BBOOK 22:: MMORE TTHAN MMEETS TTHE EEYE

For Cornell

The Decepticons have recently woken from four million years of stasis and are exploring the mountains and desert around them.

They stop at an area with a pile of rocks.

"We will set up here," says Megatron. "These rocks will serve as our new base. Soundwave, prepare plans for a new space shuttle. Starscream, convert this area for construction."

Starscream asks, "But where will I find materials?"

Soundwave points to a far off construction site, "Over there."

Starscream says, "Great, but I'll need some help."

Soundwave presses a button on his shoulder and a small Decepticon pops out of his chest, "Rumble, activate pile drivers. Operation: Destruction."

Starscream, Soundwave and Rumble all fly off to the construction site.

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Back at the Autobot base, Optimus Prime is talking to the other Autobots.

Optimus says, "This new planet is rich with sources of energy but the Decepticons know this too, so we must find them and stop them. Hound, I need you to scout the area and see if you can find the Decepticons."

"Just leave it to me Prime," says Hound, "I'll find them."

Cliffjumper steps up, "I want to go too. I want to bust some Decepticon tailpipe!"

Optimus says, "Take it easy Cliffjumper, just find them and report back. We'll deal with them together. Good luck!"

Cliffjumper and Hound transform and drive off to find the Decepticons.

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Meanwhile, Starscream, Soundwave and Rumble have arrived at the construction site.

Starscream says, "Okay Rumble, time to shake things up a bit!"

"You got it Starscream." Rumble transforms his arms into pile drivers and pounds them on the ground, causing a huge crack to appear that destroys buildings at the construction site.

They gather material from the rubble and bring it back to the rest of the Decepticons to begin building their base.

Soundwave tells Megatron, "We can concentrate energy into energon cubes and store them in the new space shuttle."

Megatron laughs, "Excellent! Once we've gathered enough energon to fill the shuttle, we can return to Cybertron."

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Hound and Cliffjumper have found the Decepticons. They hide on a cliff nearby.

Cliffjumper says, "What are they up to?"

Hound says, "It looks like they've built a base to gather energy."

"Well I'll stop them," Cliffjumper pulls out a huge laser cannon and points it at the Decepticons, "I have Megatron in my sights."

Hound says, "Wait Cliffjumper! Optimus told us just to find them and report back."

But it's too late, Cliffjumper has already pulled the trigger. He fires at Megatron but he misses! Now the Decepticons know someone is out there.

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Megatron looks around, "Who could be shooting at us?"

"The Autobots!" says Starscream.

"Impossible! Soundwave, send Laserbeak to investigate."

Soundwave presses the button on his shoulder, "Laserbeak, prepare for flight. Operation: Investigation."

Laserbeak pops out of Soundwave's chest and flies towards the cliff.

"Oh no!" says Hound, "Decepticons are coming."

"Let's get out of here!" says Cliffjumper.

Hound and Cliffjumper transform and drive away but Laserbeak follows them through the mountains. Hound and Cliffjumper split up to try and lose the Decepticon.

Cliffjumper gets away but Laserbeak follows Hound and shoots him off the cliff. Laserbeak flies away, thinking the Autobot is defeated.

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Cliffjumper calls back to the base for help. Ratchet and Hauler show up to help Hound.

Ratchet says, "Hound are you okay? Can you transform?"

Hound says, "No I can't. I think they busted my drive train."

Cliffjumper says, "I'm sorry Hound, this is my fault. I shouldn't have fired on Megatron."

Hound laughs, "You mean you shouldn't have missed."

Ratchet says, "Okay, let's get you back to the base and get you repaired."

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Back at the base, Hound tells Optimus Prime what he and Cliffjumper found, "They're gathering energy into energon cubes and they are going to bring them back to Cybertron."

Optimus says, "We need to stop them. Jazz, round up a team for battle. We are going after the Decepticons!"

Jazz calls on several Autobots, "Prowl, Trailbreaker, Wheeljack, Ironhide, Mirage, Sunstreaker, Sideswipe. Autobots, transform!" He turns to Optimus, "Ready Prime."

"Let's roll!" says Optimus and the Autobots drive off to find the Decepticons.

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Back at the Decepticon base, Soundwave reports to Megatron. "Laserbeak has returned, Megatron. He has found a source of energy." Soundwave shows Megatron the location of an oil rig.

"Excellent. Decepticons, follow me!" As Megatron takes to the skies.

As the Decepticons approach the oil rig, the workers on deck start to panic. One man points to the sky, "Look up there! What are they?"

As Megatron lands on the platform the men start throwing tools and other objects, but it doesn't bother him. Megatron picks up a giant pipe and throws it at the oil rig workers, pushing them all into the water.

Megatron says, "Soundwave, prepare the energon cubes."

Soundwave creates several empty energon cubes and the Decepticons start filling the empty cubes with oil. When compressed, the cubes convert the oil into energon.

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Suddenly, Starscream points to the sky, "It's the Autobots!"

"Decepticons, transform!" Megatron transforms into blaster mode. Starscream catches him and fires at the Autobots.

The Autobots dodge the laser beams, land on the platform and begin firing back at the Decepticons.

Megatron transforms back to robot mode and runs toward Optimus, "Don't interfere Prime. The universe is mine!"

"Not if I have anything to say about it," says Optimus as he grabs Megatron.

All over the oil rig the Autobots and Decepticons are fighting. Rumble and Wheeljack fire back and forth high above on a grid iron platform. Ironhide and Starscream duel with steel rods.

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Skywarp and Reflector try to get away with the energon cubes but Prowl and Jazz fire on them, destroying some of the cubes. The Decepticons take off with the few they have.

Laserbeak swoops in and distracts Prime long enough for Megatron to get away. Megatron leaps into the air with the other Decepticons.

Megatron fires at the base of the oil rig, "So long Prime. Have a nice swim!" The platform collapses and the Autobots fall into the sea, "Here's something to keep you warm!" He fires on the leaking oil causing it to burst into flames as he and the Decepticons fly away.

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Optimus hears some workers calling for help. "Somebody help us! We can't get out!" Optimus swims over to find two men trapped behind a piece of metal. "Please help, the fire is getting closer!"

Optimus tries to lift the metal off of them but it's taking too long. He shouts to another Autobot, "Trailbreaker! Use your force field to hold back the fire."

"You got it Prime!"

Wheeljack steps up, "I'll give him a hand!"

Trailbreaker activates his force field and holds the fire back from the humans while Wheeljack uses his cold cannon to put out the flames. All over the water other Autobots are helping the workers get back onto what's left of the platform.

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Optimus finally manages to lift the metal and the two workers climb onto his back. Optimus brings them to safety.

"I don't know who you are, but thank you for saving our lives," says one of the men.

"We are Autobots," Optimus says as he points to the sky. "We're from Cybertron, a planet far from Earth. Those who tried to harm you are called Decepticons. We must stop them before they destroy your world."

"Can we help?"

"We are the only ones who can stop the Decepticons."

"But we know more about Earth than you do."

"Hmm, maybe you can help. The Decepticons are gone for now, but they'll be back, and knowing more about Earth could be a great advantage. But for now, let's get off this rig and back to dry land."

THE END

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