Chapter Text
IN THE TURTLES LAIR
Donnie and Raph had decided to eat pizza after their poker game while Leo was practicing with Mikey, which Mikey surprisingly had asked for. Splinter was reading a book in his room.
Donnie ate his pizza slice absently, leaning his elbows on dining table. ”How long are ya goin to munch dat? Ya try to make smoothie out of it with your mouth?” Raph remarked sarcastically and looked at the genius from other side of the table. He had already finished his share of the pizza and just stared his brother at this point, waiting for Donnie to notice it.
Donnie gave disturbed look at his brother and swallowed. ”You know that was disgusting thing to declare. My mind was just...” He tried to give a short answer but failed to do so. He just sighed and let his thoughts out. ”Remember that energy peak I told you all about a three weeks ago when you and I were fixing the truck?” Raph gave a nod and leaned towards to hear what Donnie was going to say. ”It still puzzles me.” Donnie continued. ”Badly! That peak registered in some charts as an radioactivity but it didn't match to as one in other charts. The charts didn't make any sense. I couldn't even point where it came from.” Donnie leaned back on his chair, annoyed.
”I couldn't get any information from Casey or police chief. She told me not to get into this, at least yet, which raised some flags.” Donnie added and leaned closer to Raph. ”But I do know part of Government is involved by now.” This made Raph look at his brother with raised eyebrow, curious and concerned of this information. ”Ya should have talked 'bout this to ya brothers.” He continued seriously, hint of anger in his voice. That he was: bit angry that Donnie didn't talk about this. However, he hoped his brother had reasonable answer for his silence. ”I know, I know and for that I am sorry. I know we shouldn't keep secrets like this from each others anymore.” Donnie apologized and looked at his brother sheepishly which calmed Raph. ”I just felt so...incable for not to find answer to this mystery. I know that some things takes time, but to this one I want answers asap. I even created new devices to help pinpoint next energy peak if there is going to be one.” He looked at direction where his lab was before turning to look at Raph once again, only to get flick to his forehead. ”Ow, what that was for? Revenge?” He yelped and rubbed his head gently. ”Yeah mainly that.” Raph chuckled and Donnie rolled his eyes. ”But to also get yer full attention.”
Donnie folded his arms, feeling curious yet bit suspicious of what his brother was going to say. Raph was smart, he went with gut feeling, sometimes more often than the others did. He was bit of troublemaker. Crown of the troublemaker was however Mikey's. Or was it shared with Raph? Donnie couldn't remember and it wasn't relevant now. What was relevant now, could Raph have something that Donnie couldn't see? ”Ya may not have the answer yet but ya sure have tips. Great ones in mine opinion. Ya just had ignored them or look at them in wrong angle. Don't worry, ya have brothers to help ya. Let's brainstorm together.” The brute got up and took Donnie's plate. ”You can even eat rest of the slice while we are at it. Just don't try to make mouth smoothie again.” Raph smirked and started to walk toward dojo, where the other brothers were. Donnie couldn't help but snickered. ”You can't stop me.” He walked next to his brother and took overdramatically big bite of the pizza.
OTHER DIMENSION: PLANET CYBERTRON
”This isn't storage, it's fragging junkyard!” Hound cursed as he accidentally had stepped on metalbox which broke down from his weight and leaked some questional fluid out. He, Drift, and Bumblebee were ordered by Optimus Prime to find anything useful to help Cybertron back onto to it's feet. They all had collected own piles where they had sorted out useful stuff from broken metal things. Hound was actually not wrong; the storage was more of junkyard than anything else. It was dim, had metal scraps everywhere, rusty metal, broken pillars and walls, optics could not find unbroken stuff too easily, you had to watch where you stepped, and top of that, there was this awful smell. ”Seriously what is this smell? Actually, do not tell. I want to do this as fast as possible without knowing source of this stink.” Hound continued and picked up some broken gun to investigate it.
”You should be grateful of this peaceful task.” Drift almost lectured to him while walking besides him. ”For past few weeks you had only been guarding for possible Decepticon attacks. Why is that?” Hound turned to look at Drift with 'are you serious?'- stare. Drift didn't understand it at first until it hit him. ”Ah. How did I forgot you enjoy fighting?” He shook his head and parted away from his friend to a pile which interested him. ”I am with Drift.” Bumblebee joined into conversation. ”It's nice change to do something else than watch our backs all the time.” The yellow bot had lost his voice yet again and used radio for communication. He chirped now and then while piling useful things from scraps onto his own pile. Maybe somewhere in this place had solution to gain his voice back permanently.
”Well it's not just that.” Hound said. Drift looked at him again, stopped his working and wondering what his friend was going to say. ”I feel weird with this sort of peacefulness which we hadn't had for while. Not used to it in long long time.” He confessed. ”Can't say I don't know what you mean.” Drift agreed and took something to his hand to investigate it. ”But don't worry, there are still some Decepticons for you to fight.” Drift smiled and put new goody to his own pile. ”I thought you were about peace and love” Hound teased and tossed the gun on to his pile. ”Are you referring me to those what humans call 'hippies'? You know well enough that I will fight when needed to.” To confirm his words Drift took his sword and made few swings and impressing martial arts movement before putting his weapon away. ”Show off.” Bumblebee joked and earned friendly laughs from Hound.
The trio stopped their work and turned around when they heard sudden voices. ”Are we getting new 'find and pile'-buddies or even better: someone to switch places with?” Hound mused. Soon they saw two, actually three bots: smallest one was Brains, travelling on Crosshairs shoulder, and next to them was Optimus Prime. Optimus and Crosshairs seemed to argue about something.
”Someone is in trouble.” Bumblebee sang as they heard what the trio was talking about. ”It wasn't my fault she didn't saw me practicing! I thought Brains told everyone who came too close to exactly not to come too close!” Crosshairs defended himself for at least thousandth time since he had shot other bot's arm nearly off. ”Yeah! It's not our fault.” Brains confirmed sharply. Optimus stayed firm: ” You knew your practice spot was too close to our HQ. You didn't have permission to practice there. We need every bot to build this planet. Our medics are busy and they certainly didn't need a new patient.” They stopped when they were inside the storage. Optimus turned to look at Crosshairs and Brains. ”Two of you will help others with this task.” The duo growled a bit but stopped when their leader gave strict stare at them. He looked back at the working trio and nod in approval of their work. ” I know this isn't the most amusing job for everyone but it is necessary. It's good reminder to us that we are building our life back. That we don't exist for fighting but for living.” That lifted the trio's spirits and motivated them back to their work.
”So where we start our pile?” asked Crosshairs and walked past Optimus to the others. ” We could start from the back.” Brains pointed out so Crosshairs made his way all the way to the back. ”What have you found from here?” Optimus walked over Hound. ”Good metal and bad metal, boss.” Hound started. ”Some guns at this point that with little patient can be fixed back to their glory. Then...I don't know. Very few non - cybertronian items and metals scarps.” This raised others attention minus Crosshairs's and Brains's who were further away to hear Hound. Bumblebee took little scrap piece and came closer along with Drift. ”Like this one?” Bumblebee asked curiously and showed his findings to Hound. ”Yeah like that one.” The bearded bot nod. ”I think most of this non-cypertronian items are...actually pretty much on Crosshairs and Brains's direction. Organized and all that.” He pointed with his thumb.
”Hmm.” Optimus was curious and crossed his arms. ”This place was once Decepticon's storage but was nearly the first ones to be damaged and they left this place.” He said, unfolded his hands and slowly made his way to Crosshairs and Brains.
Curiosity peeked in others too and they followed their leader. Hound collected non-cybertronian pieces on their way to Crosshairs and Brains. The duo, or at least Crosshairs, was bending over some seemingly broken machine and wondering it's purpose. ”What this suppose to be?” He asked from Brains and softly brushed dust from it. The machine was half of Crosshairs size and laying on it's side. ”Not made by Decepticon's nor Autobots.” Brains retorted. ”Do we have friendly neighbors who would have made this?” He asked sarcastically Crosshairs just when others arrived. All of the Autobots circled around the machine to see it better and be in conversation.
Instead of Crosshairs, Optimus answered to Brains question: ”Planets near to us didn't want to stay in contact with us after the war started. They were in fear of being involved into our war and suffer.” Optimus knelt to take better look of the machine. He wasn't the expert but had lived long enough to come across different technologies. ”This doesn't look familiar to me.”. He was surprised. Hound knelt next to the machine as well and compared parts he had collected. ”Some parts seem to match to this machine, whatever it is.” He looked at the machine and the parts again and nod. ”I think some of the parts that I collected belongs into this machine.” He raised back onto his feet. All of them looked at their leader for his orders for what to do with this machine. Optimus let out thoughtful hum before standing up again. ”Let's take it to our scientists for safety. They will study it later. Hound and Drift, take this to the main scientist along with the pieces. Remind them our priorities for this Cybertron. However, they can study this in free time if they wish to do so.” He ordered.
With that Hound piled the pieces on the machines and lifted it with Drift. But by doing so, the machine made odd noise, turned on and noise grow louder like it was about to do something. ”What the frag?” Hound snapped. ”I can't let go! Can't move!” Hound couldn't move at all or let go. After the last word, he couldn't speak anymore. Same was happening for Drift too. ”It's the machine” Crosshairs made poor choice and took hold of Drift in intention to pull him away. ”Argh! Wrong move! Wrong move! Can't--” He froze as well along with Brains on his shoulder. The machine noise grow louder and louder and sparks appeared around all of the bots who were stuck. All remaining bots looked at them in shock. Not knowing what to do. But even then Optimus took control. ”Hurry, we need to--” Optimus was about to say his order but suddenly twirling darkly colored circle appeared in the air next to them. Bumblebee was closest to the circle and was pulled into it so fast he couldn't even react to it. ”Bumblebee!!” All of them shouted. Optimus took his sword and struck it to ground preventing to being pulled into the circle. Oddly enough Hound and Drift along with the other bots who were stuck onto machine, were sent to fly next, even when they were furthest away from the circle. Optimus was between them and the circle, so they knocked and pushed Optimus ,along with his sword, with them into the circle. There was a loud boom- noise and the circle was gone with the Autobots.
OTHER DIMENSION, IN THE TURTLES TRUCK. 50 MINUTES EARLIER
”So we just drive around different areas and hope that your devices catches something?” Leo asked again. He was sitting on his usual place next to Donnie while other brothers were at back. He was bit annoyed for losing vote for staying at home. He still thought this wasn't necessary mission for them. For what Leo had understood they would be called by the chief if needed to. Mostly he was disappointed, even if didn't admitted it openly, to be taken away from the practice with Mikey. His little brother talked a lot in those practices the two of them had together but those practices had become their thing lately. Mikey said that he wanted to do something active that Leo wanted to do and just two of them.
This warmed Leo's heart. Mikey wanted to talk and learn from Leo. At least try to learn. Pure bonding. It truly warmed his heart even now and made him proud of Mikey. It made him dream that they would even meditated in very near future. When Leo had told this dream to Raph and Donnie, the genius nearly chocked into his beer and Raph commented: ”Is the Hell going to freeze that soon?”. Donnie, after laughing, was bit more optimistic about Mikey in meditation since he had seen him practicing with Leo. ”Who knows?” He had said to Leo.
The leader's focus was brought back into the vehicle when he heard Donnie's talking to either Mikey or Raph: ”What it shows?” Mikey shifted closer to screens at their space, looking closely what the meters were showing. Donnie had made them more clear for the others to understand. ”They are still normal. All green.” He responded and looked at Donnie even when the genius was keeping his eyes on road. ”Okay. I am open for options where to go next.” Donnie announced and others listen up. ”We have drove around the city central and did the same outside the central. Should we keep up this way?” He asked and waited for what others would propose. This was slow progress, he knew it. All of them had agreed to come along, however. If they did find something, it was better to have all of them than just one. ”How about we head over to the city's limits?” Raph suggested. ”Who says that whatever radioactivity would happen in near the city's central or in the city anyway?” He added to his respond.
”Yeah let's hit the highways!” Mikey chimed in. That amused Donnie and others. Since Donnie had no ideas, what was there to lose? ”Let's hit the highways!” He replied back and speed up while Leo smiled and Raph cheered with Mikey.
NEAR TO THE CITY LIMIT'S, 5 MINUTES EARLIER
The twirling circle appeared on empty dark field apart from everything except sandy road next to it. Bumblebee flew good distance out off the circle and slammed onto the ground. He felt dizzy and numb, he couldn't move at all. He was facing away from the circle, which by now he knew to be portal. He soon enough heard familiar voices shouting in the air and, sadly, landing on top of him. Then it was just silent, pain and heavy Autobots laying on him, sharing the weird numbness.
NEAR TO THE CITY'S LIMIT'S: NOW
”The meters are going crazy bruh!” Mikey piped as he looked how everything went red on the screens. ”Why your color looks so aggressive on screen?” He asked Raph who also stared at the meters.
”Where it does show activity Raph?” Donnie speed up and readied himself to look up the coordinates where to go. ”West-North. On some empty field. Take up from here!” Donnie did as Raph told him and took last-minute turn to right direction and earned angry horn noises from other drivers. Leo gave not so approving look to his genius brother but ignored his urge to lecture of his driving. ”Okay, we just look at first what is there from safe distance. If there are people, we don't show ourselves, understood?” Leo ordered and others complied. Raph rolled his sais and was impatient for action. Same was Mikey with his nunchucks. Everyone hoped that it wasn't Kraang. No more aliens. ”At least evil aliens.” Mikey thought in his mind.
THE FIELD, NOW
”Oh frag! Get this thing off me!” Hound cursed and threw the machine away by himself anyway. ”Carefully! You don't know what it could do next.” Drift scolded and got up. He helped Hound while others slowly started to feel better and got up as well. Everyone felt still bit shaken but other than that they seemed fine.
”How are you my friend?” Optimus asked awkwardly Bumblebee and helped him up. He felt sorry that the yellow bot who had to be the one under everyone else when they roughly landed. ”Still kicking.” Bumblebee gave thumbs up once he was on his feet. ”I am also kicking.” Brains shouted from the ground where he had flew off from Crosshairs's shoulder and poked Hound's foot to lift him up. ”How we are on Earth? You could think that kind of weird technology would have brought us to unknown planet.” He sneered once he rested on Hound's shoulder. The announcement made everyone look around and wonder the same. ”Hmm, true. Where Hound threw that machine?” Optimus asked before spotting it by himself and walking next to it. He was cautious and didn't touch it. The machine was quiet and lifeless as it was before Crosshairs and Drift touched it.
”Pieces are here.They have almost melted together.” Drift walked to Optimus with the pieces resting on his hands. The pieces looked like modern art piece. Other bots walked closer as well but this time bit further away from the machine. Who knew what it was going to do next. ”Boss, I can't get contact to others.” Hound said not too worriedly as he pressed buttons on his arm. ”Must be some aftermath from the portal.” Crosshairs looked at him with annoyance. ”Oh so now you know it's portal? Great, just great!” He stormed away from others. He wasn't fond to be back on Earth. Not like this. Not without his consent.
Hound ignored his friend and knelt down to investigate the machine but soon stopped when he heard a car noise. ”Oh that just fragging perfect!” He shouted and stood up. A car was approaching them pretty fast and danger to be seen was high. Autobots were still not that welcomed on Earth. ”Hurry, transform!” Optimus ordered and all of them turned into their vehicle forms. Hound were able to took the portal machine and the pieces into his truck mode. He was sure the machine would do something but to his relief nothing didn't happen. ”Maybe it's power is down.” He thought before focusing on the car that stopped bit further away from them. Now he and the other bots just needed to wait for what was going to happen next.