EPISODE 8: THE CHARADE
The Autobot ship known as the 'Avalon' landed on the planet 'Arcadia'. It's occupants were
part of an expedition team to help planets with Decepticon infestation. They are known as the
Pretenders.
Landmine was the first to get off the ship. He had the job of talking with the hangar owner
on the amount of credits needed to land their ship. It was an expensive affair but fortunately,
energon chips were allowed as payment.
It was only after the ship landed did the other two Autobots get off and move their stiff
joints.
"You know, I like the shells, but there are times when I feel really claustrophobic." Said
Cloudburst.
Waverider nodded his agreement.
"Okay guys, all's clear so let's be on our way." Said Landmine as he poked his head into
the ship.
"Roger." Said Cloudburst as he slowly walked to the hatch.
"Can't we take off the suits?" asked Waverider.
"I guess not. Rodimus thought that it would be easier for the inhabitants to accept us if
we were not robots." Replied Cloudburst.
"I... see." Replied Waverider as he walked out of the shuttle.
"So, there they are." Said one of the figures hidden by shadows in the building above the
landing pad.
"Yes, we must destroy them once and for all." Said another, his voice having a synthetic
sound to it.
"Soon, we will have our revenge." Said the third and final figure and then, the three burst
in laughter.
"Zigros is a trading planet. Many different interplanetary species come here to trade." Said
Landmine as he read off the tourist brochure he had acquired.
"This is the single most populated planet of various species." Remarked Cloudburst.
"Yup, it says so right here." Said Landmine as he pointed at the brochure.
"Most, intriguing." Said Waverider as he continued to compute the surroundings.
"Hey, relax man, this isn't Charr you know. Loosen up." Said Landmine.
"I will, once we complete the mission." Replied Waverider. Both Cloudburst and Landmine just
shrugged.
In the center of Zigros's main city, Sapphire, stood the tallest and largest building on
the planet. It was over 7,000 meters tall and the whole city, as well as part of the neighbouring
Johos, could be seen from the top floor.
The building was also where the mayor of the city lived and it was he who the Autobots needed
to meet.
"Do you have an appointment?" asked the green coloured female alien.
Landmine bent towards her with a smile on his 'human' face, "Nope, but I think the mayor
would love to see us."
The alien was quite taken aback by Landmine but managed to regain her composure. "Sorry,
the mayor is quite busy, you will have to wait."
"How long?" asked Cloudburst as he bumped Landmine aside.
"About two Zigros moon rotations." Replied the alien as she turned back to her computer
monitor.
Then, looking up, she asked politely, "Should I put you down for then?"
Cloudburst started using his internal systems to calculate two Zigros moon rotations. 'About
a terran week.' Thought the red and grey coloured Pretender.
"It seems we have no choice. You can put us down." Said Cloudburst with a nod.
The alien and nodded and said smilingly as the Autobots left, "See you in again."
"I think she likes you." Joked Landmine as the trio walked out of the main hall.
"You're kidding." Said Cloudburst with a bemused look.
"You're right, he's kidding." Said Waverider stonily.
From the mayor's office, a slim, yellow coloured alien in a business suit looked down.
"They have left the building." He said to his unseen guests.
"Good," replied a rough voice, "after what happened the last time, we are a little unenthusiastic
to see them again."
"I understand." Said the alien with a nod and turned to face them.
"Now," said another voice, "let us talk about the destruction of the Autobot Pretenders."
With that, the mayor's three guests came into the light, revealing themselves to be the
Decepticon Pretenders!
"This place is boring!" groaned Landmine as he looked at the items on sale at one of the many
stalls in the town.
"Can't we stay in the city instead?"
"No Landmine. We're here to gather data and the best way is to come to the less advance areas
of the planet." Rebuked Cloudburst.
"Cloudburst is correct." Agreed Waverider stonily. Landmine just swung his arms into the air
in exasperation.
Suddenly, a black hovercraft of some sort stopped in front of the trio of Autobots. A door
opened and a voice called out. "The mayor wishes to see the three of you."
Landmine, Cloudburst and Waverider looked at each other and then eyed the vehicle in suspicion.
"Well, you did say that you wanted to see the mayor." Said Landmine and walked to the door.
Cloudburst looked at Waverider and nodded. "Let's go."
"They're on their way." Said the mayor to Bomb-burst.
"Perfect." Muttered Bomb-burst as a smile curled on his Pretender's monstrous face. "Once
the evil Autobots have been dealt with, I promise that you will have a wonderful era of peace."
"Yes, and the Decepticons will have my eternal backing." Said the mayor and turned back in
time to see the hovercraft stop in front of the building.
"They're here." Chimed the mayor.
"Is it just me or does this feel like a trap?" asked Landmine as he and the other Autobot
Pretenders stood in front of the mayor's office.
"It's not just you. There are a lot of unanswered questions in my processor right now." Said
Cloudburst. "Just be alert." With that, Cloudburst knocked on the door.
The answer came in the form of an explosion that sent the Autobots flying backwards.
"Ouch, that will leave a scar." Joked Landmine as he grimaced in pain.
"Ha, ha, ha! See how the mighty Pretenders fall." Mocked Bomb-burst as he and the other
Decepticon Pretenders appeared through the smoke.
"I might have known." Muttered Cloudburst as he got up.
Immediately, the three Decepticon Pretenders strafed the area with laser fire, forcing the
Autobots to seek shelter behind the furniture.
"They've got us at a disadvantage." Stated Cloudburst.
"An ideas? I'm open to suggestions." Said Landmine as a beam bounced off his helmet.
"Cover me." Said Waverider stonily before getting up and rolling into the open.
"A great plan... what?!" Landmine immediately whipped out his blaster and returned fire on
the Decepticons.
"Just do it!" shouted Cloudburst as he also fired at the Decepticons with his blaster.
"What are you doing?" shouted the mayor as he looked in horror at the firefight in front of
his office.
"Doing what we do best," replied Skullgrin, "destroying Autobots." He then started returning
fire.
"But you said no fighting in the office." Said the mayor as sweat flowed down his cheeks.
"I lied." Said Bomb-burst as he turned around and disintegrated the mayor with a single
blast.
Landmine whistled upon seeing the demise of the mayor. "Well, seeing him is a moot point."
"True, but the Decepticons are a threat and must be taken care off. If only I knew what
Waverider's plan is."
Meanwhile, Waverider's Pretender shell was hanging onto the vehicular mode of Waverider
himself, outside the building.
"We have to time this right, we won't get another chance." Muttered Waverider to himself.
Then, at the mayor's office, he stopped and scanned through the window. On the other side,
he saw that Landmine and Cloudburst were still pinned down by the Decepticons.
"Time to take out the Decepticons."
The Pretender shell threw the white axe through the window, smashing it and striking Skullgrin
in the back. Waverider himself, followed with multiple shots of his own.
The energy beams scattered the trio of Decepticons. "Autobots behind us!" shouted Submarauder,
as the lasers hit him.
"I can see that!" shouted Bomb-burst as he turned to attack Waverider, however, Landmine and
Cloudburst fired at that precise moment and the Decepticons cover was blown, literally.
"Take 'em!" shouted Cloudburst.
"Thank you for your cooperation." Said the local law enforcer.
"No problem," said Landmine to the blue-skinned alien, "I love being a law-abiding citizen."
Meanwhile, Bomb-burst, Skullgrin and Submarauder was taken to the only prison on the planet
to serve time for killing the mayor.
"Do you think we'll ever see them again?" asked Cloudburst.
"I never want to see those monsters of destruction ever again." Said Waverider flatly.
"You and me both." Said Cloudburst as the two joined Landmine to continue on their merry way.
END OF EPISODE 8