Grandpa_Ace Productions, 2010.
… Transformers … Restoration …
Written by John Henderson
PART 4
Earth – GIJoe Secret Underground Headquarters.
Optimus Prime walks through the main underground hangar of GIJoe's secret headquarters. Beside him, walking along a raised mezzanine, are General Hawk, Scarlett, Snake Eyes and Duke.
GENERAL HAWK
Cobra has been keeping us busy for the past six months. First Israel, Jordan and Iran.
SCARLETT
Don't forget Syria.
GENERAL HAWK
Of course, and Syria. Now they're moving through Russia and Asia, striking deals with some very unlikable people. But we're not just talking nuclear arms here; we're also talking underground terror cells, economic sabotage, even damn communist links.
OPTIMUS
Sounds bad.
GENERAL HAWK
Yeah, it is. But something tells me you're about to up the ante. Call it a hunch, but I'm taking it this isn't a social visit.
OPTIMUS
You would be right, General. Yesterday, our home-world was destroyed by forces still unknown to us; and I have reason to believe this faceless enemy will seek us out here on Earth.
DUKE
Yikes.
OPTIMUS
I do not wish to involve the human race in our problems so I have ordered all my troops to evacuate the Earth. Nevertheless, I would strongly recommend you mobilize a force in case anything should go wrong.
GENERAL HAWK
Our Joes are always ready for action. We'll be ready to counter anything that comes through our atmosphere.
OPTIMUS
I think you misunderstand me, General. You should mobilize a force for defensive reasons only. Whatever is coming after us is not an enemy you would want to have.
GENERAL HAWK
How do you know?
OPTIMUS
Call it a hunch.
GENERAL HAWK
Ok. We'll mount up and stay out of your way for now. But I swore an oath to protect this great country, so if I decide we need to step in, we'll step in.
DUKE
We Joes are a lot tougher than you might think.
OPTIMUS
General Hawk, I guarantee that if you step into a full scale Transformer war, every one of your soldiers will die.
GENERAL HAWK
We all have an expiry date, Optimus Prime. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.
Optimus Prime realizes his kind words of warning have done little more than ignite an open call to arms. He turns to leave.
OPTIMUS
Let us hope.
Inside Autobot City – the Energon Chambers.
Eight energon pods are lined up in the chamber – the perfect way to recharge a bot's circuits.
Perceptor is pacing in the middle of the room, looking a little agitated when Sideswipe, Sunstreaker and Tracks walk in. Tracks points to one of the pods – there's a red light on the front panel indicating that it's occupied.
TRACKS
Here's Trailbreaker. Poor mech.
SIDESWIPE
You know how he's doin', Perceptor?
PERCEPTOR
Yes, well, he may be in here for another day, or another month. All depending on how fast his spark reactor can re-ignite his regenerative constituent; and that is always an extremely hard progression to estimate.
SUNSTREAKER
(to Sideswipe) I didn't understand any of that.
SIDESWIPE
I think he means he doesn't know
PERCEPTOR
Relatively speaking, ah… yes.
Tracks notices another pod is being used.
TRACKS
Who else we got in here, doc?
PERCEPTOR
Well…
SUNSTREAKER
You know, I could probably use a little touch and go with the ol' energon pods. Seeing as we got a Decepticon houseguest.
PERCEPTOR
Well, interesting you say that since…
SIDESWIPE
I can't stand havin' to be nice to a Decepticon!
TRACKS
(to Sunstreaker) Don't get him started again Streaker!
SIDESWIPE
It ticks me off so much!
SUNSTREAKER
(smiling) Oops!
SIDESWIPE
We've been bustin' our gears for, what… it feels like a dang eternity! Before this 'Great War' began, I was a simple trader lookin' out for the next 'bot I could rip off. But now it feels like my sole existence is about Autobot versus Decepticon. Guns, bombs, energon and slaggin' repairs!
TRACKS
Ease up Sideswipe! You're gonna blow a fuse…
SIDESWIPE
And now we got the baddest Decepti-creep there ever was crashin' at our pad! And what can we do about it?
The vacant light on the unknown energon pod switches on and the door starts to open.
PERCEPTOR
Ah, Sideswipe…
SIDESWIPE
Optimus is all 'hooray for the goodness of Megatron' but I don't buy it for an astro-second!
Behind him, the energon pod has fully opened up and Megatron is stepping out.
SIDESWIPE (cont)
If you ask me, Megatron's the most rank, miserable, and utterly inexcusable piece of slag in the whole universe!
SUNSTREAKER
(quietly) Bro!
Sideswipe sees the fearful look in Sunstreaker's optics. He slowly turns around to find the newly energized Megatron towering above him!
MEGATRON
You've got quite a mouth on you, little Autobot. Best be careful I don't rip it off your face.
Megatron calmly brushes past them and heads for the door.
SIDESWIPE
Yeah, well you'd 'best be careful' of the company you keep, Megatron.
Megatron stops at the door and slowly turns his face over his shoulder, looking at Sideswipe through the corner of his optics!
MEGATRON
We'll finish this conversation later.
He smiles, turns back around and walks out. Perceptor quickly brushes past the three of them and follows after Megatron.
PERCEPTOR
I tried to warn you, but no, you wouldn't listen!
Sunstreaker and Tracks stare at Sideswipe, shocked by his actions.
SUNSTREAKER
Bro, you just threatened Megatron!
SIDESWIPE
Yeah. I think I'm gonna pass out.
Outside Autobot city's main gates.
The city is abuzz with activity. Many of the Autobots are busy carting boxes and machinery around, loading up two huge space shuttles. Spike and Bumblebee are taking a short break, hanging around the city's entrance.
Spike is on his mobile phone…
SPIKE
No, listen Carrie, Optimus Prime is planning to evacuate all his troops away from Earth… No, I don't know where they're gonna go, but he says you and I have to stay behind. He sounds serious, Carrie. I'm talking apocalyptic serious!
Bumblebee notices a shadow pass by overhead. He looks up, but sees nothing out of the ordinary.
SPIKE (cont)
Call Danny, get in the car and drive to my Dad's place. I don't want you two anywhere near Autobot city, do you understand? … No, I'll be fine. Once they're ready to go, I'll come to you, ok? But for now…
The shadow has returned overhead. This time Bumblebee notices and gets straight to his feet, pulling out his firearm!
BUMBLEBEE
Spike, look out!
The menacing shadow-makers land next to Spike and Bumblebee, giving them both a fright. It's Cyclonus and Scourge, accompanied by two Sweeps! Cyclonus has a wry smile on his face, holding both his hands up.
CYCLONUS
We come in peace
Inside Autobot City – the command center.
Cliffjumper and Cosmos are back on the controls of their radar system while Optimus Prime and Megatron look over the specs for the two evacuation shuttles.
MEGATRON
So, the humans didn't react the way you wanted them to?
OPTIMUS
Let it be, Megatron.
MEGATRON
I still say you're wasting valuable energon with this evacuation, Prime. Stop worrying about the humans!
OPTIMUS
You and I have done too much damage to this planet over the years, Megatron. If this "Breed" are a real threat to us, I want the Earth to stay out of the fight.
MEGATRON
Prime the protector.
OPTIMUS
I know you'll never understand.
MEGATRON
Have you ever thought that maybe this planet isn't as innocent as you suspect?
Prime takes a moment to ponder Megatron's question. As absurd as it sounds, Optimus can't help being drawn towards the less favorable answer. His thoughts are interrupted when Bumblebee and Spike drive into the room.
BUMBLEBEE
Prime, you'll never guess who's decided to pay us a visit!
The Decepticons enter behind them.
CYCLONUS
Master, we are honored by your return!
They start walking toward him.
MEGATRON
Would you take a look at this, Prime? I am not the last Decepticon after all! Come to me, Cyclonus, tell me everything of where you've been!
As Cyclonus nears Megatron, he casually reaches behind his back and pulls out his sword! Before any reaction can take place, Cyclonus slices off Megatron's cannon and draws his sword next to Megatron's neck, holding it firmly in place! Scourge pulls his weapon on the unarmed Optimus Prime, while the two Sweeps draw their weapons on Bumblebee, Cliffjumper and Cosmos.
CYCLONUS
I need only tell you that today will be your last… Mighty Megatron!
The Zeta System.
Jetfire and Soundwave are experimenting on the Nazzarian crystals, still with no luck. Jetfire looks at the damage that runs down Soundwave's body.
JETFIRE
So, explain all those battle scars you've got there.
SOUNDWAVE
The Wreckers overcame us. Explosion knocked me out. Astrotrain picked me up and we fled.
Soundwave thinks back to his last moments on Cybertron.
SOUNDWAVE (cont)
I did not expect that Cybertron would be destroyed.
JETFIRE
You think Cyclonus did it?
SOUNDWAVE
Yes. When he returned from Unicron, he had changed. He possessed a sword that seemed to give him power. He convinced our whole armada to attack Cybertron. When Shockwave disputed his rule, Cyclonus tore him apart.
JETFIRE
Tore Shockwave apart? I didn't think that was possible.
The harvesting machine they are working on explodes, making both Transformers flinch.
JETFIRE (cont)
Argh, this is impossible! Every time we try to extract energon from these crystals, the harvesting equipment overloads.
SOUNDWAVE
When Astrotrain and Blitzwing return with the greylan atomizers, we will be able to try a different strategy.
Their conversation is cut short by Jetfire's comm-link.
BLITZWING (V/O)
Mayday, mayday! We're under heavy attack… Cargo lost… Argh! They came outta nowhere!
JETFIRE
What? Who's firing at you?
BLITZWING (V/O)
I dunno! Never seen 'em before! Astro's got a dead thruster, so we're gonna need some help! Nav points 235/633/469, sector 57, Juriah cluster. It's time you tested out that new hype-drive of yours!
JETFIRE
Hang in there ol' buddy, hype-drive's going on-line now.
Jetfire transforms into his space-jet mode.
JETFIRE (cont)
Get in! The crystals will have to wait.
Soundwave transforms into his smaller, tape-recorder mode and slides into Jetfire's cockpit.
JETFIRE (cont)
Should'a test run this thing a long time ago. Oh well, let's just hope we're still this good looking on the other side!
Jetfire flies off from the moon's surface and activates the hype-drive. He turns into a bright flaming ball, then disappears.
Space – the Juriuh cluster.
A similar looking flaming ball ignites out of nowhere in the middle of space! Once the flames subside, Jetfire appears, looking exactly the same as before.
JETFIRE
Thank the maker for my red and white paintjob! You still with me, Soundwave?
SOUNDWAVE
Affirmative.
JETFIRE
Good. So where are…
Jetfire's words are cut short when he catches a glimpse of his friend's attackers… it's a somewhat larger force than he had imagined. It's an army. It's THE BREED!
JETFIRE (cont)
This isn't going to end well.
Inside Autobot City – the command center.
A tense standoff is in action. Cyclonus still holds his sword against Megatron's neck…
MEGATRON
You are a fool, Cyclonus!
CYCLONUS
I encourage you to remain still, Megatron. You wouldn't want to lose your head now, would you?
Sideswipe, Sunstreaker and Tracks enter the room, surprised at what they find! Without thinking, Sideswipe charges in and draws his gun to the back of Cyclonus's head. Sunstreaker and Tracks do the same, aiming at Scourge and the two Sweeps, who, in turn, draw secondary weapons on them too! It's a twelve-bot stand-off!
SIDESWIPE
I'd put that fancy looking sword down if I were you, Decepticon.
CYCLONUS
It would be entertaining to see you make me.
Sideswipe presses his gun barrel directly onto the back of Cyclonus's helmet, tapping it a few times!
SIDESWIPE
At this range, I can't imagine your armour is gonna be strong enough for my blaster. What do you think?
CYCLONUS
I think that Megatron carries the Primal life force and there's no way you'll risk damaging it.
OPTIMUS
He's right, Sideswipe. No sudden moves!
MEGATRON
So, you've come for the matrix.
CYCLONUS
Indeed
SCOURGE
(to Cyclonus) But that's not what…
Cyclonus cuts Scourge off.
CYCLONUS
(to Megatron) My orders are to kill you.
MEGATRON
And who is responsible for giving these orders?
CYCLONUS
Come now, Megatron, where's the fun in telling you that?
MEGATRON
Well you'd better start telling me something cos I'm ready to start turning this place into a tomb!
OPTIMUS
Megatron, don't be foolish!
SUNSTREAKER
It's alright Optimus, we got 'em all covered.
CLIFFJUMPER
(nervous) Yeah, but you don't have a gun pointed at your head, Sunstreaker!
SUNSTREAKER
Pipe down, there's only four of 'em.
Cliffjumper looks mad at Sunstreaker's remark.
CYCLONUS
Let me tell you the story of creation, Megatron. Before you and I existed, two giant Gods battled for eons in a dimension removed from our own.
MEGATRON
I've heard it all before, traitor.
CYCLONUS
You've heard the myths, Megatron. I'm telling you the truth.
OPTIMUS
Go on, Cyclonus.
CYCLONUS
After ravaging their entire universe, the God of Light – Primus – saw one last chance to defeat the Chaos Bringer. He opened a dimensional portal into the bleak nothingness of anti-space. The two giants crashed into this realm with such a force that it sparked an enormous chain reaction, ultimately creating the universe we call our own.
SPIKE
You mean the big bang resulted from your Gods?
CYCLONUS
Our Gods, fleshling. It is my master's wish that Primus and Unicron return to their home dimension and be brought to justice for their crimes of war.
MEGATRON
Yet you seek to usurp their command, Cyclonus. Always a Decepticon!
CYCLONUS
I am merely looking out for my best interests. But let me continue with the story… After the dimensional explosion, Primus and Unicron were separated. Both adopted planetary forms to shield themselves from the unimaginable damage such an explosion would inflict. Over the millennia, Unicron redeveloped his ability to transform, fixated on the idea of finding and destroying Primus once and for all. Primus, on the other hand, tired of eons of war, created his race of Transformers to protect him from the Chaos Bringer. Once the Transformer race had reached maximum capacity, Primus's core consciousness split in two – a final attempt to hide his whereabouts from Unicron. A small portion of Primus's spark remained protected by the Autobots in the form of the matrix, while his Focal Spark was jettisoned into space, finally coming to rest on the planet…
OPTIMUS
Earth.
CYCLONUS
Deep down you always knew the Earth was kindred to our race, didn't you Optimus Prime?
OPTIMUS
On some deeper level, yes.
CYCLONUS
I wish to offer you a deal. With the matrix in my possession I will be powerful enough to take sole command of "The Breed". Refuse me and I will simply leave you to the slaughter that is sure to ensue.
OPTIMUS
If we give you the matrix…
MEGATRON
…how do you plan on getting out of here alive?
Cyclonus holds up a metal device strapped to his other hand. Scourge and the Sweeps are wearing the same thing.
CYCLONUS
Scourge and I are very resourceful. These devices will teleport us out of here in less than one-thousandth of an astro-second.
MEGATRON
You're bluffing.
CYCLONUS
Try me.
Cyclonus twists his sword slightly. Its' purple glow pulsating like it's ready to destroy something.
CYCLONUS (cont)
You are exceeding my patience, Megatron! Give me the matrix!
Suddenly, the radar screen starts going berserk.
OPTIMUS
What's going on over there, Cliffjumper?
CLIFFJUMPER
Uh, I dunno. Teletran's sayin' that somebody's been jammin' our radar for the last half hour!
Spike runs up to the system, presses a few buttons and gets it back online. The radar ticks over…
SPIKE
Just picked up three unidentified ships entering Earth's atmosphere.
Cyclonus is annoyed by the results on the radar. It ticks over again, this time revealing more than 3 ships!
CLIFFJUMPER
Negative, Prime, make that over a hundred ships! We got a damn fleet heading for us!
SPIKE
What the hell is going on?
SCOURGE
(to Cyclonus) What are they doing here? This wasn't part of the plan!
CYCLONUS
(to Megatron) As you can see, this is your final chance to save yourselves. Give me the matrix!
Megatron glances toward Sideswipe, who, in turn, looks over to Optimus Prime, Sunstreaker and Tracks.
MEGATRON
Alright, Cyclonus. You shall get what you so rightly deserve.
Megatron moves away slightly from Cyclonus's sword so that he has enough room to open his chest. He pulls out the matrix and slowly holds it out to Cyclonus. Cyclonus gently raises his hand to take the matrix, but in doing so, lowers his sword just enough for Megatron to strike!
MEGATRON
Fool!
Megatron uses the matrix to beat Cyclonus's sword out of the way. Sideswipe fires his blaster just as Cyclonus moves, scraping the side of his head. The other Transformers open fire on the standoff, laser blasts going off in all directions!
CYCLONUS
Decepticons, warp!
Within less than a second, Cyclonus, Scourge and one of the Sweeps escape, teleporting out of the room. The other Sweep was not so lucky, being shot down by Tracks and Sunstreaker.
But the Sweep was not the only Transformer destroyed in the firefight!
Space – just past Earth's moon.
Cyclonus, Scourge and the Sweep appear out of nowhere.
CYCLONUS
What in the name of Unicron happened down there!
SWEEP
The Breed have arrived early, sir.
CYCLONUS
I can see that, you idiot!
SCOURGE
Why didn't you just destroy Megatron? Our masters said nothing about acquiring the matrix!
CYCLONUS
And you will tell them nothing of it! Do I make myself clear, Scourge?
Scourge nods in fearful agreement.
Inside Autobot City – the command center.
The aftermath of the Transformer standoff. A Sweep lies in the corner of the room, while the others are gathered around another…
SPIKE
Cliffjumper! Cliffjumper!
Cosmos holds Cliffjumper in his arms while Spike shakes him, trying to get a response. Half his face-plate has been blown off, along with his right arm. But the worst damage is the gaping hole through his chest, leaking fluid and sparking uncontrollably.
TRACKS
First Aid's on his way.
BUMBLEBEE
I don't think it's gonna do any good, guys.
SPIKE
He's alive, damn it! He can't be dead!
BUMBLEBEE
Spike… Spike! He's gone.
Cliffjumper doesn't move. The lights in his eyes have extinguished. Everyone is quiet for a moment.
OPTIMUS
May you rest with Primus now, old friend. And may we never forget you.
Prime kneels down next to Cliffjumper and puts his hand on Cliffjumper's head. Sunstreaker stands at the back of the crowd… angry!
SUNSTREAKER
DAMN! Damn those lousy… slaggin'… DAMN!
He turns around and walks over to the deactivated Sweep. He starts punching it, screaming as he goes.
SUNSTREAKER (cont)
Slaggin' killer! Argh!
He pounds into the Sweep's chest until he can see its' circuits. Megatron pulls Sunstreaker away.
MEGATRON
Stop wasting your energon, Autobot!
Megatron finally gets Sunstreaker to stop and points his attention over to the radar screen.
MEGATRON
We've got bigger things to worry about now.
Outside Autobot City.
Hound, Mirage and a few other Autobots have been working hard, loading up the shuttles. They are the first ones to see the magnitude of the fleet! In the distance they can see a wall of purple, blue and grey fighter ships cloud the sky. The Autobots drop whatever they've been carrying and stand in awe!
Inside his command ship, Commander 22 has targeted in on Autobot City!
COMMANDER 22
Death to all our ancestors!
END OF PART 4
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