Pilot - Truthspeaker
Silence. Black.
Gunfire. Yelling. Growling creatures, echoing.
S.O. (text, typing):
"Attention, all Autobot teams. Infiltrator unit Dealer captured by unknown aggressor in Squid Crater. Sharkticons still active, unknown number. Honest optics and quick cogs, 'bots."
Sounds of Transformation. Dozens. Orders shouted between comrades, muffled. Splashing of an undecided liquid.
QUICK BLINK IN - EST.:
EXT. DRAINED ENERGON LAKE - UNDERGROUND - DARK
A large, black cavern. A picture of war.
Everywhere we look, there is an explosion, a group of Autobots or Sharkticons, a discharge of weapons. Even in the air, violence is everywhere as the Cybertronian soldiers unleash their hatred and fighting drive in full force on the remnants of their once-slavers.
FOCUS IN:
A five-man Autobot Quadrus runs forward. White plasma bolts zheww by in all directions. A closer examination shows all five wear matching colors: red and blue with silver faceplate grilles. Their leader - OPTRONIX MINOR - waves towards a high-walled obsidian rock formation. Four dive behind the boulder, Optronix bringing up the rear.
That is, until...
The rock explodes in white smoke and orange sparks, throwing Optronix a good twenty metrons backwards. The explosion cuts out all sound, leaving the Quadrus Minor temporarily deaf and without a unit. Their charred parts fly some six metrons beyond where he himself lays.
And without a unit, he pulls his rifle back to his shoulder, and runs off into the war on his own.
He Transforms, revealing his ALT. MODE: a red hovertank, with his rifle forming one main cannon as the other - back kibble - spins into place beside it. He rushes forward, firing both cannons into the enemy we still cannot see.
CUT TO:
SHARKTICONS. Faded-grey monsters, some in Beast Mode, others Robot Mode, some trapped between the two. Each one holds a spiked club, a broken spear, a pistol or a grenade. All growl primally at the Cybertronians passing them.
Optronix does not think, except that this enemy will take him, too. The hovertank charges towards them, firing madly. Some go down. Most shrug off the white-hot bolts, turns their attentions toward he and he alone. Some Transform, jaws snapping up out of their torsos, limbs twisting like turrets on a gunship. The now-Beast-Moded droids stomp their way towards the tank, blocky tongues rolling between corroded lips.
ENTER:
WING SABER. A white-gold fighter jet orbits a drooping Energon-indigo stalactite, blasting a winged creature bearing some inbred resemblance to the monsters on the ground. After two or three holes torn through its wings, it drops, screaming. Wing Saber follows it down, discovers Optronix surrounded on all sides. Plasma bolts whiz past him, too - some of it is friendly fire. Without another thought he breaks away from the Pterocon and begins firing on the new targets.
On the ground, Optronix barely has time to Transform before he sees the flyer himself Transform, dropping precisely so that they are now back-to-back. He pulls the second cannon from his back kibble.
OPTRONIX
What are you doing here?
WING SABER
Whatever I can to - !
Almost comedically, the Seeker ducks under a Sharkticon throwing axe, then fires off two quick shots with his own pistols before assuming a natural rhythm.
WING SABER
Help.
OPTRONIX
Well, that's better than nothing. Where's your squadron?
WING SABER
Elsewhere.
Optronix says nothing else. The possibilities are obvious.
WING SABER
(Cont'd)
Either way, I found a whole pocket of hexacombs in the rock face just in that ridge. Can't reach it alone.
OPTRONIX
Roger that, Seeker.
FOCUS ON (SLOW-MOTION):
It is in that moment that the two Autobots - Cybertronian soldiers - make physical contact. Their back apparatuses touch. A little blue ember strikes between them. A bell has been rung, and both Autobots react out of unknown reflex.
Before either has time to react, both are Transforming. But it's not a regular Alt. Mode for either of them - instead, they Transform into each other, limbs melding and folding, forging a grand cacophonous tangle of free limbs and folding parts. And when those several seconds are done, it leaves the two as one:
It's a POWERLINK: Two beings melded into an amalgam Transformer with blue-red-gold armor. An altered version of Optronix's head pops up, eyes glowing yellow. They have wings. Boots. Engines on Their back. They wield Optronix's guns, mounted to Their arms. The Powerlink - a DUON - looks at its own hands, optics widened, momentarily oblivious to the war around them.
They disengage. Both fall to the ground awkwardly, shocked. Laser fire passes over them, then stops as the shooters assume they have hit their targets.
OPTRONIX
What the slag was that?
WING SABER
Well, what do you know! How're the chances of THAT!
OPTRONIX
One in a million.
(Deliberating, weighing this knowledge):
We go together. Optronix Minor.
WING SABER
Wing Saber, Seeker. Nice to meet ya, Minor.
He nods to Optronix as he says this. Jokingly, he bumps Optronix's fist, activating the Powerlink reflex once again. The blue light formed between them casts a short aura around the Duon.
OPTRONIX AND WING SABER
(Internally)
DUON: We are One.
Neither questions it now, and the Duon itself says no more, simply becomes airborne. He fires off several shots into a crowd of Sharkticons, then turns, finding himself becoming the new prey for a duo of Pterocons. His optics narrow into slits, quickly forming a plan.
DUON
(Into comm)
Dispatcher, this is Duon Optronix/Wing Saber. Exploring hexacomb formation in Parsos 7.
DISPATCHER
(Over comm)
Understood. These kinds of things happen. Distributing new orders, happy hunting.
With that, the line cuts out. The Duon continues flying, outmaneuvering Pterocons by weaving between stalactite. As the winged creatures collide with them, both shatter as if made of old glass. Crystallized and melting Energon rains onto the ground, each shard having the force of a harpoon behind it. They rain down on Autobot and Sharkticon alike; some members on both sides pull out solid and energy shields, crouching as Energon clanks and bounces. Off of them.
The narrow canyon stretches before the Duon, growing closer and closer until it seems the only was through is to - !
WIDE:
The mouth of the canyon is much, much more spacious than we first assume it to be, and the airborne Duon slip through it with ease. (Hold several moments on the canyon after they enter.)
FRONT ANGLE SHOT:
He continues flying, dead-center between the two flat obsidian walls, streaks and drips of Energon illuminating his way. The Wing Saber in him knows exactly where to go... At least, to some degree. The Duon's head turrets around, searching for the distinguishing marks which had pointed it out to the Seeker in the first place.
FOCUS ON:
As he whizzes by, the Duon spots the abnormal crater in the black rock face, overshoots it drastically, hovers backwards to discover that it is indeed there. His jets go quiet, gently guiding him down to what appears to be a whittled-out stone balcony. Just inside is an entryway to some kind of tunnel, Void-black, impenetrable.
Several barrels slowly catch dripping Energon. In this moment of rest, the Duon look up, seeing the several fanglike stalactites above them. These are not the normal blue-purple; these are a more fiery ember color. Yellow eyes narrow, puzzling on this.
DUON
Disengage.
And both do so, as if climbing out the same cockpit. Both share an optical message, confirmed by a quick hand gesture: Optronix takes the lead. He taps his helmet, activating lights all over his body. Wing Saber does the same, and follows close behind his new partner.
WING SABER
(Into comm)
Dispatcher, have arrived at Parsos 7. Entering cave now, rendezvous soon.
DISPATCHER
(Over comm)
Copied. Proceed with caution.
Signal cuts out.
At first, it seems like a normal cave, altered to appear even darker. We see only their guidelights, nothing more of the two Autobots... or anything else.
And as they go farther in, it's abundantly clear this is not a normal rock formation. Gradually, the two fleets of lights solidify into Autobot silhouettes again. The rock walls are reinforced with some silver beams, gradually widening out and illuminating itself until they arrive at - !
INT. LABORATORY - WELL-LIT - CONT
A small lab-style room, hardly meant to accommodate more than two or three people comfortably. Dangling from the ceiling are a trio of powerful light fixtures, bordering on harsh, hanging loosely on long cables. A work table on the right, apparently cleared out - and battled on - in a hurry. On the left:
A silver vault-style door. There appears to be no lock on it, only a handle, smashed to bits and blasted at least once. Is it ajar?
Optronix tests that first. He approaches, reaching out his left hand to pull on what's left of the thing. It comes easily. Meanwhile, Wing Saber tries to reach Dispatcher one more time.
WING SABER
(Into hissing comm)
Wing Saber to Autobot Dispatch.
Loose static. He hits his comm button one more time, same result.
WING SABER
No response.
OPTRONIX
At least the door's not locked. We go in on my mark.
He counts down, right pistol raised.
OPTRONIX
(Phonetically)
Fife, foar, tree...
He raises his pistol, pauses a moment.
OPTRONIX
(Cont'd)
TOO WUN!
He pulls the heavy steel door open with ease, half-charges on impulse as if wanting as much violence as possible.
But there is none, only an old-looking metal cage, bars anchored to the floor and somewhere in the ceiling, stretching from wall to wall. In that cage:
OPTRONIX
It's Dealer.
He drops his pistol a bit, but leaves it ready to shoot. He walks further up to the bars, allowing Wing Saber to follow in behind him.
Dealer doesn't look good: light blue armor is now rusty, in some places smashed in, in others bent flat. His optics are dim. Kibble indicating an Alt. Mode has been reduced to broken-off nubs all over his body. He looks delirious, unaware of their presence, sat up against the back wall like a corpse. Something in the room hums with an unknown power - something intimidating.
FAVOR ON:
We see the AUTOBOT INSIGNIAS of both Autobots, cutting first from the brand on one's arm, then to his companion's. Another cut shows that, in the same place, Dealer has nothing, only a faint painted-on emblem on a square of mismatched armor plating.
DEALER
(Hoarse)
Oh, good, someone's arrived! Don't touch the bars.
OPTRONIX
We're Autobots, there are more waiting for us. Any idea how this cage opens?
The prisoner points to a little box just outside the cage. Both Autobot soldiers follow him, lock optics with it.
DEALER
That's a variable voltage generator. Hence, nay touching the bars.
WING SABER
We'll figure something out. Double-val - that needs an abundant power source, yes?
DEALER
Yeah. Cable's concealed, though.
Both Wing Saber and Optronix are already searching for it, though. And suddenly Optronix gazes at Dealer's bars - not him, but the bars holding him.
OPTRONIX
In the bars.
WING SABER
Well, that's one way to do it.
Without warning, Wing Saber pulls out his pistol and SHOOTS one of the bars. The sudden report of the weapon sends both other Cybertronians to the floor. Dealer squeals.
Pause a moment. The Seeker decides to shoot again. Silence from them this time.
But the bar is smoking. Sparks fly from exposed wiring. Casually, Wing Saber gives a good kick, finishing what his weapon started. It breaks in two, clanging on the floor. Both Optronix and Dealer look up to see that the Seeker's impulse has paid off.
WING SABER
Too easy.
Optronix, robotic though he - and the whole Cybertronian race - is, clearly wears an expression of disbelief... and suspicion.
OPTRONIX
(To himself)
Yes, it is.
Wing Saber points to his new partner with his pistol: "Help me with the rest of these bars."
WING SABER
You'll want to stand back.
Dealer gets up, shuffles back to his space on the wall, presses himself firm as he can as the two Autobots shoot at the bars, kicking them down after a good shot or two.
Both step over the remains of the brittle bars to where Dealer remains against the wall. They sling him upward, begin carrying him together back through the tunnel where they'd entered.
OPTRONIX
Is there anything you can tell us about your captors? And this lab?
The spy shakes his head.
DEALER
No, not at all. But... they were big. They were scary.
He says nothing else. As is the Cybertronian way, they respect his silence.
EXT. UNDERGROUND CANYON - MODERATE TO DARK
The three Cybertronians emerge on the makeshift landing pad. Examining the drop below them, the distance across this divide, the height above them - the canyon stretches to the cave ceiling - the Seeker and Major shoot a look to each other.
WING SABER
Can you handle it?
OPTRONIX
Can you?
They both turn back to face Dealer, and gently as they can, they lower him to the ground. Then they perform their little one-in-a-two-thousand-and-ninety-sixth trick, this time with even greater ease. They don't even touch when both begin Transforming, melding with each other. Dealer looks on, more than slightly dumbfounded, optics wide and mouth ajar.
The Duon drops to the ground in front of him, large arms opening. The figure stoops.
DUON
Up we go.
The Duon lifts Dealer in his arms, then activates his jets. He lifts off from the rock platform, first moving forward and downward, and then up, up, up! (Out of frame)
HOLD ON:
Also, please take note of the Energon drippings around the entry of the cave: a regular purple. And it's far sparser than it was before, as well.
CUT TO:
He's carrying Dealer across the sky, weaving in between stalactites bigger than himself, thrusters burning and leaving a foggy cloud of vaporized air and Energon.
EXT. AUTOBOT MOBILE COMMAND TENT - SQUID CRATER - CONT.
Dispatcher - truly, that is his name - sits at his console, dozens of patch cables plugged directly between himself and the block of machinery, dictating into a headset and keying information into another computer. SGT. KUP leans over Dispatcher's shoulder, watching the monitor display.
KUP
Any wo -
He can't finish. Dispatcher cuts him off.
DISPATCHER
(Into comm)
Duon of Seeker Wing Saber and Optronix Minor, bringing Dealer back into custody. ETA: six microcycles, clock active.
(After switching channels)
Dispatcher to Duon: We're expecting you.
KUP
You heard the 'bot. Get an armed escort out there, we're on the clock!
CUT TO; TRACKING:
Uniform red-striped Autobot sentries run out from under the tent, pulling heavy rifles off the wall. We follow a small formation of them pushing through the cloth doorway, shouting incomprehensible orders to one another. They form a little wall around the building-sized tent, which displays a 'bot-sized AUTOBOT INSIGNIA.
A Sharkticon wanders up, one side of its torso just gone. Two of the sentries raise rifles, put it out of its misery. It drops dead on the rocks.
AUTOBOT SCOUT
Contact! Confirmed: Airborne Duon and Dealer.
And it's true: the airborne Autobot Duon carries the blue Dealer. And he's followed by several Pterocons he can't shoot down.
AUTOBOT CAPTAIN
Cover fire!
He and several others oblige, blasting at the airborne Pterocons. None of the shots do anything more than nick some armor plating or veer them slightly off-course.
THROUGH TELEMETRY:
The Duon isn't safe in the air. Judging by the fire on him and the top priority in his arms, keeping him up there does no one any good. Those ugly Cons in the air are sure stupid, but they're still programmed killing machines. The Pteros are now surrounding them.
AUTOBOT CAPTAIN
Clear the landing. And concentrate fire, Makers damn it!
Shift focus to the Duon's perspective:
The Autobot command tent is below them. Just as many Sharkticons on the ground as Pterocons in the air, at least.
DUON
(Dryly)
Oh, no! Time to do something stupid.
And he does. With Dealer in a bundle in his arms, he drops his altitude, scraping through hungry Sharkticons too quickly for them to catch up.
DEALER
W- what does tha - !
(Screaming, weak)
The two components disengage: Wing Saber goes up, Optronix goes down. With perhaps less finesse than should have been granted, the Autobot catches the once-prisoner.
They're not far from the tent, it's just a matter of going through a whole riot of riled-up machines.
Wing Saber remains a force from above, sacrificing power for numbers and versatility as his new partner on the ground drops their quarry and begins charging straight into the Sharkticons.
That leaves Dealer huddled on the ground, protected between them but immobile.
CUT BACK TO:
KUP
I don't care what you have to do, WE NEED A SHUTTLE DOWN THERE NOW!
DISPATCHER
Can't do it. Not in time, at least. Or are we pretending time isn't important?
KUP
(Recognizing his outburst)
Sorry, lad, it's just... -
Dispatcher does not let him finish. He begins talking into his headset again.
DISPATCHER
Confirmed. The Duon are breaking through.
CUT TO:
They're not a Duon, but they are regardless breaking through. It seems this Squidtouched boil in Cybertron's face has exhausted its supply of pus. The Sharkticons we see are all that is left. The sentries pick the last of them off one by one.
Good, thing too: both Autobots look exhausted. Even the Sentries, under orders not to abandon their posts, look anxious just to get this job over with now.
OPTRONIX
Almost there.
There aren't many Sharkticons left. All dead, including Pterocons writhing on the ground with their wings clipped.
AUTOBOT CAPTAIN
Mobilize, mobilize!
The Sentries disperse almost like a true military unit, fanning out, Transforming as they walk. Most of them Transform into turret walkers: tanks with legs. With a lethargy - or else, relaxation - not seen before, they brush past the Sharkticons, shooting them dead as they pass. They climb over the corpses of the Squiddies' playthings and a few of their own comrades, trying to reach the place where their own 'bots are waiting, huddled on the ground around...
A Scout first picks up his walking speed, then is jogging - and then running. Without Transforming himself, he reaches them. He doesn't like what he finds.
Both the Minor and the Seeker are crouched over the objective's corpse. It appears that his head has exploded from the inside out, taking most of his upper torso with him. Exposed wire, servomotors, loose cogs are all spilled out around them, even coating their faces and bodies with the lifeblood of the very-much-dead Dealer. Optronix and Wing Saber look up at the scout.
WING SABER
Some kind of explosive implant.
AUTOBOT SCOUT
Any last words?
OPTRONIX
One.
Both share a look. Like all Autobots, their eyes are blue. But as they turn their heads back to the Autobot scout, they aren't blue.
They're yellow - of a Duon.
DUON
Truthspeaker.