Jasper, Nevada: three years ago, it was the site of an alien invasion, resulting in the destruction of the entire town, and the evacuation of its populace. Today, the town has been rebuilt and life returned to normal… for the most part. For years, the town wondered what caused the destruction of their home, but never found the truth… except select individuals. At the local high school, one of these individuals is Rafael Esquivel: a 15-year-old boy with personal experience of the situation. He's a short kid wearing dark trousers, an orange sweater vest over a yellowish dress shirt, red rectangle-framed glasses, and his brown hair spiked up like a mad scientist.
Currently, he's excitedly tapping his foot as he observes the classroom clock. "Three… two… one…" Raf counted as he eyes the second hand the moment it strikes "12", and on cue the school bell rings.
"And that concludes class. Enjoy your summer, everyone!" the teacher announced for everyone to get up and leave, including Raf, who packs up the fastest and gets out first.
Raf bursts out the front doors and scans the area as he walks down the steps, as if looking for someone. When he doesn't find who he's looking for, he opens up his phone to call them. His flip phone's wallpaper is a picture of him and his friends; Jack Darby, a plain-looking young man wearing a black shirt, Miko Nakadai, a younger Japanese girl with punkish clothing and pink highlights on her bangs and pigtails, all three flanked by giant yellow robot with big blue eyes. Secretly, Raf and his old friends made contact with a faction of autonomous robotic beings from the planet Cybertron called the Autobots, whose aim was to protect Earth from the Decepticons, who sought to conquer the planet for various reasons. The robot in the picture is Bumblebee, a scout for the Autobots who befriended the humans, taking a liking for Raf in particular. When the Autobots completed their mission on Earth, they departed the planet. Raf goes to his contacts and select Jack's number before putting his phone to his ear.
"Raf, what's up? You outta school yet?" Jack greeted Raf.
"Yup, sure did. First day of summer, and I'm ready for fun!" Raf answered enthusiastically. "Where are you? You're supposed to meet me right after school." Raf asked as he looks around.
"Sorry, I was looking for parking." Jack answered, only sounding much closer. The boy turns to see Jack, now wearing a military uniform and a crewcut.
"Hey, don't scare me like that! I almost thought you flaked on me." Raf chuckled.
"On you? Never." Jack responded.
"Now we just need to wait for Miko." Raf said.
"We shouldn't hold our breath. Even though she's got a show in Las Vegas in a week, there's probably a hundred things holding her back." Jack responded.
"It's still pretty unbelievable that she became a rockstar in such a short time." Raf commented.
"She's got talent. It was bound to happen." Jack responded.
"Don't forget 'bout connections to the U.S. government." a voice boasted from across the street. The two boys turn to see a young woman wearing punkish clothing involving a dark purple tank top with dark jean shorts, knee-high boots, a pair of sunglasses and a black cap.
"Miko, hey!" Raf waved as she crosses the street.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't superstar Miko Tezuka." Jack greeted her with a sarcastic tone.
"Tezuka's taking a back seat. Right now, I'm Miko Nakadai: your run-of-the-mill garage punk." Miko corrected. "You wouldn't believe the hurdles I had to jump over just to slip past my manager to get here. Hikawa's gonna blow her lid when she finds out I'm gone."
"So, was a concert in Vegas your idea? It's awfully close to Jasper." Jack asked teasingly.
"I may or may not have used my Unit:E undercover agent status…" Miko said as she discreetly shows a double-helix-shaped badge. "…To pull a few strings to get myself here. The best part is that Hikawa doesn't even know it."
"When you're a secret agent, you better make the best of it." Raf commented.
"What're we doing standing in front of school for? It's summer vacation, and that means staying the heck away from this place!" Miko pointed to the school. "Let's hit the arcade! I hope my high scores are still up." Miko said before dashing off.
"Miko, wait up!" Jack said before he and Raf follow her. As they run off to have fun, a yellow pony car emerges from a nearby alley, the driver appearing to spy on the them.
At the arcade, Miko is going all out on Super Guitar Band, playing the game guitar as if she's really shredding on a real guitar. "Y'think you're hot stuff, KKR? When MKO's done, your name won't even be on the leaderboard!" Miko boasted as she plays intensely.
"How's life in Tranquility?" Raf asked Jack.
"I'm starting to get used to having Fowler as a step-dad. He can be a drill sergeant at times, but admittedly, I need the discipline." Jack answered. "After he left Unit:E, he's thinking of retiring."
"Retirement? He's not that old." Raf commented.
"After what we put him through, the stress probably aged him another million years." Miko joked before pulling off one final shred, putting her score on the seven-hundred-millions. "Darn, a couple hundred-million short." Miko groaned.
"What about Sierra? You two still together?" Raf asked Jack.
"We're going steady, two years now. I'm thinking of proposing soon." Jack answered.
"Wooo, go you!" Miko cheered.
"What about you, Miko? You dating anyone?" Raf asked.
"I wish I could, but Hikawa won't let me for 'idol reasons'." Miko answered.
"Sounds restricting." Jack commented.
"Believe me, that's just the least of it. Secret agent procedures can only do so much for your cover." Miko moaned as she got off the game's play area.
"My turn to pick. Let's try out Canyon Racer." Raf suggested.
"Alright! Prepare to eat my dust, Raf!" Miko challenged.
"Only if you're prepared to stare at my rear wing!" Raf teased. As they rush to the other end of the arcade, they feel the ground quaking beneath them.
"What's happening?" Jack said worriedly.
"Either road works, or action!" Miko responded. They all look out the glass doors to see purple cars zipping past, followed by an explosion.
"Decepticons?" Raf wondered.
"One way to find out!" Miko said before she rushes out the arcade.
Outside, five bright purple cars covered in glowing spikes wreak havoc on the town, driving through signage, fire hydrants, and even through buildings like they were paper. They act undisturbed until an armoured green S.U.V. comes out of nowhere and blocks their path, revving the engine as if challenging them. The three friends leave the arcade in time to witness the showdown in the street.
"Look at those cars! With those kits, they're definitely Decepticons." Miko noted. The cars rev their engines and dash towards the S.U.V, who drives straight at them, ploughing through them like a bulldozer, flinging them to the curbs.
"C'mon, let's get to safety!" Jack said as he takes his friends by the wrists to drag them elsewhere, when they find one of the hostile cars driving straight for them. As they watch the car accelerate towards them, it's sideswiped by a yellow pony car, flinging it across the road where it lands upside-down. The friends look to the car, staring at the yellow paint and black racing stripes along the length of the car.
"Bumblebee…?" Raf muttered as he stares at the car. Over yonder, the overturned car turns into a blob of dark energy before reforming into a massive robot covered in purple crystal spikes, armed with a massive shuriken.
"'Bee, watch out!" Miko pointed to the hostile robot before bracing herself. Before the robot could reach them, the S.U.V. intercepts it, throttling the robot into a gas station's pump. As it gets up, the S.U.V. swerves around, grinding its oversized brush guard against the pavement, creating sparks that ignite the fuel and blow up the entire station before the S.U.V. escapes the explosion unscathed.
"Awesome…" Miko looked to the green S.U.V. as the yellow car's front passenger door opens. The three friends rush to the door and look inside to see a young white woman with neck-length brown hair, wearing a black tank top with a white bee symbol, and jeans. Upon seeing her, Raf's expression becomes disappointed, as if he expected someone else. "You. In. Now." the woman demanded the three to get inside.
"But, who're-" Jack asked before they see more purple cars drifting around the corner.
"Now!" the woman yelled before pulling Jack inside while Raf and Miko scramble into the back seat.
"Buckle up! I'm getting you kids outta here!" the woman told them before stepping on the gas. They speed away from the scene as the S.U.V. continues to engage the remaining four cars in vehicular combat. One of the cars transforms into robot mode and produces a giant shuriken to slash the S.U.V., but robotic claws emerge from the vehicle's front end to grab the shuriken before they could strike. As the smoke from the gas station envelops the street, the sound of metal clanking from the S.U.V. echoes through the town as a pair of yellow lights beam at the purple robot. The sound of metal and glass shattering is heard within the billow before the S.U.V. drives through unscathed, with no sign of the purple robot left.
Meanwhile, the woman continues to drive the three away from the scene, everyone's hearts racing from the sudden attack on the town. "Who are you? Why did you want us to get in your car?" Jack asked the woman.
"Are we getting kidnapped? I'm a famous rock idol, I can't get kidnapped!" Miko whined.
"Bumblebee." the woman said. "Why did you say that?" she turned to Raf.
"Well, uh, your car: it's yellow, and has black stripes, like a bumblebee." Raf answered nervously, feigning ignorance.
"Yeah, racing stripes. Everyone tells me they're awesome." The woman commented plainly. "I'm just taking you somewhere safe, away from those things." She told them. "Plus, I have a few questions to ask you people." she said as she side-eyes Jack. Soon, they come to the derelict industrial district where she drives into an open warehouse. She parks her car inside the building where the doors pop open and the three passengers are suddenly ejected from the car.
"Hey, give us a warning!" Jack whined as the doors close.
"Why'd you take us here?!" Miko banged on the glass. The woman turns away from her and disappears into thin air to Miko's alarm. They all step back as the yellow car's chassis breaks into smaller pieces, rearranging as the entire structure stands up into a tall, yellow robot with visible car parts, most visibly headlights on its chest, and door wings on its back. It turns around to face the humans, revealing its face to resemble that of the robot on Raf's phone.
"Bumblebee… it really is you." Raf muttered as the robot crouches down to him.
"How do you know my name?" the robot asked sternly. Upon hearing those words, Raf becomes heartbroken, as if his long-time friend suddenly forgot about him.
"'Bee, it's me, Raf." Raf told the robot in a sad tone.
"Sorry, doesn't ring a bell." Bumblebee responded to Raf's further disappointment.
"I bet he's got amnesia!" Miko suggested. "Bumblebee, you're an Autobot from the planet Cybertron, and your leader is Optimus Prime! We teamed up together to fight the Decepticons and save Earth!" Miko recounted hurriedly.
"I'm Jack Darby. You saved my life more than a few times."
"Nakadai Miko: rock idol, and honorary Wrecker! Wreck and Rule!"
"R-Raf." Raf introduced himself hesitantly. "We used to be friends, don't you remember, 'Bee? We fought the Decepticons, took on Megatron, and vanquished Unicron! Don't you remember any of that?" Raf asked the robot.
"I think I get what's happening." Bumblebee said as he scratches his head. "I am Bumblebee, and I am part of the Autobots, but I'm not the Bumblebee you know." Bumblebee told them.
"Whaddya mean?" Jack asked, puzzled.
"I'm… from another universe." Bumblebee answered to the humans' surprise. Raf didn't know what to think; an old friend from the past shows up, delighted to see him again, only to discover he's basically a total stranger, one that bears eerie resemblances to his old friend with none of the fond memories.
"Another universe?! What's it like? Is the president a dog? Is Optimus Prime purple? Am I married to Mamoru Miyano?!" Miko asked giddily.
"The details aren't important. What is important is my mission that led me to this universe." Bumblebee told them.
"What's your mission?" Jack asked.
"Does it involve those Decepticons that attacked Jasper? I've never seen ones like them before." Raf asked.
"Those aren't Decepticons." Bumblebee corrected. "If you know of Unicron, then you know about Dark Energon and Terrorcons."
"Terrorcons?! They're Terrorcons?!" Miko exclaimed in shock.
"But we saw them transform. Terrorcons can't do that." Raf noted.
"These Terrorcons aren't like the robo-zombies you may have faced. Their physical bodies are made of the dark energy from a single Dark Energon crystal, negating the need for a cadaver." Bumblebee told them.
"That's… I dunno what to think. Terrorcons are already dangerous as they are." Raf groaned, scratching his scalp in worry.
"Who's behind it? Is it your universe's Megatron?" Jack asked.
"If you're anything like our Bumblebee, you'll skewer him like a kebab the moment he shows his ugly face!" Miko said excitedly.
"Uh, no, he's not a problem anymore." Bumblebee said with a hesitant, nervous tone.
"If not Megatron, then who?" Raf asked.
"His evil clone, Galvatron." Bumblebee answered. "He's responsible for the sudden appearance of Dark Energon stockpiles in our universe. At first, we didn't know who or how they got them, since Dark Energon was eradicated after our Optimus Prime vanquished Unicron. Eventually, we discovered Galvatron was behind it, and we were led to this universe where we believe he's been mining Dark Energon." Bumblebee informed them.
"We may not look like it, but we're part of a top-secret government organization called Unit:E. If an Autobot needs help, from this universe or not, we've got your back." Raf said as he and his friends show their badges.
"Looks like there's more to you fellas than meets the eye." Bumblebee chuckled. "Alright, you guys're in."
"Aw, yeah! We're back in the 'Con-bustin' business, baby!" Miko cheered, just when they hear a rattling engine. They see the S.U.V. shining its lights into the warehouse as it slowly drives inside.
"He-hey, Eighty-One! Glad you're back!" Bumblebee turned to the vehicle sheepishly.
"He's with you?" Jack asked Bumblebee.
"Him? Yeah. Sorry if he's a little quiet… he's shy." Bumblebee said awkwardly. "C, why don't you just stay in vehicle-" Bumblebee said to the S.U.V. before it transforms, its components rearranging into a tall, menacing Cybertronian with bulky arms ending in asymmetric claws, and a squarish helmet with a face bearing burning yellow eyes and a fang-filled maw.
"Is that who I think it is…?" Raf muttered in fear.
"Bumblebee, I have taken care of the Crystal Terrorcons." C-81 informed him with a deep, intimidating voice as he tosses fragmented Dark Energon crystals to the floor, causing the humans to jump back. "I made sure nobody saw me."
The humans back away in fear as the second Cybertronian looms over them, looking down with his piercing gaze. "Hi." He raises his arm to wave at them.
"Megatron!" Miko pointed in fear.
"What?! How did they know already? We just got here!" C-81 exclaimed in frustration, with a hint of annoyance.
"Apparently they've met this universe's versions of us, including you enough times to remember your ugly face." Bumblebee tapped his foot as the humans back away.
"Humans, if you could calm down, we can explain." C-81 assured as he steps forward, when Jack pulls a gun on him as Miko and Raf hide behind him.
"Back off, Megatron. You did something to this Bumblebee, didn't you?" Jack threatened C-81.
"Yeah, like brainwashing!" Miko added.
"I did nothing of the sort!" C-81 responded angrily, just when one of the Dark Energon crystals glows brightly, and a cloud of dark energy engulfs it before forming into a Crystal Terrorcon, armed with a massive shuriken. It attempts to eliminate the three humans in one slash, but C-81 takes the hit, leaving a wide gash in his chest.
"Did he save us?" Raf said in surprise as C-81 falls before them, clutching his chest. Bumblebee deploys a cannon from his right and shoots the Crystal Terrorcon in the face, blinding it to allow C-81 to deliver a direct shot from a laser shotgun, shattering its physical form, leaving behind broken crystals.
"Are you alright?" Bumblebee asked C-81 in concern.
"Yes… I am." C-81 answered with an annoyed tone. "I've had to deal with a perforated shoulder, scrambled optic sensors, and full-body immolation in the past week. I can take a mesh wound."
"Hey, at least being hard to kill is better than being hard to stay dead." Bumblebee chuckled as he pats C-81's shoulder.
"Megatron… just saved us…" Raf muttered in surprise and terror.
"What kinda crazy universe did you two pop out of that has a good Megatron?!" Miko blurted.
"Indeed, I was called Megatron a lifetime ago." C-81 confirmed with laboured groans as he stood up. "Now, I am C-Eighty-One, a humble miner wishing to absolve himself of sin."
"Why the change of heart?" Jack asked before C-81 turns to the sun spilling through the warehouse doors.
"After experiencing what felt like an eternity of suffering, I know the true meaning of oppression…" C-81 answered solemnly. "…And have thus lost my taste in inflicting it."
"He's going through a redemption arc. I'm helping him get used to being good." Bumblebee added.
"Even after all he's done in the war?" Raf asked.
"Don't get me wrong, I know exactly what he did to Cybertron, to Earth, to me…" Bumblebee clutched his throat. "But I know he's trying his best, and he's doing it one small step at a time."
"We're wasting time. Let's leave these humans be and find Galvatron." C-81 told Bumblebee.
"Wait, they said they can help us. They're allies of the Autobots in this universe. They can help us track him down." Bumblebee responded.
"We can go to Hangar E. That's our old base not far from Jasper. After operations moved to Tranquility, it was left abandoned." Jack informed them.
"We left all the Autobot tech there as is, and hopefully the energon detection systems are still online." Raf added.
"Then that is where we shall go." C-81 said before he and Bumblebee transform into their respective vehicle modes.
"Anyone need a ride?" Bumblebee's holographic avatar asked them as she pokes her head out of the window.
"I'll hitch a ride with 'Bee." Jack said as he approaches Bumblebee.
"Yeah, this is a no brain—" Miko shrugged when she sees Raf climbing into C-81. "Raf, hey, what're you doing?!" Miko shouted to Raf as she rushes over and sees him buckling in.
"Miko, I'm conflicted riding with a Bumblebee that isn't… well, Bumblebee, our Bumblebee." Raf answered uncertainly.
"And you think riding with Megatron is a better option?!" Miko added.
"He saved us from that Terrorcon. The Megatron we know wouldn't take a hit for anyone." Raf answered. "I guess I wanna know why he'd do that."
"Well, then I'm riding with you!" Miko said as she jumps in. "If anything happens, I'll make sure Megs will regret it!" Miko said confidently when a humanoid shape projects onto the driver's seat. The shape finally renders into a tall, muscular black man with messy hair, a scar over the right side of his face, wearing a dirty grey trench coat.
"I'd like to see that." the hologram smirked to them before turning to the steering wheel.
Jack enters Bumblebee's passenger seat beside his hologram avatar and buckles in. "I'll show you where the old base is, 'Bee. Just follow my directions." Jack told Bumblebee.
"Just to let you know, call this ol' girl Charlie." Bumblebee's avatar said before he drives out of the warehouse with C-81 following behind.
Soon, they take to the highway, both Cybertronians driving closely. In Bumblebee, Jack is focused on navigating the Autobot to Hangar E, having calmed down for the duration of the trip. Inside C-81 on the other hand, Miko is filled with dread knowing she's sitting inside the body of the Autobots' most dangerous enemy, and Raf is cautiously staying calm. "So… what are your names?" C-81 asked them casually.
"I'm Rafael Esquivel, and this is Miko Nakadai, but you can call us Raf and Miko." Raf introduced himself and Miko as she crosses her arms at him to attempt to stop him. "It's, uh, nice to meet you… C-Eighty-One, was it?" Raf greeted.
"Yes, that is the name I have chosen based on my license plate." C-81 responded. "It is nice to meet you, Raf and Miko. How was your day?"
"It's the first day of summer break, and we just got together to hang out." Raf answered.
"Summer break… if it's like spring break, then it is a short hiatus from study, correct?" C-81 asked them.
"Yup. We have the entire month of fun planned." Raf answered.
"Okay, what's with the questions? You tryna get info outta us?" Miko interrogated.
"I was engaging in a conversation, since you both looked on edge." C-81 answered.
"Of course we're on edge! We're riding inside Megatron; Emperor of Destruction!" Miko blurted.
"I see…" C-81 narrowed his eyes. "If you are uncomfortable talking with me, that is fine." C-81 said as his avatar presses buttons on the dashboard screen. "Do you want to listen to music instead?" his avatar manipulates the buttons on the dashboard screen, tuning the radio before settling on a state-wide station.
"And to celebrate the upcoming Cyber Fest concert in Las Vegas, we'll be playing Tezuka Miko's debut album Chou Kikai Semetai, or Super Machine Lifeforms." the radio host announced.
"There is a Tezuka Miko in your universe as well? She is my daughter's favourite human artist." C-81 commented for Miko to widen her eyes in surprise. "Your name is Miko, yes? Any relation?" C-81 asked.
"Relation? Nah. Nope! None at all…" Miko chuckled awkwardly before suddenly stopping to think about something else C-81 said. "Wait a minute… daughter?!" Miko thought, widening her eyes in shock.
"They don't have parents in our universe. I guess Cybertronians have a different family system in this Megatron's universe." Raf postulated.
"And now, Hakai Taitei; Emperor of Destruction." The radio host announced before playing a song that starts with a sick metal guitar riff.
"Ah, this is my favourite." C-81 smiled to Miko's embarrassment.
"That's the song you wrote about Megatron, isn't it?" Raf whispered to Miko.
"He's not only listening to it, but likes it!" Miko responded as she whispers Raf's ear before C-81 lets out a loud scream, alarming them.
"Yeeow! I'll have your he-e-eaaad!" he sang along with Miko's vocals on the radio.
"While I still don't regret coming on board, this is beyond weird." Raf commented.
Jack sits silently in Bumblebee's passenger seat as they drive down a strip of desert road. "So… you're friends with Megatron? I could never imagine our Megatron making friends with anyone." Jack said.
"Believe me, when I saw his ugly mug for the first time in centuries, my first instinct was to point my cannon at him."
"I can't imagine it was easy to make friends with someone like Megatron when you two have a… complicated history. At least, I assume." Jack commented. "How'd you two meet?" Jack asked Charlie.
"It started about half a year ago…" Charlie recounted.
To be continued…