I must admit, I wasn't going to continue the Binaltech plot from Dominant but I don't want Tera Hunter to hang from that cliff for all eternity. Hope you like how it pans out ;3

And hopefully I'll be updating this more regularly. But who knows %D;

Disclaimer: No, I still don't own.

24 -- Disheveled

"Most people show up for work being physically accoutered but mentally disheveled." -- Eric Butterworth

"This time merge must not occur."

The statement, which came from directly behind him, shocked Skids back into reality. He quickly turned around in his chair to see a sizeable black mech extend his hands in front of him before everything was engulfed by a brilliant light. Skids was forced to offline his optics before they overloaded but immediately turned them back on after the flash dissipated.

Before him stood the great Optimus Prime. Only…not. The last update from Autobot City had stated that the Autobot leader was on Cyberton, fighting off Unicron with every available Autobot he could spare from Earth. That and the fact that apparently Prime had suddenly decided to trade in his vibrant blues and reds for a deep black and light teal paint job.

"Prime, sir…?" He started off uneasily, not quite sure what make of this development. He was then suddenly struck by how quiet the base had gotten. Only moments before the alarms had been blaring, warning them about warp holes that had been appearing all over -- Slag! Did the drone not make it after all?

The Optimus Prime look-alike must of guessed his thoughts for he said, "Don't worry; you managed to warn them in time." The mech looked about, gazing upon the faces which had taken notice to his presence before placing his red optics back on Skids. "This timeline needed to be preserved. I have managed to isolate it outside of the previous continuality so that it can exist independently of the other," he stated which only served to confuse Skids more.

"What? Who are you? Where did you come from?" The acting leader finally asked. He was convinced that this mech was defiantly not Optimus, physical likeness aside.

"You can call me the Protector," he started out and continued to explain. "I am a spark that has come back in time from the distant future. I took over this clone's body to accomplish my mission: to preserve the Binal-Timeline from being merged with the original."

"I see but why have you done so?" Skids questioned, frankly getting quite annoyed with this whole timeline business. "What purpose could our timeline possible serve to warrant its' salvation? It was not even supposed to exist in the first place!"

Even though the Protector's mouth was covered with a face plate, Skids could swear that the mech was smiling underneath it. "That is where you are wrong. While it's true that this timeline was originally supposed to disappear, it soon came to knowledge that this universe was the only universe that could bring forth the Alternity."

"The Alternity?" Skids valiantly fought the urge to cover his face with his hands. He couldn't deal with this. Even thinking of the report he was going to have to type up later was making his processor ache.

"Yes, the Binaltech's existence will bring forth the Alternity. It is an existence that will give rise to various beings that will ensure the prosperity and the protection of the various multiverses." He paused, optics narrowing into a sudden glare. "Though I suppose you stupid Autobots will somehow manage to screw it up. You Autoscum always do, after all."

Skids drew back, started by the sudden change in the visitor's attitude. "I beg your pardon?"

The large mech again paused, head slightly shaking as if he was trying to clear it. "My apologies," the Protector, all regal again, calmly stated, throwing Skids for a loop. "It seems that my time in this body is running up." As he was saying so, a large shudder shook his body.

Skids rose slightly from his chair, concerned. "Are you - ?"

"I'm FINE, you Autoidiot!" The Protector snarled and slapped him back into his chair. Glaring Decepticon insignias suddenly appeared on his black shoulders causing the other Autobots warily watching the spectacle to draw their weapons. "Oh, so the little Autotweeps think that they can defeat me, huh? Well, I say to -- "

The black mech's body shuddered violently again, this time an orb of light suddenly stretched out of his chest plate to form a brightly glowing spark. The spark pulsed brightly once before disappearing to parts unknown. The mech that it had come from snarled viciously before he too vanished from the room, albeit with less of a light show. Skids sat in his chair, a bit stunned. He could only be thrown for a loop so many times a day without something having to give in his processor.

"Skids, sir?" A timid voice called from the doorway of the command center and for the second time that day Skids was shocked back into reality. "If I may inquire…what just happened?"

His optics focused onto a half hiding and clearly confused Perceptor. Skids inwardly sighed, himself not quite sure what had just transpired. He had a feeling that the already long cycle was going to grow even longer.