1993: Liane Kay Elliot, former S.T.A.R.S. Commander of Hydro-Base, awoke from her snooze in the communications room. Noting the time, she stretched and noticed how quiet it was.
"Hello!?" she called, "Hey, where is everybody?!" the silence was deafening, "Geez, now where in the world could they all be?" she searched the base, but found no one, "What in hell is going on here? First I'm dismissed and now I'm abandoned. What else is going to happen to me?"
There was a noise, she recognized it as belonging to the elevator to the world above. Its loud hum stopped after awhile, then started up again. "I guess someone cares about me." she murmured. The hum stopped, a pause, then the clank of not so heavy metal feet rang the steel halls.
"Miss Elliot?" called a male voice.
Liane didn't recognize the voice, "Strange, must be a new guy." she whispered, then out loud, "In here!"
In he came, all seven feet of him. It was truly surprising to see a Transformer this small, excluding cassettes of course. His torso, helmet and upper legs were sunshine yellow. His arms and part of his lower legs were red. His face was medium blue. His optics and the other part of his lower legs were dark blue. Overall not what she expected.
"Greeting Miss Elliot. I am Roadhandler." he smiled.
"Hello to you." she replied, "I've never quite seen to likes of you before."
"I and the others have only been on Earth since late 1989, you came on as Commander of Hydro-Base in late 1990 and have met relatively few Autobots." he relayed.
"Let alone had time to review all their personality profiles." Liane nodded, "So, why are you here Roadhandler? And could I bum a ride home off you? I seem to have misplaced my former staffers."
"Ah, there lies a story intertwined." Roadhandler grinned, taking her elbow in hand, "Come, I'll explain."
She allowed herself to be escorted, the shear novelty of it was intriguing. They boarded the elevator, which rose to the world above, when the doors opened her eyes found several other small Autobots there. "These are a few of my fellow Micromasters." he introduced.
"That's what they call you? Seems kinda demeaning to me, not to mention conflicting." Liane remarked wryly.
"I like this one, not as serious and fuddy duddy as some of the other S.T.A.R.S Commanders." one said.
"I was a commander my dear mechanoid." Liane corrected.
"And that's also part of the tale, Miss Elliot." Roadhandler reported as they boarded the shuttle hovering by the elevator.
"I never got to ride in one of these before. I feel privileged." she smiled. "How many are there of you anyway?"
"Let's see, us, them, those guys.. nine." one replied.
"And that's not counting the Deceps' Micros." another put in.
"Nine huh? A lucky number." Liane stated.
"Let's hope so." another agreed.
Soon they were streaking to who knows where as Roadhandler explained the situation, "Here's the scoop, Miss Elliot."
"It's Liane." she grinned.
"Of course. Your former staffers made a bee line for Autobot base in Oregon and demanded an audience with Optimus Prime." Roadhandler sated.
"So that's where they went." she mused.
"Yes. To continue, they told him off." Roadhandler smirked. "Then headed to all the other S.T.A.R.S. bases and informed them what had been done to you. You are obviously a widely admired Commander, Liane, for a good number of them bugged out as well."
"All for me?" Liane asked, still in shock.
"Yes. They are now demanding that you be returned your rank and Command of Hydro-Base. If these demands are not met, they will remain apart from the Autobots." Roadhandler reported.
"Now what?" she sighed.
"That part I do not know, Liane. All I know is that we are taking you to see Optimus Prime." he said.
"I've only been to Metro once before, but I saw him from the inside only." Liane paused as she spotted the structure, "He's huge!"
"The bigger they are, the harder they die." a Micro said.
"Interesting viewpoint." remarked Liane, "Well, lookee there, old Opts' out to greet us."
The ship landed and the disembarked. Prime was there to meet them. "Come with me." the red, blue and white form of Optimus said.
They followed him to the meeting room. The place was crowded.
"A lift up, Liane?" the blue, light blue and red form of Shark offered, putting a hand before her.
"Hey, why not." she replied and clambered on.
As he brought her even with the table, she saw a small table with a few Commanders, she knew them all of course.
"It has been demanded of me that I reappoint you, Miss Liane Kay Elliot, as Hydro-Base Commander, rank G-3." Optimus stated.
"I've heard, sir." she nodded.
"Based on your previous record and overall treatment of those under your command did I make my decision." he continued.
"And that is, sir?" she queried.
"I and all present hereby ask you to come back. Will you reclaim your rank and again command Hydro-Base?" Optimus replied in question.
Liane smiled mischievously, "Give me a few more staffers and forgive my slight error in judgement with the Seacons. Forgive the Hydrobots and then I'll come back."
"A few staffers you will have, your choice of anyone here. As for your error in judgement, I will forgive you of it. I forgive the Hydrobots also, but I will keep a watchful optic on their boyfriends until they prove themselves. Now will you accept, Miss Elliot?" he stated after a brief pause.
"I accept." Liane smiled. Optimus looked relieved.
"Glad to have you back Commander." Shark said.
"Me too." the orange, black and orche form of Tracer inputted.
"I'm glad you are all so loyal to me. I'll never forget that." Liane said.
"Hey, what about us?" came Franks' voice.
Liane turned toward Frank Wilson, Dawn Reeder and Brendan Crispin,
"Hey what can I say? Thanks a mil, you're true friends, all three of you."
"Who are you going to choose for new staffers?" Dawn asked.
"None of ours I hope." Brendan said.
"Hey, would I do that to you guys? You'll find out soon enough." Liane grinned.
"Let's have a talk my dear." Frank nodded "It's been awhile since all four of us got together like this."
"My base or yours?" Liane teased him.
"Hey, where ever." Frank teased back.
"Honestly you two," Dawn sighed, "if Michelle heard you.."
"Loosen up Dawn." Brendan put in, "What's a little camaraderie between friends?"
"Yeah, anyway Franks' not my type." Liane said.
"Oh, oh you hurt me.' Frank feigned badly.
"Oh, stop it you." Liane snarled mockingly.
"I certainly like that one." came a remark from the floor below.
"You might change your mind about that." Liane called to the Micromasters below, then to Shark, "Oh Shark, be a dear and give us a ride down."
"Certainly, Commander." he replied and laid a hand level with the table.
"I've heard about this one." Frank stated. "I should think so, with all the times he's been down here forrepairs." Liane said. Shark just smiled as they boarded his hand.
"You know, I'm surprised the Decepticons didn't get wind of our little demonstration." Brendan mused.
"He's right, they must be sleeping on the job." Dawn said.
"Enough talk about them." Liane said, "Let's get to talking about other stuff."
They walked off Sharks' hand and headed out the meeting rooms' doors. The Hydrobots soon separated themselves from the crowd.
"Now that Optimus forgave us," the blue and purple form of Otaria began, "can we see...?"
"Hard to say with him." the aquamarine and yellow form of Natia growled.
"Don't be so harsh on our leader, Natia." the two tone green form of Sarka put in.
"Yes." the dark green and blue form of Capera agreed, "He's a right to distrust our boyfriends."
"Speaking of whom." the light blue and light green form of Tacea said, "We're supposed to meet them."
"Should we after all this? I mean, its what got the Commander in hot water in the first place." Otaria said.
"That was my fault, I shouldn't have..." Natia began.
"I wish you'd stop degrading yourself, Natia. It's not healthy." Capera sighed.
"She is right, my dear." came a familiar voice.
"Tentakil, you shouldn't be here." Natia warned as he approached.
"You ladies worry needlessly." came Snap Traps' voice as he,
Nautilator, Seawing, and Overbite approached.
"How is it we need not worry?" Tacea inquired.
"We had a discussion with Optimus Prime earlier today." the blue and black form of Seawing reported.
"How'd you manage that?" Sarka asked.
"Decepticon trade secret." the blue and purple for of Overbite teased.
"Oh please." Natia snorted.
"Okay, we came unarmed, gave ourselves up, and then we talked with Prime." Overbite said.
"What happened?" Tacea asked.
"Well my dear, we wouldn't be walking in Metroplexs' halls right now if Prime didn't listen to our plea." the blue form of Snap Trap stated.
"Huh?" Otaria queried.
"You're looking at five neutrals with the option to become Autobots, love." Nautilator put in.
"Say what?!" Liane asked.
"Since you asked for more staffers, Commander Elliot, we ask you to choose us." Snap Trap stated.
"But you're Decepticons." Dawn blinked.
"Not anymore Commander Reeder." Tacea put in, "We also ask you to consider them, Commander Elliot."
"After all the trouble you gentlemen put me through, you'd better be prepared to work your fins off." Liane remarked.
"That a yes?" Overbite queried.
"As close as she'll get to it." Frank said.
"True." Liane smirked, "Welcome aboard."
"This is really going to blow some minds." Brendan remarked.
"Not to mention a few diodes." Liane finished for him with a grin.