Previously on Rescue Bots...
Griffin Rock had changed. a dark sky loomed over a dark town filled with flashing red lights and tall towers. Massive red banners dotted the wide streets and city blocks. Aria's eyes flashed as her vision zoomed in. "So," she commented, seeing the dark 'M' that were on the banners, "we did screw up the time-line."
"Uh," said Blades nervously, looking up, "What are they doing here?"
Everyone looked up to see several gray and black robots descend from the sky. Their arms were cannons and they had red visors for their eyes. They floated on propulsion engines as their lead robot, with red on his arms and legs, declared, *Unauthorized visitors to Moropolis- Identify yourselves.*
"Moropolis?" asked Frankie as the lead robot's cannon charged up.
"Yeeeeaaah, that name just screams cringe," said Aria, rolling her eyes as her gauntlets lit up.
It was going to be a long trip home.
Aria's own gauntlets glowed with blue energy as the lead robot's cannon charged up. She could hear Bumblebee beeping in confusion behind her. "I don't see the insignia, Bee," she said, "I don't think these are Decepticons."
"Not Decepticons," said Heatwave, crouched beside Frankie and Cody, "MorBots!"
"Doctor Morocco's version of us!" added Boulder.
"What did Morocco do to Griffin Rock?" asked Frankie.
"Whatever it was," Cody told her, a determined look on his face, "We have to undo it!"
"Bumblebee and I will fend off these MorBots," said Optimus. He turned to Aria and said, "Aria, go with Heatwave and his team. Seek answers."
"Alright," she said, nodding, "Stay safe you two. Last thing I need is to explain to Ratchet how I lost you two in an alternate reality."
Optimus nodded to her, his battlemask coming up over his faceplates, a gold visor fixing itself over his blue optics.
"Two against five?" asked Heatwave, "Maybe I should-."
"Heatwave," said Optimus, "Lead your team! We'll find you!"
The Rescue Bot leader finally nodded. He transformed, allowing Aria to climb into his cab. The rest of the team quickly transformed as well, Cody and Frankie quickly climbing into Chase.
*Halt or be immobilized!* called out the lead MorBot.
"No chance, bucketheads!" called out Aria as the team drove off. "Now let's find some answers. Although I have a pretty fair idea as to what happened to the time-line."
"Guys!" called out Blades, "You're being boxed in!" He noticed the MorBots from where he was flying above the team. The team quickly transformed, Blade's joining them.
"The stage!" said Aria, pointing, "Let's get below it!"
The team quickly scrambled below, listening as the MorBots tromped above them, not seeing them. "They're almost like Vehicons," said Aria, giggling slightly as the noise finally died down, "They look to the left and right, but they don't bother looking up or down."
"They seem to be moving on," said Chase, looking down at her.
"I'm glad the stage was still here," said Cody, "Everything else is so different!" He looked at his tiny radio on his jacket. "I wonder if...?"
"It won't work, Cody," said Aria, looking at him sadly, "The whole time-line has changed. Here, your dad and siblings are not rescue workers. I believe Morocco made sure of that."
"And my dad?" asked Frankie.
"He's probably not even on the island. His phone number possibly doesn't even exist."
"The Griffin Rock we knew is history," said Blades glumly.
An idea sparked in Frankie's mind. "So... it'll be documented!" she realized.
"At the Hall of Inspiration!" finished Cody, a grin crossing his face.
"Uh, the Hall of what now?" asked Aria, confused.
"It's sort of a holographic museum," explained Cody, "Every single bit of the islands history is there! If we're going to find answers, we'll find them there!"
Aria thought for a few seconds, then nodded and said, "We came here for answers. We might as well find them."
At the Hall of Inspiration, which was covered n Morocco banners and covered a dark gray, Heatwave carefully slid open a door and looked around. "Clear!" he finally said. He and the rest of the team walked in, looking around.
"Looks like the Hall hasn't seen any visitors," commented Boulder, looking around the dark environment.
Frankie, Cody and Aria walked up to the barriers. "Where's the holographic host?" asked the younger girl.
As Heatwave walked up behind them, Cody asked, "President Arthur? Are you- whoa!" At his voice, a holographic image appeared, showing a chubby, brown haired man with a mustache, and wearing black and purple clothes. *What?* he asked.
Heatwave lunged forward, his servo passing through the man. *Do you mind?* he asked.
"It's alright, Heatwave," said Aria as the Rescue Bot stepped back, "It's a hologram."
*What are you all doing here?* asked President Arthur, *There's no mandatory tours scheduled.*
"We're new to Grif- I mean, Moropolis," said Frankie, quickly correcting herself, "and I wanted to know about the towns early years."
The holographic president cleared his throat and said, *Well, in 1649, the first settlers arrived. They quickly-*
"Um," said Aria, quickly stepping in, "We know that much. Could you skip to a bit later? Like maybe 1939?"
*Oh, of course!* said the president, although he looked a little disgruntled.
"Why'd you ask that far?" asked Frankie.
"Because that was when we got there," whispered Aria, "The change had to be around there."
The president continued, *1939. World-famous Dr. Thadeus Morocco made his indelible imprint on this island by inventing the MorBot.* A hologram of a familiar yellow robot wearing a purple tie and a brown wig appeared beside the president.
"Dither?" said Frankie, recognizing the robot.
*Credited with commencing in an era of technological prosperity, MorBot version 1.1 literally put Moropolis on the map!* said the president, gesturing to the yellow robot.
"Why the name change?" asked Aria.
*It was Dr. Morocco's suggestion,* said the hologram.
"So that's what went wrong!" realized Cody, "We left Dither behind!"
"And Doctor Morocco pilfered his technology!" added Frankie.
"So Doc Morroc built an empire from one household service robot?" asked Blades incrediously.
"And we made it possible," groaned Boulder.
"It is often said that all that is necessary for evil to triumph," said Chase, "is for Rescue Bots to trample the time-space continuum."
"I am very certain that you made that up." said Aria. "And we can un-trample the time stream! All we have to do is jump back to 1939 and get Dither back before Morocco can cut him open! Then we can get home!"
*Perhaps someone else would like to explain history?* said the president hologram, very annoyed.
"No!" said Cody, "Because you're history is wrong!"
"But don't worry Mr. Prez," said Aria, "We'll be setting your history books right!"
Suddenly, a squeaking sound filled their ears. "Someone's coming!" said Heatwave, adopting a ready stance.
"Mr. President, bye!" said Aria. Suddenly, she recognized the figure heading towards them. "Wait! Heatwave! Don't shoot! Wait, do you even have any guns?"
"If he did, I'd shoot," came a familiar voice.
Cody jolted. "Dad?" he asked.
Coming towards them was Charlie Burns. He wasn't wearing a police uniform. Rather he was wearing a janitor suit with the Morocco emblem stitched onto the chest. He looked at the group of time travelers who were starring at him in shock, asking, "Who are you?"
"What?" said Cody, "it's me, your son, Cody!"
"I don't have a son," said Charlie, "And what's the big idea of bringing robots in here."
"Wait!" said Aria, holding up her hand. As Charlie turned to look at her, she gave a small sigh and said, "Thomas and Abigail Leira."
Charlie's eyes widened. "How do you know those names?" he asked in shock.
Cody and Frankie looked over at Aria, confused. Aria laid a gentle hand on the young boy's shoulder, then walked up to Charlie, unzipping her hoodie slightly and taking something from off her neck. Charlie looked shock when he recognized what was in Aria's hand.
Heatwave peered over her shoulder to see a small, silver-lined stone attached to a silver chord. "A necklace?" he asked, slightly confused.
Charlie picked up the necklace, pressing his thumb to the back of it. It glowed and an engraven message appeared on the back;
To Abigail. With love, from Charlie, your brother.
"Where did you get this?" asked Charlie, looking up at Aria.
Aria smiled gently, tears coming to her eyes. "Uncle Charlie," she said gently, taking his hands, "It's me. It's Katie, your step-niece."
Cody's eyes widened. Frankie looked over at him and said, "You did not say that you had a cousin of any kind."
"I... I didn't know," said Cody.
Charlie continued to look over Aria, staring deeply into her eyes. He finally said, "How? You died with your parents. I was at your funeral."
"It's... difficult to explain," said Aria, "But... I'm from an alternate time-line where I survived, but I was greatly scarred." She touched her white, blue-streaked hair. "And that young boy is telling the truth." She looked over at Cody and said, "He's your son, but he's from an alternate time-line like me."
Charlie looked over at Cody, suddenly seeing the resemblance. "What did you say your name was again?"
"Cody," said Cody, smiling now.
"Uncle Charlie?" The older man looked over at his step-niece as she said, "We need your help. We can set all of this right, but we can't do it alone."
Charlie looked at her, then at Cody and Frankie, and finally at the Rescue Bots. He nodded and finally said, "If it means I can get you and my youngest boy back. Come with me."
Aria smiled, hugging her uncle tight.
"Dad, why didn't you tell us that we had a cousin!" exclaimed Dani.
The team had followed Charlie to the old fire house, which was now a mechanic's shop. The three Burns siblings- Kade, Grahm, and Dani- worked as mechanics for the island. And just like their father, they hated Morocco, though as Frankie put it, everyone on the island probably hated Morocco. They had all been eating dinner and sharing stories about what actually happened in the real time-line, and Charlie finally shared that Aria was the group's step-cousin.
"Katie and her parents died when Katie was only three," said Charlie, "It was hard enough to even think about them, let alone talk about it." He laid a hand on Aria's shoulder and said, "But when we set this right, you will know about her."
"But I didn't even know about her," said Cody.
"Well, your dad wanted to keep me hidden," said Aria, "When I was ten, I was attacked by the same people that killed Mom and Dad. To keep me hidden, I was shuttled around foster homes. They changed my name too. I'm Arianna Ariel now."
"That's a nice name," said Grahm.
"And I don't believe that there is a Doc Greene on the island," said Charlie, setting down a dish, "I wish there was. This place would be a whole lot funner."
Frankie looked down at her plate. "Don't worry Frankie," said Cody, "Your dad probably just lives somewhere else."
"I'm sure you'll see him again." added Dani.
Frankie managed a small smile.
Suddenly, the place started shaking badly. "Scrap!" yelled Aria, managing to stand, "They found us!"
The ceiling started to fall apart, a large chuck headed right for Cody. He gave a small gasp, then yelped as Kade tackled him and Frankie out of the way.
Charlie fell to the ground, the old TV coming off the ceiling and falling towards him. Before he could duck out of the way, a light surrounded the TV, causing it to stop in mid-air. He rolled out of the way and watched as Aria gently set the TV down. "That was close," he said, "Thank you."
Aria nodded, smiling. Everyone looked outside as the shaking stopped and a familiar voice said, *Attention all rebels! Consider that a shot across your proverbial bow!*
"Does anyone else hate this guy?" asked Aria, her gloves lighting up with red energy, "Because I do!"
"Downstairs!" said Charlie, turning to the group, "Hurry!"
Everyone quickly headed into the underground part of the mechanic's shop, where the Rescue Bots were waiting for them. They turned as Cody, Frankie, and Aria slid down the fire poll as the rest of the family arrived in the old elevator. "We can hide in the bunker!" said Cody.
"No, Morocco knows about it," said Grahm, "We'd just be trapped."
"This girl handles traps rather easily," said Aria, slamming her fists together.
"How do you know about it?" asked Kade suspiciously.
"I told you!" said Cody, "I grew up here!"
"They've walled us in!" said Boulder.
"Our apologies, Chief." said Chase, "It was not our intent to involve you."
"We don't want you to get hurt," said Heatwave, "So... we'll turn ourselves in."
"Guys, you can't," said Aria, "Morocco knows that your energy powers up the time machine. He gets his hands on you, not only will the island be changed, but the whole world will be!"
"Morocco can't be trusted!" added Dani, "He'll take you and he'll come after us anyway!"
"This is exactly why bringing outsiders in was a mistake!" said Kade.
"Sometimes bringing in the outside brings great change," said Aria. "This is a chance for you all to fight back! To help take back you home! Don't you want to help people? To save your friends and families? To be heroes?" She looked at them all.
"She's right!" said Charlie, "We talk about standing up to that tyrant Morocco, but we never do! Maybe a little push is just the thing we need!" He looked at Cody and Aria and added, "To bring heroes back to this town. It's what my step-sister and Thomas would want."
"Dad's right!" said Grahm, "We're as ready as we'll ever be!"
Everyone turned to look at Kade, who stood there with a grumpy expression. Finally, he said, "Well... if we're going to do this..." He strode over to a computer consul and pulled on a lever. He turned, grinning and added, "Let's do it right!"
The floor slid open, and a platform raised upwards, carrying a massive truck with it. It was a big as the Rescue Bots, with a red paint scheme and dashes of gold, blue and green, blue windows massive all-terrain wheels, and lots of rescue equipment on the sides. "Meet the Mobile Headquarters everyone," said Charlie, gesturing, "Big enough to hold a band of rebels or four Rescue Bots!"
"Noble!" whispered Cody.
"Coooooool!" cheered Frankie.
Aria, who had winced at the sight of the truck, said, "There would be a lot of guys who would be squealing their heads off at a sight like this."
As a matter of fact, they are.
Morocco put up his watch and said, "Bring the house down! But the robots power source had better be salvagable!"
As the robots aimed at the building, the door suddenly burst open. Out came the MHQ, with Aria perched up on the top of it, her gauntlets alight with energy. "Hey! Mo- dork! I know that nickname is usually saved for a giant head on a floating chair, but it fits here!" Her hands raised up.
Several of the robots were taken apart, and Morocco dove out of the way as ht MHQ burst past him. "Nice shot!" called up her step-uncle.
"Thanks!" she said.
The MHQ barreled down the streets of Moropolis, smashing into every Morbot which got in its ways. Aria perched on top of the massive truck, firing her gauntlets at the airborne MorBots.
Inside the MHQ, the rescue Bots were enjoying their time being passengers. "I'm not used to being a passenger," commented Heatwave.
"It's kinda relaxing," said Boulder, sitting next to him.
"Heads up!" called out Aria. She fired her gauntlets at two airborne Morbots. She managed to destroy one, but the other one fired at their wheels, causing the vehicle to swerve out of control. Aria flew off, landing on top of the other MorBot. With a blast from her hands, the robot was taken apart. She flew to the ground...
...landing in Optimus's servos as he transformed. "We need to stop meeting up like this," said his charge, watching as Bumblebee took out several more MorBots with large steel cylinders.
"How is everything going?" asked Optimus, trying not to chuckle.
"Well, I found my step-uncle. And he and his family are helping to take down Morocco. Speaking of which, I think we'd better catch up with the rest of the gang."
Optimus nodded. He quickly transformed and the two of them joined Bumblebee, where they quickly reunited with the Rescue Bots. Heatwave quickly explained the plan- they were going to split up and rondevu at the time machine.
"Here comes Morocco!" called out Cody. Everyone looked down the road to see the lead MorBot heading straight towards them.
"Rescue Bots!" said Optimus, "Roll out!"
"Hey, I like the sound of that," said Heatwave.
"Sorry, it's already taken," called out Aria.
The six cybertronians with their respective human passengers and Charlie driving the MHQ took off in separate directions. The MorBots quickly split up as well heading after the Bots and vehicle.
Several MorBots were chasing the MHQ into a tunnel, only to be chase back out and smashed into several pieces by the heavy vehicle. Charlie drove the truck with a grim smile on his face. He was enjoying this. He quickly joined Grahm and Boulder, suceeding in taking out another Morbot.
Cody and Frankie gasped in Chase's vehicle form when they saw several MorBots land in front of them. Chas quickly swerved around their legs, causing the robots to turn and look in confusion. The two kids cheered.
"Please consider this as an example of how not to operate a motor vehicle." said Chase.
Dani yelped when she saw that Blades was heading for the island's windmill generators. "Giant propellers! I am gonna be sick!" She raised her hands over her face as she yelled, "Copter! Stop! Please!"
"It's Blades. And don't worry," he assured her, "A very good pilot showed me how to do this." He dodged throught he spinning blades, a trick taught to him by his Dani. The MorBots weren't so lucky, and were shredded to pieces.
They quickly rejoined Boulder, Chase and the MHQ, which had Morocco and several more MorBots chasing after them. Just as the evil doctor was getting close to them, Optimus, Bumblebee and Heatwave knocked aside the other Morbots. For good measure, Heatwave bumped the back of the MorBot that Morocco was riding. The evil scientists screamed as he spun around in circles.
"That was AWESOME!" cheered Kade, riding in Heatwave.
They quickly sped after the rest of the team, who had reached the time machine. Heatwave let out Kade as Optimus did the same with Aria before he and Bumblebee transformed. "We must move quickly!" said the Autobot leader.
As the rest of the Rescue Bots transformed and stood, Cody and Frankie turned to Charlie and his family. "Sorry to leave you with such a mess," Cody told his family.
"Once you go through that time machine and fix the past," said Charlie, "everything here will change too."
"It's changed already," said Kade, grinning widely, a determined, fiery look in his eyes.
Dani walked up to Cody and laid a hand on his shoulder. "And if I had to have another brother," she said to him, "I wouldn't mind it being you." The two sibling shared a hug.
"Take the MHQ," said Charlie, "I have a feeling it might come in handy some day."
"Treat her with care buddy," said Grahm, "Okay?"
"We will," promised Cody. Aria hopped into the driver's seat with Cody and Frankie in the passenger side as the Rescue Bots climbed aboard the MHQ. Boulder turned and waved to the Burns family, saying, "See you all soon, I hope."
As the MHQ closed behind him, Charlie turned to the rest of the family. "Let's go team." Before they left the time machine room, Charlie turned and called out, "Aria! Make sure you tell your uncle that it's you!"
"I will uncle! Optimus, we're ready!" said Aria.
The Prime quickly knelt again, charging the machine. The portal soon flared to life and the MHQ drove through the portal. Bumblebee turned to the entrance, where Morocco was seen headed for them.
*Don't let them escape! Go! Go! Go!* cried out the doctor as the robots gun fired. Bumblebee dodged the shot and lept into the portal after the Rescue Bots. Optimus quickly stood as well, charging into the portal, which then closed behind him.
*Stop! Stop! Stop!* cried out Morocco. But it was too late. The MorBot crashed into the time machine, destroying it. Morocco hung from his pilot chair inside the robot, his purple monocle hanging from his vest.
[1939- Time Machine room]
Morocco peered into Dither's metallic body as he said aloud, "Well, you're no transforming robot. But you'll do quite nicely."
Suddenly, the time machine lit up. Morocco lept back as the MHQ barreled through, coming to a stop in front of the table that Dither was lying on. The side of the vehicle opened, showing the Rescue Bots. Heatwave quickly bent down, grabbing Dither from the exam table. "Property: re-aquired," he said in a flat tone, not wanting to reveal what he actually was to the evil doctor.
"Wha- but... how did you?" sputtered Morocco, very confused.
Optimus and Bumblebee walked through the portal, Optimus approaching the front of the vehicle. He looked at Aria, who nodded at him. He bent down and recharged the time machine again.
After a flash of light, Morocco looked up to see the MHQ and the two Autobots gone.
[Present time]
"The portal's opening!" called out Grahm as the time machine flashed brightly. Out of the portal came the MHQ, Optimus and Bumblebee. The group watched as the massive vehicle came to a stop just past the consul. Aria, Cody and Frankie climbed out of the cab of the large truck as the Rescue Bots climbed out of the vehicle as well.
"Dad!" called out Cody, seeing Chief Burns rushing towards him.
"Daddy!" called out Frankie, running to her own dad.
"Oh Cody," said Chief, wrapping his youngest son in a hug, "We've been so worried!"
Cody pulled back from the hug and said, "You won't believe what we had to do to get back here!"
The rest of the family came rushing forward. "Welcome home squirt," said Kade, rubbing his younger brother's head.
"Can't wait to hear all about it!" said Dani.
"Time traveling," mused Grahm, looking at the portal, "I'm pretty jealous."
"Don't be," pipped up Aria from next to Optimus and Bumblebee, "It's a pain in the neck."
Frankie and Doc Greene were happily hugging each other. "I missed you more than you'll ever know, daddy," she said, pulling back from the hug.
"Trust me my little Einstein," he told her, "I know."
Chief turned to the Rescue Bots and said, "Thank you... for bringing our kids home safely."
They had seen Doc Greene and they didn't know that he knew that they were aliens, so it wasn't much of a surprise to see them straighten and for Chase to say in a robotic voice, "Mission accomplished."
Frankie looked confused. "Why are you still talking like that? Everybody knows you're- whoop!" She quickly covered her mouth, remembering her dad was in the room.
Aria was stifling some sniggers as Doc looked at his daughter. "You mean there's more to these Rescue Bots than meets the eye?"
The Rescue Bots winced. But they looked pretty surprised when Aria started howling with laughter, slapping her knee.
Doc Greene joined in the older girl's laughter. "Just kidding!" he said, laying his hands on his daughter's shoulders. "Chief filled me in!"
"They were actually finishing up when we got here!" said Aria, wiping away a few tears of laughter.
"With your lives at stake," explained Chief, "keeping secrets any longer just... didn't seem necessary." He turned to the two Autobots and added, "Optimus, Bumblebee. We're forever in your debt."
Bumblebee beeped a few times. "Bumblebee is correct," said Optimus, "We simply assisted the Rescue Bots. Thanks to you, they have become an outstanding team. One it has been an honor to serve with."
"Us too," said Dani. The Burns family turned to their partners as the Rescue Bots started telling them about the alternate time-line and the past.
Heatwave, however, looked up, eyeing the time machine. "One thing is for sure," he said, "We're smashing that time machine."
"Yes please!" said Aria, cheering. "Time travel is not something to be trifled with!"
Cody was looking at the MHQ as his father joined him. "A rig this size could come in handy," he commented, "Who built her?"
Cody simply smiled. "A family of heroes," he said. Then, he rounded on Aria and said, "So are you gonna tell dad and the others?"
"Tell them what?" asked Aria, feigning confusion.
"You know!" said Frankie, grinning at the older girl.
"Maybe I will," said Aria, looking to the side.
The two younger kids looks turned grumpy.
"But I won't be saying anything if you keep on giving me those grumpy looks!"
That made their expressions morph into adorable puppy-dog looks, with wide eyes and quivering lips.
Aria couldn't look away for a few seconds. Then, she threw her hands up in the air and said, "Alright! Alright! I'll tell 'em!"
Optimus and Bumblebee were close enough to hear Aria mutter under her breath, "Flippin' Bluestreak."
The Prime couldn't help looking at Bumblebee as a loud squeak came from the yellow Autobot.
Aria heard the squeak and rolled her eyes. She walked up to Chief and held out her necklace like she had done in the alternate world. As before, Chief recognized the necklace. He pressed a finger to the back, where the engraven message appeared. He smiled and looked at Aria.
"Hi, Uncle Charlie," said Aria, smiling with tears in her eyes. She had been crying a lot lately.
"Hello, Katie." said Chief, smiling at his step-niece. The two of them hugged.
"WHAT?" cried the rest of the Burns siblings.
"We have a cousin?!" exclaimed Kade.
"Dad, why didn't you tell us?" asked Dani.
"I was supposed to keep her a secret," said Chief, turning to look at his family but keeping an arm around Aria, "Her parents- Thomas and my step-sister, Abigail- were brutally killed. I didn't have the permission to look after her since I was her step-uncle, but when the killers appeared again to try and kill her, they sent her into foster homes all across the U.S. Even changed her name. What was it again?" he asked Aria.
"Arianna Ariel," said Aria. She turned to the rest of the family and said, "And your expressions were the same as Cody's!" She burst out laughing again, doubling over and slapping her knee.
"How did she get involved with you?" asked Chief, turning to look at the two Autobots.
"It's a long story," explained Optimus, "But without her, I have a feeling many of us would have fallen already. You have a brave niece."
Chief nodded as Aria's step-cousins swarmed around her, begging her for her story."It's gonna be a long day," he mused to himself.
It would be worth it.
Aria didn't just tell them about her meeting the Autobots, but she also told them about her being connected to the Allspark, which frightened and awed the Rescue Bots. Everyone was awed when Aria showed them her powers in the bunker. When it was finally time for the Autobots to leave, she was sorry to say goodbye.
"Make sure you come back soon!" called out Dani as the Groundbridge opened.
"I will!" she told her.
I thought I'd give the Allspark a little bit of a break. Well, there was one mention of them in this chapter.
Next chapter gets slightly sad, and it will be short, just a heads up.