'Nuff said -Forget about Optimus saying you shouldn't believe everything you read (Season One finale) Enjoy and don't forget to review/spread the word! Now let's get on with Longshadow's adventure! Don't forget to pick out any Easter eggs, especially if u read clone chronicles before!
Now. Roll out.
Episode 3: Classy Chassis (part two)
Always with an air of confidence, Swindle swung the gates back with a dramatic whoosh. Hesitatingly, Longshadow stepped inside the dark warehouse at Swindle's gesture. As soon as the doors swung back, locking Plunderworld from the human world, sets of floodlights filled the entire room. To Longshadow's surprise, the black market was bigger than she thought. Rows of industrial tables were cluttered with Cybertronian items like a gun show. Sets of lethal Cybertronian gatling guns and blasters lined the front tables, each costing about ten to fifteen Energon cubes. As the tables went further back, the items were more expensive and bizarre. Psychotic Analysis Patch cords were bundled together on a table, including Cyber-alloy bracelets that could tear through any pair of handcuffs. Longshadow was gazing at a hologram Optimus Prime used for Decepticon target shooting when Swindle grasped her gently by the hand.
"Do you like it?" he asked, beaming once more with an arch of his eyebrow. "I bet Megatron would love that aboard the ship. It only costs five Energon cubes, four for you my darling."
Longshadow was about to respond when a magenta Miata burst out from behind a table and transformed into Swindle's arms. The fembot had about the same body mass as Arcee, and had a fit figure. In robot mode, she exposed some light purple parts along with the hot pink. Her face was similar to Arcee's but the optics were thicker like mascara and her lashes were more defined. Longshadow knew in a second that she would never mistake the fembot for Arcee after seeing how she acted. The flirty robot cuddled Swindle and giggled delightfully every time he smiled, which was all the time.
"Ah, Gem!" he coaxed. "You look lovlier every time I see you!"
Gem giggled once more, hugging his waist, and looked up at Longshadow.
"Bonjour," she greeted in a bubbly voice. "You new here?"
"I'm new everywhere," Longshadow responded.
"I was just giving her a tour, for anything else Megatron would be interested in," Swindle added. "Until a naughty little someone popped in."
Gem blushed and batted her optic lashes once more, and Longshadow smiled awkwardly aside.
"Swindle, my lord is impatient, as you should know," Longshadow interrupted, with an air of authority. "The Pillar."
"Yes, yes. In a couple moments Sugarplum."
Arcee made vomiting noises over the com link, and Longshadow tried her best to stay focused.
"At least direct me to the items relevant to Megatron's masterful plan."
"He hasn't given me a single blip of what he's up to," Swindle replied. "All Shockwave told me when he purchased the Pillar was that it was for Space Bridge research."
"Come again? That's not what they told me," Longshadow said, ignoring whoever Shockwave was.
"Well, I assume they are looking into the science behind the Space Bridge because Pillars are the first generation of such technology. Instead of pinpointing coordinates and sending a Bridge, the ancients scattered these Pillars around an area for transport."
"The ancients?"
"The Thirteen," Swindle uttered, smiling once more. "The Thirteen Primes."
"So let me get this: Megatron is exploring a technology less advanced than what is already available with the regular Space Bridges. That is like researching the first wheel!"
"In a nutshell, yes. That's why I believe Megatron is developing a craving for antiques…at least I hope so."
"You're so smart, Swindle!"
Longshadow gawked dumbfoundedly as five Gems walked out from behind their booths and surrounded Swindle and the first Gem. They seemed to all be exactly identical, even in their flirty personalities.
"Protoform Replicating Machine," Swindle explained as six Gems embraced him. "Perhaps Megatron would be interested in it? I would love to see more of you here rather than those faceless Vehicons. In good condition and costs only a thousand Energon cubes, nine hundred and ninety for you of course. A lifetime supply of Protoforms included –which means you can never get enough of yourself. Isn't that right, Gem?"
"Hee hee," the Gems giggled in unison.
"If only I had a clone team…" Arcee radioed longingly to Longshadow.
"I will discuss it with Megatron," she smiled politely. "Though I doubt I'll be using it on myself."
"A shame, such a pretty face…" Swindle said, wiping an invisible tear. Suddenly, a Ground Bridge appeared in the middle of the facility and the Gem clones shied away. Longshadow's spark stopped when out came three Vehicons, a fourth carrying a stack of Energon cubes in its arms.
"No, no, no!" Longshadow whispered to herself.
"Ah, yes!" Swindle shouted a few feet ahead of her, stretching his arms out to the Vehicons. "You are here to pick up the Pillar too? No worries, your latest recruit has it taken care of!"
The Vehicons looked at each other and then straight towards Longshadow.
"She is not a Decepticon! We've never seen her!"
"Not yet a Decepticon!" Longshadow chimed in. "I planned to deliver the Pillar to your lord as a token of loyalty!"
"How thoughtful!" Swindle exclaimed, and three Gems next to him giggled with each other.
The Vehicons were not so impressed.
"We will use this cordical psychic patch on you, and if we see that you have allied with the Autobots, we have full permission from Megatron to terminate you immediately. Your foolish mind will be split from your body…never to return."
At this, Longshadow was trapped.
"What now?" she whispered to Arcee. No answer.
Just as the Vehicons were gathering the equipment, Longshadow was saved by a com link.
"Uh huh. I got it. No kidding? Bring it over here!"
Swindle put his arms around the Vehicon leader and Longshadow,
"Sorry to interrupt you two, but I believe this next item we have will catch your attention. Crowbar! Come on in!"
An armored bank truck pulled up at the back of the warehouse and opened its doors. At first, it seemed like Crowbar was playing a trick, because most of the back was dark and empty. Then Longshadow saw something –something horrible. Tied down by ropes at the farthest end was an unconscious human.
"Arcee –Jack is here. They got him," Longshadow com linked, feeling what humans called goosebumps.
"It's Two-Wheeler's human," a Vehicon commented. He turned towards Swindle. "We'll pay twenty Energon cubes for him."
"Oh my, sold!" Swindle shouted ecstatically.
"Twenty-five," Longshadow said, without realizing it. The Vehicons and Swindle looked at her in surprise. "I need more human slaves."
"Ooh –I like them cold and dangerous," Swindle said giddily. "Sold!"
"Thirty-five!" the Vehicons barged in.
"Say forty!" Arcee said to Longshadow urgently.
"Forty-five!" she shouted.
"Whoohoo!" Swindle interrupted, pumping his arms in the air. "Looks like we got ourselves a hot bid! The sky's the limit!"
A Gem clone started a timer for a minute, and another shot a blank with her pistol arm. The bidding had begun. Swindle grinned brightly as he watched the robots battle for Jack, seeing a growing mountain of blue in front of his optics every time each side rose the price.
"Fifty!" the Vehicons started.
"Sixty!" Longshadow spat.
"Sixty-five!" the Vehicons retaliated.
"Seventy!"
"Seventy-five!"
"Seventy-six!"
"Eighty!"
"Eighty-one!"
"Eighty-five!"
"Eighty-six!"
"Ninety!"
"Half a minute!" a Gem clone signaled.
"Ninety-five!"
"One hundred!" the Vehicons said defiantly.
Longshadow bit her lip. She well knew the Autobots had only twenty Energon cubes –one hundred seemed absolutely ridiculous at this point. What was she gonna tell Arcee?
"One million!" a feminine voice shouted.
All of a sudden, a blue motorcycle crashed through the warehouse wall and zipped over the tables, Swindle watching in awe. Almost gracefully, Arcee transformed and crouched next to the Vehicon leader. Almost simultaneously, Arcee raised her pistols at his head and the rest of the Vehicons pointed theirs at Longshadow.
"Longshadow?" Arcee turned her head around and saw the new recruit trembling at the sight of Energon barrels.
"Longshadow!" Arcee screamed, but it came out only as a harsh whisper.
Oh, damn! Part 3's coming soon, I promise! Til then, I'll just leave ya guys on the edge of this cliff HAHAHAHA