Author's Note: And here is the chapter that explains what happened in the last chapter. Thanks to anyone who sent me a review for chapter one.

Disclaimer: As I mentioned in the first chapter, only Ultra Rodimus belongs to me. The Transformers and the Earth: Final Conflict universe belong to somebody else. I'm just borrowing them.

Unexpected Encounters

Chapter 2: Transit

Ultra Rodimus was having a bad day.

He and a group of Autobots had traveled to a newly-opened world to negotiate a treaty with the world's leaders. The negotiations had not gone well. The race inhabiting the planet, a race of avian humanoids, complained about everything. They complained about the Autobots' size, the conditions of the treaty, the time spent in negotiations, and everything else they could think of. Ultra Rodimus had reached the limits of how much he could tolerate and had told the avians in no uncertain terms that until they could stop whining and actually work with the Autobots, there would be no treaty. Before the aliens had had time to start complaining about his attitude, he had gotten up and simply walked out. The other Autobots had followed him out without complaint, eager and relieved to be away from the endless complaining.

"That wasn't very wise," Kup commented, catching up with his young leader and matching his pace to the taller bot's long stride.

"I couldn't take it anymore, Kup. All they do is whine and complain. I refuse to even consider a treaty with them until they learn to shut up and act like adults instead of spoiled two-year-olds." There was venom in the young Prime's deep voice.

"As much as I hate to say it, I agree with Prime," Magnus added. "Those creatures don't deserve to ally themselves with us or any of our other allies until they learn to stop demanding to get their own way, and whining like infants when they don't."

"I can't even stand to be in the same room with them," Jazz muttered, rubbing his head. While it was impossible for a robot to get a headache, it was possible for them to feel like they had one. And he had a whopper of a headache.

Kup sighed and looked up at Ultra Rodimus. "And how long do you think that will take?"

"We've got time," was the cryptic reply.

The older bot sighed and shook his head, dropping back to rejoin the others. He watched the young Prime stalk up the boarding ramp of their shuttle, bootheels clicking on the metal, and silently compared Ultra Rodimus to the other leaders he'd known.

Optimus Prime had always behaved respectfully toward other races, no matter how much he really wanted to strangle them with his own hands. Rodimus Prime had relied on his mentors and assistants to aid him in his dealings with other races. He had never revealed to anyone but his closest friends how he really felt about the races he had to deal with. But Ultra Rodimus was different, so different that sometimes Kup had trouble remembering that Ultra Rodimus had once been Rodimus. Ultra Rodimus had a mind of his own and had no problem telling people exactly what he thought of them. That trait in itself had earned him more points with most of the Autobots than anything else.

Another difference had jumped out into the spotlight on a mission several months before their current mission. On a very different world, another treaty had been negotiated and signed. The natives of that world had noticed something that even Ultra Rodimus himself hadn't.

Because his robot mode was humanoid, with none of the odd projections or outsized attachments that most Transformers had, Ultra Rodimus was capable of wearing garments, something no other Transformer could. Despite his protests, the natives had made an entire wardrobe for him. He'd reluctantly worn several of the garments for the negotiations. Near the end of the diplomatic mission, a specimen of that world's wildlife, a snake more that 300 feet long and with four heads, had somehow gotten into the complex and had attacked Ultra Rodimus. The serpent, similar in behavior to an Earth constrictor, had tried to crush him to death. Instead, he'd managed to pull a long dagger from subspace and stab the reptile to death. Several weeks later he had been presented with a long jacket or coat and a pair of knee-high boots made from the serpent's skin. Reluctantly, he'd worn them for the duration of his time on that world, and had gotten so used to them that he normally wore them all the time. Fortunately, the hide had proven durable enough to survive a warrior-leader's lifestyle without even a scratch.

"Credit for your thoughts," Magnus commented, looking at him.

"Just thinking."

"About...?"

"Him, and all of the various Primes I've known over the years."

"And he's different from all of them, I know." Magnus nodded. "I looked through the records. There's never been another Prime as outspoken and direct as Ultra Rodimus is. And I doubt there ever will be again. He truly is strong-minded."

"But is that a blessing or a curse?"

"A curse to those of us trying to keep him under control, because we all know how much he hates being pushed around. A curse to those who cross his path and find out how blunt and direct he is. A blessing to those of us who hate beating around the bush about our opinions, and to those who hate having to hide their opinions from others. So it's a bit of both."

Kup sighed again. "I've given up trying to control him. At least his temper is under control. Remember what happened the last time he lost his temper?"

"Only too well. I don't think they've finished cleaning up the mess he left that wing of the city in yet."

The rest of the Autobots boarded the shuttle, and the hatch closed behind them. The pilot started the engines and lifted off, heading for open space.

They were several hours away from Cybertron when the sensors picked up the first whiff of Decepticons and began to scream dire warnings. The order inside the shuttle dissolved into a kind of controlled chaos as Autobots scrambled for their battle stations, and anyone capable of space flight left to engage their enemies in space. Ultra Rodimus, having a starfighter form, was among those who went to fight in space.

"Don't let them near the shuttle!" he ordered.

"Will do!"

The resulting fight was vicious. The Decepticons had been defeated at every turn, and wanted some payback. The Autobots were able to hold them at bay while the shuttle pilot called ahead for reinforcements. More Autobots arrived as quickly as they could.

"Drive them back!" Ultra Rodimus chased after one of the Sweeps, peppering the Decepticon with laser fire.

"Easier said than done!" Afterburner yelled back.

"Put some spine in it!" The argument was familiar to both of them. Afterburner was one of the Technobots, and was more of a scientist than he was a warrior. He tended to fight half-heartedly at best. Ultra Rodimus had taken to poking at him, and Afterburner poked right back. Neither of them were insulted by it. It was just friendly prodding. Ultra Rodimus's outspokenness and outgoing personality encouraged such friendliness.

"You first!"

Ultra Rodimus laughed as he spun on one wingtip and nailed Octane in the chest as the Decepticon triple changer tried to draw a bead on him. The shot sent Octane spinning off wildly, his own shot missing its target completely.

"Nice!" Springer commented.

"Better than you're doing at this point!"

"We'll see about that!"

Even in battle, the regular teasing and chatter never stopped. It only shifted focus. Ultra Rodimus was a part of that teasing, knowing from experience that morale was to the physical as ten was to one. The Autobots tended to fight better and more successfully when they were motivated.

"Leave some for us!" The complaint came from the just-arriving shuttle of reinforcements.

Ultra Rodimus hovered in front of them for a moment. "Come out and get your share!"

The shuttle hatch opened. Autobots equipped with rocket packs swarmed out like roused wasps. The battle doubled in size, with the Decepticons the definite underdogs. Eventually, Galvatron realized that his troops were getting seriously mauled, and had to pull out. Before he himself ran, he turned and fired his arm cannon directly at Ultra Rodimus.

The young Prime saw the shot coming. He spun around and fired one of his heavy cannons. The two shots collided with a terrible explosion. And Ultra Rodimus's sensors picked up a very familiar energy surge.

"Oh hell no," he hissed. "Run!"

"Why? What's wrong?"

"Dimensional breach!"

The Autobots, having had some experience with the trans-dimensional phenomenon, turned tail and ran, as fast as their thrusters could take them. Ultra Rodimus lagged behind, making sure the others were going. Behind him, he sensed the breach opening, and hoped he was far enough away to avoid being caught.

"The dimensional barriers must be very weak," Perceptor commented.

"Less talk, more move!"

The breach exploded into being, a writhing hole flickering with mad colors. Its piercing shriek went through armor and circuitry, the pure force of the sound threatening to cause severe internal damage. Fortunately, the Autobots were already out of range of its sucking winds.

"The breach is fluctuating!"

The edges of the hole spasmed wildly. Tentacles shot off in all directions. One of them grabbed Ultra Rodimus. He let out a cry of surprise as the tentacle dragged him back. When it let go, he was well within range of the black hole-like pull. No matter how hard he tried to escape, the pull was too strong. He was dragged into the rupture.

He was thrown around the tunnel-like rupture like a leaf caught in a tornado. His optics were tightly shut against the insane flashing of the colors, but he couldn't block out the hellish noise of the vortex itself. Despite his previous exposures to the vicious churning and shrieking of the vortex, he was never used to it. Nothing could block out that sound. He felt his body changing, shrinking, morphing. Then he felt the rupture spit him out.

He landed on a hard surface, but it didn't feel like any kind of metal or stone. It felt strange. He forced his eyes to open.

The surface was a purple color, not quite metallic but not quite organic. It looked like a mixture of both. He wanted to inspect his surroundings, but first he had to find out what kind of shape he was in.

From the sensations he was getting, he knew he was human again. He didn't feel any broken bones or open wounds. The worst he felt was the bruise that would soon form on his shoulder. He swore heatedly to himself as he pushed himself up. Once the dizziness passed, he got to his feet and looked around.

He was standing on the bridge of a strange, organic-looking ship. Humans in strange black uniforms stared at him. Pale-skinned, hairless alien creatures were everywhere, all of them staring at him. His gaze passed over them, settling on a black-haired human with a vaguely Asian appearance.

"Where the hell am I?" Ultra Rodimus demanded.

To be continued...

Another chapter down. What do you think of the story so far? Send me reviews and let me know! But no flames, please. Flames will be used to chase Zo'or from one end of the galaxy to the other.