Worlds Apart

Its judgment day

"Hold still, travelers…"

Hot Shot took his hands off the rope on the Optimus. He turned to face the entrance. DJ stood with a gun posed to Perceptor. Beside DJ was another large bot with flaming red optics and a faceplate over his mouth. He chuckled, stepping past DJ. The dimensional jumper stepped over to the controls, keeping control of the struggling scientist. DJ clicked a button on the controls. The bridge disappeared.

"What just happened?" asked Hot Shot.

"They were kind of expecting you lot," sighed Optimus, turning away.

"Who's big brother?" snapped Prowl, looking over at Opposite.

Opposite looked startled and afraid, holding tight onto the pole. The Decepticon looked over the others. Hot Shot and Prowl looked confused. Optimus, however, kept his optics shut and his face turned away. Opposite groaned. Optimus had learned of his twisted double ganger.

"Optimus…" whispered Opposite. "I'm sorry."

"Sorry?" gasped Hot Shot. "About what?"

"Big Brother is an Optimus Prime," screamed Optimus.

"What!" gasped Prowl, looking over to the larger bot.

The red optic Prime laughed at the startled bots. Hot Shot growled, moving to the edge of the platform to rant about this. DJ laughed as Hot Shot went on about double crossing and opposite worlds. Perceptor watched things carefully, trying to make a good idea of what to do. He had possibly the biggest bargaining chip in his compartment, but Prime told him to keep it hidden for safety.

"Now that the pleasantries are over," huffed DJ. "Where's my chip!"

"We don't know!" howled Hot Shot.

"We were hoping our Optimus could tell us," Prowl offered.

"Lies!" growled DJ, pounding the controls. The platform shook.

"Your little leader doesn't have it and won't tell us either," sighed the red optic Autobot leader.

"Come now, I don't want to see you all disappear so quickly. Where is the chip!" snapped DJ.

"We don't know!" repeated Hot Shot.

"I'll melt you fools into scraps," snarled DJ.

"What about that one?" the native leader asked, pointing at Perceptor.

"He'll work in the mines or something. He's not much of a threat," shrugged DJ.

"Hey!" snapped Perceptor.

"Shut up!" ordered DJ, kicking Perceptor away.

"Percy, get away!" ordered Prowl.

"Yeah! Run!" offered Hot Shot.

Perceptor slowly got up. He finally had his plan, but the others wouldn't like it one bit. Perceptor adjusted himself beside the hole into the smelting pit and sat up straight. He opened his compartment and pulled out the chip. No one was paying attention to him. No one but the young Optimus who watched with wide optics. He shook his head as Perceptor looked up at them. Perceptor sighed.

"You lot want the chip!" he shouted.

All optics fell on him. DJ and the native Optimus gasped at the sight of where the chip was. Perceptor held the chip over the smelting pit, a slight smile on his face. Hot Shot and Prowl also held open mouths. Opposite looked to the young Optimus. He frowned at Perceptor began his plan to rescue them.

"Where'd you get that, fool!" growled DJ.

"I don't think that's the right way to talk to someone holding your little chip," hummed Perceptor, shaking the chip slightly.

"You wouldn't…" huffed DJ.

"Oh I would and I will if you do as I ask," smirked Perceptor, slowing standing up.

"Fine, whatever!" sighed DJ.

"Bring my friends back to solid ground," ordered Perceptor.

"Smart choice of words," whispered DJ, pressing a button.

The platform connected to the floor by a solid bridge. Prowl quickly undid the straps on Prime's wrists. The four cautiously crossed the platform. DJ looked back to Perceptor. The native Prime kept his optics on the other four.

"What now, bot? Don't make it sound too outlandish," snapped DJ.

Perceptor paused. This was as far as he'd come up with. His four friends watched him, motioning for him to rejoin them and to get out now. Perceptor wasn't about to risk passing DJ though. As Perceptor tried to think, DJ was done with this little game. He reached a destabilizer gun. Suddenly, Perceptor fell backward, his systems collapsing in on their selves. He groaned, dropping the chip.

"With your systems being so close to ours, that should hurt a lot," smirked DJ, stepping over and snatching the chip.

"Percy!" shouted Hot Shot.

"You four should choose your next move wisely," chuckled the larger Optimus.

The younger Optimus smirked, raising his arm. DJ titled his head slightly confused. Optimus knew what Perceptor did was the smartest plan he could come up with but he hadn't finished it. This was finishing move. A compartment opened on his arm and grappler shot out. The rope twisted as it flew through the air. The claw gripped the chip and pulled back.

"Move made," chuckled Optimus, grasping the chip.

"No!" howled DJ, pulling out his gun.

"What are you aiming for?" asked Prowl. "You can't shoot us with the chip."

"But I can shoot him easily," DJ huffed, pointing at Perceptor.

Perceptor groaned, looking up slightly. The gun was held in shaking hands. DJ was getting desperate; one could see it in his optics. Perceptor looked over the shimmering black armor but something stuck out. A small, grey box on the Autobot's back with a small red light. Perceptor smiled, his scope turning slightly.

"DJ…" mumbled Perceptor.

"Hmm…" DJ hummed, turning.

"Don't count me out just because I'm no soldier," smirked Perceptor.

A beam of light fired from Perceptor's scope, shattering into the small box on DJ's back. The native Optimus chuckled, turning away and leaving. DJ gasped as the small box fell onto the ground in a smoking heap. The four others looked up, confused.

"Did anyone know he could do that?" Hot Shot.

"Not a clue," replied Prowl.

"What was that?" asked Optimus.

"His transport machine that chip belonged to," smirked Perceptor.

"You…You idiot!" howled DJ, firing his gun at Perceptor.