Author's Note: Here is the usual apology for this chapter being late. I had the day off yesterday, but I couldn't type because my idiot sister left two projects until the last minute and spent all of yesterday on the computer. So you can blame her for this delay.

Disclaimer: Previous disclaimers apply.

Encounters of the Weird Kind

Chapter 4: Surprise and Reunion

The instant the huge truck shot through the gates, he hit the brakes, dumping speed. But he was still moving way too fast. The vehicle spun sideways, circling the entrance plaza until he slowed down and finally stopped. His air brakes hissed loudly.

Liam Kincaid gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white. The ride had been insane. He privately decided that the truck had to be insane.

The seatbelts unhooked and slid back. The door opened.

"Okay, you can come out now."

Liam didn't move.

A brown-haired human approached, chuckling. "I think you scared the living daylights out of them, big guy." The man climbed up and began prying Liam's fingers off the wheel. "Let go, will you? I don't think he'll appreciate it if you damage the wheel."

Finally, Liam let go and climbed out. Sandoval got out the other side. The two Taelons followed, looking up at the massive complex curiously.

"Welcome to Iacon," Jazz told them.

The sound of Jazz's voice snapped Liam out of his daze, and he looked back at the truck. He stared at its pattern of red and blue stripes, a pattern that was somehow familiar. Then the trailer vanished, and the truck began to change shape. Within a few seconds, another robot, this one much taller than Jazz, stood there, hands on his hips, a grin on his face. Liam studied him curiously, then spotted the skrill on his right forearm.

"Ultra Rodimus?!" he blurted.

The Autobot chuckled. "The one and only. Been a while since I last saw you."

Da'an turned, looking up at the tall robot. "This is your true appearance?"

"Yep. This is me in my natural form. I told you I was big."

"That you did," Da'an acknowledged. "However, I had not thought that you meant you were quite this big."

Ultra Rodimus laughed. "Many people are surprised by my size, but they quickly learn not to underestimate me. And sorry about the rough ride. Those gates are the only way in or out of the city, so I didn't have much of a choice. Roadblocks don't mean much to someone as big as I am."

Another Autobot approached. "Ultra Rodimus, I was monitoring subspace phenomena when I recorded a strange spike in the readings."

"That was probably our shuttle coming out of interdimensional," Liam told him. "Either that, or it exploding."

"You came in a shuttle?" Magnus asked.

"Yes. The engines had been sabotaged. We got rid of the sabotage device before it detonated our engines, but it did enough damage to short out the system and drop us here."

"Then we'd better start looking for a way to get you four home." Ultra Rodimus turned to the blue and red bot. "Perceptor?"

"I will begin at once." The scientist hurried away.

"So that was Perceptor?" Sandoval asked, staring after the bot. "What was that on his shoulder?"

"Lens barrel. He transforms into a microscope. It also doubles as a very powerful light cannon, but he rarely uses it that way. He prefers a laser rifle." Ultra Rodimus looked up to where one of the other Autobots stood on top of the city gates. He yelled a question in the Autobot language. The response drew out a small smile.

"What?" Kup asked.

"The Decepticons are in full retreat. Galvatron took a nasty hit, and he's in pretty bad shape. I doubt we'll be seeing them again for a while yet."

"Who hit Galvatron?" Smokescreen asked. "We were too busy shooting at the other to focus on him."

"I did. Moving full throttle. Mowed him down like a bush under a weed-whacker."

"You mean you ran him over."

"Yep. And so did the two behind me. All three of us hit him."

There was a collective wince from the other Autobots.

"Now, let's get inside and start the process of cleaning up. Blaster, show our guests to the living area. Perceptor is already hard at work. Let's get started."

With their orders given, the Autobots scattered. Most were on damage control, checking to see how much damage had been done to the defences during the battle. The Technobots returned to the crash site to see if there was anything left of the shuttle. Sandoval went with them to help look. Liam decided to remain in the city. Da'an and Zo'or stayed close, and Zo'or kept his mouth shut for once. He'd been on the wrong end of Ultra Rodimus's formidable temper once. It was not an experience he wished to repeat.

To be continued...

This was short, I know. Sorry. I'm a little short on inspiration right now, and the show is no longer on TV here, so I can't watch it for new ideas. This may lead to more lag time between updates while I search for new ideas. If you have any ideas, feel free to share them. I need the help. And while I am trying to decide what to write in the next chapter, I'm thinking of starting another crossover and working on it and this one at the same time. And here are my reviewer responses:

Kakwat: If that's how you drive, I never want to be in the car with you behind the wheel. I get enough of that driving with my father, who has a bit of a heavy right foot and tends to drive like he's running the Daytona 500. And the revelation that the truck is Ultra Rodimus was quite startling. Be aware that Ultra Roddy has a bit of a crazy streak in him, and is not above doing things like that for the sheer hell of it.

Gromia: I too have had to sit through sessions of the question that just won't die, but I learn to ignore it. How's the course coming? And yes, there are some very flat Decepticons around. Ultra Rodimus is a very reckless driver when he thinks he can get away with it.

Thanks for the reviews! Now send more!