Episode tie-ins
Title: Detonation Imminent
Rating: K+
Realm: TF Prime
Character(s): Wheeljack, Ratchet
Summary: Explosions happen. They occur more often when not all possible outcomes are considered, and steps not taken to minimize the catastrophic blow-ups.
Prompt: Ratchet/Wheeljack - “Another Fine Mess you’ve gotten me into”
BOOM!
Broken objects, shattered parts, shredded slabs of metal, perforated remains of obsolete tools dropped from the sky, bouncing and clattering when they hit the ground.
The rain of now useless slag lasted momentarily. When the last pings died away, mechs and humans emerged from shelters and bunkers.
Ratchet looked at the blast zone. It was clear and clean, possibly emptier and whiter than it had been in decades, except for the concentric blacked circles now burned into the floor. “Wheeljack!”
The Wrecker poked his head out, into the line of fire. “Yeah, Doc bot?”
“I told you to never call me that!” Snapped the medic. He shook his head. “What in tarnation were you trying to do? Blow the base sky high?”
Wheeljack examined the walls - or what remained of the human structure. “Nothing so grand, Ratchet. Just upgrading the concussion impact of my grenades.”
“You” Ratchet growled. Did you even stop to think about what a stronger blast could do to our human allies? OR one of us if we’re too close when the weapon explodes?”
Wheeljack shook his head. “We need something that will stop the Predacons in their tracks.”
“So you continue your potentially deadly experiments even though Shockwave’s lab was destroyed? Along with all the samples and clones?”
“Hey, Ratchet,” Interjected Smokescreen. “Just because one lab blew up doesn’t mean it was the only laboratory.” Behind him, Miko, wearing the Apex Armor she stole from Starscream, nodded in agreement. “And considering how many partially fossilized bone relics the cons managed to unearth, we could be facing another wave of - What did you call them?” Smokescreen twisted around.
Miko rolled her eyes. “Dragons.”
“Right - robot dragons.”
Ratchet threw his hands up. “Just stop endangering the locals, Wheeljack. I don’t think I can take another one of Agent Fowler’s calls any time soon.”
Title: Juggler
Rating: PG
Series: TF Prime Cartoon
Characters: Starscream, Knockout
Summary: Some know when to throw in the towel. Others keep on trying, always striving to do better than their previous best.
Prompt: Knockout/Starscream - Surviving Another Day
Starscream walked past a sentinel Vehicon. He coughed when the mech inside the guarded room didn’t even glance his way.
“Go away, Starscream.” Knockout put down the beaker, picked up a different vial. “Thanks to you and your precious schemes, I am not in our liege’s good graces.”
Starscream strolled forward, fiddled with a circular device that looked unimportant. “That’s not new.”
“It is to me!” Knockout grabbed the object. “Until Breakdown and I were recalled to the Nemesis here on earth, we were living the life.”
“And now Breakdown is dismantled and you are under constant supervision.” Starscream continued the complaint he’d heard too frequently over the last several days. “Think of the opportunities arising from reporting directly to Shockwave - it is the most envious position for future advancement.”
“Funny, I don’t see you knee-scraping to Shockwave.” Knockout turned around, his arms were folded across his chassis. “Every time you come to mea, you bring forth a plan that gets me in trouble.”
“Not every time,” Protested the air-commander. “The Destruction of the nonviable Predacon clones succeeded beautifully.”
“… That was only successful because Megatron wanted your particular insight in shifting the blame.”
“Can’t blame a bot for trying.”
Knockout shook his head, turned back to his equipment. “I am in the middle of a very sensitive experiment.”
“What ever for? Shockwave is in charge of the Synthigon research.”
“All of which exploded when Shockwave’s lab blew. However, he did give me permission to make a new batch, and even enhance it. Provided I report every failure, every dud batch, every mishap when I learn of them.” Knockout raised a metal optic brow. “I do believe he consideres your presence in the medbay a detrimental effect.”
“Fine,” Starscream stormed off. “See if I offer my help or expertise again.” The seeker left, bypassing the same sentinel Eradicon. “Honestly, the only way to survive in this dreary place is to always have some kind of plan in motion.”
Title: Empty Speeches
Rating: General Audiences
Verse: Transformers Prime
Characters: Skyquake, Optimus Prime
Summary: Words alone cannot persuade everyone. Words accompanied by evidence and proof are more conducive, but may not be enough.
Prompt: Optimus Prime/Skyquake - In Another Age
“Megatron lives,” Skyquake shouted to the heavens. “As long as he is alive, no other shall have my allegiance!”
Bumblebee stepped forward, intending to attack the large seeker, stopped his forward motion when Optimus Prime lifted one arm.
“Megatron may live, but the Decepticons are led by Starscream.”
“So the half-squeak said when he woke me from stasis.” Skyquake took a giant step from his cryogenic coffin. “No true Seeker forces another to bow or serve a fellow Seeker.”
“I do not seek Servitude, Skyquake. I seek alliances and friendship - the war has cost Cybertron much. If we cannot accept that old prejudices must be done away with, then Autobots and Decepticons both are doomed.”
“I will not give you what you seek. I cannot ally myself with those who fight against Megatron or his cause.” Skyquake warned the large wheeled mech.
“Megatron fights for the freedom of all living Cybertronians. Or he did once. Now, Megatron seeks for supremacy, tossing aside all who will not submit to his leadership.”
Bumblebee turned his attention from one speaker to the next, keeping his questions to himself. It was not his place to interfere.
“A strong leader united the Decepticons. Is it wrong to accept his goals as our own?”
“When any disagreement - even a simple suggestion to fix holes in security or arrange for plans to advance with a reduced loss of troops - results in that officer’s deactivation?”
Now, Bumblebee started looking for loose rocks in the canyon floor - or outcrops to hide behind. He started shifting his weight, getting ready to attack or flee on command.
The yellow bot’s actions were noticed but not commented on. “You claim Megatron is arraigning himself as a dictator. That is clearly a false accusation for Starscream is his Commander.”
“And as Megatron’s lead commander, shouldn’t you be willing to submit to Starscream’s authority?”
“You twist my words, Prime.” Skyquake crouched down. “I intend to check Megatron’s status myself. Then, only then will I come back to destroy you.” The green Seeker leapt up, thrusters engaged and he flew off.
Watching the Seeker fade in the distance, Bumblebee twittered a question.
“Skyquake is a mech of his word. He will indeed satisfy himself that the Megatron now leading the Decepticon army is the same Megatron who sought to restore Cybertron to its former glory. Then, and only then, will Skyquake move against us.” Optimus Prime folded into truck form. “Ratchet, bridge us back.”
Bumblebee had another question before they left the dry desert floor.
“An implied offer of continued neutrality is better than a resumption of enemy action.”
More beeps and whistles.
“No, Bee, the energon Skyquake stood guard over is long gone. Used in the war before we arrived on earth.”
Title: Second Chances
Rating: K - Everyone
Universe: Transformers Prime Cartoon
Character: Dreadwing
Summary: Megatron knew about the offer Prime set before Dreadwing. He took steps to ensure Dreadwing could not, in good fath, accept the opportunity to leave The Decepticons.
Prompt: Optimus Prime/Dreadwing - Remaking the choice
Dreadwing stood on the bridge of the Decepticon warship. The frown gracing his visage left the vheicons wondering what about the ships status struck the new commander as inexcusable and wrong.
Sadly the list was long. Too much had broken down in the eternal war, never been properly repaired or replaced. The ship’s weapons drained too much power, even in standby mode. With the little energon harvested, the troopers barely had enough to keep themselves fueled - to waste the crystals on keeping the weapons warn when there were only five Autobots on the entire planet? And the human sensors didn’t even know they were orbiting the planet!
The available defensive weapons were laughable. The offensive took priority, but keeping the warship from falling into the gravity well, stranding the cons proved even more important in the grand scheme of things.
Of all the cons on board The Nemesis, only Soundwave remained unaffected by the tensions running from the greatest to the least.
Even Megatron despaired at his crew’s inability to utterly destroy the world below in one broad pass.
Dreadwing was not studying the readouts. His optics were not focused on the status reports, or the maintenance logs. He was lost in thought.
It had been so easy to lump Optimus Prime with the other Autobots as an enemy. They killed his brother, fought against the advances Megatron proposed, and kept Seekers ground-bound, stifling the wings.
Yet, the loyalty the Prime had shown - to stand beside a doomed lackey, accept his deactivation along with the walking dead trooper - had never been the Decepticon norm. While not unheard of, that stanch unwavering trust in allies was a rear commodity among the cons.
By itself, that one act of Optimus was not enough - nowhere near enough for Dreadwing to consider changing allegiances.
Starscream’s consistent and continued presence by Megatron’s side might have been enough to tip the balance. The seeker, who’s every act, every word, revealed the lack of concern for others, his cowardice proved contagious in the ranks of the underlings.
With Starscream gone, exiled, banished, or dead, Dreadwing cared not. Except the power that one held, now rested in his servos. That authority meant Dreadwing could begin to undo some of the damage the craven seeker had left behind.
If not for that self-appointed task, if not for Starscream’s absence, if not for Soundwave’s stoic presence if not for Megatron’s gifting of First Lieutenant to Dreadwing, the deep-space Seeker would have been tempted to accept Optimus Prime’s offer.
He was still tempted, but the choice had been made. He was not one to go back on a decision. And yet, if there ever can an opportunity for Dreadwing to work alongside Prime, without breaking his oath to Megatron, he would take it - no hesitation.
It would provide the perfect opportunity to study how the Autobots, the long-time hated oppressors, operated - and see if Optimus Prime was more worthy of his loyalty than Megatron.
Rating: K+
Realm: TF Prime
Character(s): Wheeljack, Ratchet
Summary: Explosions happen. They occur more often when not all possible outcomes are considered, and steps not taken to minimize the catastrophic blow-ups.
Prompt: Ratchet/Wheeljack - “Another Fine Mess you’ve gotten me into”
BOOM!
Broken objects, shattered parts, shredded slabs of metal, perforated remains of obsolete tools dropped from the sky, bouncing and clattering when they hit the ground.
The rain of now useless slag lasted momentarily. When the last pings died away, mechs and humans emerged from shelters and bunkers.
Ratchet looked at the blast zone. It was clear and clean, possibly emptier and whiter than it had been in decades, except for the concentric blacked circles now burned into the floor. “Wheeljack!”
The Wrecker poked his head out, into the line of fire. “Yeah, Doc bot?”
“I told you to never call me that!” Snapped the medic. He shook his head. “What in tarnation were you trying to do? Blow the base sky high?”
Wheeljack examined the walls - or what remained of the human structure. “Nothing so grand, Ratchet. Just upgrading the concussion impact of my grenades.”
“You” Ratchet growled. Did you even stop to think about what a stronger blast could do to our human allies? OR one of us if we’re too close when the weapon explodes?”
Wheeljack shook his head. “We need something that will stop the Predacons in their tracks.”
“So you continue your potentially deadly experiments even though Shockwave’s lab was destroyed? Along with all the samples and clones?”
“Hey, Ratchet,” Interjected Smokescreen. “Just because one lab blew up doesn’t mean it was the only laboratory.” Behind him, Miko, wearing the Apex Armor she stole from Starscream, nodded in agreement. “And considering how many partially fossilized bone relics the cons managed to unearth, we could be facing another wave of - What did you call them?” Smokescreen twisted around.
Miko rolled her eyes. “Dragons.”
“Right - robot dragons.”
Ratchet threw his hands up. “Just stop endangering the locals, Wheeljack. I don’t think I can take another one of Agent Fowler’s calls any time soon.”
Title: Juggler
Rating: PG
Series: TF Prime Cartoon
Characters: Starscream, Knockout
Summary: Some know when to throw in the towel. Others keep on trying, always striving to do better than their previous best.
Prompt: Knockout/Starscream - Surviving Another Day
Starscream walked past a sentinel Vehicon. He coughed when the mech inside the guarded room didn’t even glance his way.
“Go away, Starscream.” Knockout put down the beaker, picked up a different vial. “Thanks to you and your precious schemes, I am not in our liege’s good graces.”
Starscream strolled forward, fiddled with a circular device that looked unimportant. “That’s not new.”
“It is to me!” Knockout grabbed the object. “Until Breakdown and I were recalled to the Nemesis here on earth, we were living the life.”
“And now Breakdown is dismantled and you are under constant supervision.” Starscream continued the complaint he’d heard too frequently over the last several days. “Think of the opportunities arising from reporting directly to Shockwave - it is the most envious position for future advancement.”
“Funny, I don’t see you knee-scraping to Shockwave.” Knockout turned around, his arms were folded across his chassis. “Every time you come to mea, you bring forth a plan that gets me in trouble.”
“Not every time,” Protested the air-commander. “The Destruction of the nonviable Predacon clones succeeded beautifully.”
“… That was only successful because Megatron wanted your particular insight in shifting the blame.”
“Can’t blame a bot for trying.”
Knockout shook his head, turned back to his equipment. “I am in the middle of a very sensitive experiment.”
“What ever for? Shockwave is in charge of the Synthigon research.”
“All of which exploded when Shockwave’s lab blew. However, he did give me permission to make a new batch, and even enhance it. Provided I report every failure, every dud batch, every mishap when I learn of them.” Knockout raised a metal optic brow. “I do believe he consideres your presence in the medbay a detrimental effect.”
“Fine,” Starscream stormed off. “See if I offer my help or expertise again.” The seeker left, bypassing the same sentinel Eradicon. “Honestly, the only way to survive in this dreary place is to always have some kind of plan in motion.”
Title: Empty Speeches
Rating: General Audiences
Verse: Transformers Prime
Characters: Skyquake, Optimus Prime
Summary: Words alone cannot persuade everyone. Words accompanied by evidence and proof are more conducive, but may not be enough.
Prompt: Optimus Prime/Skyquake - In Another Age
“Megatron lives,” Skyquake shouted to the heavens. “As long as he is alive, no other shall have my allegiance!”
Bumblebee stepped forward, intending to attack the large seeker, stopped his forward motion when Optimus Prime lifted one arm.
“Megatron may live, but the Decepticons are led by Starscream.”
“So the half-squeak said when he woke me from stasis.” Skyquake took a giant step from his cryogenic coffin. “No true Seeker forces another to bow or serve a fellow Seeker.”
“I do not seek Servitude, Skyquake. I seek alliances and friendship - the war has cost Cybertron much. If we cannot accept that old prejudices must be done away with, then Autobots and Decepticons both are doomed.”
“I will not give you what you seek. I cannot ally myself with those who fight against Megatron or his cause.” Skyquake warned the large wheeled mech.
“Megatron fights for the freedom of all living Cybertronians. Or he did once. Now, Megatron seeks for supremacy, tossing aside all who will not submit to his leadership.”
Bumblebee turned his attention from one speaker to the next, keeping his questions to himself. It was not his place to interfere.
“A strong leader united the Decepticons. Is it wrong to accept his goals as our own?”
“When any disagreement - even a simple suggestion to fix holes in security or arrange for plans to advance with a reduced loss of troops - results in that officer’s deactivation?”
Now, Bumblebee started looking for loose rocks in the canyon floor - or outcrops to hide behind. He started shifting his weight, getting ready to attack or flee on command.
The yellow bot’s actions were noticed but not commented on. “You claim Megatron is arraigning himself as a dictator. That is clearly a false accusation for Starscream is his Commander.”
“And as Megatron’s lead commander, shouldn’t you be willing to submit to Starscream’s authority?”
“You twist my words, Prime.” Skyquake crouched down. “I intend to check Megatron’s status myself. Then, only then will I come back to destroy you.” The green Seeker leapt up, thrusters engaged and he flew off.
Watching the Seeker fade in the distance, Bumblebee twittered a question.
“Skyquake is a mech of his word. He will indeed satisfy himself that the Megatron now leading the Decepticon army is the same Megatron who sought to restore Cybertron to its former glory. Then, and only then, will Skyquake move against us.” Optimus Prime folded into truck form. “Ratchet, bridge us back.”
Bumblebee had another question before they left the dry desert floor.
“An implied offer of continued neutrality is better than a resumption of enemy action.”
More beeps and whistles.
“No, Bee, the energon Skyquake stood guard over is long gone. Used in the war before we arrived on earth.”
Title: Second Chances
Rating: K - Everyone
Universe: Transformers Prime Cartoon
Character: Dreadwing
Summary: Megatron knew about the offer Prime set before Dreadwing. He took steps to ensure Dreadwing could not, in good fath, accept the opportunity to leave The Decepticons.
Prompt: Optimus Prime/Dreadwing - Remaking the choice
Dreadwing stood on the bridge of the Decepticon warship. The frown gracing his visage left the vheicons wondering what about the ships status struck the new commander as inexcusable and wrong.
Sadly the list was long. Too much had broken down in the eternal war, never been properly repaired or replaced. The ship’s weapons drained too much power, even in standby mode. With the little energon harvested, the troopers barely had enough to keep themselves fueled - to waste the crystals on keeping the weapons warn when there were only five Autobots on the entire planet? And the human sensors didn’t even know they were orbiting the planet!
The available defensive weapons were laughable. The offensive took priority, but keeping the warship from falling into the gravity well, stranding the cons proved even more important in the grand scheme of things.
Of all the cons on board The Nemesis, only Soundwave remained unaffected by the tensions running from the greatest to the least.
Even Megatron despaired at his crew’s inability to utterly destroy the world below in one broad pass.
Dreadwing was not studying the readouts. His optics were not focused on the status reports, or the maintenance logs. He was lost in thought.
It had been so easy to lump Optimus Prime with the other Autobots as an enemy. They killed his brother, fought against the advances Megatron proposed, and kept Seekers ground-bound, stifling the wings.
Yet, the loyalty the Prime had shown - to stand beside a doomed lackey, accept his deactivation along with the walking dead trooper - had never been the Decepticon norm. While not unheard of, that stanch unwavering trust in allies was a rear commodity among the cons.
By itself, that one act of Optimus was not enough - nowhere near enough for Dreadwing to consider changing allegiances.
Starscream’s consistent and continued presence by Megatron’s side might have been enough to tip the balance. The seeker, who’s every act, every word, revealed the lack of concern for others, his cowardice proved contagious in the ranks of the underlings.
With Starscream gone, exiled, banished, or dead, Dreadwing cared not. Except the power that one held, now rested in his servos. That authority meant Dreadwing could begin to undo some of the damage the craven seeker had left behind.
If not for that self-appointed task, if not for Starscream’s absence, if not for Soundwave’s stoic presence if not for Megatron’s gifting of First Lieutenant to Dreadwing, the deep-space Seeker would have been tempted to accept Optimus Prime’s offer.
He was still tempted, but the choice had been made. He was not one to go back on a decision. And yet, if there ever can an opportunity for Dreadwing to work alongside Prime, without breaking his oath to Megatron, he would take it - no hesitation.
It would provide the perfect opportunity to study how the Autobots, the long-time hated oppressors, operated - and see if Optimus Prime was more worthy of his loyalty than Megatron.