Disclaimer: Apparently, an anonymous reader wanted to know if Starscream would return in some capacity. I know he returns in Season 3 as a ghost, and as a Spark in Beast Wars. To date, I have no plans to bring Starscream back in any way, although I do have an interesting idea of how to bring him back into the story. For now, though, Starscream is very much dead.
In any event, I do not own the rights to Transformers.
Chapter XIX
Cybertronian Space
Location: Inside Unicron
Deep within the twisting, ominous surroundings that made up the innards of Unicron, the hum of a low powered motor echoed. It belonged to the yellow Beetle form of Bumblebee, who once more was living up to his espionage role. With Spike in the driver's seat no less. The exo-suit Spike was wearing didn't seem to hamper his ability to fit inside his Autobot ally's vehicle form. Although, they have talked about Bumblebee changing his alt form into a more current model, such as one of those Earth-styled muscle cars. Maybe Bumblebee would consider it, if he and the others could find a way out of Unicron.
"Just like old times, huh, Bumblebee?" Spike asked.
"Yep, although between you and me, I'd prefer the roads back on Earth." said Bumblebee.
"You and me both. This place is creeping me out," Spike concurred while looking out the side at the shadowy surroundings. "Seriously though; what do you know about Unicron?"
Bumblebee was silent except for his vehicle motor, but he then said, "Hardly anything. I never had a chance to go to the Hall of Records to study up on ancient Cybertronian history."
"You think Jazz might know something? He is a cultural analyst."
"I don't think he ever believed Unicron or Primus to be anything but a myth," Bumblebee said. "I'm not even sure if I believe it. Then again…"
Bumblebee rolled onwards. For the next few cycles or so, he and Spike searched for some indication of escape and found nothing. Defeated, Bumblebee opted to reunite with Jazz and Cliffjumper. Spike was worried about a number of things, and Carly and Daniel were collectively at the top of the list. Soon enough though, Bumblebee returned to where the group had waited for him to finish his recon. Jazz appeared to be very deep in thought and leaning against a wall. Carly was sitting by herself and Cliffjumper was pacing back and forth with weapon in hand. Spike exited the Beetle, thus allowing Bumblebee to assume proto form.
"Any luck, Bee?" Jazz asked.
"Not even a chink in the armor! This place is like a maze." Bumblebee exclaimed.
Cliffjumper finally stopped pacing around and said, "We're wasting time. Let's just blast our way out."
"And go where," Bumblebee asked challengingly. "In case you didn't notice, the Moon Bases are gone, and Cybertron is still under Decepticon control."
"Who cares," Cliffjumper retorted. "Anything's better than sitting around waiting for the walls to attack us."
"Speaking of which;" Spike said and turned to Jazz. "Jazz, you're something of a cultural analyst, right? What do you know about ancient Cybertronian history and Unicron in particular?"
Jazz crossed his arms. "Well, sadly most of our history was destroyed within the Hall of Records during the war. I did pick some interesting tidbits of info though."
"We're waiting…" Cliffjumper deadpanned.
Jazz glanced briefly at the impatient Autobot before continuing. "From what I've read, the Transformer race was first created by Primus. Then came the War of the Primes followed by the Golden Age of Cybertron…"
"What about Unicron?" Carly finally broke her silence.
"I've seen some mention of Unicron in the text," Jazz stated. "Apparently, Unicron first existed in the dawn of time. I think he started out as some god-like figure. Primus came along and they duked it out and… well, that's all I know."
"Do you hear yourself when you talk, Jazz," Cliffjumper deadpanned again. "A few hours ago, you said this thing was Unicron himself."
"I implied. I don't really know for sure if I'm right or not." Jazz said.
"Whatever, but all I'm saying is that this monster planet couldn't have existed since the beginning of everything," Cliffjumper said. "Besides; Primus and Unicron are both just myths cooked up by some malfunctioning zealot. They simply never existed."
"You got any better suggestions?" Jazz asked.
Cliffjumper put his right arm up, extended first his index finger and said, "One word," Then Cliffjumper extended his middle finger and added, "Two syllables; Shock. Wave. Shockwave."
"You honestly think Shockwave is behind the creation of this monster." Carly stated.
"Either him or a diminutive primate, and I highly doubt it's the latter." Cliffjumper said.
"Shockwave may be a twisted scientific genius, but even he couldn't build something this big." Jazz said, twirling his arm around.
"I'm done arguing with you, Jazz. And I'm done waiting," Cliffjumper said and with gun in hand, he aimed at the nearest wall. "I'm blasting my way out. I'll take my chance on Cybertron."
"Cliffjumper, don't…"
Bumblebee's pleas fell on deaf ears as Cliffjumper opened fire on the wall. The single energy bolt struck the wall and to the shock of the group, bounced right off the wall. The bolt ricocheted into another wall, then another wall and another. The group scattered, dodged and ducked for cover as the bolt's path randomized. Jazz threw himself over Spike and Carly to protect them while Bumblebee and Cliffjumper took cover behind some spires. After a few minutes of random ricochet fire from all around them, the chaos ceased and the Autobots and humans were in the clear. Cliffjumper peaked out of his hiding spot and saw to his astonishment the bolt didn't even leave a scratch.
"I already tried. These walls are magnetically sealed." Bumblebee shouted right in Cliffjumper's face.
"How was I supposed to know, Bumblebee?" Cliffjumper shouted.
"YO," Jazz shouted and finally quieted the two. "Shut up and listen; ya'll hear that?"
Everybody was silent and listened. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, at least not to the two humans. Spike helped Carly up and took notice of Jazz, Bumblebee and Cliffjumper listening. Cliffjumper appeared especially jumpy, keeping his gun ready. Their audio receivers were picking up something in the darkness, like a very faint hiss. Spike and Carly soon picked up on the hiss, which sounded fainter to them than to the Autobots. They all remained fixed on the darkness, but they unaware of a single claw appearing right behind Bumblebee.
"Bumblebee, look out!" Carly shouted.
Bumblebee turned around too late, and the claw lunged and struck him in the throat. Jazz and Cliffjumper reacted and fired on the claw. Their shots were on target, rocking the claw back and forth and ultimately destroying it. Spike and Carly rushed to Bumblebee, who was face down and not moving. Jazz and Cliffjumper covered them as they checked on the fallen Autobot. They turned him around to assess whatever damage he took, but didn't expect to see what they saw. They wouldn't have a chance. Another claw silently crept up behind Cliffjumper like a snake. Then another appeared at it left side, and another at the right. Cliffjumper soon realized too late and turned in time to see the claws lunge at him. It would be downhill from there.
Rolling throughout the twisting roads of a world still unknown to either them, Hotrod and Kup followed the lead of their much unexpected tour guide. All through the drive, Hotrod electronically transmitted a series of questions to Kup regarding Elita One; questions about how he knew her when she and Hotrod haven't met. Kup of course, explained that he once served as the instructor of Elita and her fellow femme 'bots, Chromia and Firestar. Two more femme 'bots that Hotrod didn't know… lucky him. He thought about that notion a lot and more about the images he'd seen or at least though he'd seen. Hotrod unknowingly began to veer off the road, only for Kup to transmit a warning to straighten out. Hotrod got the message and straightened out, and even slowed down a little bit. As it turned out though, all three Autobots slowed to a stop at a nearby lakeside in a clearing. Elita One was the first to transform, quickly arming herself. Kup transformed followed swiftly by Hotrod, though neither armed up. Elita scanned the area. She knew something was very wrong.
"We're not alone," she said without turning to Kup and Hotrod. Then she smirked. "That little runt is following us."
"Runt? What runt?" Hotrod asked.
"The same one that's been dogging me for the past three stellar-cycles," Elita said. "A survivalist; didn't get his name though."
"How long have you been here anyway?" Kup asked.
"Longer than I'd like!" Elita deadpanned.
"Wow, no wonder you're so charming!" Hotrod quipped, earning him a cold glare from Elita One.
Kup silenced the two and had them both listen. Elita quickly picked up on the sound of movement. Hotrod picked up on the sound too, which by itself sounded like bubbling. It was coming from the lake and all three Autobots quickly focused there at underwater movement. It was in the form a stream of bubbles and ripples and it was coming dangerous close to sure. Then there came a geyser followed by a large, bipedal and mechanical form. Instinctively, the Autobots armed up and aimed at the robot, a bizarre and utterly grotesque creature that only Elita One was likely to have seen before. Then several more similar creatures emerged from the lake as some of them circled menacingly around the Autobots. The Autobots went back-to-back-to-back and kept the creatures at bay.
"What are these things?" Hotrod asked.
"Allicons, byproducts of the Quintessons' sick experiments," Elita coldly explained. "I've dealt with them before but I couldn't find a weak point."
"Allicons, Quintessons… You seriously need to explain it all to us at some point." Hotrod said.
"Nobody act hostile, I've got an idea," Kup said and holstered his gun. To the surprise of Hotrod, Kup began to slowly approach of the Allicons. "Maybe I can sway 'em with the Universal Greeting."
"The what? Universe Greeting?"
"Just watch and in a nanosecond, they'll be eating out of my hand." Kup said with mock confidence.
"Or they'll be eating your hand…" Hotrod snapped.
Kup ignored Hotrod's joke and slowly approached the leading Allicon, which was cocking its head. Clearly his throat, Kup performed the so-called Universe Greeting; "Ba-weep-gragna-weep-nini-bong."
Once he'd heard the Greeting, Hotrod was about to break down into hysteria, then noticed the Allicon stalking closer to Kup. "I don't think it worked, Kup!"
Then the Allicons all repeated the Greeting; "Ba-weep… gragna-weep… nini bong."
Kup glanced at a bewildered Hotrod in triumph, while Elita One hid her face. "See that, lad," Kup said. "The Universe Greeting works every time."
Suddenly, the Allicons all assumed alligator like forms and stalked toward the Autobots, growling. The Autobots huddled together and Hotrod said to Kup, "You were saying?"
The lead Allicon roared and charged and Hotrod opened fire. The shot bounced off the Allicon's thick hide and slowed it but didn't stop it. Kup and Elita One opened fire on the rest of the Allicons and like Hotrod, were only able to slow them down. The Allicons closed in on their prey and one lunged at Kup, who held it at bay with his forearm and fired at its underside. The shot hardly registered to the creature and it ultimately pinned Kup down. Hotrod and Elita One tried to force the Allicon off of Kup but they too were quickly subdued by the other monsters. All the while the three Autobots were being assaulted, the survivalist emerged yet again. He was just in time to watch the Autobots, Elita One included, being restrained in violet energy bonds and hauled away. The survivalist returned to the shadows and followed discreetly to avoid detection. For a number of cycles, he followed the group until they reached their destination; a large spire/city. The survivalist knew the place well and he knew to whom the Allicons were hauling their prisoners; the mysterious Quintessons. The Allicons dragged the Autobots into a tunnel entrance and only then did the survivalist stop following. He knew better than to infiltrate the lair of these Quintessons. He would need some help and he knew exactly were to find it.
"I knew it. I knew this was mistake trying to help you two." Elita One cursed.
"You're blaming us?" Hotrod curse backed while being shoved forwards by one of the Allicons.
"It's your fault that we got captured," Elita One said. "You shouldn't have come here."
"For your information, this wasn't exactly our first choice for a vacation spot. Plus, we had Decepticons shooting up our tailpipes, Thank You very much!" Hotrod snapped.
"Hey, keep it down. I'm thinking here," Kup said as he scanned the tunnel entrance. "Huh, this kinda reminds me the slave mines on Galgonoth Seven."
"Geez, Kup, every place reminds you of someplace else."
"It's called experience, lad. You should learn to appreciate it."
"A lot of good it's done us so far." Hotrod quipped as he was shoved again.
The Allicons escorted the Autobots onward into a wide open chamber. There was no ceiling, leaving a clear view of the stars. At the center of the chamber was a massive pitfall. Hotrod was able to get a quick look down the pit. A pool of yellowish water was at the bottom and a narrow platform halfway above it. Hotrod also saw a figure near the edge he didn't recognize, yet it had a rather lanky physical body. Another figure stood opposite from the first, this hulking and ugly. There was something else down in the pit, underwater and circling. Hotrod could just barely make out what appeared to fins. He knew enough about undersea life to know that a circling horde of ravenous fish was waiting down below in the pit.
"Has the Imperial Quintesson Magistrate reached a verdict?" a raspy voice said. It belong to a hideous multi-tentacled creature. It was addressing an equally hideous creature standing, or hovering, on an elevated staircase.
"We have reached our verdict." said the five faced creature.
Hotrod leaned over to Elita One and whispered, "Let me guess; Quintesson?" Elita simply nodded.
"For the crime of trespassing on our planet Quintessa…" One face said then switched to another.
"…We find the defendant…" the second face said then switched to a third face.
"…Innocent."
Without hesitation, the tentacle creature ordered, "Feed him to the Sharkticons."
"What?" Hotrod shouted too late to save the nameless prisoner from being dunked and eaten by the Sharkticons.
The five faced, egg shaped Quintesson judge took notice of the three Autobots, especially Elita One. Switching faces again, it exclaimed, "Ah, she returns to us at last."
The judge descended down the staircase and approached the prisoners, changing faces a fifth time. "We have long missed you, dear."
Then all five faced declared, "There is still much work we must do together."
Elita One, seething with anger, attempted and failed to lunge at the Quintesson judge. "Work? You tortured and butchered my friends for your own sick experiments. You tried to turn me into some twisted abomination."
The Quintesson judge switched back to the first face. "And now you've returned to us," it said before noticing the other prisoners. "Kind of you to bring us some new assistants."
"That didn't sound good." Kup whispered to Hotrod.
"They're not with me, you multi-faced mutant." Elita One cursed.
"Such poor language," the Quintesson judge mocked. "We'd expected better of you."
"You can expect me to rip your faces off, one by one, next time." Elita said in defiance.
"Enough! Allicons, take them to their cells to await their judgment." With that, the judge returned to the podium, laughing.
The Allicons dragged their prisoner away, and Elita One shouted to the judge, "Experimenting on me and my friends was the biggest mistake of your life, Quintesson. You'll see me again, and sooner than you think. Count on it!"
"Kup?" Hotrod called out.
"Yeah?" Kup called back.
"We've got to get a new travel agent."
Author's note: No wonder Elita One is so bloody pissed off! As per usual, there are a couple of differences from the movie.
Notably, a rather vague hint at the origins of Unicron and to a larger extent, the Transformers race in general. And, Cliffjumper's little in-joke about some little monkey thing, I forget its name. Plus, Bumblebee's hurt!
It seems that Elita One has history with the Quintessons. One could only speculate what those multi faced mutants did to her and her friends.
For the record, those gator robots are officially known as Allicons. I think! If not, then I'll just run with it. And, I FINALLY USED THE UNIVERSAL GREETING!