six prompt reply
Title: Mixmash chaos
Author: Rose0mary
Characters: Knockout, Carly, Ratchet
Rating: K
Continuity: Prime, Generation1, Animated
Summary: Confusion arises when mechs (and humans) from one realm drop into a different universe - all looks the same at first glance, but history rarely remains the same.
Prompt: 1. the 2013 Master List. (19th Jan #4 Challenge: pick three characters before reading the rest of the prompt. Now think of a film. The characters you've chosen end up at a drive-in cinema/movie theatre together. The film you thought of is playing. What happens?)
Knockout held himself very still. How could they have found him? More importantly, how did they sneak up beside him, without his noticing their arrival?
The Decepticon despaired. He’d wanted to see this movie, just to get an idea of the powers and abilities trained humans could use against Megatron’s forces. (Starscream would never learn where Knockout got his information on the secret wards humanity waged against themselves)
“Ooph.” The human girl cried out. “Is this the afterlife?”
What a STUPID question, Knockout froze, biting his instinctive response. The Autobot - one he hadn’t recognized - answered for him.
“Pit no. This ain’t even close to The Matrix.”
And you’d know this how, old Geezer? Knockout mentally shouted.
“Am I dreaming then?”
Knockout continued to be floored. How could humans not recognize what was right in front of them? He listened to the stranger’s response.
“Autobots don’t dream,” came the flat, clipped tones. “Recharge is recharge, no dreams, no nightmares, no … whatever this is? And what the scrap are we watching?”
That was it! Knockout transformed. “I am trying to understand how mutants came about - and what ploys might be used so they don’t attack me!” He toward over the human and the still-disguised Autobot.
The Autobot transformed so fast, he almost clipped Knockout’s chin. “Haven’t you ever heard of fiction?” Drawled the old mech. Then he took a second look at the purple emblem. “Knockout? Since w hen have you chosen to be a Decepticon?”
“Since forever!” Knockout snarled. He paid no attention to the human by their feet. If she was smart, she’d run away. “Who are you and when did you get to earth?”
“The designation’s ratchet - and I’ve been here on earth for the last thousand millennia or so.” Both traditional enemies looked at the human when she chocked.
“Ratchet?” She gasped. “Don’t you remember me, Carly?” Her wide eyes focused on Knockout. “I don’t recognize you - and I should, since I’ve seen every bot and con that’s visited earth since 1982.”
“Nineteen eighty-two?” Ratchet and Knockout repeated in stereo.
Carly nodded. “First confirmed sighting was in March 1982, near an off-shore oil refinery. The world leaders have kept a public eye on the bots ever since that skirmish.”
“Public? You mean the whole world knows about our existence?” Again, they spoke in unison.
Carly nodded again, puzzled by their behavior. The X-Men movie continued playing, forgotten by the Autobot and Decepticon, in favor of figuring out how three at-odds history could meet up. Knockout could see in Ratchet’s optics that what this human Carly revealed didn’t compute.
Then, finally, old Ratchet groaned. “Nexus. It’s the only explanation.”
“Nexus?” Knockout asked astonished? “I thought it was a myth - and that only Transformers could access it.” He glared at Carly, irked that she failed to be terrified by his scary face.
“Apparently not.” Ratchet gestured towards Carly, somewhat astonished that the two robots walking about hadn’t even been noticed by the other humans.
The human had had enough. “Can we just watch the movie? I haven’t been to a drive-in theater in forever!”
Ratchet traded an uneasy glance with Knock-Out.
The red Decepticon shrugged. As long as they did nothing to touch his paint, he’d leave them alone - and watching the time-elapsed news documentary seemed like a fabulous idea to him.
The red-and-white Autobot transformed, letting the human female climb inside, spreading mud and dirt everywhere.
Knockout resumed his earth-altmode, making sure he had plenty of distance to himself. No way was he going to risk the movie-goers squeezing by his frame! Their keys and metal studs might scratch the paint or ding his frame.
Title: Berry Delicious
Rating: K
Characters: Carly, Spike
T-Verse: Generation 1
Summary: Humans have to eat too! And nothing tastes better than what one grows and cooks themselves.
Prompt #2 Blueberry
Carly Witwicky walked along the small garden, slowing a bit as she stepped closer to the bushy plants.
Spotting a blue morsel, Carly plucked the berry and put it in her mouth. She savored the burst of flavour. “Just right.”
Deftly, her petite hands wove in and out among the thin, short branches and leafy twigs, grabbing the small pieces of fruit. She looked up as her husband shoved his way through hthe hedge. “Morning Spike.”
“Morning Carly.” Spike kissed his wife’s cheek. “Blueberries in the oatmeal? Or is it blueberry pancakes and muffins?” He asked, helping her collect the bite-sized bits.
“I was thinking a homemade blueberry pie.”
Spike’s brown eyes lit up. “Dad’s recipe? Yum! How may I help you, my fair lady?”
Title: Recycle, Reduce, Reuse
Rating: K
Characters: Jack Darby
T-Verse: Prime
Summary: One man’s trash is not always a valuable treasure.
Prompt #3 Recycling
Jack Darby dragged the last bag outside. He flung it into the waiting dumpster. He wiped his brow, even though the night was cool, inside it was still hot.
He looked up at the star-filled sky, wondering what it would take for him to find a better life outside Jasper, Nevada. Jack loved his mom, but there was nothing else holding him to this old desert town.
As he worked, helping the other employees finish cleaning up from the day’s work - and preparing it for the morning set-up - Jack thought about the essay assignment Mister Bolstrad the high-school English teacher had assigned: How can we reduce our landfill waste in a sustainable manner?
As far as Jack could figure out, there was no easy way to cut back on trash from the K.O. Burger franchise aspect - they couldn’t recycle leftover food. It had been deemed too old to be served and unsafe to eat. They might be able to reuse cardboard boxes, but separating the paper from the plastics from the melted ice and sticky condiments?
No, it would take a lot more ingenuity than he had to come up with a way to make K.O. Burger a ‘zero waste’ restaurant.
Title: Like seeks Like
Rating: K+
Characters: Sari Sumdac
T-Verse: Animated (pre-series)
Summary: A longing heart searches. Will her wish ever get filled?
Prompt #4 Counter-Culture
Sari Sumdac ignored her room full of electronic gadgets. She, the heiress to the Sumdac legacy, didn’t want to spend her life building, improving, or designing robots.
Her father wanted his daughter, to follow in his footsteps. He couldn’t see that mechanical projects failed to catch her attention.
Sari looked out the window, studying the park, more interested in the humans that wandered the faint trails than the electronic conversations right in front of her.
She knew she was destined for great things - being Isaac’s only child ensured that (or, at the very least, being in the in the public’s eye) - and hated it! All she wanted were friends. Life friends.
Not Positronic replacements!
The rest of the world loved the artificial beings that made the Sumdac name so well known.
Sari preferred real-life encounters to computer simulations - she would give anything to have people nearby. People who truly understood, not things that lacked free will.
Title: Morning Resolution
Rating: K+
Characters: Sam Witwicky
T-Verse: Bayverse
Summary: If morning habits don’t wake teens, maybe welcoming news will.
Prompt #5 Not An Early Riser
Samuel James Witwicky tried burrowing his head under his pillow, hiding from the first rays of sunshine. He didn’t need to get up this soon - school wasn’t in session, he wasn’t working today (the dreaded fast-food shifts were done with forever!), and none of his friends were expecting him before lunch.
The alarm blared, shouting its shrilling tones, designed to pierce any and all layers of sleep and denial.
Sam’s fingers sightlessly sought for something to throw. All his seeking fingers found were week-old socks. The stench woke him.
“Ugh.” Bleary eyes struggled to make out the digital numbers. “It’s only seven fifteen - let me sleep in another three hours!” Sam stumbled out of bed, slammed the alarm clock, shutting off its infernal racket.
Blessed silence.
The teenage Witwicky sprawled on his rumpled bed, dozing. Then, his nose caught scent of bacon frying and his stomach growled, reminding him he hadn’t eaten anything since midnight.
Before stumbling downstairs, Sam poked his head in the bathroom, splashed water on his face. He looked in the mirror, decided the hair didn’t need to be brushed or combed or straightened just yet. He could mess with it when he got dressed.
After breakfast, Sam told himself firmly, not at all bothered by the unkempt, tossed look. It was all the rage in school.
Sam rushed into the kitchen, swiping the last five strips of bacon. “I’m a growing boy” he mumbled through a mouthful of food, correctly interpreting the Look his mother gave him.
Ron cleared his throat. “Sam, Judy and I have agreed - if your next report card shows A’s in all your classes, I’ll pay for half of the car you want to buy.”
Sam coughed, swallowing wrong. His parents had finally seen reason and were going to let him get his own vehicle? No more bumming rides? No more pedal bike? No more visiting the school bus? Fantastic!
Then the qualification reared is ugly head. All A’s. What were his current grades? He’d have to work hard, but he could do it!
Title: Split/Division
Rating: K+
Characters: Miles Lancaster
T-Verse: Bayverse (Live Action Movie)
Summary: The Real Reason Miles isn't heard from again, is because he chose a different path than the one prepared for them while in elementary school.
Prompt #6 "Change can be beneficial" is what I read - when it really said "CHANCE WOULD BE A FINE THING
Miles Lancaster lay on the grass in the backyard. He stared up at the sky, deliberately ignoring the past reminders of his parents, telling him to never stare directly at the sun.
Miles gazed up, watching the clouds pass by. Where had his life-long friendship with Sam gone? Sam, his best friend since first grade, had always been by his side, telling him everything. Miles told everything too.
They had watched Trent DeMarco and the other jocks gain places on teams, given brand new trucks, and saw the popular girls flock to them. Sam insisted the girls liked the rides - the fact the sport players had wheels and weren’t dependent on mom or dad to drop them off, pick them up. Miles wondered if it was the well groomed appearances (and brand name clothing), that had the jocks stand out.
Either way, Miles and Sam failed to join the coveted ranks of the ‘A group’. Their family names were not connected to the elite circles like the DeMarcos. And Sam’s dad refused to give his son anything, always making his only kid work for a living, not helping out with any cars or giving any expensive gifts.
Miles? Mile’s parents were happy with less, asking him to spend time with the rest of the family, making time as a group, instead of remaining closely related strangers. While being popular would make his social life easier, the low social rank of his existence rarely bothered him.
Usually.
Ever since Sam had bought that rusting bucket-of-bolts, Sam had pulled away, trading Miles for Trent’s-then-girlfriend Mikaela Banes. From the moment Sam had kicked Miles out to make room for the jock’s concubine, it was as if Miles had never existed.
At long last, Miles opened up the letter he’d gotten in the mail. He read it, sighed. Not Accepted into Princeton. Just like all the other ivy-league schools he’d submitted an application to.
The State College had accepted - even desired - him. And while that college lacked the business degree Miles wanted (because that’s what Sam was interested bay back in second grade), it did deal with Veterinarian science.
And Miles liked working with animals. Maybe not going to Sam’s college would be best.
Author: Rose0mary
Characters: Knockout, Carly, Ratchet
Rating: K
Continuity: Prime, Generation1, Animated
Summary: Confusion arises when mechs (and humans) from one realm drop into a different universe - all looks the same at first glance, but history rarely remains the same.
Prompt: 1. the 2013 Master List. (19th Jan #4 Challenge: pick three characters before reading the rest of the prompt. Now think of a film. The characters you've chosen end up at a drive-in cinema/movie theatre together. The film you thought of is playing. What happens?)
Knockout held himself very still. How could they have found him? More importantly, how did they sneak up beside him, without his noticing their arrival?
The Decepticon despaired. He’d wanted to see this movie, just to get an idea of the powers and abilities trained humans could use against Megatron’s forces. (Starscream would never learn where Knockout got his information on the secret wards humanity waged against themselves)
“Ooph.” The human girl cried out. “Is this the afterlife?”
What a STUPID question, Knockout froze, biting his instinctive response. The Autobot - one he hadn’t recognized - answered for him.
“Pit no. This ain’t even close to The Matrix.”
And you’d know this how, old Geezer? Knockout mentally shouted.
“Am I dreaming then?”
Knockout continued to be floored. How could humans not recognize what was right in front of them? He listened to the stranger’s response.
“Autobots don’t dream,” came the flat, clipped tones. “Recharge is recharge, no dreams, no nightmares, no … whatever this is? And what the scrap are we watching?”
That was it! Knockout transformed. “I am trying to understand how mutants came about - and what ploys might be used so they don’t attack me!” He toward over the human and the still-disguised Autobot.
The Autobot transformed so fast, he almost clipped Knockout’s chin. “Haven’t you ever heard of fiction?” Drawled the old mech. Then he took a second look at the purple emblem. “Knockout? Since w hen have you chosen to be a Decepticon?”
“Since forever!” Knockout snarled. He paid no attention to the human by their feet. If she was smart, she’d run away. “Who are you and when did you get to earth?”
“The designation’s ratchet - and I’ve been here on earth for the last thousand millennia or so.” Both traditional enemies looked at the human when she chocked.
“Ratchet?” She gasped. “Don’t you remember me, Carly?” Her wide eyes focused on Knockout. “I don’t recognize you - and I should, since I’ve seen every bot and con that’s visited earth since 1982.”
“Nineteen eighty-two?” Ratchet and Knockout repeated in stereo.
Carly nodded. “First confirmed sighting was in March 1982, near an off-shore oil refinery. The world leaders have kept a public eye on the bots ever since that skirmish.”
“Public? You mean the whole world knows about our existence?” Again, they spoke in unison.
Carly nodded again, puzzled by their behavior. The X-Men movie continued playing, forgotten by the Autobot and Decepticon, in favor of figuring out how three at-odds history could meet up. Knockout could see in Ratchet’s optics that what this human Carly revealed didn’t compute.
Then, finally, old Ratchet groaned. “Nexus. It’s the only explanation.”
“Nexus?” Knockout asked astonished? “I thought it was a myth - and that only Transformers could access it.” He glared at Carly, irked that she failed to be terrified by his scary face.
“Apparently not.” Ratchet gestured towards Carly, somewhat astonished that the two robots walking about hadn’t even been noticed by the other humans.
The human had had enough. “Can we just watch the movie? I haven’t been to a drive-in theater in forever!”
Ratchet traded an uneasy glance with Knock-Out.
The red Decepticon shrugged. As long as they did nothing to touch his paint, he’d leave them alone - and watching the time-elapsed news documentary seemed like a fabulous idea to him.
The red-and-white Autobot transformed, letting the human female climb inside, spreading mud and dirt everywhere.
Knockout resumed his earth-altmode, making sure he had plenty of distance to himself. No way was he going to risk the movie-goers squeezing by his frame! Their keys and metal studs might scratch the paint or ding his frame.
Title: Berry Delicious
Rating: K
Characters: Carly, Spike
T-Verse: Generation 1
Summary: Humans have to eat too! And nothing tastes better than what one grows and cooks themselves.
Prompt #2 Blueberry
Carly Witwicky walked along the small garden, slowing a bit as she stepped closer to the bushy plants.
Spotting a blue morsel, Carly plucked the berry and put it in her mouth. She savored the burst of flavour. “Just right.”
Deftly, her petite hands wove in and out among the thin, short branches and leafy twigs, grabbing the small pieces of fruit. She looked up as her husband shoved his way through hthe hedge. “Morning Spike.”
“Morning Carly.” Spike kissed his wife’s cheek. “Blueberries in the oatmeal? Or is it blueberry pancakes and muffins?” He asked, helping her collect the bite-sized bits.
“I was thinking a homemade blueberry pie.”
Spike’s brown eyes lit up. “Dad’s recipe? Yum! How may I help you, my fair lady?”
Title: Recycle, Reduce, Reuse
Rating: K
Characters: Jack Darby
T-Verse: Prime
Summary: One man’s trash is not always a valuable treasure.
Prompt #3 Recycling
Jack Darby dragged the last bag outside. He flung it into the waiting dumpster. He wiped his brow, even though the night was cool, inside it was still hot.
He looked up at the star-filled sky, wondering what it would take for him to find a better life outside Jasper, Nevada. Jack loved his mom, but there was nothing else holding him to this old desert town.
As he worked, helping the other employees finish cleaning up from the day’s work - and preparing it for the morning set-up - Jack thought about the essay assignment Mister Bolstrad the high-school English teacher had assigned: How can we reduce our landfill waste in a sustainable manner?
As far as Jack could figure out, there was no easy way to cut back on trash from the K.O. Burger franchise aspect - they couldn’t recycle leftover food. It had been deemed too old to be served and unsafe to eat. They might be able to reuse cardboard boxes, but separating the paper from the plastics from the melted ice and sticky condiments?
No, it would take a lot more ingenuity than he had to come up with a way to make K.O. Burger a ‘zero waste’ restaurant.
Title: Like seeks Like
Rating: K+
Characters: Sari Sumdac
T-Verse: Animated (pre-series)
Summary: A longing heart searches. Will her wish ever get filled?
Prompt #4 Counter-Culture
Sari Sumdac ignored her room full of electronic gadgets. She, the heiress to the Sumdac legacy, didn’t want to spend her life building, improving, or designing robots.
Her father wanted his daughter, to follow in his footsteps. He couldn’t see that mechanical projects failed to catch her attention.
Sari looked out the window, studying the park, more interested in the humans that wandered the faint trails than the electronic conversations right in front of her.
She knew she was destined for great things - being Isaac’s only child ensured that (or, at the very least, being in the in the public’s eye) - and hated it! All she wanted were friends. Life friends.
Not Positronic replacements!
The rest of the world loved the artificial beings that made the Sumdac name so well known.
Sari preferred real-life encounters to computer simulations - she would give anything to have people nearby. People who truly understood, not things that lacked free will.
Title: Morning Resolution
Rating: K+
Characters: Sam Witwicky
T-Verse: Bayverse
Summary: If morning habits don’t wake teens, maybe welcoming news will.
Prompt #5 Not An Early Riser
Samuel James Witwicky tried burrowing his head under his pillow, hiding from the first rays of sunshine. He didn’t need to get up this soon - school wasn’t in session, he wasn’t working today (the dreaded fast-food shifts were done with forever!), and none of his friends were expecting him before lunch.
The alarm blared, shouting its shrilling tones, designed to pierce any and all layers of sleep and denial.
Sam’s fingers sightlessly sought for something to throw. All his seeking fingers found were week-old socks. The stench woke him.
“Ugh.” Bleary eyes struggled to make out the digital numbers. “It’s only seven fifteen - let me sleep in another three hours!” Sam stumbled out of bed, slammed the alarm clock, shutting off its infernal racket.
Blessed silence.
The teenage Witwicky sprawled on his rumpled bed, dozing. Then, his nose caught scent of bacon frying and his stomach growled, reminding him he hadn’t eaten anything since midnight.
Before stumbling downstairs, Sam poked his head in the bathroom, splashed water on his face. He looked in the mirror, decided the hair didn’t need to be brushed or combed or straightened just yet. He could mess with it when he got dressed.
After breakfast, Sam told himself firmly, not at all bothered by the unkempt, tossed look. It was all the rage in school.
Sam rushed into the kitchen, swiping the last five strips of bacon. “I’m a growing boy” he mumbled through a mouthful of food, correctly interpreting the Look his mother gave him.
Ron cleared his throat. “Sam, Judy and I have agreed - if your next report card shows A’s in all your classes, I’ll pay for half of the car you want to buy.”
Sam coughed, swallowing wrong. His parents had finally seen reason and were going to let him get his own vehicle? No more bumming rides? No more pedal bike? No more visiting the school bus? Fantastic!
Then the qualification reared is ugly head. All A’s. What were his current grades? He’d have to work hard, but he could do it!
Title: Split/Division
Rating: K+
Characters: Miles Lancaster
T-Verse: Bayverse (Live Action Movie)
Summary: The Real Reason Miles isn't heard from again, is because he chose a different path than the one prepared for them while in elementary school.
Prompt #6 "Change can be beneficial" is what I read - when it really said "CHANCE WOULD BE A FINE THING
Miles Lancaster lay on the grass in the backyard. He stared up at the sky, deliberately ignoring the past reminders of his parents, telling him to never stare directly at the sun.
Miles gazed up, watching the clouds pass by. Where had his life-long friendship with Sam gone? Sam, his best friend since first grade, had always been by his side, telling him everything. Miles told everything too.
They had watched Trent DeMarco and the other jocks gain places on teams, given brand new trucks, and saw the popular girls flock to them. Sam insisted the girls liked the rides - the fact the sport players had wheels and weren’t dependent on mom or dad to drop them off, pick them up. Miles wondered if it was the well groomed appearances (and brand name clothing), that had the jocks stand out.
Either way, Miles and Sam failed to join the coveted ranks of the ‘A group’. Their family names were not connected to the elite circles like the DeMarcos. And Sam’s dad refused to give his son anything, always making his only kid work for a living, not helping out with any cars or giving any expensive gifts.
Miles? Mile’s parents were happy with less, asking him to spend time with the rest of the family, making time as a group, instead of remaining closely related strangers. While being popular would make his social life easier, the low social rank of his existence rarely bothered him.
Usually.
Ever since Sam had bought that rusting bucket-of-bolts, Sam had pulled away, trading Miles for Trent’s-then-girlfriend Mikaela Banes. From the moment Sam had kicked Miles out to make room for the jock’s concubine, it was as if Miles had never existed.
At long last, Miles opened up the letter he’d gotten in the mail. He read it, sighed. Not Accepted into Princeton. Just like all the other ivy-league schools he’d submitted an application to.
The State College had accepted - even desired - him. And while that college lacked the business degree Miles wanted (because that’s what Sam was interested bay back in second grade), it did deal with Veterinarian science.
And Miles liked working with animals. Maybe not going to Sam’s college would be best.