Are you serious?" Quickmix gave Primal a look of disbelief. "Have you seen their number compared to ours? There's only two of us and five of them! We go out there, and we're as good as dead!"

"Not if we can bluff them." Primal elaborated. "We just got here. They don't know how many there are. And besides, our firepower combined with the automated defenses of this base might be enough to drive them off. Now let's go!" Primal grabbed his ally by the arm and led him to the exit. "Computer. Cease automated fire and hold for my command."

"Acknowledged." was the computer's only reply.

Optimus and Quickmix then stepped outside. The sunlight reflected slightly off the force shield that had erected around the base. From here, they were protected by the shield from enemy fire. Optimus and Quickmix looked around. Their attackers had taken cover from the automated defenses. One of them sneaked a peak at the two Autobots.

"Tankor thought there be only one bot. Tankor count two."

"It's surprising Tankor can count at all." Starscream said in a mocking tone. He looked to Scourge "But the simpleton is right. Scrapmetal said there was only Autobot in this base."

"Our reports also stated that this base was empty." Scorponok put in. "It would appear that our intelligence isn't as good as we would have liked to believe."

"Silence you three!" Scourge ordered. Something wasn't right here. This base should have been empty, and not 15 cycles ago, their scanner did show only one Autobot. The most rational explanation would be that the Autobots had a way to mess with their sensors. And that meant that they could no longer trust any of their sensor intel. But that still left the question 'How and why were there Autobots here?' Who could have sent them? Scourge's thoughts were interrupted by one of his generals. It was Sunstorm.

"Mighty Scourge, might you please give your humble servant the chance to interrogate these Autobots?" Sunstorm asked. While Sunstorm's aft kissing did get on everyone's nerves a bit, everyone did understand that he couldn't help it. It's hard wired into his processor. In the universe he came from, that Starscream had created several imperfect copies of himself. Imperfect in that each one only represented one aspect of the originals personality. One was a coward, one was an egomaniac, one was pathelogical liar. Sunstorm got stuck with original's suck up nature. He sucks up and compliments everyone, regardless of rank or even allegiance. Even in after a fight, he will compliment his downed opponent on the good job he did.

Despite of these perculiar and sometimes irritating quirks, Scourge still had a fondness for Sunstorm, due to their shared origins of both being more or less clones. Scourge looked at Sunstorm and simply stated. "Permission granted." The only reason being is because an Autobot would never fire on an enemy coming to talk peace.

Sunstorm nodded and used his jets to rise above their cover. "Great and powerful Autobots!" he addressed Primal and Quickmix. "I am Sunstorm, Decepticon General! I am honored to have been given the privelage of negotiating with our most respected enemies. I..." Suddenly, a small window in the shield opened and Quickmix's cement barrel arm split in half and launched a missle that hit Sunstorm directly in the chest. The Decepticon fell to the ground, heavily damaged, but still alive. The opening in the shield then closed. Primal looked at Quickmix with a shocked expression on his face. Quickmix shrugged "What? He was getting on my nerves. Besides, there wasn't enough explosive in that charge to kill him."

Primal shook his head and called out "Decepticons! That was your warning shot! Leave now, or we'll finish blowing you to scrap!"

Scourge couldn't believe it. One of the Autobots had fired! Obviously, these Autobots were different to the ones he had been used to dealing with. Scourge looked at the unconcious body of Sunstorm. "Scorponok! Take Sunstorm back to base and get him into the repair chamber. Starscream, Tankor, and I will follow shortly."

"Yes Scourge." Scorponok said as he Transformed into his land mode, a scorpion based, tank like vehicle. He grabbed Sunstorm with his claws and began to drag him back to the Decepticon base. Scourge looked back at the Autobots. "You will pay for your insolance, Autobots! As well as your interferance! Pay for it with your lives! You will not stop us! All realities belong to The Fallen! They shall be his!" And with that, Scourge transformed into the semi-truck that was his vehicle mode and began to drive off. Tankor followed suit in his tank mode, and Starscream transformed into a jet and flew off.

Primal let a sigh of relief go. This was going to be even harder than he originally thought. These Decepticons were fanatical, and that was the worst kind of Decepticon. He and Quickmix stepped back into the base. Quickmix looked around. So all the stuff that Primal said was true. Decepticons from all sorts of dimensions were gathering here to form an army. And it was up to the Autobots to stop them. "So now what do we do now?"

Primal looked to Quickmix. "We repair the damage to the base, and then we start building an army. You up to it?"

Quickmix laughed. "Doesn't look like I have much of a choice, does it?" The two then got set to work...

*At the Decepticon Base*

Scourge stood staring at the repair chamber Sunstorm was currently in. The Decepticon's cheif medical and science officer, Brushguard, walked up. "That was a bad missle wound he took, but he'll recover, given time."

"Make sure that he does." Scourge said as he walked away. He next went to his private quartes and locked the door. He stepped up to a large communicator and keyed in a complex code. Then a large, feiry, mechanical face took up the screen. It was The Fallen. "Report." he said in a dark, menacing voice.

"My lord! Autobots have arrived here." Scourge began. "They've taken up shelter in the old abandoned base, and have gotten it fully functional in less than a day! They have also wounded one of my generals. I have no explanation for this."

The Fallen scowled. "This is the work of Vector Prime. It appears as though he has uncovered out plans and wishes to put a stop to it."

"What do you wish me to do?"

"You worry about the Autobots. I'll shall deal with Vector Prime myself. This is only a minor setback, Scourge. Do not let the Autobot's arrival and the injury of your general distract you from our main goal. Stay to the plan and destroy the Autobots, at any cost."

Scourge nodded. "Understood, my liege. Scourge, Out." The screen went blank. He stood there several more moments before walking away. Everytime he spoke to The Fallen, Scourge was always left a little shaken. It was just something about his very presence, whether in person or over the communicator, was awe inspiring. Scourge balled his fist. He would not let his newfound master down. These Autobots, wherever they came from, would be destroyed, at any cost...