Worlds Apart

Strong enough

"Where are we!"

The group stood, paranoid, in the middle of seemingly nowhere. With a simple snap of the fingers, DJ had transported them without another word. They were in an open desert with nothing and no one around. Perceptor sat on the ground, watching as once more Hot Shot and Prowl paced in the heat of thought. Optimus stood still, either trapped in thought himself or watching the other two.

"We're supposed to find this stupid piece, but it would help if we knew where it was!" snapped Hot Shot.

"Where's the fun in that?" whispered Perceptor.

"Shut up!" Prowl and Hot Shot snapped.

"Why not put one of them in charge?" asked Optimus. "They seem to have enough guts for the job."

"I don't think that's what it takes to be a leader," shrugged Perceptor.

"What's up with this DJ guy anyway?" hummed Hot Shot. "He doesn't seem to tell us the complete story."

"Hard to say what's going on," Prowl sighed.

"I feel like we haven't been told the truth of what's really going on," Perceptor mumbled.

"I'm sure the more we get involved with this story, the more we'll learn," offered Optimus. "It always seems to work that way. Someone tries to stop you the further into it you get."

"And that is why you are in charge," smiled Perceptor, waving a finger.

"Whatever," sighed Optimus, walking away from the group.

"Optimus!" cried Perceptor. "We should stay together!"

"He's right!" shouted Hot Shot.

"We need to stick together! No wondering off!" howled Prowl.

"Give me a minute," mumbled Optimus, continuing to leave.

He couldn't quite wrap his head around the fact he was leading Autobots, let alone from other dimensions. Something still didn't feel right, mostly toward this DJ character. He seemed so confident but didn't seem to care too much for this little group. This object he wanted to complete, however, made him smile in an odd way like he wanted to say something that he knew he shouldn't. Something was just off!

Optimus stared out at the horizon. Dust blew gently across the sunny setting. Suddenly there was a spark. It glittered toward him. He gasped. A vehicle? Optimus turned around. The group was still in heated discussion, they hadn't noticed anything. He took off in a fast paced sprint. He figured the car was approaching closer as he ran but he needed to figure out a plan quickly.

"Guys!" he called.

"What?" the three replied.

"Something's coming!" Optimus explained.

"Humans!" Hot Shot jumped. "Everyone transform!"

"To what exactly?" asked Perceptor. "What good is vehicle mode without drivers?"

"I've got holo-projections," nodded Hot Shot.

"Black tinted windows," shrugged Prowl.

"Um…I don't have a vehicle mode, in a way," mumbled Perceptor.

"I don't have something normal for this world," grumbled Optimus.

"Optimus I understand, but you don't have a change mode, Percy?" Hot Shot huffed.

"Well, I said not a vehicle mode. I do have a transformation," blushed Perceptor. "But…"

"But nothing!" shouted Hot Shot. "Transform, soldier!"

"Yes…sir," mumbled Perceptor, reluctantly transforming.

Hot Shot groaned, looking down at the little microscope that was once Perceptor. The Autobot scientist mumbled quietly in his little form. Prowl sighed but transformed himself. His police vehicle sat neatly on the dusty road. Hot Shot lifted up the microscope and opened Prowl's door. He tossed the small Autobot it. Perceptor yelped and Prowl protested. Hot Shot ignored this and transformed himself. Optimus stood and stared at the two cars.

"I can't change into something like that!" he wailed. "I only have my Cybertronian alt mode!"

"Then change into that!" ordered Hot Shot.

"Fine!" huffed Optimus, transforming.

His alien form seemed so abnormal compared to the others. Optimus sighed. The other vehicle finally arrived. It was a small thing with bright yellow paint and dark black stripes. In the gleam of the sun, you couldn't see within the car. The Autobots waited in silence. Finally, the vehicle opened. An organic being exited, a creature like nothing Optimus had seen before. However the others didn't seem too shocked as Hot Shot activated a hologram in the same look and style as the other.

"What do we have here?" hummed the being. "Random cars."

"Who you calling random!" snapped Hot Shot, his being repeating it with a slight off beat.

"Sorry, didn't see you there," replied the being. "You're just a little out of place here."

"I'm sorry then," Hot Shot nodded. "Are we too close to a club house of yours?"

"Sort of," the being sighed. "Names, Sam."

"Hey, Sam," smirked Hot Shot. "Names…Carlos."

"Well, can I help you? Are you lost?" asked Sam.

"Maybe you can. We're looking for something special but having a hard time finding a start," Hot Shot explained.

"Alright," nodded Sam, stepping closer to the car. "You coming out?"

"Nah!" snickered Hot Shot, his holoform leaning back.

Sam sighed, setting a hand on the hood. Something glittered near the bottom of the car. Sam perked, looking down. He smiled lightly, looking back up. Hot Shot groaned, his hologram slipping lower in the seat. He'd forgotten the small Autobot symbol near the plate of his car. Sam had noticed.

"Autobot?" Sam hummed.

"Who wants to know?" snapped Hot Shot.

"That little club house I said you were getting close to," Sam explained. "is an Autobot base."

"Well that could be helpful," Prowl whispered.

"Shut up!" snapped Hot Shot.

"We need something," Optimus chimed in.

"All of you stink at being silent!"

"Let me make a quick call and then we'll head out," Sam smiled.

Sam walked off to the side, far enough from the Autobots to not be heard. He whipped out his cell phone and clicked a button. Placing it to his ear, he waited for the answer on the other end. The ringing continued until finally, right before it went to voice mail, someone answered.

"Lennox?" whispered Sam.

"Sam! What is it?" the other end snapped.

"I've got like three Autobots here," Sam explained.

"Three? Prime didn't say anything about new comers!"

"I know!" Sam sighed. "They don't seem right anyway. They act like they're hiding something. I'm bringing them back to base."

"We'll check them out when they get here then, just be careful."

"I've got Bumblebee, they can't really try anything," shrugged Sam. "See ya!"

"Sam, wai-"

Sam hung up and looked back at the three vehicles. Something was off about the way they acted, which made him worried about a trap. What if he was bringing Decepticons right to the base? He wasn't sure what to make of the situation but he knew one thing was certain: Something was going on here.