The story is getting a few clear references to my fanfic Evolution in this chapter. This story or at least the Transformers Animated portion of it, serves as a indirect sequel to it.

Chapter 3

The two groups of captives had been led to something that looked like a twisted version of a very large training route for ground-forces. They were first separated into Autobots and Decepticons and now being divided into even smaller groups.

The city-landscape around them was that of Cybertron, but not the Cybertron as any of them knew it. In most of their worlds the Great War between Autobots and Decepticons had broken out at one point or the other.

For a few of them, like Arcee, their home-planet had been destroyed, turned into liveless wastelands of ashed and ruins.

This Cybertron here however was not ruled by either Autobots and Decepticons, but by a strange other group that was calling itself the Cybertronian Empire.

It was a faction that they knew nothing about.

xxx

At the same time all of them were being observed.

This fact alone however was nothing that would have surprised them.

They were captives, prisoners here, none of them had any illusions about this, no matter what their captors told them and they were being forced to take part in some sort of sick game.

This, at least in part obviously for nothing else but the demented amusement of the people who were ruling this place. Or for whatever twisted reasons they might have.

The idea that they would be monitored was actually quite obvious in their situation.

No, it was simply the identity of the being that was watching them that would have astonished them if they knew.

xxx

This observer was part of the ruling force of this particular version of the Transformer´s home-planet. At the same time however he was far more.

He was a ancient and powerful being. Over the time and ages he had played a great role in the history of this and many others of the countless different dimensions.

He was a Transformer whose life-span exceeded even the known history of Cybertron itself, that means the `known´ history, he was one of the ancient creations, the first children of Primus, who had survived till this days.

This being had chosen this world, this particular Cybertron, for his own purposes a long time ago. Behind the scenes he was indeed the absolute ruler of this planet and of many others.

In this universe he was the master of an galaxies spanning Empire.

He was one of the Original Thirteen.

He was the being known as the Liege.

xxxxxxx

Cybertron (`Animated´ Universe)

Meanwhile in another reality, two Autobot officers were just having a heated conversation. Both of them were wearers of the impressing sounding title Prime, that was however far less worth in this world than it was in most other realities.

Prime, in the most of the dimensions where Cybertron existed this was the title of the leader of the Autobot faction or of one of the Original Creations of Primus and their direct descendants or at least of some very important individuals. Here it was merely a very high officer rank.

Yes, the Transformers here knew about these other universes. At least they did since the visit of a few groups of strangers from another universe who had visited them nearly a year ago.

These strangers were Autobots and Decepticons, nearly like themselves, nearly but different. They came from a reality where the conflict between their factions was long over. Instead they were locked into some kind of cold-war state with each other.

Their visit in this universe however, had by far not only positive results. The first group who had arrived in this world had turned out to be rogue Autobots, fanatic terrorists who had planned to manipulate them into a war they couldn´t win with the purpose to take over their Cybertron.

On top of that a few of the other Decepticons had attacked Iacon´s prison-complex and freed their Megatron.

Since then they had been periodically in contact with this other dimension and had started an exchange of information and technologies.

But as it looked the Decepticons were doing this as well.

xxx

In their own world on the other hand the Great-War had just restarted a short time ago, ever since Megatron had escaped captivity with the help of the extra-dimensional visitors of his own faction and was now leading his forces again.

So far the fighting took only place in deep-space or at outer colonies. The Decepticons were not strong enough to threaten Cybertron directly, not yet. But it was only a question of time. They all were aware of that.

This was one reason more for their current work here. It was research into the new technology that they had been exposed to by their `visitors´ themselves.

The technology to travel between the dimensions.

This however was it what led them directly to the situation they were in now.

The two robots were nobody else then Optimus and Sentinel Prime This meant of course their versions of this world.

Of course like so often, this two didn´t exactly agree about the right course of action in this situation.

And this was clearly an understatement.

"I have told you Sentinel that it was too early for the activation," Optimus told him more than just a bit irritated.

"Our tests showed that the new technology was working as expected," the other Prime replied. "All the results were looking promising. We couldn´t effort to wait any longer. Not with the Decepticons out there, probably working on similar devices themselves," Sentinel Prime stated matter of factly.

This `device´ was in fact nothing else than a modified space-bridge, that was now redesigned to open connections into other realities, based to the greatest part on the model of the technology of their guests from another universe from last year.

"Oh yes? Because of your impatience Bumblebee and Sari have been lost and could be the Allspark knows where," Optimus accused him.

He hated to admit it, but Sentinel actually had a point. The Decepticons were already dangerous enough as they were. Should they discover the secret of interdimensional transwarp before them, their entire situation would only become worse. Still his seemingly carefree attitude about this entire matter just pissed him off.

Because of their status as `Heroes of Cybertron´, since they had managed to take Megatron prisoner last year, Optimus and his team were invited to witness the first activation of the new form of space-bridge. Even the fact that the Decepticon leader had been freed didn´t change anything about their new status and fame.

To their bad luck however the demonstration had gone horrible wrong. Some sort of malfunction had caused a overload and an resulting explosion. The transwarp system went out of control and a dislocated transwarp-bubble caught both Sari and Bumblebee. One moment later they had disappeared.

"You have decided that the new space-bridge is ready. You have invited us here and now two members of my team are missing."

"Don´t worry Optimus," Sentinel told him confidently, "we will find your minibot and your half organic friend soon enough. You know in opposite to your former repair-crew I have here the best experts of Cybertron at my hand."

Something else he just seemed to have doing was constantly reminding Optimus of his teams former status as a space-bridge maintenance-crew.

Sentinel´s attitude was getting more and more on his nerves. This was kind of ironic because, as hard as it was to imagine, his behavior had actually gotten better after the events of the last months.

"Bulkhead is the leading space-bridge expert," Optimus reminded him grimly, "and he is part of my team."

"And he is here to help, together with all the other experts," Sentinel told him smugly.

"Don´t worry Optimus," Bulkhead called out from the place where he was working at the machinery. "This has to be the first time that I agree with Sentinel, but we will find Bumblebee and Sari."

But then the alarms were going on once again.

"What is going on?" Sentinel shouted.

"There is something wrong," Bulkhead replied. "There is something...something from outside. It is interfering with our signal."

"Sentinel," Optimus growled.

xxxxxxx

Cybertron - (Cybertronian Empire Universe)

The now smaller groups of captured Autobots and Decepticons were brought into different parts of the large terrain.

And then the guards just left them behind. They all were standing now inside the giant maze of metallic constructs, walls, buildings and tunnels and automatic weapon systems, that formed the arena where they `games´ would be taking place.

One of these groups consisted of Cliffjumper, Arcee, her two human friends, Bumblebee and red headed girl named Sari, Rotorstorm and Longarm.

They had been put together. Their weapons had been recharged and returned to them as they had realized. It was clear the `Game´ was about to beginn.

It was then when they began to hear the voice that was starting to hall all over the area. Microphons, they realized, it was being broadcasted everywhere into the arena.

"Welcome brave competitors," the unknown speaker said. "You all have been chosen to take part in the Great Games. I am glad to welcome you all here, at the start of the games. I am Jhiaxus, Liege Centurio of the Cybertronian Empire. Great fame awaits you all, if you survive. But be confident. You might not be aware of it, but to be chosen alone is one of the greatest honors.

About the rules. You have been separated into nine groups. Out of them only either three complete teams or between 18 and 22 individuals from different groups can survive the first round. The first round will end when four solar cycles are over or when your number has come down to the numbers I just told you. When exactly it will end is to be decided by the game-management.

For you to survive this round there are two ways. You can go into hiding, avoid the other teams, hope not to be discovered and wait until the time is over or you can actively go out and attack the other groups. Both are acceptable ways." By the sound of his voice it was obvious that he prefered the second option.

"Beside yours however, there will be a tenth group that will be taking part. This one will represent our own universe and is called the Hunters. They consist of some of the best fighters this version of Cybertron has to offer and they will target your groups indiscriminately.

In the second round then, the final winners will be decided through traditional gladitorial combat. Only a few of you can survive. But the one who do will be the best of the best. In this sense I wish good luck to all of you. May you stay alive and earn glory for your worlds. You have four breems to prepare yourselves, then the games will officially begin."

"Well, that sounds just great," Bumblebee remarked, as they all had heard the announcement.

"That is just barbaric," Rotorstorm said. "These guys are insane."

"Four breem?" Jack asked

"A bit more than a half hour," Arcee answered.

"Who does this guy think he can fool," Cliffjumper exclaimed," games, who is dumb enough to buy that?"

"I would rather ask why they even bother to desceive us," the red headed girl pointed out. "They had us already locked up after all. It is not as if we could have done anything."

"I am sorry that you got involved into this Sari," Bumblebee told her.

"Don´t blame yourself," she said. "For all we know it could have been me they were after from the beginning."

"Oh excuse me, but...well, I don´t want to intrude into your business. But I don´s see why they sould be interested in you," Arcee´s friend Jack addressed the red head. You are human after all... and by the way this other robot reacted earlier...I don´t believe they are thinking much of our race."

"Are you sure about that?" Sari asked him with a grin on her face.

"Of course we are sure," Miko called out. "Have you heard what this guy has said? He treated us nearly like...like germs. What a prick."

"No, I mean are you sure that I am human?" As she said this words, her appearance suddenly began to change.

What had been simple human skin one second before was now being surrounded by metal. For a short moment they thought it was some kind of exo-suit, until they realized that the mechanics seemed to be emerging out of her own body. Around her face formed a helmet and a metallic face with a battle-mask.

Glowing blue optics were now looking at them, the eyes of a Autobot.

Jack, Miko and even Arcee could only stare with an open mouth.

"What...what are you?" Jack asked stunned.

"I am what is called a techno-organic in our world. I am a mixture of human and cybertronian," she told her shocked audiance that by now consisted of more than just Arcee and the two humans.

xxxxxxx

A few kilometers from them was another group. This one consisted of Decepticons.

"You have heard the speech. So Scourge, it seems that we are together in this," Skywarp told him. "Maybe you should finally tell me who you used to be. It is clear that you know me."

"Yes, very good. It was really a shock as I saw you in this form again. After all you have been reformated right along with me and we are still flying together. Only without Starscream now."

"Th...Thundercracker," the seeker stuttered.

xxxxxxx

But their groups were not the only ones.

Another was assembled at the border of the territory, just outside of the arena. This one was quite different from the others.

They were heavily armed and wild looking. And in opposite to the others they seemed eager to beginn.

They were the Hunters. Their leader was a very large and imposing robot. Despite that the factions here officially didn´t exist, he was of a obvious Decepticon style design, with blue colored armor and both jet and tank alt-modes.

"The competitors are just getting ready. The Games will start in 2,9 Breem Overlord," one of his team-members informed him.

"Good, very good," he said.