With the silence filling the room, as the 'box' on the wall came alit. Optimus leaned forward with interest in his optics wondering how this 'other world' would be like from their own. To say—He felt anxious. Were their war their same? Would their war be like the holo-film he had seen? Surely it had to be.
The other bots were silent and neutral. Aside from Starscream's little grumbles under his breath about 'revenge' or plotting something that no one cared to really hear.
FADE IN:
EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF JASPER, NEVADA – SUNSET.
[The camera angles down towards a dirt road path out in the country , a red car comes over the hill on the dirt road driving alone ]
Cliffjumper: So, there I am on lookout, when out of nowhere, these high beams light up my rear-view and then it hits me. I'm Illegally parked.
Giving out a whistle, Bumblebee could only grin some at that thought. Turning to Ratchet with a sly smile on his faceplates.
"Doesn't that remind me of those humans putting tickets on your vehicle mode when you're in recharge?"
Grumpily glancing at the yellow robot with not much to say, Ratchet grumbled out some things to himself. Not amused by Bee's words but he oddly related some to the mech speaking on-screen to that. At least he wasn't the only mech who experienced that unpleasant annoying thing.
"Shut up and keep watching unless you want me to slap you again." Ratchet replied out and folded his arms over his chasis. He was interested in these 'new' autobots and he didn't want to miss a single moment, he'd be lying if he wasn't interested in seeing what his other self was like.
"Hey! What crawled up your tailpipe!"
"Ugh do we have to watch these Autobots? Why can't we watch I, Starscream!"
"YOU ARE INFERIOR TO MEGATRON'S GLORY TRAITOR!"
"Quiet Starscream, you'd be wise to keep your trap shut."
EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF JASPER, NEVADA – SUNSET.
[A blue-pink motorcycle comes into view with a 'human' riding down the road up at a closer angle.]
Arcee: Another parking ticket
Cliffjumper: Better – the boot.
Arcee: Big Metal Tire Clamp, Impossible to remove.
Cliffjumper: Bingo!
Observing the two autobot's conversations. Optimus couldn't help but slightly smirk to the femme's words. He had seen what a 'tire clamp' was of this world. At least never experiencing it himself, he'd rather not want to find out on that.
Bumblebee and Ratchet on the other hand gave a shudder or two at the mention of the accursed things.
Bumblebee then snickered out to Cliffjumpers personality.
"Man, why don't we have this guy on our team? I'm sure he'd make a great leader unlike bossbot' who wouldn't call us insubordinations!"
Ignoring those words, Optimus narrowed his optics but didn't say anything, beeping just some to himself. Ratchet and the other autobots could only glance at Bumblebee with neutral looks. Yet Sari glared some at the yellow bot.
"Bumblebee be nice!" She chastised out.
The Decepticons on the other hand were seeming a little bored out of their minds on watching two autobots – excluding Shockwave.
"When are ze going to see us?"
"These autobot scum are not worth our time—"
"Oh yes! Yes! Kukukuk~"
"I WANT TO SEE OUR GLORIOUS MASTER! THE WISE AND OH GREAT MEGATRON!" Lugnut declared out with a cycled vent with his single optic shuttering as if to get a point across to the others, and Starscream hissed out to the yell the oaf did.
"Can you not shout in my audios you big bucket of bolts!"
"Oh for Spark's sake."
Megatron didn't have much to comment with his head tilted some to the side with a knuckle of his servo resting against his faceplate uncaring of Lugnut's stupidity. His faceplates laced with utter annoyance. The warlord is rather a generously patient mech yet the mech is undyingly loyal to him.
Cliffjumper: The local police do that thing and get me all the way down by a block. That's when I kick up my new shiny shoe and BANG!
Arcee: New Yorks finest soil themselves.
Cliffjumper: You know me, Arcee. - Mess with Cliffjumper
Arcee: And you get the horns.
"That's Arcee!?" Ratchet exclaimed out with shock written on his face. In his spark he felt an ache swell up at the memory of the femme that he had failed under his care. He just couldn't see Arcee with that kind of color scheme being different as that. Yet this one sounded more tomboyish than their own Arcee who was sweet and delicate but a strong fighter in her own way .
Optimus glanced Ratchet's way with a look, moving a hand over- hesitating before moving to touch his should some.
"You know, I'm always here to talk if you need to. If seeing her brings you any awful memories, you can talk to me." He reassured out one more time. Optimus knew he needed to persistent on that. Arcee was a sensitive topic to the medic bot. He still has yet to get Ratchet to fully open up to him. He has made some progress of getting through to him by answering most of his questions regarding the war but other than that there were some things that the bot didn't want to share.
"Remember Ratchet, that's not our Arcee.."
Megatron's narrowed optics looked to the blue- pink motorcycle with feign interest. Intriguing that this femme was Arcee, the very femme they needed the launch codes from still. He could only wonder what his counter-part would look like and what skills he possessed. Surely he had to have some charisma like him? And very much importantly: competent.
"To think this would be logical my liege … Surely this has to be fake." Shockwave stated out with a click of his claws together. The double agent communications officer was at the loss for words on this predicament. He silently wondered if that other Arcee had the codes for Omega Supreme, if she did— t hen maybe Megatron would order him to find a way to obtain that world's Arcee?
"Provided that we are now self- aware of other dimensions existing, this Arcee could be of use to us. Perhaps this will not be useless as I thought." Megatron replied out, tapping his finger on his other arm with a small pleased smirk plastered on his face .
Glancing uneasily to the Decepticons, Optimus had a bad feeling they were scheming up something . He could feel it in his gears, and being as alert as he was Ratchet too looked at Optimus silently acknowledging it.
Arcee: Not sure how that complies with Autobot rule number one - 'Keep a low profile'?
Cliffjumper: What can I say? - Patrolling for energon out here is dull and gets me all on lonesome. Almost makes me miss the Decepticons.
Arcee: Like Jasper Nevada's a party? We're alone where ever we travel on this rock, Cliff.
Sitting up straighter, "wait , wait the humans don't know they exist there!" Sari yelped out confused. Glancing to the girl, Bumblebee couldn't exactly figure out why the autobots needed to stay hidden. Did something happen?
"That sounds so boring!" Bee agreed out.
"Arcee did mention they were alone." Prowl spoke up from the corner. "We do not know their current situation is or why they're there. Surely there will be an explanation in time ."
"He's right. If we're patient enough we'll find out why." Optimus replied out.
"I find it strange they mentioned they were alone, where is the Elite Guard or Ultra Magnus ?"
Bristling from the corner, Blitzwing let out a cackle, his faces spinning at least until it landed on Random.
"We should give them a bombing welcome party! Parts of them here and there all over the walls! "
Ignoring Blizwing, Megatron could only sneer at the bot's words. Elite Guard. What a joke. As if those miserable proto-forms could stop them and their goals.
[Cliffjumper's gps beeps then transitions into a sonar screen showing a yellow red mass on the right-side of the screen.]
Cliffjumper: I'm getting a signal.
Arcee: Need backup?
Cliffjumper: Do I ever need backup?
"What a foolish little autobot." Megatron sneered out. Clearly amused on how cocky and reckless some of them are. That kind of talk only ever ended up in defeat. He has seen this so many times before.
"Signal?" Optimus questioned some to himself blatantly ignoring Megatron's snide remark to the autobot on-screen.
"Don't you find it strange that a random signal pops up just like that?"
"Agreed." Grunted Ratchet. "That kid better be careful." He'd by lying if he said he wasn't worried about the autobot on-screen. Granted he hasn't seen their medi-bot yet.
Prowl started to grow a little bit uncomfortable, his instincts already yelling at him that this had to be a trap of some kind. Bulkhead was already wringing his servo's together in a nervous way at the safety of Cliffjumper.
All of the bots were also not fully of aware of energon deposits being a thing on earth, as they have accustomed to drinking the finest high grade oil the humans have offered them.
[Cliffjumper turns around heading to where the source of the energy signal is coming from. Cliff jumper stops at the edge of the vast sinkhole containing vast of energon crystals.]
Cliffjumper: I just found a whole lot of energon.
"Energon!?" Ratchet spoke up, his face written full of surprise at that revelation at the sight of energon crystal deposits being present on Earth! "This is impossible! How did this impetuous planet even obtain such a raw material such as ours? Why is it even here in the first place? "
The rest of the cast were just as dumbstruck at the sight as well and Megatron flicked up a half-smirk at the sight of the energon. No matter where it was, it was ripe for the taking. In a way, he missed sipping on energon, the earthly oil could only satiate him for so long.
"Who cares! This could help change the tide in taking care of you pesky Autobots!" Starscream screeched.
[A shadow covers Cliffjumper overhead. Cliffjumper transforms from his vehicle mode to his robot mode.]
Cliffjumper: Decepticons!
[Cliffjumper turns around and see a big giant predatorial warship, "The Nemesis," looming above Cliff. One of the Nemesis's guns open fire creating an explosion and causing Cliff to fall into the vast sinkhole. Cliffjumper recovers and then turns around seeing the The Nemesis opening its door hatch under its belly as a squadron of Vehicons dropped from the nemesis ready to attack Cliff.]
Cliffjumper: Arcee, [Camera zooms close up to Cliffjumper's face.] about that backup?
"The Nemesis!.. Intriguing to see it much larger than our own. However, I am surprised to see they have Vehicons. I thought they all died out!" Shockwave exclaimed out.
Sure they had Decepticons that were scattered throughout the outer edges of the galaxies but most of their warriors were too spread thin and most of them were wiped out by the blasted Autobots after the war yet some still remained.
Nearly out of his seat, Optimus was gritting his denta's at the uselessness he had been feeling. How could he just sit here and do nothing! Most of the Autobot's were feeling the same.
"Ugh! Bossbot how could we just sit here and do nothing!" Bulkhead complained out.
"We just have to power through it Bulkhead, there isn't anything we can do about it."
"Unfortunately, the kid is right we'll have to sit here and do nothing. I could only pray to Primus he'll be OK." Ratchet grunted, his faceplates looking older than it was.
"HA!" Starscream shrilled out, his wings flittering behind him eagerly.
"That Autobot is scrap! I can feel it in my gears!"
Blitzwing was already cackling in his 'Random' persona at the situation and Lugnut was already seeming entertained by it.
Blackarachnia was smirking in the corner, mostly at Optimus's desperation to help that poor bot.
Megatron silently observed on stoic looking, and took in Shockwave's words.
"Maybe so. This is a different world from ours so their situation could be different Shockwave. Although, their warship looks more advanced than our own."
FADE IN:
EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF JASPER, NEVADA – SUNSET.
[The camera zooms and pans on Cliffjumper and the group of Vehicons.]
Cliffjumper: Fair warning, boys I'll put a few dents in y'all.
[Cliffjumper proceeds to then transform from his robot mode to vehicle to then charge at them, going up in the air to transform back into his robot mode with his fist pulled back and dive down at them with a punch to strike.]
Sucking in a breaths, most of the Autobots were distressed being unable to help a fellow Autobot in need for backup. The Decepticons raveled in it.
Bumblebee at least had found hope in Cliffjumper in managing to knock down those Decepticreeps!
EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF JASPER, NEVADA – SUNSET.
[The screen opens up with a familiar blue -red truck driving down the road with their lights on. The camera slowly zooming in on it. ]
Arcee: Arcee to Optimus, the Cons are back! Cliff might be neck-deep in scrap!
Optimus Prime: Understood. Ratchet, do you have Cliffjumper's coordinates?
"Hold up! That's bossbot!?" Bumblebee exclaimed out with a bewildered look to the big truck. "I didn't expect him to sound so… baritone! He even looks bigger than our Prime!"
Most of the Autobots were surprised by the calm demeanor the other Prime had.
Ratchet perked up some at his name being mentioned. Good, that meant he existed there and he could help. Although, most of the Decepticons were curious and anxious.
"Shockwave, do not underestimate this Prime." Megatron slowly said out intrigued.
" It seems that he is a threat and nearly the same size as I."
"Y-Yes my Liege! He does give off Ultra Magnus feelings after all to me."
"Pfh! Underestimate him?" Blackarachnia spat. "I bet he acts the same under that facade!"
Narrowing his red optics. Megatron didn't speak choosing to ignore the techno-organic in the corner.
"Think what you want. Prime will never be a Decepticon in any universe." Blizwing spoke up with a frown with a sigh . " Too honorably noble to mix in with baddies like us!" Random cackled out after with a his fists curled.
EXT. THE SIERRA NEVADAMOUNTAINS – SUNSET.
Ratchet: I'm locked on his signal, Optimus. But our team's scattered across time-zones.
Observing his own vehicle mode, Ratchet didn't have any complaints actually liking that he still had his color scheme. Though as for voice, it sounded younger to his own. Perhaps there is a chance there is something he could do after all.
"Not bad." He grumbled to himself pleased.
[The camera then shows each autobot as Optimus spoke out their names, the screen splitting into three for each autobot for them to drive off.]
Optimus Prime: Arcee, Bulkhead, Bumblebee. Rendezvous back at base prepare to ground bridge.
"I'm in this!" Bulkhead exclaimed out excited that his name was mentioned and Bumblebee did a fist pump. "Of course we are! We're famous Bulk!" Bumblebee couldn't help but brag a little.
"The team is together!" Optimus grinned some but immediately frowned noticing that Prowl's name wasn't mentioned.
Maybe Prowl was busy with other things? The feeling in his gut didn't go away and Prowl looked as bothered as he was.
"Uh where's Prowl?" Sari asked out with confused look.
Hearing her the Autobots frowned out and glanced to each-other with beeped shrugs.
"Uh it's a different universe Sari, so there could be different characters? Maybe there could be an explanation about Prowl?" Bumblebee spoke up unsure.
Not satisfied with the answer, Sari bit her lip and folded her arms and kept watching the screen. She needed her whole family to be together!
EXT. OUTSKIRTS OF JASPER, NEVADA – SUNSET.
Cliffjumper: You want the horns? [Cliffjumpers arms turns into triple barrel Energon blasters as it powers up.] You got them!
[Cliffjumper began firing at the horde of Vehicons as they do the same to Cliffjumper. The fire fight resulted in the Energon crystals exploding sending Cliffjumper flying.]
Watching the fight play out, Optimus was watching with awe in his optics at the battle yet with mostly dread mixed in. It was fascinating but he felt like he could do more than just sit there.
However when he witnessed Cliffjumper getting injured like getting his horn spliced off and sent flying. The team let out a gasp.
"Cliffjumper!" Bumblebee and Bulkhead spoke up at the same time distressed. They may have not known the mech well in boot-camp – as they have seen him on several occasions. The mech wasn't a fighter he was a secretary! It was in his programming!
Ratchet was already cursing out the Decepticons under his breath, and Sari willed herself to not end up crying.
[The camera pans to two Vehicons coming out from the fiery pit with Cliffjumper by the arms, dragging him to The Nemesis.]
Megatron felt pleased they managed to capture an Autobot. In fact he was already smirking widely on his faceplates at the easy victory.
"At least we are a threat. Our cause will always remain the same. Little Autobot's think they can make a difference? When will they realize that they are outmatched."
Lugnut himself was pleased at the easy victory they got, and shuttered his single optic. Moving to get up and bow towards Megatron.
"MASTER! MASTER! WE LIVE TO SERVE, IN ANY UNIVERSE OUR CAUSE IS FOR YOU!"
"Would you sit down you overgrown protoform! I want to keep watching but you keep interrupting!" Blitzwing's fiery persona snapped out with a fist to his hand threatening to shove the big oaf and bash Lugnut's processor in.
Most of the Autobot's on the other side were growing angered over the Decepticon's words.
"They have to rescue him!" Sari cried out. "They wouldn't hurt Cliffjumper right?" She asked rather desperately to the bots.
Most of them seemed unsure, and Ratchet out of all of them was the most anxious over Cliffjumper's abduction.
"I don't know kid." Ratchet spoke finally moving a hand to rub the back of his helm. "These Cons' here are already unpredictable, who knows what they'll do to Cliffjumper in this universe."
He wasn't going to sugarcoat something like this to the girl. Rather preferring to be more honest and straightforward about it.
"C'mere Sari." Bumblebee spoke up, and moved to grab the willing girl, and set her on his lap so that she could feel more comforted by his big brotherly presence.
As expected the girl was already clinging onto his side while keeping her attention on the screen.
INT. THE NEMESIS
[The camera slips to a Seeker watching the outside with his reflection on the window before the camera panned onto his face, growling displeased.]
Starscream: The energon, it's worthless to me now.
[The Vehicons from before appeared from the elevator with Cliffjumper in captive hold. Moving to drag the downed Autobot towards the Seeker to then throw him forward some. The Autobot looked a bit dented up and dirty from the fight.]
Cliffjumper: Scream It's been a while [Cliffjumper coughs up energon] So, where's your master?
All of the bots in the room sat up straighter, most of them (mostly the Decepticons) were confused of Megatron's questionable absence. Lugnut was the first to stand up pointing an accusing servo at Starscream.
"TRAITOR! THIS IS A LIE. NO ONE CAN LEAD THE DECEPTICONS TO VICTORY BUT ONLY MEGATRON! WHERE IS OUR MASTER?"
Standing up now, Starscream bared his dentea's at Lugnut clearly annoyed by the brute's wording.
"Scrap should I know you oaf! That stick figure on the screen clearly can't be me!" He defended out.
Starscream is a bot of standards! He did not even look threatening on the screen!
"You're just in denial that I - Starscream managed to nab the position of leader in the other world!" He jeered.
Blinking, he found himself lodged in the wall with rocks falling down to meet the ground and Lugnut's arm currently was stretched as if he had punched him.
"Lugnut when I get my servo's on you!"
"Starscream." Megatron snapped out with a soft small growl annoyed by his SIC's complaints, sure he is displeased by the other Starscream taking his position in the other world, but surely he felt there was more to that. But... For his SIC to start a scene here is embarrassing for all Decepticons.
"Shut up and sit down."
Blitzwing turned and pointed at Starscream laughing in his 'Random' persona.
"Look at the wittle Seeker lodged in a wall I want to play too!" Switching back to his normal self, Blitzwing turned his attention back to the screen.
Starscream struggled in the wall and gave a loan groan.
"If you haven't noticed my liege, I'm stuck to the wall!" He raised his voice to get his point across on the last part. His claws balling up tightly.
Lugnut didn't bother to pay Starscream any mind and sat down back in his spot.
The Autobots and Sari watched the scene and Bumblebee was already snickering at the display. Who knew Decepticons could put on an entertaining show when they're not trying to kill them?
Starscream: Never mind him. I am my own master. [Stabs Cliffjumper with his claws.] Any more questions? [Pulled out his claws as Cliffjumper's lifeless body falls on the ground.] Clean that up.
The amusement the Autobot's felt earlier diminished. Shock went throughout the crowd of bots aside from the Decepticons, and Ratchet could only keep his optics wide and then closed them turning his head away with a shake of his head. Pained to see another taken so soon.
Sari grew teary eyed, and glanced to Bumblebee with a quivering lip. Bumblebee wasn't doing any better, in fact the mech was sitting there with an angered expression. Bulkhead had a horrified look on his faceplates.
"What the frag!" He shouted.
"If this is your idea of entertainment Decepticreeps then you all can go rust in the pits!"
He growled at them.
Prowl had his helm tilted down in silence, and Optimus had wide optics.
"No." He breathed out in disbelief. An Autobot spark snuffed out so quick.. He's never seen any of their Decepticons take a life so far. Yet the only reason why they hadn't killed them – Did Megatron find amusement in prolonging their fights on Earth?
Megatron observed on and smirked some at the Autobot's grief-stricken expressions for their 'comrade'. The Autobot's were so soft… soft sparks they have.
Lugnut and Blitzwing were gleeful over Prime Starscreams kill, they forgot about their Starscream still lodged in the wall.
"Did you see the way he perished?!"
"Little Autbot is sadly not with us anymore! HaahAHa!" Giving a clap of his servos, Lugnut vented in agreement still silent.
Blackarachnia had a pleased smile, it amused her other the petty Autobot's grieving over a bot that doesn't even exist in their universe yet.. she then frowned a little. Why did she hate this feeling?
Giving a little growl to herself, she focused back on the screen.
Getting up, Bumblebee stopped feeling a servo on his arm. Turning his head to see Optimus looking to him with a serious expression.
"Bumblebee sit back down, that is an order. You are not putting Sari at risk, there was nothing we could have done!"
Ripping his arm away, Bumblebee glared right back at Optimus.
"I'm not gonna sit here and watch those bots gloat over the death of one of our own! Who's side are you on!? Start acting like a leader instead of a boot camp sargent!"
"Sit down!" Ratchet finally snapped out annoyed at both bots.
"We'll argue about all this later, now is not the time to start turning on each other!"
Grumbling Bumblebee didn't argue twice with the medic bot and sat down back in his spot with the upset girl. Ugh! He should have covered her eyes with his servo's so she wouldn't have to see that!
"Are you okay Sari?" Bee spoke finally his voice low for the girl to hear.
Giving a couple sniffs, Sari gave a weak nod or two.
"Y-yeah.. I don't want to see anyone else get killed."
Optimus returned to his spot and glanced over at the two and gave a low sigh to himself. A little doubtful on how to handle the situation, he somehow made worse. He just kept saying the wrong things today.
Witnessing the Autobot's fuss, Megatron was already smirking. They were already eating each-other alive. Perhaps his plans aren't put into risk at all.
He could already see the seed of doubt planted in Optimus… Optimus just needed a little 'push' in the direction to have that keep growing but how could he achieve something such as that?
Choosing to enact that plan later in time, Megatron returned his gaze to the screen already but patiently curious to see what would happen next.
xoxoxoxoxoxo
NOTES:
aHEM- I will post the second half soon of the episode, just easier for me to split it so I don't burn myself out! There is quite a lot of reactions to think about but so far this has been going pretty easy! THERE IS NO SCRIPT ONG. - so please be with me on my typing of the scripts! 3 /p