After walking for what seems like hours, the Maximals, Hallie and Melody Thorne arrived near a cliff over the ravine and came upon what appears to be the Maximal ship called the Axalon. The sight of it just takes their breath away. It has a more friendly appearance and environment than what the Darksyde has to offer. Both ships must have once been impressive in space, before the crash-landing ruined their framework and paint job. The only way for the Maximals to protect the Thorne sisters is to have them move in with them.
The sun was already setting.
"So this is your ship?" Dinobot observed. "It could do with more...defensible approach."
"Hey, watch it, Lizard Lips!" Rattrap said angrily. "No one is asking for your opinion on redecorating."
"Who said I needed your permission, cheese eater!" scowled Dinobot.
Hallie crosses her arms and sighs typically at their childish bickering. Rattrap and Dinobot are so similar to her and Melody, because they always start a fight over the most petty things. It seems that the Maximals have fulfilled their desperate need for somewhere to stay.
The Maximals went underneath the ship and stopped. Melody slips off Rhinox's back. She was walking a lot better and limping less since her fall.
Then Rhinox transforms to robot mode and clicks something on his wrist communicator. There was a metallic sound. The Thorne sisters looked up to see some sliding elevator come down from the ship. Melody hugs her teddy bear tightly as she nervously stayed close to her sister Hallie.
Rhinox and Cheetor takes the first steps forward and boards the elegant elevator, waiting for the two human girls to come. Several moments of silence passed when Cheetor spoke. "Are you girls coming or what?" he asked kindly.
Hallie and Melody flinched at this, surprised and alert when he unexpectedly talked them. They reluctantly stepped onto the platform with the two Maximals and braced themselves as the elevator went back up into the spacecraft, taking them with it. As soon as they were inside, they stepped off the elevator platform to admire the main hub of the Maximal headquarters. There was a round table in the center of the flight deck, four monitors connected to automatic chairs and two separate corridors that lead deeper into the ship.
After five minutes of exploring, Optimus Primal, Dinobot and Rattrap have followed up in the elevator and exited out of it. It was then Hallie noticed something odd about the Maximals. "How come you can be robots in your ship?" she asked suspiciously.
Rhinox was busy typing away on the central computer when he heard her question and replied: "The Axalon is fitted with rectifier coils so we Maximals are protected from the Energon fields outside. We can move about without being harmed as long as we're inside."
As Hallie and Melody have officially move in the Maximal base, Optimus Primal began to lay down the law to them. "Since you girls will be staying with us, I'm setting down few rules." he announced. "First rule: you must listen to my orders at all times. No exceptions. Second: no leaving the base without an escort and no going out after dark."
Hallie barely spoke a word and just shrugs her shoulders. "That's it?" she asked.
Maximals knew something was bothering her, but didn't question her about it.
Then Optimus Primal turned to face Dinobot. Since the raptor is new to the Maximals, he deserves to have his own quarters and access to base to prove to him that he can be trusted. "Also, there should be a spare room for you, Dinobot." he explained. "Go to the third door to the left pass the right corridor. It's next door to where we keep our weapon supplies."
Rattrap wanted to protest against this, but a fierce glare from Optimus shot him down.
"Acceptable, Primal," Dinobot mused, before scowling at everyone. "As long as no one, especially the rodent, enters my quarters,"
The raptor marches off to find his quarters before glaring at the Thorne sisters on the way. He disappears down the corridor, just as soon as he entered it.
Everyone was just ready to recuperate in their rooms after the rough couple of days of fighting Predacons.
"So who wants to do tour for our young guests?" Optimus asked, indicating the human girls.
There was an awkward silence in the Maximal group for a moment until Cheetor spoke up. "I'll do the tour! Follow me, girls." he said eagerly.
Cheetor seems to be the most upbeat of the Maximals. He leads on ahead as Hallie and Melody reluctantly follow after him.
Down the metallic corridor, most of the rooms were used for storing supplies such as Energon cubes, boxes of weapons and ammo. The few rooms left were used as quarters for each of the Maximals to sleep and keep their possessions in.
Upon arriving at the last room, Cheetor presses a button on a small panel which opens the door. Inside the room, there is a large, metal berth that is twice the Thorne sisters' size and a desk where they can place their personal items on with a small stand for them to sit or stand on.
"It's not much," Cheetor admitted. "But it's better than sleeping outside with those Predacons around."
When Hallie finished scanning the room, she motioned to her little sister that it was okay to enter.
Melody hesitantly took a step forward to look inside the room. She didn't want to offend the Maximal who are trying hard to make them feel welcome. But she has been wanting to ask Cheetor a question that has been bugging her for a while. "Do you have any food? We're starving." she asked shyly.
"No problem!" Cheetor prompted. "By daybreak, I'll go out and find food for you girls." he promised.
Melody puts on a beaming smile and hugs his leg. Cheetor pets her head in return.
Hallie was suspicious of his kindness and remains cautious. It may be just a cover so he could take advantage of them. "Why would you help us? Two bratty little girls?" she asked.
Cheetor smiled at her. "I think you're cool and that you know how to shred some Pred!" he said.
"Really?" Hallie asked with suspicion. She crosses her arms. "But are you helping us because you want to? You don't have to pretend."
A moment of empty silence passed before Cheetor responded. "Cause you saved my life, Hallie. I'm helping you because you're my friend."
Hallie paused, letting the statement sink in. Once she decided it was an acceptable answer, she lets her suspicions drop for the sake of a good night sleep.
Cheetor goes to leave their quarters. "And remember," he said with a smile. "if you or Melody ever need anything, we're just down the corridor."
After that, Cheetor starts walking down the hallway again until the Thorne sisters can no longer hear his footsteps against the floor grates.
Hallie goes over to the berth. It was hard and completely made of metal. It was high enough to be for the Thorne sisters to barely hoist themselves over. She went over to the small stand next to the desk and pushes it effortlessly against the berth.
Hallie and Melody had climb over the stand and jump onto the berth.
Melody lets out a small giggle. She kneels down and unpacks her pink rucksack. She pulls out her small T-shirts, underpants, pajamas, waterbottle, toothpastes, toothbrush and mouthwashes.
Hallie sighs in depression at this. They have so little of their stuff left and the Predacons have her rucksack.
"I am so hungry." Melody said with drool. "All we got left are chocolate bars."
"Don't waste them then." Hallie said firmly.
Forced to improvise their comforts, Hallie took their jackets and bundled them up like pillows. Since they have no sink, Hallie and Melody had to use their only waterbottle to soak their toothbrushes and brush their teeth.
After that, Melody wipes the toothpaste stains with her sleeve.
Next was the mouthwash. The Thorne sisters rinsed their mouths and had no choice but to swallow, much to their disgust. "Time for bed now." Hallie groaned.
Melody nodded at this. She takes off her red shoes and unwraps the bandage around her ankle. It still looked a bit red but at least it doesn't hurt anymore. She rests her head against the jacket pillow on her side, shifting a little to make herself comfortable. She hugs her teddy bear close.
Hallie lets a sigh as she lies down. They were totally exhausted after trying to survive. "I bet ten dollars of my allowance that by the time we do get back home to Canada, we'll be a few inches taller and I'll be moodier than usual."
"At least I don't have to worry about school anymore," Melody said, looking on the bright side. "Or homework or bullies. Except the Predacons."
But when Hallie does back to school after the summer, she and her baseball team will split up for Junior High far down south. She wasn't looking forward to it. She hates the idea of meeting new people. She didn't want to end up with the academics. Since their parents' divorce, she was suffering low grades in history and maths at school. She had been faking the report cards so Mom doesn't find out.
"I hate school." Hallie replied. "It's full of pretentious jerks who don't care if you exist."
Melody had only started first grade a year ago. She couldn't read or write. Hallie will have to come up with a schedule to teach her sister ten words per day until she is ready to learn new ones later. That way, Melody won't get left behind in school.
Their eyes drooped closed. Melody hugged Hallie firmly to her chest, letting themselves finally relax and sleep into an enigmatic dream.
Day 4...
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Her watch's alarm was beeping unceremoniously loud. Hallie woke up stiff, sore and sleepy on the wide berth. Half chunks of a half-chewed chocolate bar were left on her person. It was all Melody's doing. She just couldn't wait to get up and leave. Sighing, Hallie checked her watch and turned off the alarm. It was 11:30 in the morning. She has overslept. She was hungry and desperate for a bath.
Hallie ties her sprig of brown hair into a ponytail with an elastic band. She crawls over to the edge of the berth and sits over it with her legs dangling. She slides down and lands on her feet. The impact made her head hurt and she stumbled a little. Her injuries were still fresh so she have to take it easy for a few days, perhaps a week. She peels the plasters from her hands and carelessly tosses them aside.
Hallie stepped out of her quarters and began wandering down the gleaming, metallic corridor when she encountered Rattrap and Cheetor. They were talking to her little sister Melody. She looked fascinated and was carrying her old teddy bear.
With her footsteps echoing through the corridor, Hallie was spotted by the three who cease talking and saw her coming their way. Rattrap acknowledges her with an obnoxious smirk. "If it ain't Little Miss Stuck Up."
"Don't call me that." Hallie grumbled. "It's Hallie, okay?"
"Morning, Hallie!" Melody cried, waving happily at her sister.
A weary Hallie rubs the sleep out of her eyes. "You do know you made a mess on our 'bed'?" she asked.
"Sorry, Hal." Melody said meekly.
"When did you get up?" Hallie asked.
Despite being scolded at, Melody explained she was too excited to rest so she woke up early this morning to talk with the Maximals about everything.
Changing the subject, Hallie turned to face the two, towering Maximals to discuss a very important matter. "Is there a bathroom on this ship?" she asked.
Cheetor was confused at this. "Er, Hallie..." he stammers. "There is no bathroom in the Maximal base."
With her eyebrows risen, Hallie was taken aback. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Please, have mercy," she said with despair. "My sister and I have been wearing the same clothes for four days now."
"I can vouch for that." Melody said, waving the smell away.
"What can I say, girls?" Rattrap said casually. "The Axalon was never designed to support humans in the first place. Especially since we haven't seen your kind for centuries."
Hallie examines herself. Her favourite violet t-shirt with black sleeves and jeans were covered in smoke and mud. She smelt of dampness and sweat. She was so not used to this.
Melody spoke up and kindly asked: "Do you think you can build a bathroom for me and my sister, Rattrap? Please?"
Cheetor was keen to share some good news. "Rhinox found some old plans of a bathroom schematic back in the old days when our human allies needed them most." he explained with a smile.
"No worries at all, angel face," Rattrap promises with a mock salute. "In a few days, me and the guys will have one built for ya and ya sister here."
"Thank you, thank you!" Melody said happily.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Hallie muttered, not listening.
Groaning thoughtfully, Hallie just marches off and passes Rattrap, ignoring his sarcastic comments. She didn't want to stay at the Maximal base. Everything was starting to go from bad to worse. No TV, no lavatories, no showers, no food and no water to drink either. This whole base is a prison. She doesn't know why she doesn't trust the Maximals like Melody. Maybe it was part of her defense mechanism. Right now, Hallie just wants to find her missing backpack and go back home.
Melody noticed how distressed Hallie was looking, but didn't say anything.
In the Command Center...
A bulky crate and little ones was set up for to resemble a makeshift breakfast table. A wooden plate is placed on there, filled with bananas, crowberries and ogbono nuts. Cheetor has brought food for the girls as he promised.
Hallie took a seat. She collected a banana and half a dozen crowberries on her wooden plate. She was very hungry. She starts munching away at a crowberry, enjoying the juicy, sweet flavour. She is observing the Maximals while Melody is chatting them up. Even in robot mode, the Maximals sometimes act like the animals they transform into.
Rhinox was quite the genius of the group. He works hard as an engineer constantly. He is quick and decisive in battle but slow and steady. He was typing away at a computer console, probably trying to analyze the bathroom. Cheetor was sitting next to him.
Optimus and Dinobot were having a private conservation over the holo-table. So far, the raptor-bot has not done anything to harm the Thorne sisters. Hallie was still keeping a sharp eye on him.
Melody came over to join Hallie at the table. Rattrap kneeled down next to them. He was still sharing his story with Melody. He was in rat mode and eating at his 'burger'.
"For your information," Rattrap stated smugly. "I am an explorer. Probably would've been if the boss monkey had just mind his own business."
As Rattrap chatters away, Melody happen to notice his 'burger' is more... expired than it should be. "Eeeeewww...!" she said with disgust. "You eat garbage?"
"I'm a rat. What do ya expect?" Rattrap said, shrugging.
Dinobot looked over when he heard Melody's outburst. "I agree with the little one, vermin." he shudders in distaste. "You should not have your 'breakfast' near the children. It is considered to be...hazardous to their health."
"Man," Rattrap groaned. "Though, what I wouldn't give for a can of oil at O'Malley's. At least the seats were comfortable."
"What's that?" Melody asked.
"It's a bar on Cybertron." Rattrap replied. "Aw, forget it. You wouldn't understand."
Hallie shrugs, keeping to herself. She picks up her banana from her wooden plate. She plans to chew on the sweet mush. As she absentmindedly peels away the yellow skin, Hallie realized there was a mass of tiny spiders inside. She lets out a scream of bloody murder. She leaps up off the bench, dropping the infested banana, stumbling backward until she trips and falls on the floor.
Her spider fear has risen beyond her stress level. She hates everything about them: the webs, their suspending legs, hairy bodies, scuttling, prolonged stillness and the silence. She couldn't move nor could she stop shaking. her heart was hammering hard like a rapid drumbeat. Her hands were shaking uncontrollably.
Melody and Rattrap backed away from the table when Hallie. They were staring at her as if she were a hysterical manic.
The Maximals leap up to their feet and gathered around to see what all the fuss was about. At first, they thought they were under Predacon attack, but it turns out to be a false alarm.
The Maximals chuckled that a tough girl like Hallie Thorne would be afraid of such little insects. But then they remembered how she froze up against facing Tarantulas for the first time. For a long while, no one said anything.
As Hallie tries to catch her breath, she became infuriated when she noticed a crowd is watching her. She has never felt so embarrassed that strangers, especially alien robots, have discovered her arachnophobia. She will be a target of ridicule from now on. She couldn't hear what they were saying, or probably does not care at all. They were probably making fun of her.
"Why don't you take a picture? It'll last longer." Hallie told them in a sarcastic tone.
The Maximals, except Dinobot, were surprised by her aggressive attitude. Still, they did not speak.
Hallie stood up from her collapsed heap. "Do you know how bad I hate spiders?" she asked rhetorically. "I hate spiders more than I hate Predacons."
However, Melody was laughing her head off.
Slowly, Hallie turned to glare at her sister. "I don't see what's so funny about it, Miss I'm-Scared-Of-Bees!" she retorted.
"Hey, I'm allergic to them, okay?!" Melody shrieked angrily.
Hallie groaned in disgust. She was not in the mood for another argument from her annoying little sister. She is overwhelmed by the strange Maximals and their Beast Wars as well as how distant she is from home.
Feeling depressed and withdrawn, Hallie felt another anxiety attack coming. She couldn't breath or focus.
"Are you alright, Hallie?" Optimus Primal asked with concern. "What is it with you and spiders?"
"I - I gotta go!" Hallie said, gasping for air. She flees the command center before anyone could stop her.
"You know? I'm done with bananas." Hallie declared before storming off in a huff down the corridor.
In the Thorne Quarters...
"This place is a zoo!" Hallie muttered angrily. She has never felt so humiliated. Being surrounded by strangers, especially giant alien robots, made her feel small and insignificant. It felt like getting crushed.
When Hallie made it inside her quarters to gather her thoughts, she took a few deep breaths to calm down. Due to her mistrust of the Maximals, she couldn't help feeling anxious constantly. There is no human to talk to about it because there are none around. Even if there are, they wouldn't understand her, especially Melody. She feels emptiness inside, a longing for home and family.
Hallie had drew some large, red crosses on the wall with a permanent marker pen for baseball practice. She has to practice every now and then for speed sprinting, throwing accuracy and precision hitting. She starts working on her throwing arm so her accuracy remains sharp. She threw the baseball at the target mark as it bounced back and she catches it. Then repeats the action again and again.
Cheetor entered her quarters, hoping to join in for the fun."You're in a lousy mood, huh?" he asked.
Hallie continued to throw the baseball without breaking her focus. "To put it mildly, yes." she replied.
"Have you ever lived on a ship before?" Cheetor asked.
Hallie shakes her head.
"Hmm." Cheetor observed. "Then your mood's probably not going to improve much."
"Nope." Hallie replied. "Not until Melody and I go home."
"I never asked." Cheetor said. "What is your home on Earth like?"
"I was." Hallie began, before correcting herself. "No, I am a member of Little League. I was one of the best performers and athletes during game time. Coach Beck taught me how to throw and swing."
"Is he your father?" Cheetor asked.
Hallie shook her head. "No. But he's good as one."
As Hallie spoke to him with an unwavering tone, Cheetor noticed the bitterness in her voice when she was mentioned about her father. She was always invisible to him.
"Do you think I'm weird?" Hallie asked with concern.
"No," Cheetor insisted. "No. You're...more of a listener. When you have nothing to say, it's okay. All the best ones usually don't."
Hallie fell silent when Cheetor said this. It was probably the first time someone treated her like an adult.
Cheetor noticed this. "I know you're not bad. Don't let others tell you different."
Main Command Center...
Optimus Primal, Rhinox, Rattrap and Dinobot have gathered together around the central table. Cheetor was not here so they decided to start the meeting without him. They were trying to understand how the Thorne sisters arrived on this planet.
"Even after 300 years," Optimus stated. "Earth simply isn't advanced enough to create their own version of transwarp travel."
Rhinox lets out a groan. "We have more luck getting the defense grid and the CR chambers online, let alone fly this scrapheap."
No one said a word as they await for more of Rhinox's scientific explanation. "Whatever this temporal anomaly is, it is not natural." he finally said.
Optimus was taken aback at this. "Are you saying the girls may know more than they claim to be?" he asked with curiosity.
"I don't know." Rhinox admitted. "Until they provide new information, I'm afraid we're in the dark."
Optimus looked grim. "That's not what I'm worried about. I'm not sure that when we reach Cybertron, the Maximal elders would not approve of having humans temporary stay there, especially children."
The Maximals looked incensed at the mention of their name. It is because of the Maximal elders, they had locked up the knowledge of humanity that the Maximals remain ignorant and continue to strictly follow Cybertronian culture.
"Who cares?" Rhinox argued, slamming his fists down on the table. "We can't just leave them here!"
"Since when did you care about humans?" Dinobot asked.
"Long enough," Rhinox said. "But by Primus, I will never forgive myself if anything happens to the girls."
Rattrap scoffed at this. "Can't say the same for Little Miss Stuck Up though. She's a pain in the afterburners."
"For once I agree with you, rodent." Dinobot nodded.
"What?" Everyone exclaims. No one agreed with Rattrap had to say, except when he has a point.
"Rattrap!" Optimus exclaimed angrily. His outburst silenced everyone in the room. "We have to try get Hallie to know us better. She and Melody need friends. They are alone in this world and without a home. They have no one."
"I'm not saying like that." Rattrap said, looking a little guilty. "We shouldn't get too attached. They're not gonna be in our team forever, ya know."
Optimus lets out a sad sigh. "It's bad enough being taken from your home. Not having anyone get through is worse."
Melody was hiding behind the corner, listening in on their conversation when she told not to. She was glad that some of the Maximals stood up for her. But her main worry is for her sister Hallie's well-being. Ever since she has boarded the Axalon, Hallie has been distant and miserable. Melody wanted to talk to Hallie about it, but she knew her stubborn sister would not listen. Melody's only hope now is that the Maximals might get through to Hallie instead, if she lets them.
Evening...
Soon, it was already night. Cheetor didn't realize this until he noticed that the sun was setting outside the window. It was his turn to do boring old monitor duty. Before Cheetor is about to take his leave, Hallie unexpectedly stopped him.
"Hey, Cheetor?" Hallie asked. "Do you think Optimus will keep his promise and take me and Melody back home?"
Cheetor froze in mid throw as the baseball misses the target cross on the wall, bouncing away and rolling across the floor. He looked uneasy and sheepish. "Unless you gotta spare transwarp drive, we're more likely at risk getting blown up by Megatron and the Predacons."
Hallie was taken aback at this. She slowly turns her head to look up at him. "Are you saying my sister and I could be stuck on this planet?" she exclaims with shock.
"I'm saying you are stuck on this planet." Cheetor corrected.
"Oh." Hallie sighed.
Cheetor noticed how miserable the little human looked. He knew what it felt like to unable to return home to their worlds. He did his best to smile what he felt was a reassuring one. "It'll be all right." he assured her.
Hallie didn't seem reassured, but she nodded for sake of agreement.
"Anyway, I've gotta go." Cheetor said, leaving her alone to her thoughts. "See you in the morning, Hallie."