While the Insecticons were off encountering the local life forms, other factions of the Decepticons made plans of their own. The Constructicons in particular, met in secret around the skeleton structure of what was to be another LexCorp office tower. Unlike their insect-like brethren, the Constructicons were far more loyal than the others.
"We have our orders. Hook, you take Long Haul and Mixmaster and go to that strange energy source we had scanned. Scavenger, Scrapper and I will stay here and start the construction of a temporary base of operations." Bonecrusher transformed into his bulldozer mode as the other three Constructicons transformed and sped away.
-D
Across Metropolis, other heroes were active as well. Much like the situation in Gotham, Superman had put a call out for heroes as well. Nearly every active and reserve member of the famed Justice League had responded and headed to both cities. One such hero was a rather capable woman named Beatriz Bonilla de Costa, formerly of Brazil and currently Washington DC. She had many names, but the one she preferred was Fire, due to her ability to control and generate flame.
She had been involved in various espionage activities, but with the appearance of giant robots she felt her flame based powers could be put to a better use. Touching down on the roof of the Daily Planet, she put her flame out when she heard the footsteps. Years of service in the SAE served her well. She dropped into a combat stance and spun around. "Tora!"
Tora Olafsdotter, better known as Ice, smiled. "It is good to see you," Ice's Norwegian accent was still strong despite her years abroad. "How is Checkmate?"
Fire smiled in spite of herself. "All I can say is no comment. Did you get the summons as well?"
"Yeah, but what about all this craziness? Cowboys and robots running around?"
"Hold it…" Fire spotted something. Pulling out a small pair of binoculars, she saw a curious sight. "The Blue Beetle?" The armored figure was flying low across the skyline.
"I wonder what's he's doing here?" Ice was puzzled. "Isn't he based in Texas?"
"He could have gotten the summons, but I think we should check it out, just in case."
-B
The Blue Beetle currently flying over the city wasn't the first person to use the moniker or even the second. Jamie Reyes was thrust into the world of meta-humans when an alien scarab bonded to his body. He adjusted well enough. "Look, I know this is weird, but I just think we should follow this out." The scarab was also alive and often issued instructions to Jamie…a fact that few people knew, thus giving the impression that the rookie hero was often talking to himself.
He was currently following an orange crane that had no driver. "No driver that I can see, but it doesn't have any remote control? I glad we caught this, but I hope we can wrap this up before the class notices I'm missing."
-A
Grapple questioned his presence on the mission more and more. He was an architect, not a warrior. "Prime needed me for the Constructicons, I'm sure, but having that blasted Dinobot tagalong…" Prime had ordered the Dinobots to have partners. Grapple had the poor luck to be partnered with Slag, a Dinobot that made Grimlock look personable.
Grapple slowed down as he neared a construction site. "I would be curious to see how the humans on this Earth build…Great Primus!" A robotic triceratops broke out of the ground (it had been Grapple's idea for the Dinobot to travel via the sewers as not to attract attention) and quickly destroyed the building's foundation.
"Me Slag fight Constructicons!" Grapped transformed as the human construction workers fled for their lives as Slag tore through the concrete and started to melt a nearby concrete mixer with his flame breath.
"No you fool, that's just a regular truck!" Grapple moaned in annoyance.
"That's right and that's the last thing you'll wreck!" The Blue Beetle hovered over them, his hands fused together into a massive cannon.
"Stop, we're not the enemy!" Grappled pleaded; Slag stomped around the work site and lazily munched on a burning tire.
"Funny way of showing it." There was something in the orange and yellow robot's voice that sounded convincing. "Look, I'm taking that into account."
"Taking what into account?" Grapple tried moving slow and gesturing towards Slag, hoping the Dinobot would understand his movements.
"Not you, look, just stand down ok?" The Blue Beetle turned his attention back to Grapple.
"Problems?" Fire and Ice appeared on the scene.
The Blue Beetle turned his attention to the newcomers. "Wow, is the rest of the Justice League here?" The Blue Beetle turned to the side. "I didn't forget him but I thought it was rude to ignore them."
Fire and Ice were both used to the rookie hero's quirks, although it was clear Grapple was as confused as ever. "Are all humans in this dimension like this?"
"No, some are boring." Fire stepped forward. "As a representative of the Justice League of America, I welcome you to Earth."
"And as a representative of the planet Cybertron, I accept your welcome." Grapple sighed with relief. It was refreshing to encounter a life form that didn't scream and shoot all the time.
"Slag bored!" Slag moaned.
"Sorry to hear that, but what are you two doing here?" Ice apologized.
Grapple summed up the Autobots' mission and their reason for being on this new Earth. Fire, Ice, and Blue Beetle took it rather well Grapple thought. "A planet of robots that change into cars? Eh, seen weirder." Blue Beetle shrugged his shoulders.
"Quite, but you mentioned hostile robots?" Fire tried to bring the conversation back on track.
"Yes, the Decepticons are here. I've already heard reports of them attacking both my fellow Autobots and your citizens. Perhaps if we pool our resources?"
Unseen by Grapple, three distinct pale green construction vehicles moved past the site. Slag, however, let out a roar and charged after them. "Slag, wait!"
"What got into him?" Blue Beetle took to the sky as Fire and Ice followed behind them.
-A
Grapple rounded a corner. He instantly wished he hadn't when he saw the three Constructicons waiting for him with crossed arms. "Grapple, always a pleasure to meet a fellow professional." Bonecrusher said with mock sincerity.
The three Constructicons quickly drew their weapons before Grapple could move his hands. "We'll be sure to make it quick, we owe you that much at least." Scrapper sniggered.
"Hold it!" Fire leapt forward. "No one is harming anyone today!"
"A human on fire? Huh, I didn't know fleshlings could talk so much when ignited." Scavenger was impressed and ignored at the same time.
"What do I do?" Blue Beetle asked inwardly and outwardly. The scarab began to scan all four robots at the scene. Jamie paled as the info was read back to him. "What, they can do that?"
"Do what?" Ice skidded to a stop as she stepped off her ice slide.
"We can't let those three green guys merge, they can transform into an even bigger robot!"
Bonecrusher ignored Grapple. "The blue one somehow knows of our greatest power. That armor could be of use to Megatron. Scrapper…take it."
-M
Unseen by the combatants, two figures watched from the shadows. "Ugh, I can't believe I'm acting as a babysitter when all the cool stuff is going down!" Misfit, currently probationary member of the Birds of Prey whined.
"I could say the same thing." Black Alice, currently of the Secret Six, not that she would admit it, agreed. Both their respective teams had sent them out as scouts when the attack started. It was either the ordained will of fate, or really bad timing, that the pair ran into each other. Normally, and in Misfit's case usually, this would have ended in a full on brawl across the city with much property damage and quipping.
Instead the pair talked. Insults mostly, but both saw little point in trashing a city that was already under siege. "Hey, why don't you just teleport those robots away?" Black Alice fished around in her jacket for something to chew.
"I don't know. I don't have any trouble bouncing things, but what if there are people inside those robots? If they're really alive or something?"
"Loser," Black Alice's clothes shifted into a darkened version of Misfit's own t-shirt and cut off shorts, a sign she was stealing a magic power. "But that is something to consider!" She vanished in a flash, leaving Misfit dazed and more than a little nauseous.
-D
The fight wasn't going terribly well. Grapple was holding his own against Bonecrusher and Scavenger, but he was losing ground fast. Scrapper ignored the Autobot and concentrated his fire on the Blue Beetle.
Jamie dodged the shots, but they were growing closer with every volley. Fire and Ice were split between Grapple and Jamie. Fire, flying interference, zipped between the two Constructicons and fired off a wall of green flame. Both robots scrambled away as Grapple slammed into Bonecrusher.
Ice, meanwhile, darted along the ground as the Blue Beetle attacked from the air. Scrapper spun around, firing wildly and unaware that Ice was quickly freezing the ground under his flat metal feet. He swung hard enough to spin out of control and land on his back.
Bonecrusher grappled with Grapple. "Autobot, your time is up!" Bonecrusher drew a small pistol and shot Grapple through the leg. Before the Constructicon could gloat, Fire unleashed a full force blast over his hand.
Dropping the molten weapon, Bonecrusher gripped his hand. "Constructicons, fall back!"
"But…"Scavenger started to protest, but he quieted down when the other two transformed and sped off. Slag broke out of the ground behind him, fire billowing everywhere. "Wait for me!"
"Should we follow them?" Blue Beetle landed as Fire and Ice tended to the downed Grapple as Slag chased after the fleeing Constructicons.
"Beetle, you see after our friend here. We'll pursue the others!"
As the two left, Blue Beetle sat down next to Grapple. "So…what's up?"
