The annoyed Starscream observed planet Sol, and all he could see was a golden field of flowers beneath a pitch-black starry sky. In said flower fields was a chrysoprase robotic deer as tall as a tree trotting by. The moment it saw Starscream, however, it froze in sight, only for the Decepticon to fire lasers at this creature that soon bolted out of his sight, with miniature versions of the deer accompanying the giant majestic creature.
"Disgusting." he scoffed. "As if I needed to find another planet that reminded me of earth." He pressed the side of his head. "Soundwave! What are your findings?"
"High levels of energy." Soundwave responded. "They are significant within this planet's glowing vegetation, the majority of which share Energon's shade of pink."
"Ah, so this planet has Energon in the form of flowers." Starscream smiled with intrigue as he picked up one of the golden flowers. "I wonder what powers these might provide me."
He stored a couple of flowers into his compartment before coming across a small batch of flowers, each of them containing petal that were dark blue, with shades of light green and thin lines of pink. Despite its radiant colors, they did not glow.
"Useless." the seeker turned his head away, but then his scowl softened before he glanced back at the flowers again. He picked one up and twirled the flower between his fingers. A small smile formed as he stored the flower into his compartment and continued on his mission.
"Starscream! Emergency contact from the Dominion!" Soundwave alerted via receiver.
"D'AAHH!" Starscream yelped, falling back against the bed of flowers. "What is the emergency?!" Starscream shouted back at Soundwave.
"Ravage reports!" Soundwave continued. "Rumble and the human Judith have been ejected from the ships!"
"WHAT?!" Starscream sat straight up in seething rage, glowing petals flying everywhere.
Back on the escape pod, Rumble and Judith could see a familiar glowing blue planet before them. The woman's eyes sparkled at the sight before her.
"Home..." Judith inhaled. "I'm finally there."
"Eh." Rumble shrugged. "Ain't too crazed as you to be comin' back."
"I can understand why. I read up on Decepticon history on Earth." Judith conversed with the tiny 'con. "I think I was a little baby at the time you guys were still around, then you all left around the year 2000, I think?"
"Possibly." Rumble glimpsed at Judith. "We took over Cybertron at one point until those stinkin' Autobots took it away from us. Without Megatron's leadership, we basically lost the war for now."
"Well, I can't honestly say that I hope you win..." the young lady rubbed the back of her head. "But I do hope you all better yourselves."
"Better ourselves?!" Rumble put his hands on his hips and stuck his chest out. "We're already the best around!" he proudly proclaimed. "Anybody who messes with a Decepticon will wish they never did!"
The pod suddenly shook, causing Rumble to fall backwards. Judith checked out the window and saw that they were getting closer and closer to Earth.
"Seatbelts, Rumble!" Judith grabbed his arm and pulled him off the floor, shoving him into his seat before she strapped herself in.
The escape pod shot through the atmosphere and into the clear blue skies, then crashed into the ground, forming a crater near a river. The pod hatch opened and the two passengers emerged unscathed. Judith admired the scenery and took a deep breath.
"So glad to be back." she sighed peacefully. "Although, where on Earth are we?"
"Hmm..." Rumble stroked his chin, scanning his surroundings. "We could always ask dose two on 'dem boats." he pointed to the happy couple.
"Great idea, Rumble." Judith smiled and waved a hand at the couple. "Excuse me, you two!"
The couple turned to see a lone woman and a purple 'bot beside her.
"Do you know where the nearest town is?!" Judith continued questioning the baffled couple. "Uh... it's just up ahead!" one of them answered, pointing upwards. "You can't miss it!"
"Thank you!" Judith circled around and departed with the purple robot.
"Is it me or did that 'bot have a Decepticon symbol on it?" the guy asked his confused girlfriend, who just threw her hands up in a shrug.
"Hmm, we don't have to hide the fact that you're an alien." Judith examined Rumble while the two trudged on the hill. "But we can't have them find out you're a Decepticon. They might assume you're taking me hostage."
"Fair assessment." Rumble stopped in his tracks. "Question right now is how do I disguise myself?"
"Autobot souvenirs! Come get yo souvenirs!" The duo saw a stand selling Autobot merchandise ranging from dolls and hats to keychains and bumper stickers.
"Wait here." Judith headed down to the stand while jamming her hands into her pockets. After making her purchase, Judith came back with a grey "one size fits all" hoodie and tossed it over the cassetticon, hiding his upper body flawlessly.
He looked down at his hoodie and found big red words saying "Autobots! Transform and roll out!", with the O's replaced with the Autobot insignia.
"What do you think?" Judith asked with an enthusiastic smile.
"I think I gotta hope no Decepticons see me in 'dis." Rumble groaned.
"It's okay." She gave a reassuring smile and held his hand. "Nobody's gonna recognise you. You're blending in already."
The two strolled down the greenery until they came across some tall futuristic buildings and cars drive by.
"Ugh, there's fleshies everywhere." Rumble cringed before realizing whose hand he's been holding the whole time.
"Oh! Uh, sorry there." Rumble's hand loosened.
"You goof." Judith giggled and kept holding his hand. "I outta call you a tinhead for every time you call a human a fleshy. Got ourselves a deal?" Judith winked.
"Alright alright." Rumble chuckled while they walked down the sidewalk. "Although I gotta say, everything's gotten dolled up and shiny lookin'. Kinda reminds me more of Cybertron than Earth now."
"That's because the Autobots shared technology with the humans over the years." Judith explained while they walked past giant statues of famous Autobots. "With the efforts of Autobot scientists, the humans managed to advance their technology in ways they couldn't even imagine. Not only can we fix other Autobots, but we now have the technology to explore other worlds."
"And I'm guessin' you specialise in fixin' Autobots, eh?" Rumble smirked.
"Kinda." Judith shrugged. "While I now know I can fix an entire Autobot, my job doesn't allow me to do that. I can only either assist the lead mechanic or patch up any scratches."
"It..." Judith sighed, walking up to the city's clock. "It got really patronising quick."
The city clock stated it was now 12:00 PM Thursday. Judith groaned and buried her face into her hands. "I must be so fired by now. At least I don't have to face Mr Cratch anymore."
"Who's Mr Cratch?" Rumble tilted his head.
"My boss, and major jerk." She folded her arms, scanning her surroundings. "He always made me feel like I wasn't doing enough when I do twice the work he does."
As Judith rambled on about her workplace, they passed by a dance club that started playing music by the Misfits. Upon hearing the songs, Rumble stopped near the entrance and snapped his fingers to the beat as he wandered inside the club.
"I may never be able to come back, but it's not like he wanted me in the first place…" Judith turned and saw Rumble missing. "Um… Rumble?"
She circled around and ran back in front of the club. Inside wasn't that many people. While some would dance, others would lean against the wall in conversation until a song they liked came on. Scanning her surroundings, her eyes laid upon the Decepticon dancing in the centre of the club.
"Rumble!" She cried out and rushed inside the colorful club, the lights constantly changing and bathing Judith and the cassetticon in hues of blue, green and white.
"Rumble, what're you…?"
"Hey, Judith!" Rumble chuckled. "Sorry 'bout that! Just got lost in this beat!"
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were loving Earth music." Judith chuckled and crossed her arms.
"How could I resist the Misfits?" Rumble danced. "They're one of the few things I've missed about this place."
"I didn't know you were a Misfits fan." Judith tilted her head, tapping her foot to the song. "Say, I know this one. Top Of The Charts! This one's awesome!"
"Well, then…" Rumble held his hand out. ".. shall we?"
"But can't we…?"
It's happened! I've made it!
I'm finally here!
At the top of the charts!
"Top of the Charts…" Judith repeated, head bopping to the beat. "It's happened! The dream of a lifelong career! I'm at the top of the charts!"
"Hahah, ya ain't bad yourself!" Rumble took her hand and spun the giggling young lady around in a dance.
Always in the running
But I, I never got the vote, no!
They said that you would never break through!
Oh, yeah?
Well, pardon me while I… gloat!
"Woo!" Judith laughed, the two spinning their way throughout the dance hall.
It's happened! I knew it It's where I belong
I'm at top of the charts!
(top of the charts!)
Yeah!
It's happened! We've done it We helped put us all
At the top of the charts!
(the top, the top, the top!)
Rumble and Judith danced their way out through the other side of the club, unable to control their exhausted laughing.
"I forgot how much I've missed these!" Judith wiped her forehead.
"I should say the same." Rumble grinned. "Maybe we can go back here once ya finished your li'l business, eh?"
"We'll see about that." Judith and Rumble walked down the street before Judith stopped in her tracks upon recognizing a giant red sign.
"I recognise this place…" the woman held her chin. "At least I think I do."
"Whaddaya yammerin' about?" Rumble tilted his head.
"I need to check something." She approached the building and found an open garage at the side, and upon noticing footsteps, she pulled Rumble and herself out of sight behind another building. Out came a ruggish looking young man with a black mullet, stubble under his lips and wore a dark blue jacket over a blazing red shirt.
"It's Raoul!" Judith's smiled widened with joy. "But where's…?"
"I don't think I like where this is goin'." Rumble whined. Joining Raoul was an Autobot, Joining Raoul was a dark blue Autobot with a white helmet and a red face.
"Oi, this guy…" Rumble facepalmed.
"Yup, mr big ego himself." Judith covered her smile. Her joy was replaced with shock when she heard a familiar yelling from inside the garage.
"Ugh, this guy's giving me a headache." Tracks whined to Raoul. "He's been going around acting like he owns the place."
"Just let Mr. Cratch have his moment." Raoul scoffed. "Then we'll bring him down to his place."
Judith furrowed from the yelling. That soul crushing, frustrating yelling."Please don't let it be…"
"Ya call this junk heap a repair store?!" The middle aged man with greyish brown hair and a seemingly permanent scowl exited the building, his fists on his hips. "I've seen junk yards with more dignity than this!"
"Sorry, but who was it that came crawlin ' around here when they couldn't find any bolts in their workspace?" Tracks spoke back.
"I told ya! That Rivera girl lost 'em!" The old man ranted, Judith clenching her fists. "And now that she's up and gone, I don't know where anything is in my shop anymore!"
"Oh, she left?" Raoul quirked a brow with his deadpan remark. "I wonder why. You seem like such a nice guy."
"I gave her all the work I could think of for her, and she repays me by leaving on short notice." Cratch scoffed. "Guess she couldn't handle working a man's job."
"Considering how you didn't even bother to keep track of your own things…" Tracks smiled, folding his arms. "…As far as we are concerned, Mr Cratch, you couldn't even handle a woman's job."
"Why you…!" Cratch gritted his teeth.
"And a woman managed to fix up none other than Optimus Prime himself just when he was about to kick the bucket.." Raoul beamed at Tracks.
"Impressive for a human, too." Tracks and Raoul laughed.
"That woman was just lucky! Any human could have fixed him!" Cratch threw a wrench to the ground and stormed off.
"The only thing that needs fixing now is your attitude!" Raoul taunted.
"Or you could come on in and have us fix up your mouth!" Tracks and Raoul broke down laughing while Mr Cratch disappeared in the distance.
Judith hid behind the wall and covered her giggling mouth. "I missed those guys." Judith sighed. "They made my job so much easier."
"You're tellin' me ya used to work for that ol' geezer there?" Rumble huffed. "He makes Starscream look like a kitten."
"Working under Mr Cratch can do things to your stress." Judith explained. "And it's such a relief I don't have to deal with him again. If he weren't so pushy, Starscream would've been healed faster."
Judith then realized something. "Wait, if Mr Cratch is here, then that means we're in my hometown!" Her green orbs widened with cheer. "Dad must be nearby! We gotta find the Autobot bar!"
"Hold on there. Auto. Bot. Bar?" Rumble gave a reluctant frown. "I don't gotta go in with ya, do I?"
"Not unless you need Energon." Judith placed a hand on his forehead, much to his surprise.
"Hey! Low Energon ain't gonna mean I'm sick!" Rumble scowled under his visor. "But uh… I do feel like grabbin' a pint."
"Just keep your hoodie on and nobody will suspect." Judith took his hand and lead the tiny 'con away from the repair store.
"I think the hoodie's gonna draw more attention if we're bein' honest here." Rumble stumble, rubbing the side of his neck.
"We'll be quick, right?"
Judith stopped in her tracks and pushed her hair back.
"I need to know what I should say, though." The woman sighed. "I mean… this is my dad, after all. I don't think he'll take lightly to the fact that I'm a medic to the Decepticons, especially since I went there against my will. Oh, no…" she bit the tip of her thumb. "He might've been trying to call me these past days." She let out a gasp. "What if he's not there and already went with the Autobots to try and save me?! I can't have him risk his life for me! I…"
The woman felt a mechanical hand over her shoulder, looking over to see Rumble comforting her.
"We'll go in and check, Judith." The cassetticon calmly stated. "Things can get better."
Judith stood in astonished silence before she brought out a small smile. The two made their way down the sidewalk until they came across a giant light blue building, adorned with a mechanical, interstellar aesthetic and a neon red sign that lit the words "Maccadam's". A few Autobots exited the building through a giant automatic door which Judith and the machine immediately slid through to find themselves not only surrounded by Autobots, but neon blues and…
"Rumble?" Judith was glazed with widened green eyes.
"Yeah?" Rumble was equally stunned.
"Are those…?"
The two turned to each other.
"Decepticons?!"