Chapter 3: Badvibes:

Raf's POV:

My name is Rafael Esquivel and I just found out I'm apparently technorganic or Maximal as Miko likes to call me. By the way, my friends call me Raf. But that's getting off topic. Dr. Robertson's studying me.

"Fascinating," he said, "and you've never met any cybertronian like you?"

"They're all living machines, but not like this."

"It's like your organs are connected to your circuts. Can you tell me about the Cybertronians?"

"Well, Bumblebee was like my best friend. Arcee was Jack's and way serious. Bulkhead was Miko's and he was a tough guy. Ratchet was the smartest bot we've ever known. Optimus was the greatest. But he still owes me a snowball. Too bad he's gone. According to Bumblebee, he had to sacrifice himself to stop Unicron."

"And these... Decepticons?"

"The Autobots' sworn enemies. Megatron was Optimus's rival and former friend."

"Sounds like the Autobots had an interesting history with them."

"Are you okay, Dr. Robertson?"

"Let's just say I might know what it means."

Then the alarm went off.

"Sounds like we better get to work," says Dr. Robertson.

. . .

"Okay everyone," says Duke, "big time labs have been robbed in Empire City. I think it could be the work of C.R.O.O.K.S."

"That's vague," says Miko.

"It's a criminal organization," says Duke, "normally, C.O.P.S., The Central Organization of Police Specialists, would be dealing with them, but they've all been captured. Now, we have to catch C.R.O.O.K.S. and save C.O.P.S."

"Do we get to wear police uniforms," asks Miko.

. . .

We've arrived in Empire City.

"Okay," says Duke, "Darby, Sparkle, and Spike, you're with me. Nakadai, you're with Brightmore. Esquivel, you're with Robertson. Let's go people!"

We all separated.

. . .

Dr. Robertson and I were at a lab that belonged to M.A.R.S. According to Duke, the guy who ran it wasn't a good guy. I was thinking about my whole situation.

"Are you okay, Raf," asks Dr. Robertson.

"I'm a little worried I might end up turning to a monster. I mean, I don't know anything about my cybertronian part."

"Being a monster isn't that bad," says Dr. Robertson, "true, when I was Multi-Farious, I was out of control and went on a rampage, but I also had awesome powers and I was huge! Besides, maybe you'll be like your Autobot friends."

Then we heard something and decided to go check it out.

We saw robots stealing things.

"Stop right there," says Dr. Robertson.

"And why should they?"

We looked and saw a man with sunglasses and a glass dome on top of his head which shows his abnormally large brain.

"Who are you," asks Dr. Robertson.

The man took off his sunglasses.

"Percy," Dr. Robertson asks.

"Percy," I asked, not knowing who Percy is.

"It's Dr. Badvibes now and I'll be going with my new equipment. Buzzbomb, attack!"

Then a robot appeared. He had a buzzsaw in one hand and a clamper in the other. The robot attempted to attack us, but Dr. Robertson revealed he had some equipment of his own.

I tried to see if I can use that energy blast again, but I ended up missing and hit a park bench. "Oops."

"Buzzsaw, time to go," says Dr. Badvibes as he and his robot left.

"Who was that guy," I asked.

"Trouble," says Dr. Robertson, "his real name is Dr. Percival Cranial. Like me, he used to work for Rook, but I thought he was dead. There was this accident when we were working on Flexarium. At the time, it was unstable and there was an explosion. And it looks like he survived."

"And that dome on his head?"

"That's new. I think that happened because of the accident."

"Hold on," I said. I was getting a weird signal.

"Raf, are you okay?"

"I think I'm detecting Buzzsaw, that robot he used."

"Amazing, we can use that to locate Badvibes."

"Should we tell the others?"

"No, this is between me and him. Let's go."

. . .

We found the hideout of C.R.O.O.K.S. It was an old, abandoned casino. We looked through a window and saw a whole bunch of burglars, muggers, and thieves.

"Who's that guy on the chair," I asked.

"That's the leader, Big Boss," says Dr. Robertson. He's Empire City's worst nightmare."

"Are we ready to send C.O.P.S. to our partner," asks Big Boss.

"Almost," says Dr. Badvibes, "first we'll have to finish the project."

"Partner," asks Dr. Robertson.

"Project," I asked. Something big was going on and it wasn't Big Boss."

Then we got grabbed by a big guy and brought to Big Boss himself.

"Well done, Berserko," says Big Boss.

"Who are they," asks a blonde woman.

"I know him, Ms. Demeanor," says Dr. Badvibes, "we go way back."

Big Boss then grabbed Dr. Robertson's ID. "Well, look what we have here. These two work for Unit: E. Didn't Nightshade leave us for them? Well, now isn't this interesting?"

"What we gonna do with them, Boss?"

"I'm glad you asked, Buttons McBoomBoom." Who comes up with the names? "Let's put them with C.O.P.S."

Then I fired energy blasts from my hands.

"What in the..."

"Big Boss," says Dr. Badvibes, "I must use him for my experiments."

"Grab that little..." But before Big Boss could answer, the rest of the team showed up.

"Guys, how'd you find us," I asked.

"Luckily, we saw your energy blasts," says Miko.

"Getting here wasn't easy," says Twilight, "I had to fight to keep Spike safe from crazy pet groomers."

"They even had psycho laughs," says Spike, "what was that about?"

"Unit: E, let's play rough," says Duke.

Twilight used her telekinesis, Mr. Brightmore summoned a creature he called Nimbus Scout, Duke used his military equipment, Jack and Miko used some Unit: E gadgets, Dr. Robertson used his NERF, I used my energy blasts, and Spike... well, he hid, but came out when he was needed.

"Percy," asks Dr. Robertson, "what happened to you?"

"When the experiment failed, I barely survived, but luckily, through sheer force of will, I was able to create this dome to replace the part of my head I lost."

"That's impossible!"

"I realized now anyone can see my magnificent brain and see the genius I am!"

"And now you're working for Big Boss?"

"Says who?" He then pressed a button and parts of the casino started to explode.

"Badvibes, what are ya doin'," Big Boss asked.

"Our partner is my real boss, you fool," says Badvibes, "and now if you excuse me, I have to go."

I tried to blast him as he was leaving, but instead, I freed the members of C.O.P.S. "It's Crime Fighting Time," their leader says.

Dr. Robertson tries to go after Badvibes, but too late, he got away. The members of C.O.P.S. help us take down the members of C.R.O.O.K.S.

. . .

"We appreciate the help," says the leader of C.O.P.S.

"Anytime, Bulletproof," says Duke.

"Too bad that Badvibes guy got away," says Jack.

"Don't worry," says Dr. Robertson, "I don't think it's the last we'll see of him."

"I wonder who his boss is," says Mr. Brightmore.

Dr. Badvibes' POV:

I was meeting with my real boss.

"The machine?"

"I'm sorry, Master Evox, I'm afraid I'll have to start over."

"Then get to it! We'll need the M.A.S.S.ssss for our planssss."

In the next chapter, Duke will meet his old friend, Alex Hopper, as they deal with a mysterious alien race.