Chapter 23

Hangar E…

The statement was met with blank looks and complete silence. Alex couldn't help but grin.

"Say what now?" asked Arcee, cocking her head to the side.

"I'll say again. You're a TV show." Alex repeated.

Again, silence.

He held his hands up. "I don't know how much more direct I can be." He said.

Another moment passed. Then Miko spoke up. "When you say we're a 'TV show,'" He began. "Are you saying…theme music and everything?"

Alex chuckled slightly. "Yes." He replied. "Theme music and everything."

Miko thought for another moment. "So…we're popular, right?" she tried.

"Kid, you're gonna have to start from the beginning, 'cause you got no-one in this room." Wheeljack said to Alex.

"Yes! Right." Alex replied turning back to the towering titans.

"Autobots, you are a part of what we humans call a franchise." He explained. "This franchise was created back in my world more than 30 years ago. It depicts the classic scenario of good versus evil, aka, a storyline. What I'm trying to say then, is that all of you and this entire universe, are part of a story. Still with me?"

He got a few nods.

"Good. This particular story is the latest in a long line of other stories in this franchise. Or as what we fans know as continuities. While the settings, characters and situations differ in each continuity, their core principle and overview, are always the same."

Alex took a deep breath and spread his arms wide.

"It is the story chronicling the adventures of Optimus Prime and his team of loyal Autobots, in their fight to defeat the evil decepticons led by their tyrannical leader Megatron."

This grand statement was met by looks of bewilderment.

Smokescreen was the first to respond. "What's the name of the franchise?" he asked.

Alex lowered his hands.

"The Transformers."

"Coool." Said Miko. A smile lighting her face.

"And what's the name of 'our' continuity?" asked Jack.

"Transformers Prime." Replied Alex simply.

A smile then lit up Smokescreens faceplate. "Nice." He said while nodding his head in a sign of respect.

Ultra Magnus turned back to face the rookie with a look of astonishment on his face.

"Soldier," he asked. "Surely you don't believe any of this?"

"Well why not, sir?" asked the young mech.

"It's absurd!" exclaimed the commander, turning back down to Alex. "What proof could you possibly have of this pile of scrap?"

Alex slid his hands into his pockets. "Would you prefer video or photographic?" he asked.

Behind them Wheeljack made a gagging noise. Refusing to make eye contact with Magnus he looked to the ground, even though everyone could see the smile on his face.

"Okay, so you say we're a TV show." Said Jack walking up to Alex. Suddenly a frown appeared. "We're not…animated…are we?" He asked.

"Afraid so." Alex replied, to which Jack scoffed. "Hey, it's really clever animation." Alex argued. "Apparently you've won some technical awards for it."

"When did the show begin in terms of our time frame?" Asked Arcee.

Alex looked up to the two-wheeler. There was no point in not telling the truth. "The day that Cliffjumper was killed." He replied.

Arcee said nothing, but slowly nodded her head.

"But just out of interest, it was also the day that you guys first met Jack, Miko and Raf." Alex continued.

To this the three guardians looked fondly to their charges. The kids in turn smiled at the memory of the day that their lives had completely changed.

Raf then spoke up. "But does that mean that…your whole world knows about us?"

"Not everybody." Replied Alex. "It is a kids show, after all. But that doesn't stop us fans from agreeing how brilliant it is. How brilliant all you guys are."

This uplifted the atmosphere of the room a bit. The Autobots seemed to become a bit more relaxed (With the exeption of Ultra Magnus) and even Optimus had a look of approval in his eyes.

"So we DO have theme music?" asked Miko getting excited.

Alex grinned at the 15 year-old. "Pick a situation you guys have been in."

Miko began to think of one but Jack beat her to it. "My trip to Cybertron." He stated.

"Ooh yeah!" agreed Miko upon hearing this. She spun round to face Alex. A look of utter excitement etched on her face. "Do you really have…?!"

"You wanna go make us some popcorn?" he asked.

"AWESOME!" Shouted Miko before rushing off, pulling Jack along with her. "And put the kettle on while you're at it, will you?!" Alex called as they vanished.

"You really have a video of me and Jack's trip to Cybertron?" asked Arcee.

"Season 2, episodes 1 to 3. Trilogy entitled 'Orion Pax.' Alex said. Upon hearing the Prime's former name, another piece of the puzzle was slotted into place for the Autobots.

"I don't suppose you have any shots of me in action, do you?" asked Smokescreen, somewhat a little too smugly.

Alex gave him the evil grin. "I have a shot of you blowing your cover to a human."

The smile immediately vanished. "Funny." He returned with a layer of sarcasm. Bulkhead couldn't help but chuckle while Arcee and Bumblebee smiled at the rookie's embarrassment. However the smiles instantly vanished as Magnus took a step closer to Alex.

"If I can return us to more important matters," He began. "What exactly can you offer us?"

"I'm sorry?" asked Alex, slightly confused.

"What information will you provide us in exchange for your sanctuary here?" asked the commander.

Alex was thrown back by the question, so much that he went a bit out-of-line with his answer.

"Would you rather have me out there with nothing to defend myself against Megatron with?" he shot back.

Magnus took another step closer, his position now becoming slightly menacing.

"Upon hearing accounts, you appear to be quite capable of defending yourself." He sneered. "And if that is the case, why should we allow you to remain at this base and put it and the entire team at risk?"

"Commander…" began Optimus.

"Sir, surely you can understand my concern?" Magnus turned to his superior. "If this boy truly is what he claims to be-"

Suddenly a flash of orange light lit the hangar up. Spinning round he saw that an orb of crackling orange energy had erupted from Alex's hand and was now resting in palm, spitting sparks and small bolts of lightning.

After a moment Alex closed his fist and the orb dissipated back into his hand. Silence then filled the hangar as Ultra Magnus just stared down at the human.

"Commander, what more proof do you want?" Alex asked.

"Alex…" Warned Optimus.

If looks could inflict pain, the one currently on Magnus's face would have had Alex rolling on the floor screaming. "What I actually want is the assurance that you won't treat this as a game, boy." The giant mech replied.

Alex looked round the room before looking back up at Magnus. A look of pure seriousness on his face.

"Commander, I hate to break it to you, but this actually is a game." He said. "Except it's not the type of game you were used to in the Elite Guard."

Even though Alex had just revealed previously unknown information about the mech, Ultra Magnus didn't flinch.

"Megatron knows that I'm capable of inflicting quite a bit of damage. Or at least he thinks I can." Alex continued. "Like I said, the time when I don't know what's going to happen is coming up fast. And when it does I will be in the position to advise you on what actions to take or not take, or even help you if needs be. But until then, I need you to act as if I do not exist."

"Why should I do what you say?" Snarled Magnus.

"Because according to my info, you did." Replied Alex. "Like I also said. There's no mention of me, and we need to keep it that way if you want future events to be 'certified.'"

Alex was right. The team knew it and so did the commander. Magnus knew that it would be difficult convincing the team to expel Alex given what he had told them. With extreme reluctance he sighed. "Very well." He said with his voice dripping with menace.

Alex took a deep breath. "However," He said. "I am, right here and now, willing to disclose two pieces of information to you."

"To all of us?" Asked Arcee, suspecting that Alex would actually now just disappear off with Optimus.

"Yes." He replied.

"Alex, is it safe to do so?" Asked Ratchet.

"I don't suspect that it will affect anything. I think it's just important that you take note of them." Alex replied.

"First and foremost; Dreadwing's dead."

This got the attention of everyone on the room. The Autobots looked at each other while Optimus bowed his head.

"You sure?" asked Bulkhead.

"Positive." He replied. "Megatron killed him when he tried to kill Starscream. Dreadwing had discovered that Starscream had tried to resurrect Skyquake. He wasn't exactly happy."

Alex grinned maliciously. "Though I'm sure Megatron will eventually regret which mech he chose to let live."

A moment passed while the Autobots processed this. For Alex's last comment, it seemed probable. Starscream was never a decepticon with a permanent spot in Megatron's good books. . Dreadwing's passing was a blow particularly to Optimus, who still in his spark believed that Dreadwing was always the decepticon most capable of change.

"Second," continued Alex. "I doubt you'll have any problems with MECH from now on, considering what happened to…" He paused. "Silas slash Breakdown."

"What did happen?" asked Bulkhead, interested to hear what had become of his arch-rival.

"After you stopped his satellite, he ended up on Knock Out's dissection table." Alex replied.

There was silence as the gruesome thought was taken in. Ratchet raised his nose in disgust at it, knowing of what techniques and methods the enemy medic had used during the war.

"You sure he isn't still alive?" He asked.

"I highly doubt it." Replied Alex solemnly.

Ratchet was inclined to agree.

"Okaaay!" Miko called as she careening round the corner with her arms full of bags of microwave popcorn. Jack followed behind holding what suspiciously looked like red liquorice.

"Hey, what about the kettle?" asked Alex hopefully.

"Helicopter mom is making some herbal stuff for you." Answered Miko smugly. "Bad luck. C'mon! Let's fire this thing up already!"

"I am going to eventually need coffee, Miko." Thought Alex but he said nothing.

Jack and Miko had reached the top level and together with Raf set about making themselves comfortable on the couch in front of the main monitor. The Autobots began crowding round the monitor as well, interested to see what Alex had to show them. Alex meanwhile began making his way up the stairs when he caught Optimus's eye. The Prime gave an approving look but there was something about him that made Alex a little concerned. He made a mental note to speak with Optimus in private after the episode showing.

However he then made brief eye contact with Ultra Magnus.

The commander gave him a stare a cold as ice, never breaking eye contact with the young human. Clenched fists revealed tension and the deep frown showed frustration and possible anger. Alex suddenly became seriously uncomfortable and didn't dwindle in moving up towards the top level. Magnus's eyes continued to follow him though.

Now while all this had been unfolding Agent Fowler had been standing on his platform facing the group and had not said a word during the whole confrontation. He had actually been wanting to address the team with his message of gratitude from the president himself. He decided that it could wait until later, when all had been settled and he had the Autobots full attention. He began to make his way down the ladder.

At the exact same time, deep inside Alex, a few void particles, tiny molecules not even worth registering, began to shiver and make spontaneous and split-second electrical contact with each other, as though agitated. However it was too small to register on a physical level. And after a few seconds the agitation ceased.

To be continued…