Another Time, Another Place, pt 1

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Another Time, Another Place, pt. 1
by Neale Davidson (neale@iquest.net)

Fade in to Earth, in orbit. We see a starship falling apart into ashes. Just before it explodes, a smaller pod is thrown from it. The pod spirals dangerously, heading towards the surface.

MEGATRON (voice over): An escape pod has been jettisoned, yes.

We pull out and show MEGATRON, in his robot mode Transmetal glory, looking over a large display. BLACKARACHNIA and INFERNO are behind him, in their robot modes. They are each looking over a display, showing the destruction of the ship.

BLACKARACHNIA: Company's coming?

INFERNO: Transquito's ship returns, royalty. Permission to find the survivor and make him burn.

MEGATRON: Denied, Inferno, for now. I need this treasonous wench alive for the moment.

INFERNO: I sense a common theme, royalty.

MEGATRON (smiling): Do you?

BLACKARACHNIA flusters as MEGATRON takes in the screen. The view changes into a world map of Earth. A glowing dot shows the location of the spinning escape pod.

MEGATRON: Computer, locate impact point of escape pod and display.

COMPUTER: Unable to accurately predict impact point. Pod's course is erratic.

MEGATRON: Blast. Inferno, contact Waspinator and get to work. I want that pod, yes. Imagine that your life depends on it's successful retrieval.

INFERNO: I will not fail you, royalty.

INFERNO does his awkward salute and runs out, spinning his tail-section and taking flight out of the Predacon base. BLACKARACHNIA sighs and turns to MEGATRON, shaking her head.

BLACKARACHNIA: An ex-girlfriend?

MEGATRON: A former acquaintance. She would make a good Predacon, so long as the Maximals don't find her first.

BLACKARACHNIA: So she's not a Predacon now? What is she?

MEGATRON: A Decepticon.

We cut to the Axalon. OPTIMUS PRIMAL and RHINOX, both in robot mode, are working on various systems and control panels. RHINOX pulls out from under and sighs.

RHINOX: We're running low on spare-parts. Sentinel can't continue to function like this for too long.

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: Do what you can, Rhinox. Right now, we need to concentrate on the extended-range sensors. Megatron's winning the information war on this planet.

RHINOX: Don't you think I know that?

COMPUTER (broken): System scan override. Energy anomoly detected. Activating interlocks. Dynatherms connected. Megathrusters are go!

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: What's going on now?

RHINOX: That last Predacon attack burnt out some of Sentinel's logic circuits. We can run the defenses manually, but the automatic settings are shot.

COMPUTER (broken): Summon the power of the mighty ape!

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: That's just Prime. What do you need to get Sentinel back online?

RHINOX: Time. We can manufacture the parts here.

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: How long?

COMPUTER (broken): A three-hour tour.

RHINOX: Two days, if I don't break what's left of it myself.

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: All right, take it. You and Rattrap get Sentinel back online. In the meantime I'll have the patrols increased.

COMPUTER (broken): Warning, incoming game.

RHINOX: Sentinel's detected something.

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: How can you tell?

RHINOX: Computer, switch to main display.

A hologram of Earth appears in the central command station. Near it, we see an illuminated dot slowly circling over it.

RHINOX: Is it a stasis pod?

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: It's coming from too high. It's landing in the desert sectors.

RHINOX: Cheetor is in that area.

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: Optimus Primal to Cheetor, respond.

CHEETOR (on radio): I read you big bot.

We cut to CHEETOR, cat mode, looking through desert sands. Around him, a few shards of raw energon are lying around.

OPTIMUS PRIMAL (on radio): Something's breaking the sky near your sector. Check it out, but be careful.

CHEETOR: That takes all the fun out of it, big bot. - whoa -

CHEETOR looks up and sees an energy rip appear. In a quick second, there is a flash and a large, tattered metal object flies across the sky.

CHEETOR: Jumping gyros! I see it. Cheetor, flight mode!

CHEETOR leaps up and kicks in his engines. The flying cat rushes forward, trailing the escape pod as it slowly lowers. We cut through the sky and see WASPINATOR and INFERNO, both in robot mode, flying in from the distance.

WASPINATOR: Cat-bot find escape pod first.

INFERNO: You deal with the Maximal. I'll take the escape pod.

WASPINATOR: Waspinator want escape pod. Maybe find friend inside.

INFERNO: You have your orders wasp, now go. For the royalty!

WASPINATOR: Ant-bot's nasal system is tainted brown.

WASPINATOR arcs away and starts to head for CHEETOR. CHEETOR is oblivious to them for a moment. The moment is short, however, as the Predacon flyer begins firing from long range. CHEETOR looks over, worried, and dives out of the blasts.

CHEETOR: Have to go, big-bot, major bug infestation over here.

OPTIMUS PRIMAL (on radio): I'm sending Silverbolt your way.

CHEETOR: I can handle Waspinator. Cheetor, maximize!

CHEETOR quickly transforms to his robot mode, landing gracefully and firing missiles from his backpack. WASPINATOR easily maneuvers and ducks under them, returning fire. CHEETOR leaps aside, taking cover behind a sand dune.

WASPINATOR: Cat-bot not want to play?

CHEETOR: Bug-bot should learn to play with someone else.

WASPINATOR hovers near and opens fire as CHEETOR sticks his hands out. CHEETOR gets off a quick snap but is forced back to cover. Meanwhile, the escape pod plunges into the desert sand. INFERNO, robot mode, lands near it.

INFERNO: Praise the colony. The pod is mine!

INFERNO steps forward, and opens the hatch on the escape pod. Just after he does, however, a bolt of acid sprays out, burning into him. INFERNO readies his cannon to open fire, but a quick kick from a black boot knocks him back and out cold. We see the decidedly sultry form of ANTAGONY, robot mode, slip from the escape pod.

ANTAGONY (darkly): I've been spoken for.

We cut back to the dunes, WASPINATOR is hovering slowly near a larger dune. He circles around it, and sees nothing but more dune.

WASPINATOR: Where cat-bot go? Here kitty.

CHEETOR rips through the side of the dune and opens fire even as sand drips down his systems. WASPINATOR, very surprised, is nailed and thrown back by the blast.

CHEETOR: Man, I'm going to itch for days.

CHEETOR turns and heads to the wreck of the escape pod, leaving Waspinator behind. The Predacon bug struggles to somehow compose himself.

WASPINATOR: Waspinator not having good day. Waspinator stay in bed next time.

We cut to the pod, and show CHEETOR moving towards it. He looks around carefully, and sees the fallen form of INFERNO. Taking in a nervous breath, he moves to the pod itself.

CHEETOR: Looks like the pyro-bot found something. Cheetor to base -

ANTAGONY: Antagony, terrorize!

We turn and see ANTAGONY's beast mode ripping from the sand and transform.

CHEETOR stammers back, readying his weapon, but she has the drop on him.

CHEETOR: I found the escape pod. Good news is she's a major babe.

OPTIMUS PRIMAL (on radio): Good work. What's the bad news?

CHEETOR: She's another Pred.

We close up on ANTAGONY, who has her cannon leveled at CHEETOR, and fade to black.

Another Time, Another Place, pt. 2
by Neale Davidson (neale@iquest.net)

We fade in on the desert. Near a fallen escape pod, CHEETOR, robot mode, is staring down ANTAGONY's weapons. She has him, but seems a tad hesitant to actually kill him yet.

CHEETOR (nervous): Um - hi. Who are you?

ANTAGONY (smirking): A major babe.

CHEETOR: What? Oh, sorry about that.

ANTAGONY: Hot Rod? This is your beast form?

CHEETOR gives a confused look as ANTAGONY looks him over warily. The young Maximal sucks in a breath, and tries again to be friendly.

CHEETOR: Hot Rod? I'm Cheetor.

ANTAGONY: That's your name? Cheetor?

CHEETOR: Yeah, and you are?

BLACKARACHNIA looks at CHEETOR a long moment, not sure of her situation. She turns and paces around him. CHEETOR starts to move, but ANTAGONY again levels her cannon, dissuading him.

ANTAGONY: I'm the one asking the questions.

CHEETOR: Okay, no need to be pushy. Um - what do you need to know?

ANTAGONY: Where am I? More importantly, when am I?

CHEETOR: I'm not sure. We're still working that out right now.

ANTAGONY: I don't like that answer.

ANTAGONY narrows her optics and fires at CHEETOR's feet. The Maximal leaps back quickly and raises his hands.

CHEETOR: No, really! We just followed your pal, Megatron.

ANTAGONY (offended): He's not my pal.

WASPINATOR (off camera): Yoo-hoo! Waspinator back!

WASPINATOR flies over, robot mode, slightly damaged. Missiles leap from his gun into both CHEETOR and ANTAGONY. CHEETOR leaps aside, but is hit and knocked down. ANTAGONY, taken by surprise, is slammed hard. The female Predacon raises her cannon to fire at WASPINATOR, but his follow-up with lasers rips through her arm, sending her down.

WASPINATOR: Waspinator kick much ass.

The Predacon bug steps over to the downed form of ANTAGONY, and sighs as he sees INFERNO, lying unconscious near him.

WASPINATOR (whining): Waspinator have to carry two Predacons back to base? Waspinator not strong enough.

MEGATRON (on radio): Waspinator, status report.

WASPINATOR: Waspinator win great battle against Maximals. Ant-bots need dragged back to base, though.

Cut to MEGATRON and BLACKARACHNIA, both in their robot modes back in the Predacon base camp. MEGATRON is drumming his hands on his command chair.

MEGATRON: Very well, Waspinator. Is our guest damaged?

WASPINATOR (on screen): Femme-bot is knocked cold, but she'll recover.

MEGATRON: Return Inferno to operation status then return Antagony to base.

WASPINATOR (on screen): Antagony is femme-bot's name?

MEGATRON (impatient): Obey me.

WASPINATOR (on screen): Waspinator now obeying orders.

The screen goes black, leaving MEGATRON to his thoughts for a minute.

BLACKARACHNIA steps forward, very curious.

BLACKARACHNIA: You're showing a lot of concern for her.

MEGATRON: Only what is necessary, Blackarachnia, yes.

BLACKARACHNIA: Still not going to tell me who she is?

MEGATRON: Part of our history. She deserted from our forces at the end of the Great War. She's remained missing in action all this time.

BLACKARACHNIA: And you knew she would come here?

MEGATRON: It was a logical conclusion, considering her motives.

BLACKARACHNIA: Which are?

MEGATRON (annoyed): Fanaticism. Make no mistake, Antagony is dangerous, perhaps even more dangerous than you.

BLACKARACHNIA (amused): Really, she sounds interesting.

MEGATRON: Oh, that she is, I assure you.

BLACKARACHNIA: Maybe I should head out and give Waspinator a hand in retrieving such a dangerous female.

MEGATRON: No. Prepare her quarters, and do nothing else.

BLACKARACHNIA: You're going to trust this femme to Waspinator and Inferno?

MEGATRON: Consider it a test, Miss Arachnia.

BLACKARACHNIA: Of what?

MEGATRON: Of resolve. You have your orders, follow them. I have other matters to attend to, yes.

MEGATRON steps from his command chair and steps out of the command bay.

BLACKARACHNIA shakes her head and moves to a computer screen, activating it.

BLACKARACHNIA: I just bet.

We cut to the desert, WASPINATOR is looking over INFERNO, not really able to do much. ANTAGONY and CHEETOR are both unconscious around them.

WASPINATOR: Wake up. Ant-bot needs to wake up now.

INFERNO (weakly): My queen?

WASPINATOR: Ant-bot not go there.

INFERNO: Waspinator. Status report.

WASPINATOR (smug): Waspinator beat cat-bot and femme-bot. Waspinator need help dragging femme-bot back to Megatron.

INFERNO: You have served the royalty well. Grab the Maximal.

A large blast rocks the area as a missile lands between the group. We look up and see SILVERBOLT, the Fuzor, rushing into the frey in robot mode. WASPINATOR quickly takes to the skies.

WASPINATOR: Doggie-bot now? Maximals are everywhere!

SILVERBOLT: Fiends, you shall claim no prize for your dungeons on this day.

INFERNO: Cover me from the Maximal. I shall return the lady to the royalty. Make the Maximal burn.

SILVERBOLT: Have you stooped so low as to capture defenseless women?

SILVERBOLT rushes down to prevent INFERNO from reaching ANTAGONY, but his single-mindedness allows WASPINATOR to slip in behind him and fire. SILVERBOLT flips in the air once, and tries to refocus on WASPINATOR.

WASPINATOR: Doggie-bot forget about Waspinator? Doggie-bot very rude.

SILVERBOLT: You dare insult my character, foul one?

SILVERBOLT turns and opens fire on WASPINATOR. Missiles fly around the bug, but he manages to dodge them all. WASPINATOR spins and rushes forward, ramming into SILVEBROLT. Meanwhile, below, INFERNO moves to ANTAGONY's position.

INFERNO: Beast mode.

INFERNO quickly transforms to his ant mode and grabs ANTAGONY in his pincers. SILVERBOLT again tries to rush down to stop him, but another blast from WASPINATOR sends him spinning into the ground. INFERNO disappears with ANTAGONY beneath the sand.

WASPINATOR: Mission accomplished! Waspinator leave.

WASPINATOR rushes up to the sky. SILVERBOLT is about to leap up after him, but stops as he hears CHEETOR groaning his way back to consciousness.

CHEETOR (weakly): Note to self. Never call a Predacon a 'babe', no matter what she looks like.

SILVERBOLT: My friend, are you hurt?

CHEETOR: I'll be fine. My repair systems will take care of it. Where did the Predacons go?

SILVERBOLT: They grabbed the maiden and scarpered. We should pursue them.

CHEETOR: No can do, flight system is busted. Besides, that 'maiden' is a Pred, one of the bad guys, remember?

SILVERBOLT (sighing): Perhaps, but she was dragged by them against her will.

CHEETOR: Can't save everyone.

SILVERBOLT grumbles and starts to walk out. CHEETOR transforms to his cat mode, grinding a little bit, and follows after him. We watch them leave and fade to black.

Another Time, Another Place, pt. 3
by Neale Davidson (neale@iquest.net)

We cut to Maximal Headquarters. OPTIMUS PRIMAL and RHINOX are in robot mode. RHINOX is still working on the systems. OPTIMUS PRIMAL is sitting at the central table as CHEETOR and SILVERBOLT both arrive in beast mode.

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: You're both damaged.

SILVERBOLT: Minor damage. We failed you.

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: You did what you could, Silverbolt. From the sounds of things, she was a Predacon already.

CHEETOR: A mean one too. Didn't seem to know what was going on, though.

SILVERBOLT: What do we do?

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: For now, get yourselves repaired. It's up to Megatron to make his play now.

Cut to Predacon Headquarters. MEGATRON, robot mode, is alone, overlooking the restoration chambers. Slowly, the form of ANTAGONY, robot mode, is revealed emerging from the tank.

MEGATRON: Ah, such a lovely vision. Perhaps some day I'll learn why the most desirable of Predacons are also the most treasonous.

ANTAGONY: The Pretender.

MEGATRON: Ah, so you do remember me, yes.

ANTAGONY: Despite my best efforts. Why have you captured me?

MEGATRON: You've been missing in action for some time now.

ANTAGONY stands, restoration fluid dripping off of her. MEGATRON considers a moment, drumming his fingers.

ANTAGONY: So, I'm your prisoner now?

MEGATRON: You're an honored guest. I wouldn't dream of holding one of the original Predacons prisoner, no.

ANTAGONY (yelling): I am a Decepticon.

As her yells echo through the ship, MEGATRON narrows his optics. QUICKSTRIKE, BLACKRACHNIA, and INFERNO all enter in their robot modes. MEGATRON raises his chair to look down at the newcomer.

MEGATRON: On this planet there are two battling factions. There are Predacons, and then there are Maximals.

ANTAGONY: I care nothing for either of them.

MEGATRON: Then I'll put this to you simply. In our current situation, either you are a Predacon, or you are an enemy. Which do you choose?

The assorted Predacons around raise their weapons. ANTAGONY looks around her, narrowing her optics.

MEGATRON: What shall it be, Antagony?

ANTAGONY: You're not leaving me much of a choice.

MEGATRON: That would be the point.

ANTAGONY raises her weapon at MEGATRON. The Predacon commander merely nods, and each of the other surrounding Predacons open fire. ANTAGONY cries out, shooting wildly once then collapsing from the pain.

MEGATRON: Consider that a mere warning.

ANTAGONY (spiteful): Coward.

MEGATRON: Fool. Are you Predacon, or are you not?

ANTAGONY: You're not worth following.

MEGATRON stands and fires with a dark coolness. ANTAGONY's body starts to smolder and burn away. She cries out finally. Pain begins to override even her determination.

MEGATRON: You have two options, yes. Follow me, or die.

ANTAGONY (weakly): No.

MEGATRON levels his cannon once more, ready to finish her off, but BLACKARACHNIA steps forward.

BLACKARACHNIA: Wait, Megatron. We don't want to just kill her, do we?

MEGATRON: My patience for treachery runs thin, Miss Arachnia.

QUICKSTRIKE: It's not a lot of fun to watch her get her ass-whooping after she just arrived. Can we make her suffer a bit first? Maybe a little slow and painful?

BLACKARACHNIA: That's not what I meant.

INFERNO: Say the word, royalty, and she shall burn.

ANTAGONY falls to one knee, clutching her wound. MEGATRON narrows his optics, and looks to BLACKARACHNIA.

BLACKARACHNIA: She doesn't understand our situation.

MEGATRON: True. But she must learn the first rule.

ANTAGONY: Which is?

MEGATRON: I am the leader. She, as all of you, will obey me.

ANTAGONY (weakly): No.

MEGATRON stands and moves over to ANTAGONY and lifts her roughly. His optics narrow as he looks directly to her.

MEGATRON (darkly): I was patient with you once. I will not repeat that mistake, no. Now, you will obey me.

ANTAGONY closes her optics as the other Predacons look nervously on. She lets out a pained breath, and resigns herself.

MEGATRON: Antagony.

ANTAGONY (weakly): Hail, Megatron. I live for you, and you alone.

MEGATRON drops ANTAGONY none to gently back into the restoration chamber. BLACKARACHNIA sucks in a nervous breath as her leader returns to his command chamber.

MEGATRON: If she crosses me once -

BLACKARACHNIA: I think she understands that.

We cut to private quarters. ANTAGONY, robot mode, is lying quietly in her rest-bed. The door to her chambers opens, revealing BLACKARACHNIA, robot mode. Without a word, the female spider steps in.

BLACKARACHNIA: I was supposed to check in on you.

ANTAGONY: It's not enough for me to debase myself.

BLACKARACHNIA: You're alive, that's what matters.

ANTAGONY: Alive? If you can call serving that thing 'being alive'.

BLACKARACHNIA: I'm not very fond of him myself.

ANTAGONY: So you bow to him.

BLACKARACHNIA: I survive. I'm crossed him enough already.

ANTAGONY turns and stands, crossing her arms. BLACKARACHNIA sighs softly and steps fully inside, allowing the door to close behind her.

BLACKARACHNIA: I would like to see you survive too.

ANTAGONY: Why do you care?

BLACKARACHNIA: You're not too very different from me.

ANTAGONY: I wouldn't know.

BLACKARACHNIA: It's your choice, Antagony.

We cut to MEGATRON, sitting in his hot-tub, watching BLACKARACHNIA and ANTAGONY speaking on his screen. INFERNO is standing on guard in his robot mode, just at the door.

INFERNO: The spider plots against you.

MEGATRON: Oh, perhaps. That's not surprising.

INFERNO: I shall terminate them both, royalty.

MEGATRON: Not yet, no, though it may come to that. For now I want to see how my old friend manages.

INFERNO: She has her own agenda, and if the spiders side with her?

MEGATRON: I suspect that won't happen. Antagony was never known to work well with a team. She was very much a free spirit. But she remains useful for now. We'll see how long that lasts.

INFERNO: Understood, royalty.

MEGATRON: Return to your station.

INFERNO turns and heads out. MEGATRON drums his fingers a long moment. As INFERNO leaves, MEGATRON concentrates on the image of the two female Predacons on his screen.

MEGATRON: And so, Antagony, your game begins, yes.

We focus in on the screen and fade to black.