Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Naration:

Pod 153 (narration):Everything that lives is designed to end.

Pod 153 (narration): "We" are perpetually trapped ...

Pod 153 (narration): ... in a never-ending spiral of life and death.

(muffled) … stand in …..

Pod 153 (narration): Is this a curse?

(muffled) …. Nothing … way …..

Pod 153 (narration): Or some kind of punishment?

muffled) …. gonna stand… …..

Pod 153 (narration): Wait, what is that?

(muffled) …. Nothing … in our way …..

Pod 153 (narration): Where does this sound come from?

(muffled) …Nothing's gonna stand in our way …..

A large space ship races through the void. Loads of noise coming from inside.

At Swerve's.

Rodimus (singing):

Nothing's gonna stand in our way

Nothing's gonna stand in our way

Not tonight

Not tonight

Not tonight

Not toniiiiiiiiiiiight, Yeah!

Rodimus raises his the mic in the air in dramatic fashion as he finishes the song.

The crowd is cheering.

Rodimus: Thank you. Thank you everyone for having me here at this awesome karaoke night aboard the lost light. Who wants to sing next?.

Rodimus gets off stage and goes to one of the tables where Magnus and Drift sit.

Rodimus: Isnt't this great guys? An entirely new universe for us to explore. Who knows what we will find here!

Everyone is partying, singing, drinking making plans for where to go next …

Drift: Yeah. Hard to believe only a few weeks ago we were fighting a planet. Everyone seems to be in good spirits.

Rodimus: I know, right?

Swerve slowly approaches them to bring drinks at the table.

Ultra Magnus: Yes it is great but we must decide where is our first stop. All we did since we cross the warren was drift through space and drink.

Rodimus: Relax Mags, we'll get to it. We have all the time.

Drift: You have no ideea, don't you?

Rodimus: Absolutely none.

Swerve: umm… Sorry to barge in like this, captainn, but I was thinking… we could start with Earth.

Magnus: Why Earth?

Swerve: Yeah… you know? Start with something familiar and and go from there towards more foreign things.

Drift: That actually sounds like a good ideea. For all we know every planet we've seen in our uninverse could be entirely different here. Better start small.

Rodimus: Doing things small is not how I roll, Drift.

Swerve looking at Rodimus : Pleeeeeeeeeease?

Rodimus: I'll put it to vote.

Rodimus gets up : Alright people, your attention for a moment! We have decided that our first stop in this grand new journey will be planet Earth. Everyone is ok with that?

The crowd is either indifferent or agrees for the most part.

Rodimus: It's settled then. Our first destination: EARTH!

At another table.

Tailgate: Never been to earth before.

Rewind: Neither of us were. All we know is whatever records were sent back to cybertron during Optimus' and his crew's time on the planet.

Chromedome: That and all the movie nights. … And Swearth.

Tailgate: Oh yeah. Forgot that was a thing as well.

Cyclonus: The chances of it being just like Swerve's movies are extremely small. And we'll have to use disguises like the autobots used to do during their stay there.

Tailgate: That sounds so cool!

Medbay:

Ratchet is working to fix Crankcase's head.

Ratchet: Aaaaaand done. Your brain casing is good as new.

The rest of the scavengers barge in to see the freshly repaired head of Crankcase.

Misfire: Is it ready? Is it ready?

Krok: Misfire! you can't just barge in during an operation.

Ratchet: Well, lucky for him I just finshed, Go ahead Crankcase. Try to crack a smile.

Fulcrum: This is it! The moment we've been waiting! Spinister get the camera!

Spinister: I had to get a camera?

Misfire: Evevryone be silent! Come on, budy! You can do it. On 3. 1…2…3!

Crankcase forces the screeching pistons inside his mouth in un upwards position until the look on his face can arguably be decribed as a smile.

The scavengers react appropriately.

Spinister: You look like you just had a bad drink.

Krok: This is what happens when you refuse to get your head fixed for 2500 years.

Fulcrum: It looks…. Kinda… happy I guess….?

Crankcase: You guys suck at this!

Krok: eh… It happens.

Later on the bridge:

Pilots: Seting course of planet. Initianing quantum jump in 3…2…1…

Rodimus: Everyone hold on tight!

The Lost Light performs a quantum jump in the milky way, very close to Earth's solar system.

Rodimus: wow… that was smoother than I hoped. All right people we do a quick scan and we get ready too…

Rodimus receives a call from Blaster, ship's comunicatioins officer.

Blaster: Umm Captain, we need to talk.

At the communications center. Blaster, Rodimus, Megatron and Magnus are there.

Rodimus: What do you mean you don't receive anything?

Blaster: I mean it exactly as it sounds. The planet emits absolutely no radio signals. Not even one. Dead silent on any known or unknown frequency.

Perceptor enters the room: And that's not all.

Rodimus: (sigh) You know things are bad when Perceptor leaves his lab.

Perceptor opens a screen: These images were taken just now from the surface. Look at this.

Perceptor shows them images from across the surface of the entire planet. Entire cities ravaged by natural forces. Plants growing to imposible lengths, Icecap almost melted and so on.

Megatron: By Primus….

Megatron: What the hell happened to this planet? Did we do that? I mean us, the cybertronians form this universe, not us the crew.

Rodimus: pfft, no way…. Isn't it?

Perceptor: I'm not sure yet.

Megatron: Any life signs?

Perceptor: Dozens. That planet is indeed populated it's just that…

Megatron: That what?

Perceptor: While the local earth fauna seems to be fairly similar to what we know, what I find most strange is that there's NO SIGN OF HUMAN LIFE IN THE ENTIRE PLANET.

Everyone in the room is shocked and concerned.

Rodimus: Alright that's it! I'm gathering a team and going down there!

Magnus: Just like that?! We can't risk sending the crew into unkown danger already. Many still haven't recovered after our last battle.

Rodimus: If you have a better Ideea then please tell me!

Megatron: He's right. Siting here and looking at it solves nothing.

Magnus: (long sigh) Who do you plan to take with you?

Rodimus: The usual.

Magnus looking at the images presented by Perceptor notices an oddity.

Magnus: What are these thing? They look mechanical.

Perceptor: I don't know yet. And can't propeperly analise them from here sadly.

Megatron: Please excuse for a moment, we have captains stuff to discuss.

Megatron drags Rodimus on the hall to talk.

Megatron: Ok…. I don't how to say this but…. I think it's better if I don't come on this mission.

Rodimus: Ok.

Megatron: What? Just like that ?! You're ok with this?!

Rodimus: Last time you were on that planet you commited a comical amount of warcrimes like you did on so many others. I can see why you wouldn't like coming back to the crime scene.

Megatron: … all right then. I'm glad we're in agreement.

Rodimus: Besides, it wouldn't hurt to have at least one captain on the ship. Am I right?

Megatron frowns in agreement.

Later in the shuttle bay.

Rodimus: All right people, listen up! For unknown reasons Planet Earth got flipped-turned upside down. No outside communications, no cities and most disturbingly, no signs of human life.

In front of him stands Magnus, Ratchet, Drift, Whirl, Cyclonus, Tailgate, Chromedome, Rewind, Swerve and Grimlock. All of them concerned about the reason they're there. Far in the back stands the scavengers.

Rodmius: So, I have decided to gather a team of the most skilled members of our crew in order to go and invstigate. We'll be flying there in the Rod pod, as always. Already picked the location. You have 10 minutes to prepare for send off. Any questions?

Whirl: Yeah. If you gathered , and I quote: "the most skilled members of our crew" then why is Swerve here?

Rodimus: Bait.

Swerve looks offended at Rodimus.

Rodimus: kiddin'. Just kiddin'. Swerve is here because…

2 hours earlier.

Swerve: Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, Captain, let come with you on this mission! I've only seen Earth in movies, songs , sitcoms, video games I got from friends who were there. I never got to see it in person.

Rodimus: Swerve, we have no ideea what's down there, and I don't want to put any crewmate into unnecessary danger.

Swerve: I'll give you a full bottle of Trashmaster. Just for you.

Rodimus curious but cautious: Is that … is that the special kind of engex you got from Hedonia. The one that is said to have been brewed by Alchemist Prime himself 10 million years ago? That is so rare and hard to find you had to pay with Tarn's mask, which luckly for us, Megatron didn't mind getting rid of?

Swerve: The very same.

Rodimus trying to gain his composure: *cough* *cough* ,I'll... I'll take it into consideration.

Back to present.

Rodimus: We might need an expert in metallurgy on the fields, just in case.

Everyone is sceptical but agrees with Rodimus.

Rodimus: Any other questions?

There is a moment of silence.

Rodimus: Alright then. All aboard and get ready to for a swift ride.

The gang prepares to board the rod pod.

As Grimlock boards a few voices are heard from the far side if the hangar.

Krok: Be careful out there!

Fulcrum: Don't forget your sword.

Grimlock: Already got it.

Missfire: And be nice to anyone you meet!

Grimlock: ugh... right.

Crankcase: And don't eat anything weird.

Grimlock: growls... uh huh..

Spinister: and no matter what, don't...

Grimlock angrily replies: YEAH! I GOT IT! THANKS!

Then quickly enters the ship.

Missfire sheds a tear: they grow up so fast.

Nickel: You found him on an abandoned space ship.

Missfire: Details.

Meanwhile aboards the rod pod aproaching earth:

Perceptor via radio: Remember Rodimus, once you enter the earth atmophere you'll lose all contact with the lost light. You have 3 earth stellar cycles to figure out what's going and return here.

Rodimus: pfft, 3 days? We'll be done by the end of the first no problem.

Perceptor: we've located a convenient landing spot where can sa2ijfjrl ... and 28r8t8dj2 (signal is lost, only static can be heard.)

Magnus: We've lost all comunications with the Lost Light.

Rodimus: Alright... Show time. I'll look for a good landing spot.

As the ship breaks the clouds, the robots aboard look in awe at the planet which now has been reconquered by the nature.

Rodimus: Damn, everywhere you look is only ruins, and trees, i don't know where to land.

Magnus: There seems to be a barren plateau about 4.5 kilometers to the east.

Rodimus: Sweet, now we're talking!

Rodimus steers the ship towards an open area spot surounded by vegetation from all sides and lands.

Rodimus: And that's that, thank for flying with Rod Air!

The crew gears up and gets off the rod pod.

Ratchet: This is...

Drift: Beatiful...

Ratchet: I was gonna say weird but that works too I guess.

Rewind: A pararel earth entirely devoided by humans. This must be recorded.

Swerve: No way! There's gotta be some humans left here! In their stories humans always manage to survive even in the most harshest or dangerous of circumstances. There must be some humans left here somewhere!

Cyclonus: Danger can find us at every corner, stay on your guard.

Magnus: Enough chatter! Listen up! The ship has scanned our surround and found six points of interest. We'll split in teams of 2 and seek all of them at the same time. Since comunication is down, each pair will receive a flare to shoot in case of emergency. Shoot it and everyone will come to your position. Understood?!

Everyone: Yes Ultra Magnus, sir!

Magnus: Good, now grab a partner and get going.

Grimlock: I'll get the factory.

Magnus: You need a partner, Grimlock.

Grimlock: I'll manage alone.

Magnus: That's insubordonation!

Rodimus: Mags, just leave it.

Magnus: ugh. Everyone else choose a partner and location.

Rewind: Me and Chromedome will get this waterfront area.

Drift: We'll take the forest.

Ratchet: No way! The humidity will cause us to rust!

Drift: A little rust won't kill you, Ratchet.

Tailgate: Cyclonus, look! There's an amusement park! Let's go there!

Swerve: If you all picked then this leaves...

Swerve looks towards Whirl in dissapointment.

Whirl looks back: Hi. :)

Swerve: … sigh … it can’t be worse than  Killmaster. Looks like it’s you and me partner.

Whirl: Did I say i wanna be your partner! Well anyway. Let's go here! Deserts are very nasty places, my kind of nasty.

Swerve: I changed my mind , i'll try to chase Grimlock!

Whirl: Too late, Swervy! We're off!

Rodimus: This leaves me and Magnus to take the this central zone.

Magnus: What about the rod pod?

Rodimus: Eh, no worries!

Rodimus engages the camouflage of the ship.

Rodimus: There's no way anyone will find it.

Without their knowledge , the cybertronians were being watched by 2 misteryous beings this entire time.

Machine 1: They... are not like us.

Machine 2: No. They are not.

Machine 1: However, their tehnolgy could helps furtther into our mission. I propose we take their ship.

Machine 2: Yes

City Ruins:

Rodimus looks around: What the inferno happened to the this planet?

Magnus: Feels like some sort of cataclysmic event lead to the complete dissappearence of the human race.

Rodimus remembers Megatron's words: Did we do this?

Magnus: I don't know. But we'll find out . And stop whatever is jaming all means of comunication.

Rodimus: Damn right we will. Side note what's with all these small round headed mechs everywhere?

Magnus shrugs.

Flooded city,

Chromedome and Rewind are siting on the side of the see staring into the horizon captured by the beauty of the landscape.

Rewind: Wonder what happened to that guy? (As rewind points towards the behead body of Grun.)

Chromedome: Who knows. Maybe a massive battle took place here. That thing must've been firece in combat.

Rewind: And what's up with these small mechs? They keep showing up around this place.

Chromedome: Rewind, why do you keep asking me when you know there's no way I could answer these questions?

Rewind: I wasn't asking you, i was doing it more in general. You know?

Chromedome: ok

There's a long pause.

Rewind: sighs... I wish Rung was here.

Chromedome: Who's Rung?

Rewind: I already told you! He was our therapist. He saved all of us during the battle with the functionists by making all the matrixes.

Chromedome: Right, right. I don't know why I keep forgeting this.

Rewind: You can't help it. It was his curse. Everyone barely remembers him. Even I remember him only because I have his recording in my data banks.

Long pause.

Rewind: I won't allow Rung to be forgotten.

Forest Kingdom

Ratchet: Ugh, this humidity is doing horrors to my chasis. Drift, why did you choose this? Drift? Drift, where are you?!

Drift: I'm sorry to leave like this Ratchet, but i was truly enthraled by the knowledge of this respectable blacksmith in both making and wielding swords.

Masamune: I have spent centuries honing my craft.

Drift: I see. I too have spent millenia honing my swordsmanship.

Manasume: What form is your favourite ?

Drift and Masamune continue to ramble about swords and technique .

Ratchet puts his palm on his face: Oh, for spark's sake.

Amusement Park.

Tailgate having fun in the roller coaster.

Cyclonus is leaning on building, scouling while waiting for them.

Tailgate: Wooooo, yeah!

Tailgate: That was awesome. Wish you could've come with me.

Roller coaster mechanic: Sorry but your friend was too tall to ride.

Cyclonus: When did I say I even want to ride this absurdity!?

Tailgate: Ooh! A stage play. Surely they'll let Cyclonus there. Let's go see it!

2 hours later.

Machine actress weeping: it always... ends like this.

Tailgate from the tribune weeping as well: This... this is sad. She never got the chance to tell him how she feels.

Cyclonus is intrigued by the plot of this play and pays close attention.

Outside the theater.

Tailgate: Man , talk about roller coaster of emotions.

Cyclonus: The acting was stiff but it was salvaged by the fairly interesting intrigue.

Suddenly in the sky a green flare can be appears, signaling trouble.

Tailgate: Green means it's Swerve and Whirl.

Cyclonus: Let's move.

In the desert a fierce battle is already underway between Whirl and a Hegel machine.

The Hegel soars through the sky shooting lasers in every direction trying to shake off the former wrecker who has his claw stuck deep in Hegel's back.

Whirl: wooooooooooo hoo hoooooo! Who's your daddy!?

Swerve is desperately trying to find a place to hide.

Swerve: Whirl! Enough fooling around, just take it down already!

Whirl: ahh, i was just starting to have some fun here!

Swerve: you've had enough fun, take that thing down!

Whirl: ugh, FINE!

Whirl then pulls out a gun and shoots a hole straight through hegel's leading sphere which sends the machine plumeting into the ground. Whirl jumps off the crashing hegel with only seconds to spare.

Whirl: When did you become such a buzzkill ,Swerve? I was about to send this guy in the upper atmophere.

Hegel: ... please... please...

Whirl turns towards Hegel, raising his gun, ready to deal the finishing blow.

Hegel: ... don't...

Whirl: oh, so you actually can talk, huh?

Hegel: please... i don't... want to die...

Whirl: You don't what? You don't want to die? Well , though luck buddy.

Whirl points his gun towards Hegel's flickering eye.

Out of nowhere Ultra Magnus shows up and grabs Whirl's gun before he can shoot. Rodimus not far behind.

Magnus: That's enough, Whirl!

Whirl: but he's not dead yet!

Magnus: He's already out of fight and begging for his life. We are no executioners.

Whirl: Bunch of killjoys. All of you! Whatever.

Rodimus: Anyway. Swerve, give me a sit-rep.

Swerve: We were scouting the desert when all of a sudden this giant centipede mech shows up, chasing some humans then Whirl attacked and here we are.

Rodimus: wait, run that by me again. You found humans beings?! Where ?

Whirl: They stood hidden after that rock this entire time.

From behind a huge rock appears a man and a woman. Nothing particularly eye catching about their appearance except that they were dressed in combat gear and aiming their guns at the gang.

The transformers stay unmoved in awkward silence for a few seconds before Rodimus has the courage to say something.

Rodimus: uh…. Hi?

Female soldier: You're not... like them, aren't you?

Rodimus: You mean him? (Points towards Hegel) No, we are not. We come from another planet named Cybertron. You can call us the Crusadercons.

Male solider: Another planet!? Like the aliens!? (The soldier raises his gun)

In a panic Rodimus responds: Woah, Woah, woah, chill man! Chill!. We're not here to fight.

From behind a dune a small squad of similarly dressed soldiers lead by a woman with black hair covering her right eye: Hold your fire, idiot!

The male soldier lowers his weapon and strikes a salute pose: Captain Jackass, ma'am.

Swerve utters to himself: Her name is Jackass?

Jackass: If it wasn't for these guys both of you would be dead now.

Jackass turns towards the transformers.

Jackass: And you! What business you have here you supposed to be, tall, colourful and… blocky guys?

Rodimus: well we are just… uhh… (Rodimus looks at Magnus and shrugs)

Magnus : Tourists. We're just tourists. Or at least that was our initial plan. We were in the vicinity and noticed this sort of… planet-wide radio jammer so we decided to investigate. I assure you we mean you humans no harm.

Jackass: Humans!? Sorry to break to ya pall but there haven't been humans on this planet in thousands of years.

Rodimus, Magnus and Swerve are completely shocked by the news.

Swerve falls on his knees: Humanity… is gone?

Whirls: Why the long faces? Is it anything shocking there?

Rodimus on a cautious tone: Then… who exactly are we talking to right now? What are you if not humans?

Jackass: We're Androids. Mechanical beings created in their image.

Rodimus: So basically you're pretenders.

Jackass: I don't know what that means.

Rodimus: Never mind.

On the far side of the desert the rest of the crew is finally catching up.

Ratchet: We came as soon as we saw the flare. What happened.

Drift: Sweet! You found the humans. Which is…. kinda awkward since we weren't supposed to make direct contact with them if I recall correctly.

Rodimus: Yeah. About that. You might want to sit down for this one.

Later.

A sombre atmosphere can be felt in the air.

Ratchet trying to process what he just heard: I … can't believe it.

Swerve:  I finally made it to earth… only to be too late. What could've cause this?

Rewind: Wars, natural disasters, a planet wide virus, digital intelligence rebellion like in that movie you showed us the other week seems likely given our current circumstances.

Swerve: You can stop now.

Cyclonus: For all we know it could've very well been the fault of the universe's cybertronians.

Rodimus: Don't say that…

Jackass: Are you guys done moping' about our dead rock of a planet!? You said you wanted to investigate that radio jamming signal.

Magnus: Jackass is right. We must focus on the task at hand. Now where do we start?

Rodimus: Any of you guys found anything?

Chromedome: Nothing.

Cyclonus: No.

Drift: Same

Swerve: You already know the answer to that, captain.

Rodimus: So we got nothing then. Fantastic.

Jackass: Lucky for you I know 2 guys who might be able to help. We gonna need a boat. And the only one I have ready is not really a cargo ship.

Rodimus: No problem. We'll take the rod pod. Just send us the coordinates.

Jackass: 'the hell's a Rod pod? That's a dumb na…

Tailgate gets close to Jackass: Shhhh, that's the name of his personal ship. He's a bit sensitive about it so please don't say anything.

Jackass: Fine, whatever. We'll meet at the flooded city in half an hour. See ya there.

Jackass and her crew leave to prepare for their journey.

Cyclonus to Magnus: I don't like this. We just landed on this planet, told them what we are and they're willing to help us this easily?

Rodimus barges in: You worry too much Cyclonus. A gesture of kindness , even an unintentional one (Rodimus looks at Whirl), can often head start a friendship. And if they try anything funny, it surely can't be worse than you know what. Now, TO THE ROD POD!

A few minutes later at the landing zone of the rodpod.

Everyone is awkwardly waving their arms in the air and touching trees and bushes.

Rewind: You sure you parked it here?

Rodimus: Sure I'm sure. It should be here somewhere.

Whirl: It's ok boss, I also have memory loss fairly often. I don't even remember what I did before dropping on this Primus forsaken rock.

Rodimus slightly irritated: I'm telling you guys. It should be right here!

The gang keeps looking the ship for several minutes, until they finally accept the situation.

Magnus: I'm telling you captain. The ship isn't here. Someone stole the rod pod.

Rodimus' face slowly contorts into a scowl worthy of Megatron: When I found out… who took my ship…. I'll turn them INTO FUCKING SCRAP UNDER MY WHEELS!

Swerve: Woah, Language Captain!

Rodimus: We're on earth, I thought it would fit to use local swear words!

Tailgate: Oh man, what are we gonna do now? Jackass said we have to cross a sea to get to where we need to.

Whirl: For the record I'm not carrying Ultra Magnus' fat backside over a large mass of h2o even if you try to kill me!

Magnus: We'll have to tell Jackass in person that our transport is gone. If we move now we can reach the rendez vous point AND maybe find an alternative. We'll take care of the rodpod later, maybe even easier once we take down the jamming signal. And what was that about my backside?

Whirl: Nothing.

A few minutes later at the flooded city.

Jackass and a few other soldiers are waiting near a small boat.

Jackass: Glad to see you tin cans are able to be punctual. Where's your ship?

Magnus ashamed: Yeah…. About that….

Rodimus: Some asshole stole our ship!

Magnus: well… yes, that is true but..

Jackass: Shit. Must've been those damned pirates.

Rodimus: There's pirates on this planet?

Jackass: Yeah. They keep pestering us and try to steal our stuff. I'll tell you on the way. If you manage to find way to get across or something.

Drift looks around and sees a rusty ship hull.

Drift: That could work.

Jackass: That piece of scrap metal?! I mean sure it floats but it that's about it. And there's no way to all of you will fit on it. Especially big blue and chunky over here.

Whirl in the background: HAH!

Cyclonus: Me and Whirl  don't need a boat, we can just fly across to our destination .

Rodimus: Ok let me think.

Rodimus looks around at his crewmates when suddenly it hits him: Wait a minute, where's Grimlock!?

Drift: He didn't show up when Swerve used the flare either. Something happened to him.

Grimlock from behind: No it didn't..

Everyone looks back shocked as Grimlock appears out of nowhere.

Jackass: And I thought blue guy was big.

Grimlock: I see you found some humans.

Rewind: Not really. They're actually cybernetic autonomous organisms designed to look like humans.

Grimlock: What, like pretenders?

Rodimus: That's what I said too!

Magnus: Grimlock, where have you been?! Your crewmates were in trouble. All of us rushed in to help. Except you.

Grimlock: Green was for Whirl , right?

Magnus: Correct. And?

Grimlock: You actually think I care if Whirl lives or dies?

Swerve in the background: I was there as well, you know?

Whirl: Feeling's mutual, big guy.

Magnus: That's not the point, Grimlock!

Grimlock: Then what is?!

Rodimus: All right , both of you chill out! Let's focus on other things now. I figured it out how to do with transport.

Magnus: Ok. How?

Rodimus: We'll split up in 2 groups. One will go with Jackass, the other will keep searching for the rodpod in the ruins. Since they don't need the "boat", Cyclonus and Whirl will take Tailgate and Rewind and Fly ahead. Drift and Chromedome will take the boat. Right behind them. The rest of us will stay behind. I'm in charge of team A and Drift is in charge if team B.

Swerve: Sorry to intervene Captain but… uhh… surely Cylonus has room for a 3rd bot in his cockpit, shouldn't I go with them?

Tailagate: Sorry swerve, me and Rewind are already pretty cramed in here. You could with….

Whirl: Hi again. :))

Swerve: Fair point, Team A it is.

Rodimus: All right! You know what you have to do! Let's get moving!

Team A leaves the shore in search of their ship, Jackass and her crew board their boat and the flyers prepare to for take-off. Meanwhile Drift and Chromedome:

Chromedome: How exactly are even make this thing move?!

Drift pulls out 2 huge wood logs which quickly and skilfully carves into rowing paddles.

Drift: Better start rowing Chromedome.

Chromedome annoyed: ughhh…..

Later, middle of the see.

Jackass: Huh… that's actually pretty clever. Very old school.

Drift: So how far away is this place you're taking us to?

Jackass: About a day of sailing.

Cyclonus: At least you could give us the coordinates and let us get there ahead since we could do it faster. We could even scout the area before you arrive to make sure there's no threats.

Jackass: Hmmm, not a bad idea.

Drift: I'd rather not have us split up, Cyclonus. There's strength in numbers.

Whirl: Well then how about you stop going at snail's pace and hurry up! Hell, I could just pick up the human and…

Everyone: NO!

Jackass: Why not?

Chromedome: Trust us when we tell you, you don't want to fly with Whirl.

Jackass: Pfft...

Drift: What is this place anyway?

Jackass: Not much. Just 2 guys living alone there who have some advanced tech which might be able to help locate source of this jamming signal. Would've contacted them easier but … you know.

Drift: I understand. How long has this radio blackout been going.

Jackass: Only a few weeks.

Drit: hmm….

Drift turns to Chromedome: You've been awfully quiet. Something on your mind?

Chromedome: More or less. Drift, do you know anything about someone called Rung?

Drift: Doesn't sound familiar, sorry.

Chromedome: Rewind keeps talking about him. Apparently he was a crewmate of ours and the ship's psychiatrist but I can't remember a single thing about him.

Drift: If he was a psychiatrist then he surely would've gone mad trying to fix Whirl.

Chromedome: I think Rewind cared a lot about him. Ever since the battle with the functionists he insists on "not letting his memory disappear".

Whirl: …. Aaaggggh this is so boring I'm going insane! Come here human! We're going to that place right now!"

Whirl transforms, grabs jackass and then transforms back to helicopter mode and boosts ahead.

Drift: Whirl! Get back here! Damn it. We gotta catch 'em!

Chromedome: I got an idea. How fast can you turn those paddles into something you can grab something with? Some sort of hooks or something?

Drift: A few seconds. Why?

Drift turns the paddles into hooks then him and Chrome grab onto Cyclonus.

Cyclonus: Hold on tight!

Cyclonus boost in speed up trying to catch Whirl.

In the city ruins:

Rodimus, Grimlock and Magnus are caught in a fierce battle with machine goliaths asking for trouble. Either bipeds, tanks or flyers.

Rodimus is getting punched in the face by the Machine Goliath.

Rodimus: Ok…. I tried playing nice. Now we try my way.

Rodimus strikes back. Swiping the goliath off his fit then furiously punching him back in the face.

Rodimus: Where.(punch) Is.(punch) My.(punch) SHIP!?(punch)

Grimlock cuts a tank in half with one sword swing.

Ratchet shooting flyers..

Magnus is mowing down smaller machines with his hammer.

Swerve is siting sad on rusty car.

Ratchet leaves the fight and sits down next to Swerve.

Ratchet: Something bothering you, Swerve?

Swerve: Kinda…

Ratchet: Ok, I'm listening.

Swerve: It's about Earth, Ratchet. Ever since I heard about I wanted to see it. I studied all its culture. Movies, Video games, TV shows, books and so on. I wanted to see it's cities, it's culture , it's people, with my own eyes. Hell, the movie night at the bar was dedicated to earth movies!

First I couldn't because of the war with decepticons, then I couldn't because of the quest, then we finally get a chance to visit earth and all we find… is this. Ruins. Like so many other planets. I mean, I know it's not our earth but…

Ratchet: Yeah, I know what you're saying. I didn't expect such a drastic change either. Despite their design flaws, humans were surprisingly crafty and adaptable. I thought nothing would wipe them out.

Ratchet pauses for a moment.

Ratchet: (sigh) Not much we can do now sadly. We can still help the current indigenous of the planet. Perhaps they managed to preserve some of that human culture you love so much. After all, since we landed we've seen what? A city at most? Somewhere out there must be prettier looking things than this. We just have to look for them.

Swerve: Hehe. Drift's optimism is rubbing off on you, Ratchet.

Ratchet: Maybe. Maybe. Anyway, less talk, more scouting , Swerve.

Swerve: You got it, doc.

Not too far from them Rodimus and Grimlock are interrogating a machine life form.

Rodimus: I'm gonna myself as clear as I can. We heard there's pirates stealing stuff around. You are the ones who attacked us. One of you even screamed "Rob them blind" so it can't be more obvious. So now I ask you. Red spherical ship, taken only a few hours ago. Where are you hiding it?

Machine life form: I'll never talk.

Rodimus: Fine. Don't tell me. Tell my friend here. Because if you don't …

Grimlock turns into t-rex mode and roars into machine's face in extremely intimidating fashion.

Machine: I know nothing! I SWEAR! I was just recruited a few days ago. This was my first raid. I'd only receive orders from my captain, which your friend chomped to death.

A very angry Rodimus: Uggghhhh Goddamnit! Dead end! Again.

Tired Magnus: Hopefully the other guys have better luck than us.

Middle of the sea.

Cyclonus dragging Chromedome and Drift water ski style at full speed.

Cyclonus : We've been running like this for almost an hour! Where the hell did Whirl ran off with that human?!

Drift: He couldn't be that far ahead of us.

Cyclonus sarcastically: Extremely helpful, Drift.

Drift: Maybe at some point he changed course or…

Suddenly in the sky a green flare can be seen to their left.

Chromedome: I think we just found him.

Cyclonus: Brace yourselves. We're stirring.

Sooner than they planed they can see a shore and on it Whirl and Jackass waiting.

Whirl: Took you guys long.

Drift to Jackass: Are you ok? Did Whirl hurt in any way with his negligence?!

Jackass: What? No! It was awesome. This guy is an absolute mad man in the air. And I love it. We even made it in record time!

Confused Drift: …ooookaaay.

Jackass: Anyway, here we are. Just behind those bushes. Follow me.

Whirl: Ugh… I hate jungles. So weird and dirty and… green.

Cyclonus: Stop complaining Whirl.

Rewind: I don't know about that, Whirl. Looks at all this flora and fauna. I gotta record it. What do you think, Domey?

Chromedome hits his head on branch: ow…. Yeah… Lovely.

Drift: How much further Jackass? Some of us seem to be getting tired.

Whirl: I think … I'm getting bored again….

Everyone: No!

Jackass: And here we are.

The transformers remain in awe. In front of their eyes appears a large white apparently very advanced structure.

Drift: This is where those 2 friends of yours live!?

Jackass: Yep.

Cyclonus: It looks like some sort of base.

Whirl: Or what's left of it. It looks like the last quarter of a huge donut that was left uneaten! Oh well let's get going.

Jackass: No wait!

Whirl takes a step forward and all of a sudden a loud alarm starts ringing.

Feminine voice: Alert! Unknown life forms detected. Deploying defensive measures.

From every inch of the structure guns stick out, aimed at the crew.

Cyclonus: Blast it! I knew this was a trap!

The robots are all pulling out their weapons preparing for combat.

Whirl: Finally! Some action!

Jackass: woah, woah, woah, sit your asses down! All of you! Pod! These guys are with me!

Feminine voice: Scanning… Scanning… Scanning… Android resistance member known as Jackass, identified.

The guns of the base are retracted just as fast as they're were pulled out. Then from inside the structure a small , cubical, floating, 4 armed drone comes out.

Pod153: Apologies for the hostile reception. Yorha Pod Unit Number 153, at your service.

Jackass: Yeah, yeah, nice to see you too. Are they inside?

Pod153: Affirmative. Units 2B and 9S are currently in the control room. Please follow me.

Drift: Yeah… we might have an little issue there.

Jackass: Which is…?

Jackass looks back to see the transformers leaned down next to the entrance looking at them.

Jackass: Oh… right. You guys are too big to fit in.

Rewind: Except for me and tailgate. We could come and see…

Cyclonus and Chromedome: OUT OF THE QUESTION!

Chromedome: We don't know what's inside. They could be knocked out, tied to slabs and be experimented on!

Pod153: Impossible, the bunker does not poses such analysis tools anymore.

Rewind: We still might find something that could help us! Besides , I wanna see how this thing looks on the inside.

Tailgate: And I don't want to let Rewind inside alone. Drift?

Rewind: Please?

Cyclonus: You're the leader, Drift. But I refuse to risk to send Tailgate in unknown territory alone!

Jackass: Chill out dude. Nothing's going to happen to them inside.

Drift: If the owners of this base can help us further our mission, then we have no choice but to risk it.

Cyclonus: Or tear this base apart and get what we need by force.

Drift: Cyclonus.

Cyclonus: …. fine.

Chormedome to Rewind: Be very careful in there.

Rewind: When am I not?

Cyclonus to Tailgate: If there's anything inside that puts in an uncomfortable position just scream and I'll come as fast as possible.

Tailgate: You worry too much. It'll be ok.

Pod153: Shall we?

Inside the bunker.

Rewind and Tailgate barely manage to squeeze through, despite being the shortest members of the crew.

The corridors which were once tidy and immaculate, drenched in white light are now dark and filled with piles of metal objects and tools.

Tailgate: Whirl was right. This place is a mess. There's scrap gathered everywhere.

Rewind: This ain't random scrap, Tailgate. Look closer. Fuel reservoirs. Titanium plates, gears, screws various types of cables, even body parts from those small mechs. These are building materials. Someone is building something here.

Tailgate: And I guess that something is here.

Tailgate points towards a locked door with a written sign on it.

Rewind: "No peeking until it's ready". Hmm….

Rewind just detaches himself from the mysterious door and another point of interest already catches his eye.

Rewind: Tailgate, check out these weapons.

Tailgate: Yeah, very interesting. Very elaborate designs. But shouldn't they be kept in like… a weapons room or something? Kinda weird to have a weapon rack here in the middle of a corridor.

Rewind: I don't think they have a choice, Tailgate. This entire structure seems like only a small section of something larger. Wonder how it ended up here? And what happened to the rest of it?

Tailgate: Um… Rewind, what do you think about this thing?

Tailgate points Rewind towards a large highly decorated slab of metal leaned against the wall full of carvings.

Rewind: "In the memory of those who fought and died for the glory of mankind". Looks like a memorial.

Tailgate: To whom? These aren't names. Looks more like a code. It's just … letters and numbers.

Rewind: Not sure about that. In times of war many cultures tend to deny their soldiers identities, even strip them of their real names using serials instead and treat them as merely cogs in the machine.

Tailgate: That sounds somewhat familiar.

Rewind: These guys must have been soldiers who fought during , I assume , whatever cataclysmic event that wiped out humanity. Which means this base must be extremely old. A few numbers seem to be missing though. A2, 2B, 9S…

Tailgate: There are 2 normal names, right here at the end.

Rewind: "Devola & Popola". Maybe they were leaders or something….

Pod153: Please don't fall behind.

Rewind: Huh?! Oh, my bad. I apologise.

As rewind the 2 robots walk down the corridor , getting closer to their destination, they hear music.

Tailgate: You hear that?

Rewind: Yes. Sounds like waltz. An earthen genre of music which accompanied a dance of the same name which would be performed at important events, often hosted by the upper class.

Tailgate: Not just the music. Someone's talking.

Male voice: 1, 2, 1, 2 ow.

Female voice: Sorry.

Male voice: It's ok. Please be more careful though. Again. 1, 2 , 1, 2 ow

Female voice: Sorry. Again.

Male voice: No problem. One more time.

Rewind: I'll take a wild guess and assume those are the hosts.

The 2 robots are finally catching up to Pod 153 and Jackass, who were waiting in front of a large door. Behind it, a large room opens in front of their eyes. There are a few desks with computer screens on them and one giant screen in the back of the room. All of them appear to be shut down. The waltz is at full volume. The only functioning source of light is a spotlight following a couple dancing. A boy and a girl, Both have snow-white hair and pale blue eyes, dressed in fancy black clothes. Despite the noise outside, they seemed unbothered. Too enthralled by each other to notice anything else.

Pod 153: Pod 153 to units 2B and 9S, We have guests,

-To be continued

Chapter Text

Part 2

Pod 153: Pod 153 to units 2B and 9S, We have guests.
Jackass: ‘sup. Those were some smooth moves. For someone with 2 left legs maybe.
9S: Jackass? Long time, no see. To what reason do we owe the pleasure?

(Peaceful sleep)

Jackass: Not much, I just thought it would be right time to pay you a visit. Even brought some new friends.
From atop the lift Tailgate takes a step forward and trips over the ledge falling on his face, startling 2B and 9S.
Tailgate grunting in pain: owww…
Rewind: You ok down there, buddy?
Tailgate: Yeah, I’m fine.
As tailgate gets up he notices he fell on one of the computers.
Tailgate to 9S: uhh…. Sorry, I hope that wasn’t anything important.
Rewind lands in front of Tailgate.
Rewind: Please excuse the clumsiness of my friend. We don’t mean you any harm.
9S: Well, I couldn’t really find the parts to fix any of them anyway. So no harm done I guess.
Rewind: I guess introductions are in order. My name is Rewind and this is Tailgate.
Tailgate: Hi.
Rewind: We are autonomous robotic organisms from the planet cyberton.
2B: Planet?!
In the next second 2B lunges at Rewind with her sword ready to cut the cybertronian to pieces.
Tailgate: Woah , wait a minute!!
2B shoves Rewind to the ground, holding her sword at his neck.
Tailgate tries to intervene but 2B outmaneuvers him with ease then throws him at the wall.
2B to Rewind: Why are you here?! What do you want, aliens!?
Rewind: Please! There’s no need for this! Like I said, we come in peace.
2B: Why should we trust you?
Jackass: Because I do!
2B looks in shock at Jackass: What? Why?
Jackass: I’ve seen one of them take down a goliath to protect 2 of my troops. They even spared the bastard’s life. They’re fine. Trust me.
9S: 2B… stand down.
2B takes her sword from Rewind’s neck then helps him get back up.
2B: My apologies, it’s just that…
Rewind: Oi, been a while since I’ve been pinned down like that. But I appear to still be in one piece.
9S: I’m really sorry for that. It’s just that we have a history with visitors from space. It’s a long story. I’m Yorha unit 9S, and this is unit 2B.
2B hesitantly: Nice to meet you. Why are you here?
9S: I was wondering the same thing. Jackass, Why did you brought them here?
Jackass: They said their were investigating the whole radio debacle we’ve had in the area for the past month. You felt it too, right?
9S: We did, yeah. Pod?
Pod 153: Aproximetely 343 hours hours ago, all radio frequencies have gone dark. Since that moment, this unit has been running constant checks.
Rewind: Umm sorry to barge in but you’re are wrong in one aspect. The radio signal isn’t down in a particular area. It’s planetwide.
9S: Planetwide?! Are you sure? How do you know that?
Rewind: Seen it from our ship, in the orbit. We came down with a shuttle along with a few others.
9S activates one of the computers to show them his results.
Tailgate: You said the computers are not working.
9S: Most of them don’t. I had enough materials to fix only one sadly. This island is pretty barren. Searched it far and wide for anything usefull but didn’t found much. All there was here was the control room and a lot of debris.
Jackass: Oh come on! I thought you’d have something good here that we could use.
9S: I only managed to restore one computer. All the data from the bunker’s main server is gone. All I have is whatever we have in our own memory banks.
Rewind: How do you even have energy?
9S: I installed a few solars panels. There isn’t much rain here, so they work fine.
Tailagte: And the metric ton of guns aimed at us at the entrance?
9S: Only a few of them work. They’re mostly to scare intruders.
Jackass: You gotta have something . Anything.
9S: Among the things I managed to put together was this radio anomalies scanner. Has been running non stop for the past month. But it’s limited in the area it can cover,
Jackass: Why don’t get the boat we gave you and check further from here?
9S: …. Uhhh
2B: … about that…

Several months ago. 2B and Pod 153 are fishing in the middle of the ocean.

2B reels back.
Pod 153: Report: fresh.
2B: Pretty small for a tuna. Oh well…
2B throws the tuna in a pile of caught fish.
Pod 153: Alert intense activity in the area.
2B: What?
Suddenly a giant fish jumps out of the water and bites half of 2B’s boat. In a desperate manoeuvre she quickly grabs the pod.
Her boat sinks loosing all the fish she caught.

Back to present

Tailgate: Ouch…
2B: Almost drained all of Pod’s battery trying to make it back here. And lost all the fish.
Pod 153: Upon analisys , I have concluded the fish which sunk our boat was a white shark.
9S: And since then, we’ve kinda been stuck here.
Jackass: Then it’s your lucky day! ‘cause we need your fancy yorha tech and you need transportation out of here. We can get one of the big guys carry you.
9S: Yeah that would indeed be useful.
Jackass: Although you seemed to have a pretty good time when I entered. Am I right or am I right?
Both 2B and 9S get embarrassed by this remark.
9S: I’ll… I’ll go get a few things we need. 2B, please stay with our guests.
2B: Got it.
Rewind: Is ok if I take a look around? This place is fascinating.
2B: It’s ok… I guess.
Stealthly Rewind starts recording the room.
Jackass to 2B: He seems to be functioning well. Did that tip I gave you helped?
2B: It did, yeah.
In an unexpected show of affection, 2B gives Jackass a hug.
2B: I couldn’t have repaired 9S without it. Thank you, Jackass.
Tailgate: Awww, that’s nice.
Jackass: Woah, where did that come from? What happened to Miss Silent Warrior?
2B is at a loss of words. Not even her knows exactly why she did it.
9S comes back dressed in clothers similar to the other soldiers.
9S: All right, gathered up a few things we might need. Also 2B? Put these on, we’ll have to blend in, just in case of other resitance members.
2B: You forgot something. I’ll be back in a minute.
2B returns wearing a green T-shirt.
9S: That T-shirt, huh? Hehe…
2B: It’s my favourite, you know that.

As the group is heading back outside they start to hear intense comotion coming from there.
9S: You said that more of you landed on the planet, right?
Rewind: Yeah, they’re waiting for us outside because they couldn’t fit throw the door.
Pod 153: Alert, intense combat activity in the area detected.
2B: That’s sounds encouraging.
Outside Whirl and Cyclonus are caught in a clash of fists.
(Song of the ancients - Atonement )
Cyclonus: You absolute LOONATIC!
Whirl: Yes, I AM! Haaaaahahahaha!
Whirl throws himself at Cyclonus pining him to the ground. Cyclonus upercuts Whirl in the face then continues with a kick.

9S: What’s happening here?
2B pulls out her sword and shoves 9S behind her.
Drift: Sheathe your sword, human.
Jackass: Android!
Drift: Android.
Siting down, leaned by the bunker stand Chromedome and Drift.
Drift: You’re in no danger as long as you keep your distance. This is just their way to pass the time.
Whirl grabs Cyclonus by the head and smash it by a rock. Repeatedly.
Whirl: Give up?
Cyclonus grunts: … not yet.
Whirl: What was that?
Cyclonus: I said…
Cyclonus elbows Whirl then gets up: I said not yet.
The continue to trade fists until Whirl misses, which gives Cyclonus the chance to throw him over the shoulder and then pin him to the ground.
Cyclonus: Do you yield?
Whirl: I!... ugh… Yes. I yield.

(back to Peaceful sleep)

Cyclonus gets up then lends Whirl a hand.
Cyclonus: That makes it 3 to 1.
Whirl: Sod it. Almost had you when I was smahing your face in the ground.
Cyclonus: Anyway. Look. They’ve come out. With 2 more androids.
Whirl: More fake fleshlings. Great.
Drift: I guess you two are the ones we came all this way here for.
Chromedome: You ok, Rewind?! Anything happened?
Rewind: A few things happened but we are ok.
Chromedome grabs Rewind and holds him to his chest tightly: Thank Primus, I was worried sick.
Rewind: You worry too much.
2B and 9S take notice of this gesture.
The giants introduce themselves. Despite having vast experience in interacting with mechanical beings far larger than themselves, the yorha as still awed while looking at them. Theire shapes, their colors, their speech patterns, all unkown to them.
9S: They all look …
2B: …unlike anything we’ve ever seen.
9S quickly snaps back to reality and introduces himself and 2B.
Drift: Nice to meet you. Now then. Jackass said you could help us with locating the source of this radio jammer.
9S: Yes, we do have this radio anomaly scanner but it has a limited range of 5 kilometer.
Cyclonus: And what exactly is you plan? Just run around with it hoping it will catch something?
9S: Well… more or less. I think we should check certain points of interest around city ruins first.
Drift: We already did that. And found nothing out of the ordinary except for lots of small , round mehcanical lifeforms everywhere. Even had quite a pleasant conversation about swordsmanship with one of them.
9S: Those are the machine lifeform who invaded the planet long ago.
Cyclonus: So they’re not originating from Earth.
9S: No, they’re not.
Whirl: I can’t believe it! These soda cans beat us to the invasion of this planet.
2B: What did you just say?!
Tailgate: Kidding. He’s just kidding. Right Whirl? Right?!
Whirl: Sure. Let’s leave at that.
2B drags 9S aside so they can talk in private.
2B: I don’t trust these guys. They seem dangerous.
9S: Me neither but we need a way of getting this rock and find something patch the bunker further. And solve the radio crisis.
2B: What if they try to pull something on us?
9S: Then we’ll find a way to pull through. Together. Like we did before.
2B hesitantly: hmm… ok… I trust you, Nines.

On the beach.

9S: This is how you came here?!
Whirl: No. The two of them came here on this. Me and Cyclonus flew here.
Drift: Hey, as long as it floats…
2B: Must’ve took you hours.
Chromedome to Jackass: Speaking of boats, where’s yours?
Whirl: There.
Whirl points towards a pile of debris siting further away on the shore.
Drift: Whirl? Why?
Jackass: His stiring at high speeds f-ing sucks. Now I’m gonna have to ride him on the way back.
(cricket noises)
Whirl: I don’t get it.
Jackass: What? You don’t have jokes in space?!
Tailgate: We do. It’s just that …
Cyclonus: That one was horrible.
2B and 9S: Agreed.
Drift: Anyway. Enough talk. You two will fly with Cyclonus in Rewind’s place. Jackass flies with Whirl since she wants it that much. Rewind goes on the boat with me and Chromedome. Everyone ready? Then let’s get moving. Cyclonus? Whirl?
Cyclonus and Whirl transform
9S: Wow! You can turn into vehicles?!
Tailgate: Standard cybertronian issue, ladies and gent. Need a lift?
2B and 9S get into cyclonus’ cockpit.
Tailgate: Siting well?
9S: A bit cramed but we’ll manage.
Cyclonus: Alright. Time to go.

Later across the ocean. 9S keeps looking around Cyclonus’ cockpit trying to learn anything he can but to no avail.

(City ruins / Rays of light)
9S: I checked our data base 5 times already. Nohthing. This tech is unlike anything I’ve ever seen either on the field or in yorha databases.
Cyclonus: Please stop poking around while I’m in the air.
9S: Sorry.
2B: At least we know for sure these guys aren’t connected to the machines in any way.
Tailgate: Sooooo… uh… What’s your story? Why were you two alone on that Island ?
9S: It’s … complicated.
Tailgate: Ok… how did you meet Jackass?
2B: We worked together during the machine war.
Tailgate: Those small grey guys? You were at war with them? But they seemed pretty harmless to us. They even had an Amusement Park.
Cyclonus: Appearences can be deceiving.
2B: Indeed. Despite their rudimentary design they were formidable foes, and quite a massive threat in large numbers.
Tailgate: I see. But I guess the war is over now, right? Since you were relaxing there by yourselves.
9S: Yeah. It’s been… almost a year since it ended. Isn’t it, 2B?
2B: Something like that.
9S: What about you? From what I understood you were coming here with other plans than to help us fix communications. What were they?
2B: And it better not be another invasion.
Tailgate: Truth is we are adventurers. Our mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no ‘bot has gone before. And have as much fun as we can in the process! Isn’t that right, Cyclonus?
Cyclonus: You just quoted Star Trek to them?
Tailgate: Thougth would be fitting.
Cyclonus: Heh… yeah. I guess it fits.
9S: That Chromedome seemed pretty concerned for Rewind’s wellbeing.
Tailgate: Should be expected. They’re conjunx endura after all.
9S: Conjunx… endure?
2B: Never heard that term before.
Tailgate: Didn’t think so. It’s a cybertronian word for someone you love and cherish more than anything in the universe. I think on earth it would be simply called a lover.
9S: I see.
2B: We’ve met machines which displayed behaviours similar to love. But it was hard to tell if it was genuine or not.
Cybertron: Many of our kind live their entire lives without ever having a conjunx endura.
Tailgate: Yeah. It’s a bit sad in a way. What about you? When we found you , you were dancing. Are you 2 together?
Both androids get flustered by this question. Neither of them manages to utter a single word to give an answer. Cyclonus takes notice of this behaviour.
Tailgate: umm… did I say some…
Cyclonus intrerupts Tailgate: We can already see the shore.
Tailgate: Wow, that was crazy fast. Where? I don’t see it.
Cyclonus: It’s uhh… right in front of us.
9S: I don’t see it either.
Cyclonus: My optics must be have a longer range than yours.
Tailgate: That doesn’t make much sense. Your optics are covered in robot mode.
It takes a while but the team reaches the shore without any incidents.
Jackass: Well that was fun. We should do this again sometimes.
Whirl: You’d like that, wouldn’t you?
Drift: Rodimus said we’d meet here once we’re back. Wonder where he is.
Cyclonus: INCOMING!
A giant machine falls from one of the buildings, almost splattering everyone were it not for their quick reflexed.
From the roof, you can see Rodimus and his team.
Rodimus: Oh good. You’re finally back. Only took you forever.
Team A jumps off the building to regroup with Team B.
Rodimus: I decided to take a more hands on approach with the locals to gather info.
Drift: Rodimus, you can’t just randomly attack people. And where’s Grimlock?
Magnus: In Rodimus’ defense, they attacked us first. And Grimlock left on his own. Again. Someone needs to teach him discipline.
Rodmus: Anyway…
Rodimus looks towards the yorhas.
Rodimus: I gather you two were the main objective of their little trip over the sea. I’m Rodimus. I’m the captain of this crew.
Once again the rest of the crew and the Yorhas exchange the typical pleasentries.
Rodimus: Now then, what do you got for us?
9S: We have this radio anomaly scanner. Now that we are on land it should be able to locate something and…
Warning beeps begin to chime out from the scanner.
9S: Already!?
2B: It’s at exactly 5 kilometers north west from here.
Warning beeps suddenly stop.
9S: And it’s already gone. Whatever it is, it’s on the move. We have to catch it quickly
Rodimus: We have our target. CRUSADERCONS. TRANSFORM AND RIDE ON!
Swerve leans towards 9S: I thaught him that line.
Rodimus: The 3 of you are with Ultra Magnus, he’s the safest to travel with.
Before the androids have a chance to get in from the far side of the ruin appears a resistance soldier shouiting.
Soldier: Wait! Captain!
Jackass: Yo, easy with the screaming. What happened?
Soldier: I’ve been ordered to escort you back to base immediately, ma’am. Commander Anemone wishes to speak to you. Face to face.
While Jackass and the soldier talk 2B turns her eyes towards the ocean, with serene look on her face.
2B: I’ve forgotten how beatiful the ocean looks on this side,
9S: It sure does.
9S slowly extends his hand towards 2B, she responds in kind. For a brief moment it felt like there was no worries in the world. Just the 2 of them and the ocean.
Jackass: Fuck me, and it was just starting to get good. Fine. Looks like you two are on your own from here.
Solider: Hey… you two look familiar.
Jackass: You have other priorities now soldier. Move!
Solider: Yes, ma’am!
Jackass leaves with the soldier leaving the Yorhas with the crusadercons.
Ultra Magnus: Alright. Time to get going. Which way?
9S: Scanner showed more than 5 killometers to the earth west. We’ll have to go through the desert.
Ultra Magnus: Understood.
9S: Feels like we are riding convoy.
2B: Yep. Certainly a lot more room than the jet.
Magnus: Do you wish to listen to some music?
9S: Sure, why not? You have alien music or something?
Magnus: I only have Rodimus’ playlist sadly.
Dare to be stupid by Weird Al Yankovic starts playing
2B: Sounds oddly human for alien music.

Later, far away from the ruins and deep in the desert.
(Memories of dust)
9S: I don’t get it. It we’ve been driving all this time but we’re not getting any closer. How fast is it?!
Rodimus: We need some eyes on the sky.
Magnus: Without the ship our energon in the field is limited, Rodimus.
Rodimus: Noted. Whirl and Cyclonus?
Whirl: Got it.
Cyclonus: If I am allowed to make this request Captain, would it be acceptable if take the one called 2B with me on scouting.
Rodimus is a bit perplexed by this request but agrees
Rodimus: Uhh…. Sure if you want to. I guess it’s no harm. Depends if she’s ok with it.
2B: Not a problem.

Later in the sky. Whirl, Cyclonus and 2B are scouting.
2B: Better not try to pull any trick on me, alien.
Cyclonus: I won’t.
2B: Then why did you brought me with you? I’m not really of any use here.
Cyclonus: No particular reason.
2B: On the way to the shore, why did you cut the other one short so suddenly?
Cyclonus: For some, expressing their true feelings is a more daunting task than picking up the sword or the gun. I guess I empathised.
2B: I see… Thank you.
Cyclonus: It was nothing.
2B: Was it hard for you? Expressing true feelings…
Cyclonus: Yes. It was. But I had some help.
2B: From the small white and blue one? What was his name?
Cycclonus: Tailgate. And yes. I met him when we started our first quest. He was clumsy loudmouth who was triying to befriend anyone he met.
2B: Is Tailgate your… What did he call it? The word he used for lover.
Cyclonus: Conjunx endura. And yes. He is. I assume this is the same case for you and the boy?
2B gets tense and clenches her fists from hearing this question, not knowing how to answer.
2B: I…. it’s complicated.
Cyclonus: But you do care about him, right?
2B: More than anything in this world.
Whirl: Yo, hornhead! 10 o’clock!
Cyclonus: This will be an issue.

With the convoy.
Swerve: So you actually never tried any sort engine oil based drink at all? You’re a mech for crying out loud!
9S: Well I’m sorry but I was too busy fighting a war for most of my life and after that there wasn’t any fuel on the island where the bunker crash landed.
Swerve: When were done here I’m treating to the finest cup of petrol on the lostlight. Though in your case a thimble might be enough.
9S: Sounds good.
Tailgate: Just to be sure, you don’t have to worry. Cyclonus might look scarry but he’s a really great guy when you get to know him.
9S: I’m not worried. 2B can take care of herself in a sticky situation.
Ultra Magnus: Swerve, Tailgate, let the boy focus on the task at hand.
Swerve and Tailgate: Sorry.
9S: We’re closing in now. I think it stoped.
Magnus: Dubious. It could be a trap.
Cyclonus and Whirl return from scouting.
Cyclonus: We’ve got bigger problems. A sandstorm is coming.
Ratchet: This will lead to overheating and cloging of our cooling systems, Rodimus. We gotta go back. Think of something else.
Rodimus: 9S said that our target is right ahead of us. If we stop now we might lose them. We gotta take this chance.
Ratchet: But…
Drift: Leave it, Ratchet. You know how he is.
Ratchet grunts in dissaproval.
Upon Rodimus’ order, the crew enters the sandstorm.
Ratchet: This is worse than thought, if we get sand in our engines, we’re gonna become monoformers soon.
Rodimus: Right. Everyone transform!
Whirl: I can’t see scrap in here!
Drift: How are we gonna fight if we can’t even see?
Rodimus: We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. How much longer to target?
9S: 1 kilometer.
Swerve: When I said I wanted to come to Earth, this is not even close to what I had in mind!
9S: 500 meters!
Tailgate: I think I have sand in my visor.
9S: 400 meters!
Chromedome: Stay close to me, Rewind.
Rewind: I’m right here, Domey. How are you 2 holding up?
2B: We’re fine, thank you.
9S: 200 meters.
Cyclonus: Even with this storm we should be able to see it from this close. I don’t like this at all.
9S: 100 meters. And… here.
Whirl: There’s nothing here! We walked through a sandstorm for nothing!!!
9S: This can’t be it. The scanner says we’re right on target. Something is here!
All of a sudden the ground starts shaking.
Tailgate: I think we found it.
From beneath the sand an army of machines of all shapes and sizes emerges, ready to fight.
Drift: Ambush! Get ready.
(Grandma-Destruction)
Everyone pulls out their weapons ready fight. A heated battle ensues. Bullets raining in all directions, swords hiting each other. Magnus smashing everything in his path with his hammer.
Ratchet: There’s too many of them! We gotta fall back!
Magnus: Agreed! They just keep coming!
9S: No! One of them is the source of the signal. We gotta find it!
9S struggles to keep track of the target and dodging enemy attacks at the same time. 2B doing her best to defend him as well.
From beneath the sand jumps a Goliath colored in black and red that tries to make a run for it in the middle of the battle.
9S: That’s it! That’s our target!
Magnus: You heard him! Destroy the red and black one!
Drift and Cyclonus make a break for it, cutting thorugh every machine that stands in their way trying to catch their target. In a desparete manuver, Drift tackles the goliath and pins it to the ground by stabing it’s massive arms.
Drift: Got it!
Suddenly the goliath extends his neck upwards.
Cyclonus: This doesn’t look good.
2B: EVERYBODY GET BACK NOW!
The emp hits the 3 at point blank. Soon as the other machines see it and follow suit, knocking out the smaller bots while scrambling the senses of the bigger ones.
Whirl: Great! One good eye and now that’s broken too.
Ratchet: What?
Whirl: What?
Chromedome: Rewind? Are you there? Where are you?
Rodimus: Everything is blurry. And loud.
Magnus: They hit us with emp!
Rodimus: Who said something?
Among all the chaos created, squad of smaller machines sneaks between the either unconscious or extremely confused heroes.
Machine soldier: This one?
Machine leader: Yes. And we need that one too.
Somehow Swerve manages to wake up. First thing he notices is the army of machines retreating with 2 smaller machines carring 9S and Rewind.
Swerve: HEY! Those bastards took Rewind. Guys!
Swerve looks around him. No one is able to help him.
Swerve: Looks like I’m on my own.
Swerve gets up and gives chase.
Swerve: Hey you! Give me back buddy! And the other buddy too!
Before he has a chance to catch up a goliath jumps in his way and grabs him as well.
Machine goliath: What do I do with this one, boss?
Machine leader: Take him with us! We can’t leave witnesses.
Swerve: Oh boy.

By the time the effect of the emp fades the army of machine is far out of sight. Dissappeard among the sand dunes. Everyone is just standing around, surounded by mountains of dead machines. The air feels cold and sober. Ratchet is running a diagnosis on 2B. During this time she finally comes to be.
(Blissful death)
2B: Ugh… where am I?
Ratchet: Good. You’re finally awake. You seem to have sustained only some minor damage. I was kind of unsure what I was doing exactly. I’m not familiar with the technology of your body.
2B: What happened?
Ratchet: They hit with an electromagnetic pulse. A strong one. Scramble the sensors of us the bigger bots and shut you the smaller ones down entirely.
2B: Where’s Nines?!
Ratchet’s expression turns grimm. He doesn’t answer.
Chromedome siting further away looking towards the horizon: They took him. Him and Rewind.
Drift: Swerve’s missing too.
Whirl: Oh no. Swerve is missing. What a tragedy.
Magnus slaps Whirl over the back of the head.
Magnus: Unfortunately no one saw which direction they took. So we have no leads.
2B: No.
Rodimus: We’re back to squre one. Actually we’re to square negative one because we’re missing some bots as well.
Everyone is debating what’s the next move.
2B tries to get up,barely manages to take a few steps ahead before falling on her knees.
Ratchet: Woah, easy there I…
2B: I promised him…. I promised…
Cyclonus takes notice of her and slowly approaches. His great sword in his hand.
Ratchet: Cyclonus, what are you…?
Whirl and Tailgate intervene.
Tailgate: Better take a few steps back, Doc
Cyclonus raises sword above 2B, preparing to strike.
Ratchet: Cyclonus, for spark sake…!
Cyclonus pushes his sword in the sand a few inches from 2B, instantly snaping her out from her crisis.
Cyclonus: The one you cherish most has been taken from you. What do you intend to do about it?
2B looks at him, then at her own reflexion in his sword. Seeing herself like this, she remembers what she is and what she has to do. She wipes her tears and gets up.
2B: I’ll find him. No matter the cost.
Cyclonus smirks at her: That’s the spirit. Now then…
Rodimus: Alright listen up, people! We still might a have a lead. As you can see we are surrounded by piles of dead machines! Maybe we can extract some information from some of them assuming their drives are still intact. We just need to find them!
Tailgate: This could take us hours!
2B: Decyphering enemy data was Nines’specialty, but I might be able to do it back at the bunker if we can find any.
Chromedome already diging: Then we better not waste any time.
The crew diging throw piles of scrap metal and machine parts for what feels like days, looking for a still functioning machine memory core. And in the end their search bears results.
Suddenly a beeping can be heard. Whirl removes a pile of scrap and finds a half torn stuby machine.
Whirl: Yo guys! I think I found something. This one’s beeping. I don’t know why though.
2B: It means it’s still transmiting a signal. We could check his data banks! But I need to get back to the bunker in order to do so.
Cyclonus: It will be much faster if we do so by air.
Rodimus: Right. Cyclonus will take 2B back to her base and what she can pull out of that ball. The rest of us will go back to the ruins… and wait, I guess.
Chromedome: Wait... right.
Cyclonus: Time for us to go.
2B and Tailgate: Alright.
Cyclonus, Tailgate and 2B take off with the machine head.

Meanwhile far away in a undisclosed location.
(Tower)
Swerve: Wakey, wakey. Earth to Nines. Comin’ Nines?
9S barely manages to regain consciousness.
9S: Ugh…
Rewind: Oh, good. You’re finally awake. We were a bit worried there.
9S: What happened?
Swerve: Those mooks pulled an emp blast on us, scrambled everyone’s brains and then took the 3 of us as hostages.
9S: Why?
Rewind: I can only assume they took you and me in order to take information from us. Swerve being here makes no sense, his mind is exclusively bad jokes and drinks.
Swerve: Yeah… yeah it’s true. Speaking of here, where are we?
Rewind: I’ve been trying to figure that out for the last hour. Everything around us is white and our bodies are see through like holograms. Tried to take a walk around but there are invisible walls everywhere. It appears we’re captives in some sort of digital space maybe?
9S: Looks like a hacking interface. It’s generated when Yorha units interface with other technologies. Let me run a few scans.
Rewind: Hacking interface you say. Interesting.
Swerve: More like extremely boring.
9S: No! This can’t be.
Rewind: What happened?
9S: This data structure. It looks like…
Machine voice: Like the Tower where you banished our Mothers, Yorha Unit 9S.
Suddenly behind the 3 heroes appears a machine. Nothing remarkable about it’s appearance.
9S:Who are you? You’re trying to rebuild the tower?!
Machine: My name is Aristotle. The tower cannot be rebuilt. We can only replicate bits of it.
9S: For what?
Machine: To get to Mothers.
Rewind: Who exactly is this ”Mothers”?
Machine: Mothers were the ones who guided us, nurtured us, gave us purpose. UNTIL HE BANISHED THEM FROM THIS WORLD!
Swerve: Nines, what did you do to this guy’s mother that made him so mad?
9S ponders on this question a bit until he finds his answer.
9S: You’re talking about the girls in red from the network, aren’t you?
Machine: They were our mothers! And you took them from us!
9S: They were your handlers. You were nothing but extentsions of them! Puppets on strings. Without them you are free to think and act independently. Many of your kind tried to do that even during the war. Why would you want to get back being a mindless drone?
The machine takes a long pause before answering bluntly: You can’t understand.
Rewind: Alright…. Next question then. Why did you kidnap us? I assume you have something personal with 9S but why me and my friend here?
Machine: Ever since you arrived on the planet we have been following you. Studying you. You have the means for us to reach Mothers. And we know you are the one who has the most information. We will use you and your ship to reach the stars and find Mothers.
Rewind: Knew it.
9S: NO! I WON’T LET YOU!
Machine: You don’t have choice. This prison was specifically made for you. You won’t escape. And you won’t stop us.
Rewind: Why you tell us all this though?
Machine: Because he had to know what he did to us. And why he deserves to suffer. Enough talk, begin data harvesting.
The machine disappears. Suddenly Swerve, Rewind and 9S begin to feel intense pain.
Swerve: Agh! What’s happening?
Rewind: I assume … this is …. data harvesting.

At the Bunker’s wreckage.
(Fortress of lies)
2B: I’ll use the main computer to scan his memoery core. See what information it contains. You two can wait here.
2B enters the bunker alone. Cyclonus and Tailgate stay behind but only for a short time.
Tailgate: Maybe I should go after her.
Cyclonus: Good call.
Tailgate catches on to 2B who is already in the control room at the computer, scouring through the machine’s memory, looking for answers.
Tailgate: What exactly are you looking for?
2B: Footage of their base of operations. They knew the sandstorm was coming and drew us deep in the desert to ambush us. Then used emp blasts to knock us out. Their attack was well organised. They would need a base to plan something this precise and with such a big number of troops.
Tailgate: Wow. You sound like a true military strategist.
2B: I was built as an all purpose combat android. That includes military strategy as well.
Tailgate: Right. My bad. I was built as a waste disposal bot,… and I’m not sure why I said that.
2B: Be quiet please. I’m trying to focus.
Tailgate and 2B spend hours looking through the records of the machine, searching for clues that might lead them to their commrades’ location.
Tailgate: Wow, this guy led a very long and tumultuous life, hasn’t he?
2B gets agitated and starts going through recordings at an accelerated pace leaving barely seconds of each to run.
2B: Damn it… damn it! Nothing here helps!
Trying to regain her composure she takes a seat with her head resting in her left palm.
2B: Pod, keep scanning.
2B takes a deep breath: Intel gathering really is a pain in the ass, isn’t it? I don’t know how Nines manages to do it so easily.
Tailgate looks concerned at her, thinking of a way to improve her mood.
Tailgate: Wanna hear a joke?
2B: No.
(Peaceful sleep)
Tailagte: I’ll take that as a yes! Wanna hear about how me and a few pals got Ultra Magnus drunk? You know Ultra Magnus. Huge, blue, white and red, you rode in him in the desert.
2B gives up and bites.
2B: That guy is massive. How did you managed to pull that off?
Tailgate: Well it wasn’t really on purpose. It started before we even arrived there…
Tailagte continues to narrate 2B about his stop on Hedonia. An effort that proves fruitfull as 2B’s mood slowly but steadly gets a bit better.
Tailgate: And then they literally drove him back to the shuttle and all agreed to never speak of this again.
2B: It was rude of you to leave Swerve alone like that.
Tailgate: None of us had any ideea what would happen when Magnus would wake up.
2B: Exactly. You never abandon your comrades. Especialy in an unknown situation.
Tailgate: Well now that you say it like I do feel kinda bad that we left him there. But what matters is that no one was harmed, right?
2B: That time.
Tailgate: Anyway, feelin’ better?
2B: A bit I guess. Thank you.
Tailgate: It was nothing.
Tailgate: I’ve been meaning to ask , is Nines a nickname or a petname or…
2B: Something like that.
Tailgate: So he’s like, your boyfriend?
Hearing this question 2B suddenly becomes mournful.
(Voice of no return)
2B: No, he isn’t.
Tailgate: That seemed to be case to me.
2B shakes her head and barely mumbles a few words
2B: I don’t deserve it.
She takes a short pause before continuing.
2B: 9S’s love. I don’t deserve it. Not after all the suffering I brought him.
Tailgate gathers his thoughts, trying to find a way to comfort her. But he doesn’t get the chance to say anything.
2B: But that’s not important right now. We must find a lead in the memories of this machine.
Tailgate: Yeah. Yeah, you’re right. Sorry.
2B: There’s no need for you to say sorry.
Tailgate: If you say so.
Pod153 intrerupts: Scan complete. Relevant data found.
Pod 153 displays on screen a recording of multiple goliath class machines carrying a giant spherical object in a hangar.
Pod 153: Unkown object detected in machine possession. However the color patterns match the provided description of the entity know as “Rodimus”.
Tailgate: That’s it! That’s the Rod Pod! Our ship that was stolen!
Pod 153: Begin playback.
Machince soldier: Why do we need this?
Machine commander: Leader intends to use it to reach the stars and find mother.
Machine soldier: How? We don’t know how it functions. We don’t know how to fly it.
Machine commander: But we will learn. The visitors will teach us how to use it.
Machine soldier: Why would they help us? We are already in conflict with them after Hegel attacked them in the desert.
Machine commander: The Leader knows. He will make and then he will shows. And soon we will be at peace again.
Machine soldier: At peace again.
Machine commander: At peace again.
Slowly each machine begins to chant: At peace again. At peace again. At peace again.
Pod 153: End of recording.
Tailgate: That last part sounded pretty freaky.
2B: Pod can you determine the location where this was recorded?
Pod 153 enlarges the footage, showing a familiar structure than can be seen in the background of the recording.
Tailgate: Looks like a castle. Or a fortress.
2B: It is! It’s the castle of the forest King. This base is somewhere in the mountains beyond the forest!
Tailgate: Oh yeah! We found our place! High five!
2B looks confused at Tailgate holding his hand in the air.
Tailgate: At least a down low?
2B: Um… pod?
Pod 153: High five was a human gesture which symbolises to being cooperating to a satisfying a result. Down low is an alternative version of high five. To peform, unit 2B must put her hand on the entity known as Tailgate’s hand.
2B: Like this?
2B slowly puts her hand on Tailgate’s.
Tailgate: Close enough. We’ll have to practice this. Later.
(City ruins / Rays of light)
Outside the Bunker Cyclonus stands leaned by the bunker, analysing his surroundings. The birds chirping, the cold breeze, the leaves ruslting, all new experiences for him. Steps begin to be heard coming from inside. Tailgate comes out, alone.

Cyclonus: Found anything?
Tailgate: Yep. Big time. We’ll talk more about it when we regroup.
Cyclonus: Good. Where is the android?
Tailgate: She said she has a few things to pick up.
2B: Sorry to keep you waiting. I’m ready now.
2B comes out of the bunker wearing a black dress, black boots and black eye cover.
Tailgate: Don’t get me wrong, That dress is very nice and all but we’re going to war right now.
2B: This used to be my combat uniform during my time as a Yorha soldier. Trust me, it’s well suited for battle.
Tailgate a bit perplexed: Ok, if you say so.
Cyclonus: I believe it is time for us depart.
Both 2B and Tailgate nod in agreement.

The team reuninites with the rest of the crew in the city ruins and begins to plan their next move. However Rodimus was slightly more eager than the rest.
Rodimus: What’s even there to discuss? We just go there get the rod pod and kick everyone’s ass.
Magnus: Rodimus, must I remind you how well our encounter in the desert went?
Rodimus: sigh… No. No you don’t.
Magnus: This time we need a well put together plan of attack. What do you know about this location?
2B: We know that is somewhere deep in the mountains. Far beyond the forest kingdom. But couldn’t determine the exact position.
Magnus: Then our only option is to get there scout tha area.
Ratchet: Always hated going blind into unknown territory.
Magnus: Most of us do but our intel is very limited.
Rodimus: Then I guess we have our… half a plan? Whatever. First we discover the exact location and then we think of a attack plan. Time to get going.
A worried Chromedome slowly approaches Ratchet.
Chromedome: You think he’s ok?
Ratchet: Rewind is a tough little bot. He survived worse. You know it better than anyone.
Chromedome: Yeah. Yeah you’re right. Guess I just needed a reminder.

(Forest kingdom)
Later, deep in the mountains. Rodimus, Ultra Magnus, Drift, Ratchet and Chromedome are waiting in their alt modes for the fliers to return from scouting the area.
Ratchet: Going from intense heat and dryness to intense humidity. This ain’t no place for a mech to live. At least when humans were around, they had cities with better climate control.
Rodimus: We know, Ratchet. We know. But we have to keep pressing on if we wanna get the rod pod and crew back. Btw way where’s Drift?

Ratchet: Went to talk with that blacksmith again. Said he’ll catch up.
Meanwhile the air teams returns from their scouting mission.
Cyclonus: We found it. About 15 kilometers east from here. It can barely be called a base. It’s just a hangar in the middle of the forest.
Whirl: Also someone cut the tin cans’s budget. Place was a bigger dumb than her home.
2B: That was uncalled for.
Cyclonus: Indeed. We saw no machine there. Almost as if the place was abandoned. No shields, no guards, no defense systems of any sort.
Magnus: No doubt a trap.
Rodimus: Except this time we’ll be ready for it.

As the team discuss Drift finally catches up.
Drift: My apologies for keeping you. But I asure you it was worth it.
Drift pulls out a new shiny set of swords crafted for him by Masamune, the machine blacksmith.
Ratchet: Yes, yes, very nice but we have somewhere to go now.

The team makes their way to the base. They position themselves atop a hill watching over the hangar. Ultra Magnus is cheching the area via binoculars.
Ultra Magnus: No sign of enemy whatsoever.
Rodimus: Maybe they’re all inside. Which gives us the perfact chance for an ambush.
Rodimus uses a stick to draw in the dirt an attack plan.
Rodimus: Ok everyone lisiten carefully! Here’s how it will go. We will ambush the structure from 3 sides.Whirl and Cyclonus will perform an aerial assault.
Whirl: Oooooh this is gonna be fun.
Rodimus: Drift, Chromedome, Tailgate, and 2B will sneak around the base and attack from behind.
Drift: Sounds simple enough.
Rodimus: Me, Ultra Magnus and Ratchet will storm the front gate. We will go first. Draw their attention. While the other 2 teams ambush them.
Magnus: Sounds good.
Rodimus: Everyone knows what they must do. Show time!

(Battle cry – Tf4)
The plan is immediately put into practice. Ultra Magnus smashes the front gate with his massive hammer. Whril and Cyclonus storm in through the ceiling. Drift and 2B cut their way in through the back wall. Unfortunately for everyone…
Rodimus: ALL RIGHT, TIN CANS! Give me back my ship and crew before I fill you with… bullets?
Everyone is absolutely flabbergasted by the complete lack of any machine inside the hangar.
Ratchet: There’s no one here.
Tailgate: This can’t be. We saw them loading the Rod Pod here! This place was crawling with these dudes.
Whirl: Well, now is emptier than Swerve’s when on Megatron’s poetry night.
Ultra Magnus: They must have moved it to another location. There must be a computer containing some shiping logs here. Spread out and investigate.
Rodimus: Man! And I had such a cool ambush planned and all.
Ratchet pats him on the back: Next time, Captain.
Drift: I found something!
Rodimus: At least this time it was quick.
Drift: Looks like an elevator. Leads underground.
Rodimus: Ok. Call it up then.
2B: Let me have a look.
2B checks out the panel and discovers there’s an entire facility hidden under the hangar.
Rodimus: Good. Maybe there we can finally can get some actual, concrete leads.
2B: There’s just one issue.
The lift arrives and opens, revealing a very small room.
Rodimus: Well that’s just great.
Drift: At best one of us could fit in alt mode, along with our smaller companions.
Rodimus: Ok. You go then. With 2B and Tailgate. Investigate the area.
Drift: As you wish, Captain.
Whirl: Wow, that was settled quick. Aren’t you gonna object in any way, Cyc?
Cyclonus: He is with Drift and 2B this time. I believe he will be alright.
Drift transforms and performs a flawless reverse parking inside the lift.
Drift: Alright then. Lets get going.

As the lift descends the tension grows with every level.. No one knows what they might found down there. Not even 2B who’s been in similar situations before.
The lift stops at the lowest floor of the facility.
Drift: Be on your guard.
The doors open. All that can be seen behind them is a dark and rusty corridor filled metal debris with and some dead machines.
Tailgate: Looks like someone beat us here.
Drift: Strange. Get behind me.
Drift tries to transform online to hit head by the ceiling. He doesn’t even have room to stand up right. His only options are to either stay in car mode or start walking on all fours.
Drift: I’ve forgotten how claustrophobic structures on this planet are.
The advance through the corridor cautiously.

Somewhere else.
(Tower)
Swerve: Why did they stop?
Rewind: They are probably extracting data in chunks so they can process it easier.
9S: That doesn’t make much sense though. Data processing is very fast. They’d have to process an immeasureable amount to need breaks.
Swerve: Yep. Sounds about right for my buddy right here.
9S: Huh?
Rewind: I’m an archivist. Recording is what I do. I record everything I do and also collect any record I can find. I have stored in my head millions of years worth of cybertronian history. And some other planet’s histories too.
9S: Did you say Millions of years?!
Rewind: Yeah. Our race has a long, tumultuous and sadly mostly violent history.
9S: Heh… not very different from our history then.
Rewind: Pretty much. Most guys I know who visited earth said the same. That in many ways we are not so different from humans.
9S: You met humans? Please tell me. I’d love to know more…
Rewind: Not me but during our war a lot of autobots and decepticons were stationed on earth and got to experience local customs at the time.
Swerve: Err, Guys? Sorry to interrupt your chit chat but we have more pressing issues right now!!!
Rewind: Sorry, my bad. I tend ramble a lot when I meet new people. We can talk about it later. Any ideea how to get out of here?
9S: I’m thinking about it. Can’t be tougher than Thunderwing, right?
Swerve and Rewind remain in utter shock hearing that name coming from 9S.
Rewind: 9S? How do you know about Thunderwing?

Back in the underground . As the crew continues to explore the abandoned facility they enter a giant room, filled with sylos, melting pools, assembly lines and at the center of it all a giant machine.
(The color of depression)
After a long and arduos corridor Dirft can finally stand up.
Drift: Finally. I can fully stretch my legs.
Tailgate: That’s a pretty big one.
2B: A goliath class machine. Designation Engels.
Drift: Been on the planet for a while already and haven’t seen any of these guys. Were they rare on the battlefield?
2B: Not really. At times they would send entire squadrons of such machines at once. We developed over time means to easily dispose of them.
Tailgate: Eh, we’ve fought bigger. Haven’t we?
Drift: Oh yeah.
Dirft and Tailgate do a fist bumb over reminiscing.
2B: Seems to be offline. Hopefully it stays that way.
As they cross the bridge passing by the head of the Engels, Drift begins to ponder on his suroudnings.
Drift: This factory… I sense… emptiness.
Tailgate: Well, the place is deserted. What else could you feel?
Drift: No. It goes deeper than that. Like all the inhabitans were … it’s hard to describe. As if this place was once was beaming with life but at the same time it never lived.
2B: In the beginning the machines were all sharing one mind. Controlled by a central intelligence.
Tailgate: So they were merely drones without their own will.
2B: Exactly. Only later they began to develop individual emotions and consciousness. Maybe that would explain your feeling.
Drift: I see. In every aspect this earth far different from what the one I know.
2B: You’ll have time to tell Nines all about it once we rescue him. He’ll want to know that. But for now we have more pressing matters.
2B opens the door to what appears to be a server room. Inside lies some computer desks and more machine bodies. Once again the room is too cramed for anyone bigger than Tailgate to move freely without causing any damage.
Drift: I’ll be honest with you two, this is becoming annoying.
Tailgate: Sorry.
2B takes the lead checking a computer. Tailgate watches over her shoulder.
Tailgate: Ultra Magnus said there should be shiping logs here.
While the two were focused on the computer they don’t notice that one of the dead machines is not quite as dead as it seemed. The machines get up and points it’s laser at them.
Machine: Die…. Android!
The machine’s scream startles 2B and Tailgate. Before they have the chance to react or the machine to fire, a shadowy figure appears out if nowhere and stabs the machines through the head, killing it instantly. As the dust settles it becomes clear who is the one who just saved their lives. A woman with beaitifull white flowing long hair, doning a black dress not too different from 2B’s. In fact, aside from the hair, appearance was nigh identical to 2B’s.
2B: A2!?
A2: You left yourself open there. This bastard could’ve vaporized you were it not for me.
Uneasiness, confusion, shame, guilt were only a few of the emotions running through 2B’s mind at the sight of A2. Once her enemy, then her last hope in her darkest moment. Now in the present she is still unsure where exactly the two of them stand one for the other. Despite this, 2B still manages to mumble a question for A2.
2B: What are you doing here?
A2: Same thing you do probably. Finding a way to restore communications.
A2 takes notice of Tailgate.
A2: Who’s he? Never seen a machine like this.
2B: He’s not a machine lifeform. His name is Tailgate. He’s with me. It’s a long story.
A2: Weird name. But as long as he’s not hostile it’s cool.
2B: How long have you been down here?
A2: About a day.
Tailagate: Are you the one who killed all those guys we found on the way here?
A2 raises her voice: What if I am? What are you gonna do about it?!
Tailgate scared: Nothing, ma’am.
A2: Good.
2B: Speaking if which, if you are here then is it also….

(Kaine - Salvation)
From the same dark corner from which A2 jumped , a small light shows up, which quikly reveals itself to be coming from a small floating rectangular drone identical to the one 2B and 9S had at their base. The drone slowly makes it’s way to 2B.
Pod 042: Hello, Unit 2B.
The unseasyness from earlier dissispates. 2B reaches out her hand at the pod and starts to pet him gently.
Pod 042: Report: Pleasant.
2B: It’s been a while, Pod. It’s good to see you.
2B notices something is written on Pod’s side, then turns towards A2.
2B: “Dumbass”?
A2: Calling him Pod 042 was getting annoying, I had to find something else to call him.
Pod 042: Therefore, this unit’s new designation has become “Dumbass”.
Tailgate: That’s kinda funny. I know a guy named Missfire. He can’t shoot to save his life.
Pod 042: Proposal: Unit 2B and this pod should exchange data to increase our success chances.
2B: Good ideea. You said you were here a day. What did you find in out until now?
Before they get the chance to chat, Drift bursts through the wall, seemingly trying to dodge something and lands right next to them.
Drift: You two! What did you do?!!
Tailgate: I don’t know, what did we do?!
Drift: Something that really pissed that guy off.
Tailgate: What guy?
Before Drift can answer the entire upper side of room is completely torn off by what appears to be a giant excavator arm then slowly retracts revealing it’s wielder. The goliath is online.
(Bipolar Nightmare)
Drift: That guy!
Pod 042: Analysis. This area is unfit to engage in combat with the Goilath. Proposal: Return to the surface.
Drift: No argument there.
Drift transforms into his car mode.
Drift: You 3 get in! Tailagate grab on.
A2: He wants us to get… inside him? No way! That’s weird.
2B grabs A2 by the hand and shoves her in the passanger seat, she gets in the driver seat and pod in between them. Drift immediately fastens their seatbelts then puts the pedal to the metal. The goliath doesn’t let off, hiting them with everything it got, be it lasers or brute force.
Tailgate: Here comes another one! Faster Dirft.
Drift: What the hell does it look like I’m doing!?
Pod 042”: Alert: Structural integrity of this platform is decresing. Also incoming debris.
Drift: Hold tight, gotta pull out some old moves.
Fiting of his name, Drift skilfully manages to evade every obstacle and attack coming his way. However the platform right before the elevator has collapsed.
Pod 042: Warning: Dead end ahead.
2B: Think you can jump it?
Drift: I have to jump it. Get ready.
Tailgate: Oh Primus…
Drift pushes the pedal to the floor. He baraly manages to cross the gap, landing right on the edge with his front wheels. Tailgate jumps off his back and grabs his front bumbper trying to pull him on solid ground.
Tailgate: Don’t worry, I got you. Come on…. Almost there…..
Tailgate pulls with all his strength while Drift keeps accelerating . Finally they manage to pull him back then rush inside the elevator.
Tailgate: Oh yeah! We made it!
Drift: That was too close. Nice work out there.
Tailgate: Eh, it was nothing.
Drift: You three ok in there?
2B: We’re ok, thank you.
Pod 042: Alert: Goliath signal is ascending.
Tailgate: What?!
A2: That bastard is climbing after us?
Drift: Good. Let him. He’s in for a surprise when we reach the top.

On the surface.
Cyclonus: Anyone else feels that?
Chromedome: This can’t be good.
In the next moment the goliath bursts through the floor throwing everyone off their feet.
Ratchet: Where did this guy come from?!
Rodimus: The ground. And he doesn’t look friendly. Shoot him!

(Sound of the end)
The lost lighters engage in a fierce battle with the goliath. Despite their larger number the odds still seem stacked against the bots. Engels unleashes the full power of his arsenal. Rockets , lasers and fists shaped like bucket wheels flying in every direction.
Whirl: Anyone ever took down a titan until now? We could reeeealy use someone within that area of expertise.
Rodimus: Sadly for us we left all the experts back on Cybertron.
Ultra Magnus: It must have a weak point somewhere.
Finally Drift and his team reach the surface , just in the nick of time .
Rodimus: Glad you could join the party. I see you found some new folk down there.
Drift: My apologies, captain. We’ll have to catch up once we deal with the issue at hand.
Rodimus: Any ideea how to take him down?
Pod 042: The goliath class designation Engels has highly resistant titanium armor and a large array of weaponry designed for all purpose combat. However, upon analysys I have …
Rodimus: Less words please!
Pod 042: His left shoulder is busted. Proposal: Hit him there very hard.
Rodimus: Thank you. Everyone! Focus fire on his left shoulder.
Drfit: I might have an ideea. Think you can keep him busy?
Rodimus: No problem.
Drift: Cyclonus , I need a lift.
Cyclonus: You’ll have it.
Cyclonus converts into jet mode and Drift grabs on to him. The two then take to the sky at super sonic speed.
Cyclonus: What exactly is your plan?
Drift: The great swords. At full output one slash should be enough to tear that arm off.
Cyclonus: I see.
Cyclonus turns back aiming for goliath left arm then converts into bot mode mid-air. The two pull out their swords and perform a synchronised attack.Their hits cut clean through goliath shoulder joint. It’s arm falls to the ground.
Rodimus: Oh yeah! That’s what I’m talking about!
Amongst the continuous firefight Pod manages to sneak by to the severed arm.
Pod 042: Initiating enemy unit subjugation.
Ultra Magnus: That won’t be necessary.
Ultra Magnus lifts the giant arm with his bare hands. A duel ensues between him and the giant in front of him. The goliath tries to defend itself but Ultra Magnus superior strength and skill proves to much for him, oblitering it’s right arm completely. As a last desperate attempt,the goliath opens his head and charges his laser. However…
Ultra Magnus: NOW, WHIRL!!
Out of nowhere Whirl lands on the giants head and sticks bombs all over it, after which he takes flight just as quickly.
Whirl: HEAD’S UP, SUCKER!
The bombs explode turning Engels head into ashes and burning scrap metal. What’s left of it’s body falls to the ground , shattering it.
With the beast defeated, the crew once again has a moment of respite.
Rodimus: Man, I needed that. I was starting to miss the rush. Anyone else felt that? Anyone?
Ultra Magnus: No Rodimus , we didn’t. With this base completely destroyed, we lost our only lead to find Swerve and Rewind once again.

(Pascal village)
Drift: That might not be the case, sir. We did manage to found something down there. Or rather, somenone.
Eveveryone’s eyes to turn to A2 and Pod 042, their potentially final source of info.
Rodimus: So you found a second, more raggedy looking 2B and another drone down there?
A2: Hey! Who are you calling raggedy 2B?
Pod 042: I am not a drone. I am Yorha tactical support unit number 042, also know as Dumbass.
Whirl: He calls himself Dumbass?
Drift: We’re deviating from the subject. I apologise for my friends but we are in a hurry. You’ve been in this base longer than us. Would you please tell us what you find?
A2: And why would I do that?
Tailgate: Uhhhhh…. Pretty please?
A2: How convincing.
2B: It’s okay. They’re trustworthy. I can vouch for them.
A2: How did you even get acquainted with weirdos?
2B: They… came to our door, basically. Said they needed our help to locate the source of the radio jamming signal.
A2: Ok. And what are you, exactly? You don’t look like any machines I’ve ever seen.
Rodimus: Because we’re not. We’re …
Whirl: Aliens! We’re aliens.
Hearing these words, A2 quckly pulls out her sword.
A2: Last time we had aliens on this planet, we had thousands of years of war.
Ultra Magnus: I asure you, we don’t seek any conflict with the locals of this world. We are here simply to help.
Drift slowly leans down towards A2.
Drift: I could have just left you down there with the giant. But I didn’t. Isn’t this proof enough that we mean you no harm?
A2 ponders over this statement a little while, then without a word sheates her sword back.
A2: Show them what we found, Dumbass.
Pod opens up a holographic map of the world.
Pod 042: This base was merely a transportation hub. The true location of their main base can be found at these coordonates.
Rodimus: That’s it? You just give a set of coordonates with no further details?
Pod 042: You said you want less words. I complied.
Ultra Magnus: Ok. Now a little more intel would be nice. Who are these guys? What do they want? Why did they kidnap our 2 crewmates and her friend?
Rodimus: And why did they steal my Rod pod?
A2: These guys took 9S?
2B: They did.
A2 doesn’t say anything in return.
Pod 042: Upon further investigation within the acrhives of this base , we have discovered that this particular group of machines objective is to leave this planet. However their due to being cut off from the network their resources we’re limited. So they resolved to stealing everything they can.
Ultra Magnus: So they plan to use our ship to leave Earth. But why kidnap Rewind and Swerve?
Pod 042: Query: Do the entities called Rewind and Swerve present any particular traits that could aid the machines in achiving their goal?
Chromedome: Rewind is an archivist. His data banks hold vast amount of information on various domains. Piloting ships included.
Pod 042: Hypothesis: The machines intend to use Rewind’s data to learn how to pilot your space ship.
Ultra Magnus: Still doesn’t explain why they took 9S and Swerve too.
Tailagte: I think this is the right moment to mention this. So when me and 2B were checking data we found in that head there was a recording of some of these machines doing a weird chant. Something about being “at peace again”. And before that saying they want to find their “mother”. Any ideea?
Pod 042: More data required to form a hypothesis.
Rodimus: Guess we’ll have to go there and find out. Now where did you say this main base of theirs is?
Pod 042: The coordonates have already been marked on map.
Rodimus: Alright, let’s see and….. scrap.
Ultra Magnus: The Kamchatka peninsula, formerly belonging to Russia. We gotta cross the sea of Japan to get there.
Rodimus: Well that’s just great! And how do we do that?! Swim?
Ratchet: Only if you wish to rust extremely from the salty water.
Rodimus: I was being facetious.
Drift: Maybe we could ask the resistance to lend us a ship?
Ultra Magnus: The chances of them having a ship large enough to fit all of us is slim at best.
Tailgate: What if we use that guy?
Rodimus: The giant?
Tailgate: Yeah. We could like... turn his body into a makeshift ship of sorts.
Rodimus: Hmmm, not a bad ideea.
Ratchet: Except our only issue is that we don’t have any sort of tools or resources other than raw materials to build a ship here.
Rodimus: You sure about that? Because I have a feeling that we might find everything we need down there. Besides, big boy opened a door big enough for all of us to go and search.
Ratchet: I... uh....sigh Yeah, I got nothing.
Rodimus: Execelent then. The three of you can wait here if you like.
A2: Sure, wouldn’t mind some r&r.
Rodimus: As for the rest of us, we split again. Been doing that a lot today. Ratchet, Ultra Magnus , Chromedome and Tailgate will scrap that big guy for parts. The rest of us will scour every inch of this place for anything. that might help build a ship so we can get our friends back. That’s an order!
Everyone: Yes, sir!

Meanwhile.
(Tower)
Rewind: How do you know about Thunderwing?
9S: I ...I’m not sure. He was a Decepticon who went insane as a result of a failed experiment and ravaged the planet Cybertron. But why do I know this?
Swerve: Must have something to do with this data extracting thing they’re doing to us.
Rewind: That ... sort of makes sense. Maybe the process is piling our memories together before extracting because we are conected in the same network or something.
9S: Maybe... Does this mean you two can see my memories as well?
Rewind: Probably.
Hearing this 9S gets tense. However he manages to not show it.
Rewind: Though it make take a while until something from either of you two comes up. My memory storage is quite a bit larger than of the average cybertronian.
Swerve: “A bit larger” he said. As if he doesn’t have the entirety of cybertronian history in that head of his.
9S: The entire history of your species? For what purpose?
Rewind: Mostly for posterity.
9S in a sad and pensive tone: Posterity ... I see...
Rewind: Something bothering you?
9S: No, it’s nothing.
Swerve: Any of you got ideea how to get out of here? ‘cause i got absolutely nothing.
9S: I could try to hack their security but they have eyes on us around the clock. If we could make them lose sight of us for a few minutes i could generate some decoys and break the barriers. Then we could freely travel around their system unseen and look for an exit point to unplug ourselves.
The extracting process starts once again, causing the three heroes excruciating pain. And then stops not long after.
Rewind: Better find a soulution fast. Who knows how long I will be able to withhold the important stuff.
Swerve: Hey, look at the bright. Maybe they’ll run out of storage before they managed to get anything usefull.
9S: Run out of storage... That could work.
Swerve: What could work?
9S: You said you were withholding data from them. Can you do the oposite? Next time they extract, feed them much data as you can? The more worthless the better.
Rewind: I think so. Worth a shot i guess.
They don’t have to wait long before the next jolt hits them. In that moment Rewind uploads as much data has he can.
Outside the system, multiple machines are siting at computers and working on analaizing and decifiring the data they collect. An arduous process that requieres patience and focus, even from machines.
Suddenly entire process comes to a screeching halt.
Machine analist: Storage full.
Machine Captain: What? What do you mean “storage full”?
Machine analist: Exactly as it sounds. Our data banks are at maximum capacity. The entire system is frozen.
Machine Captain: Well, fix it then!
Mchine analist: Understood.
Inside the system.
Swerve: Huh. I guess it worked. The entire place broke.
9S: So it does. I have to act quick.
Using his ingeniosity, 9S quickly hacks in and tears down the barriers holding them captive.
9S: I believe that’s our cue to leave. And just to be sure.
9S then proceeds to generate 3 holograms of him, Rewind and Swerve.
9S: They won’t even know we escaped.
Swerve: Ha ha! SWEET! You’re a genius.
9S: All part of the job. Now quick , gotta find an exit point and unplug ourselves.
Rweind: Won’t we be surrounded by enemies if we unplug without their knowledge?
9S: Don’t worry. I’ve got it covered.
With the decoys set in place Swerve, Rewind and 9S begin their search for an escape route from the crudely built network . However, not long after that Rewind Suddenly falls on his knees and grabs his head pin.
Swerve: Yo, you ok, mate!?
Rewind: I’m ... hearing something. A sword fight. And someone crying.
What Rewind hears is soon followed by images. Of someone looking at their own bloodied hands. Their vission is blurry. They’re standing on their knees over the corpse of 9S.
(Blissful death)
2B: Damn it… damn it… DAMN IT. WHY!? WHY CAN’T YOU JUST STAY AWAY!? FOR ME.
I can’t… I can’t … go on like this.
While Rewind is seeing this, Swerve tries his best to snap him out of it.
Swerve: Come on, Rewind, talk to me.
Rewind: I’m fine. Just a bit shaken up. I just saw something pretty intense.
Swerve: Okaaaay, care to fill me in?
Rewind: I think it would be better if I let 9S do it.
9S stops dead in his track and without looking back and Swerve and Rewind asks them:
9S: So you’ve seen one of those huh?
Swerve: Rewind, what’s this all about?
Rewind: I just saw a memory that wasn’t from my database. However if it was yours i would’ve seen from your point of view. Am I wrong 9S?
9S: You are correct. The memory you saw ... was 2B’s.
Rewind: But, she was...
9S: Killing me. Yes.
Rewind: Why?
9S: If you really want to know I promise I will explain everything once we get out of here. We don’t have time for that right now.
Perplexed by the what he just witnessed, Rewind decides there’s nothing he can do now but accept 9S’s answer and continue their search for an escape route.

Back at the former battlefield.
(Pascal village)
The cybertronians are working their gears off trying to turn the former giant into a transportation vehicle.
Ratchet screaming into the crevasse: Found anything yet?
Whirl: Yeah! Scrap. Loads of scrap. And these shiny yellow rocks. They seem useless too.
Cyclonus: That’s called gold, Whirl.
Whirl: What’s it good for?
Cyclonus: I don’t know.
Rodimus: How about you? How is is going up there?
Ratchet: Well...
Behind Ratchet, what was once a torso now is just more metal debris cobled into massive piles. Tailgate slowly pulls something out of one only to be drowned in metal.
Ratchet: Better than you I think.
Tailgate: This looks like it could be usefull.
Ultra Magnus: Tailgate, that’s book. A fairy tales book.
There is a short pause.
Ultra Magnus: Why was there a fairy tales book inside a machine?
Tailgate: Maybe he liked to read?
Ultra Magnus: It would truly be a shame to discover now that this machine actually had an intelect.
Whirl inside the hole: Eureka! I found it!
Rodimus: What? What did you find?!
Whirl: Something cool.
Whirl is holding in his hands what appears to be a machine laser.
Drift: That doesn’t look safe.
Whirl: It very likely isn’t!
Without a second thought, he points and shoots. The weapon releases a massive beam of red energy. The recoil knocks Whirl back making him drop the weapon.
Whirl: Boy, that’s got some zip. I’m keeping it.
Rodimus: Damn it, Whirl.
Further away from all the commotion, A2, 2B and Pod are siting next to each other in awkward silence. Neither of them knowing what exactly to say, or even if there is anything to say. Even so, 2B tries first. Although cuatious and unsure of what to say, 2B tries to spark a conversation.
2B: So... You look different.
A2: I guess.
2B: It looks good on you.
A2: Thanks.
2B: Where did you get it?
A2: Are you triyng to make small talk right now?
2B awkwardly: Yes. Maybe?
A2: Well don’t. It’s annoying.
Pod 042: Engaging in casual conversation with unit 2B has a high chance of improving emoțional state of both units. Proposal: Try to talk to unit 2B.
A2: Fine. This Dumbass insisted I should stop walking around naked. Found some old yorha gear at a merchant and bought it. I can only guess he snatched it from some dead yorha soldier.
Pod 042: Unit A2’s previous attire was unfit for combat. Also upon analisys I had comcluded that her appearance like a what can be considered “a hussy”.
A2: I don’t even know what’s a hussy but i feel offended right now and I want to stab you.
Pod 042: Probability of unit A2 to attack this Pod is below 1%.
A2: Shut up or i’m using this sword on you.
Pod 042: Probabilty. Below. 1%.
A2: Pff, whatever.
Seeing the banter between the two, 2B can’t help herself but half-smile and giggle a bit. A gesture that shocks A2.
A2: Didn’t even knew you could that. Ain’t this a surprise.
2B’s mood quickly shifts back to her usual gloom.
(Fleeting words - family)
2B: Yeah, I guess it is.
There is a short pause.
2B: I had given up hope. That a time like this would ever come.
A2: Yeah,things are really different now. Sure, there’s still bad guys around looking for trouble but certainly fewer than back then. It’s strange.
2B: A2? Are we still…
A2: No.
2B: But …
A2: Without Yorha around there’s no point in us being enemies. Wouldn’t you agree?
2B: Yeah. You’re right.
A2: As for 9S, don’t worry. We’ll get him back.
2B: I’m not worried about that. Wherever he is, I’m trust 9S can take care of himself.
A2: Then why the long face?
2B: ….
Whirl climbs atop the pile of metal.
Whirl: I am Optimus Prime and I send this message to any surviving autobots, taking refuge among the stars. I … want some petrol!
Rodimus: Whirl! Get down from there we have work to do!
Whirl: Ugh. Fine, mom!
A2: They sure are a lively bunch, aren’t they?
2B: You could say that.
A2: You still didn’t answer my question.
2B: …
A2: You’re still hung up on that, aren’t you?
2B: Hung up on what?
A2: Your mission as a type E.
2B: How did you know?
A2: I still have your memories, remember? Up to the point I killed you.
2B: I remember.
A2: Moping around about it will help no one. Least of all 9S.
2B: I know. But I can’t stop thinking about it. I’m a type E. I was built to kill my comrades. Even more so, I was built kill him. I’m a monster.
A2: So what?! 9S already said he forgave you. What else matters?
2B: Then why do I still feel it? This pain in my chest whenever I look at him.
A2 doesn’t respond.
2B: And yet, despite this feeling…
2B eyes begin to tear up. And with a gentle smile she says:
2B: ... these past few months I got to spend with him, alone, have been the happiest I’ve ever had.
To be continued…

Chapter Text

Chapter 0.5
1 year ago,
Warning beeps begin to chime out.A heartbeat can be heard.
9S: Nnngh ...
2B: N-Nine ...s ...
9S: Where ... am I ...? 2B, what did I ...?
2B speaks through tears.
2B: I'm so glad ... I'm so glad you're ...
9S: How can I be…?
Pod 153: Good morning, 9S
Report: Unit 9S ceased activity approximately 1523 hours ago. Following that, us tactical support units reconstructed your parts. Along with units 2B and A2. The virus previously inside you deactivated along with the tower's collapse, and remains in suspension, any further damage has been repaired by unit 2B.
9S: Right… the machine tower… I remember it. Along with everything that happened there.
9S looks towards 2B with a stern look. 2B pulls back from him and wipes her tears.
Both get up. 2B barealy manages to stand up due to damage. The skin on her hands peeled off completely revealing inner frame and circuitry and her body is full of cuts and bruises.
9S: 2E
2B is not shocked to hear her true name coming from 9S. Calm yet cautious she answers honeslty to each queation 9S addresses her.
9S: Do you remember everytime you did it? Or you were required to wipe your memory after each?
2B: I remember.
9S: How many times did you do it?
2B: 48.
9S: I see…. So once every few weeks I would do something I shouldn’t and you would be ordered to kill me, am I correct?
2B nodded silently.
9S: I sure am thick-headed, aren’t I?
There is a pause.
9S: Did you knew? About the reason behind Yorha? About why we exist at all? Or what we are?
2B shakes her head silently.
2B: I would just receive my order and follow it. Nothing more.
Without saying a word, 2B pulls put out her sword.
9S looks completely calm at her, not a single tense muscle.
2B: We’ve been through this a few times before.
Pod 042: Alert, in the curent state unit 2B is not capable to engage in combat.
2B: I don’t intend to fight.
2B points the sword towards herself.
2B: I can’t give you back what I’ve taken from you. No matter how much I’d wish.
9S in a calm yet stern voice while slowly walking closer to her: I know. It was your mission. To kill androids. Your commrades in arms. Countless times.
9S grabs the sword slowly, 2B closes her eyes, ready for the final blow.
9S: All those memories I lost. For no good reason…
9S raises the sword ready to strike then sticks it into the ground with all his strengh, then hugs 2B. 2B opens her eyes in disbelief.
9S: It’s ok ...
(Faltering Prayer / Starry Sky)
9S: I can only imagine how painfull it was for you. But it’s ok now. The mission is over.
2B: Even after all the suffering I’ve caused you …
9S: I forgive you.
Hearing these words coming from 9S, 2B starts to cry like she never did before. Clinging tightly to 9S’ chest and sobbing to the point she can no longer control her breath, choking on the air she inhales. Yet her tears were not of sadness, but of relief. Like a dam bursting inside her, letting emotions flood every inch of her being like never before.
2B: But…
9S: It’s ok. Cry as much as you need to. Let your emotions run. The machines, the war… yorha… they’re all gone now. And yet... we’re still here. We’re alive. We made it.
9S raises his head and look towards their pods.
9S: Protocol dictated that all Yorha information must be deleted upon completion of the project. Who gave you the authority go against that?
Pod 042: … … … … I did.
2B and 9S look towards Pod 042.
Pod 042: Upon thorough analysys I have come the conclusion that I cannot accept the complete destruction of units 2B, 9S and A2. Pod 153 agreed with this decision.
Pod 153: Pod 042 was almost destroyed in the process.
9S: I don’t even know what to say.
Pod 042: You can say: thank you.
2B and 9S continue their moment, feeling as if they’re holding each other for the first time after an eternity apart. Leting every single emotion run free. Sadness, anger, fear, joy.
Pod 042 turns towards a neighbouring building. Scaning it he sees a silhouette hidden behind a wall. Closing in to check it he sees A2, leaning towards the wall, hands cross with a lost look on her face.
Pod 042: …
A2: I didn’t ask you to repair me.
Pod 042: Affirmative.
A2: Then why? I didn’t want this. I spent all this time fighting machines and nothing else, I was ready to die in that tower. I…
Pod 042 doesn’t say anything.
A2: Whatever. Just… tell those two good luck with whatever they wanna do from me, will ya?
A2 then turns back, jumps of the building and leaves.
Pod 042 returns to 2B and 9S.
2B: Pod? The last order I gave you before I died. It still stays.
Pod 042: Acknowledged.
Pod 042 follows A2 but it is stoped by Pod 153.
Pod 153: Pod 153 to Pod 042: Do you intend to leave with unit A2?
Pod 042: Affirmative: It is my mission.
Pod 042 looks towards 2B and 9S one last time .
Pod 042: Take good care of them.
Pod 153: …. You too of her.
Pod 042 catches up to A2.
A2: Stop following me.
Pod 042: Negative. This pod has been tasked with providing support for unit A2.
A2 gives a small chuckle: Fine, do whatever you like.
The two are last seen walking away towards the forest.
Pod 153: Query: Shouldn’t units 2B and 9S look for a location to provide maintance?
9S: Crap, that’s right! I completely forgot about that. I’m so sorry.
2B wiping her tears: It’s ok.
9S: Is the resistance camp still in one piece?
Pod 153: Afirmative
9S: Good. We’ll start from there and after that… guess we’ll find out. Together. Right?
2B: Right.
9S: Can you still walk?
2B: I think so. yes.
As the 2 are approaching the camp caught off guard by a shot from a resistance member.
9S: What the…?!!
Resistence member: 2 Yorhas! Call the commander!
9S: No wait! We’re not the enemy.
Anemone: You’re Yorhas. The ones who kept up the lie.
9S: You’re wrong we…
Anemone: I don’t wanna hear it. This is your only warning. If you step any closer we’ll open fire.
Anemone nods towards the other soldier, gives him something, then leaves.
9S: Wait please…
The soldier throws a rock at 9S.
Resistence member: You heard the commander. Leave.
9S: But…
2B: Let’s go, 9S. We are no longer welcome here.
9S: This is wrong.
Pod 153: Report: Data storage device detected.
9S: Storage device. Where?
Pod 153: There.
Pod 153 Points towards the rock. 9S picks it up and sees a large hole on it’s side,in which a device is hidden.
9S: Well, what do you know. Pod.
Pod 153: Scanning…. No threats detected. There is only one file.
9S: Open it.
Pod 153: There is only one text message. It reads: “Talk to Jackass.”
9S: Jackass…
2B: She suggested I should dig in the remains of the tower to find a way to reboot you.
9S: She might still be willing to help us. Let’s go.
The two turn back heading for the desert camp when 2B suddenly falls.
9S: 2B!
Pod 153: Alert: Unit 2B’s leg is badly damaged due to maintenance failure. Left leg movement unavailable.
2B: My leg. I …
9S grabs 2B and lifts her up.
9S: It’s ok. The desert camp is not very far. I’ll carry you there.
2B: Thank you.
The androids are closing in on the desert camp only to be greeted the same way.
9S: Pod! Offensive actions
Resistence member 2: Here they come!
Jackass: Lower the guns, dumbasses. Both of you.
Both Resistence member and 9S lower their weapons.
Jackass: Anemone told you to piss off, didn’t she?
9S: Pretty much. But we really need help, 2B is in criticall...
Jackass: Not much you can do here. I can give you what you need to patch her up but you’ll have to leave after that.
9S: Why is everyone treating us all of a sudden like we are the enemy? We don’t mean any harm to anyone!
Jackass: Because everyone knows where Yorha came from and how you were made. You’re lucky I can even let you stay here. You have about 5 minutes before the guys get pissed and open fire again. Also take this.
Jackass throws 9S another storage device.
9S: Pod.
Pod 153: Scanning…. No threats detected. There’s 2 files. One is a set of coordonates and the other is an encrypted text file.
9S: These coordonates are far outside the city ruins. Anyway, decrypt the other file while I patch 2B.
As 9S is working on 2Bs leg he is reminded of the Twins and their history. The similarity between Devola and Popola’s story and their current conundrum is not lost on him.
2B: What’s wrong?
9S looking contemplative: hmm? Nothing. I patched your leg. I don’t know how well will function so take it slow. Can you walk now?
2B: Yes. Thank you, Nines.
9S gets embarrassed: Nn… no problem.
Jackass: Alright, time to go.
9S: Ok.
2B: Where to now?
Pod 153: Decryption complete.
The file reads:
I don’t know if you actually knew the truth about humanity or you were lied to by your leaders like the rest of us. But you 3 did help us many times when we needed and for that I thank you. But not many other resistence members feel the same and they deemed Yorhas as enemies. Even more so than they did with the twins.
Go to the Flooded city. There is a boat that will help you reach those coordanates. Only people who know about that place are me , Jackass and her team. No one will bother you there, I promise.
I’m sorry but this the best I can do for you.
Good luck.
Anemone.

9S: Huh… Guess that’s where were headed for now.
As they are making their way through the city ruins they hear a familiar and very annoying song.
2B: I know that song.
9S: Yeah. Emil!
Emil: Prices so low/ That you need a great sword to slash them more. Oh hello! You wish to buy something?
9S: Emil! You’re okay! I thought you were dead. It’s so good to see you.
Emil: Um, excuse me but… do I know you?
9S: oh…
Emil: You might have met another Emil. There’s plenty of us around.
A strong feeling of sadness hits 9S realising the one who stands in front of him is not the same Emil he once knew.
9S: You’re right. My mistake. Sorry.
Emil: No problem. You want to buy something?
9S:We still have some money left. He might have something I can use to properly repair 2B.
9S: Ok. Let me see.
9S keeps searching through Emil’s stash of junk hoping to find some parts he could use.
9S: Damn it. There’s nothing useful here.
Suddenly notices a stash of clothes which once again reminds him of something.
9S: 2B! Come here a bit. Look at these.
2B: What is it?
9S: Pick a color. Whichever you like.
9S points towards a pile of T-Shirts
2B: What?
9S: I promised we’ll do this once the war is over, right? So go on. Which color you like?
2B gives him a gentle smile: You pick it for me.
9S: Why?
2B: I don't tend to look at my own clothes, so, you should focus on what your own favourite colour is, and I'll wear that.
9S feeling a little better: I see
9S: Ok then. Here. a nice vibrant green, like nature's life and growth!
2B: It’s beautiful.
9S: I’m glad to hear that. Ok, let’s to the flooded city.
Emil: Thank you for shoping to Emil’s . See again next time.
Emil leaves playing his song again.
2B and 9S make their way to the shore of the flooded city.
9S: I wonder if it’s still there. I’ll be back in a minute.
9S goes forward looking for 2B’s crashed flight unit, to no avail.
9S: It’s gone. Someone must’ve took your flight unit,2B.
2B looking very pensive.
2B: Did you find the message i left in it?
9S: I did, yeah.
(long pause)
9S: Remember what you said in it?
2B gets all tense, clenches her fists, afraid of what she should say, then remembers what 9S said earlier.
(9S: I forgive you. You can cry as much as you need to. You don’t have to hide your emotions anymore. )
2B: I do.
9S: Could you… say it again please? I want to hear it coming from you.
2B closes in on 9S and puts her hands on his cheeks and looks him straight in the eye.
2B: I said the time I was able to spend with you it was like memories of pure light. And that I…
9S interrupts her: Memories… that I no longer have...
Hearing the melancholy 9S’s voice fills 2B once again with sadness and regret. Pressing on her heart like a hot iron. She takes eyes off not knowing where to look in a vain attempt o hide her shame.
9S slowly puts his hand over hers.
9S: But you still do, right?
2B quickly turns her eyes back on him. They light up with hope but at the same time still hold a semblance of caution.
2B: I … Yes.
9S: Could you show them to me? All the time we spent together. I know they won’t feel like my own, but I still want to see them.
2B: Are you sure you about that? They aren’t all happy memories.
9S: I’m sure. Those memories were the only thing that kept me going ever since I was activated for the firs time. I want to see everything again. The good and the bad. When we reach those coordinates, will you show them to me?
2B: Yes. I promise. And also…
2B begins to tear up.
2B: I promise you’ll never lose any new memories. Ever again. And they’ll all be happy and…
Seeing her like this came as a bit of shock for 9S. He has never seen her like this. Like the 2B standing in front of him was a new person, full of hope and emotion. In that moment all 9S was joy . But despite that he knows this is still a stuggle for her, so her tries to cut the tension with joke.
9S: Man , when you I said you can let your emotions free, I didn’t expect you’d be such crybaby, ma’am.
In that moment,2B does something she never did in her life: she gives a chuckle that quickly turns into laughing. 9S follows suit.
2B: Don’t… Don’t call me ma’am.
9S: Whatever you say, ma’am.
Pod153: Query: Shouldn’t units 2B and 9S look after the boat mentioned in the message?
9S looks around: You mean like that one?
What he points at is a small rusty boat not bigger than car. The androids get on the boat as quickly as they found it.
9S: It’s pretty old but it should hold on. Pod , how far is are the coordonates?
Pod153: Aproximately 336 killometers South-East of our current location. It would take approximately a full day of sailing to reach the location.
9S: Ok, guess we’re off.
9S looks back to the city ruins one last time before sailing to the unkown. The sea is calm and journey peaceful. 2B spends her time fishing while 9S is sailing.
9S: I wonder what the resistence found that they decided to keep secret for us.
2B: It could very well be a trap.
9S: I know. Be on your guard.
Pod153: Alert: Land ahead. Reaching coordoantes location.
Before them appears a piece of land filled with trees. It’s still unclear wether it’s an insland or something wider. The boat reaches the shore. 9S gets off the boat and then lends 2B a hand.
9S: Guess this is it. The location of the coordonates are 500 meters ahead. We’ll have to walk from here.
9S takes lead as the 3 begin to venture into the deep jungle. The jungle is thick and their road filled with branches. 9S uses his sword to cut through them. It doesn’t take long to reach their destination though.
9S: Alright. We reached the location. Wonder what we … will… woah…
2B: I can’t believe it!
Before their eyes it is revealed the secret the resistence leader kept for them. Siting on a field surounded by jungle, away from was the city ruins, stands the crashsite of the Bunker.