Welcome to the Rock

Scene opens in space, inside the massive galaxy containing the more than thirty planets, a burning ball passes in front of the camera, a blue dwarf sun, about the size of Uranus or Neptune. It is circling in its orbit around the sixteenth planet, a gargantuan planet, larger even than Jupiter, its surface is lush and fertile, ice caps at the top and bottom, land ribbed by billions of rivers that lead to a massive equatorial ocean that divides the land masses, the planet also has three large triplet moons, one small moon in a very close orbit and an asteroid belt. Pestalance marvels at it from the pod-fighter.

PESTALANCE: Dat planet's incredible! (Waspinator looks at the bright blue dwarf sun in the distance.)

WASPINATOR: Yes, hypnotic. (He goes over the controls.) But dwarf sun's radiation has cut off communication.

PESTALANCE: We didn't come here to communicate, we came to see what's on da other side of this planet. (He goes over some more controls.)

WASPINATOR: Waspinator wants to know how much fuel is left.

PESTALANCE: The ramscoop's recycling 'nough to keep us going as long as needed. (He looks at the planet for a few seconds.) The scanners can almost reach behind it. (The scan comes up negative again.) Slag!

WASPINATOR: Waspinator wonders what's down there. (He looks through the partition and past Pestalance at the planet.)

PESTALANCE: It could support life with dat sun.

WASPINATOR: Waspinator doesn't want to land, Waspinator doesn't like alien monsters. (Pestalance chuckles.)

PESTALANCE: You'n me both wasp-man. (Something bleeps on his control panel.) We got scanning! (He sets out a scan and the computer brings up an image, it is a space-station, enormous, it is shaped roughly like three thick rings around a very thick central pillar, an intricate system of docks, tunnels and other various passages are crisscrossing it like a web.) Holy Swiss cheese!

WASPINATOR: What rat-bot see? (Pestalance transfers the image to Waspinator's view console.) Oh, Waspinator sees. (They finally bypass the huge planet, and see the station in the distance, not orbiting the planet, but staying in its shadow, it is not, or ever, dark though, the station is in position with the planet directly between it and the gargantuan star in the center of the galaxy, and the star orbits in a flat-disk upright pattern, keeping it from coming to close to the station but also providing perpetual light and power for the solar generators while the station maintains its spinning stationary orbit.)

PESTALANCE: Should we try to dock? (A light on the console beeps.) They're hailing us. (He answers.) Hello? (A face appears in the screen, it is a tall creature, wearing a gray and blue uniform, its limbs are long and gangley, with two long legs ending in stumps and two long arms ending with three-fingered hands, it has a long neck that bends forward and ends with a thin crockodile-like head, it speaks.)

KELLST: Greetings, I am warden Kellst, our scanners do not recognize your small vessel, please identify yourself.

PESTALANCE: I guess you could say we're a long way from home and need some help.

KELLST: I am sorry, we do not have the time to help you.

PESTALANCE: It's simple, all we want is some help dealing with a few problems and possibly a new ship. (Kellst's eyebrow goes up.)

KELLST: What kind of problems?

PESTALANCE: We need help beatin' our enemy and a way a gettin' home.

KELLST: We will see what can be arranged, you are cleared to board, dock two-three-eight.

WASPINATOR: Waspinator thinks fleshy-lizard-bot be helpful. (Pestalance lets a half smile and sighs.)

PESTALANCE: Let's hope. (Their small ship approaches the huge space station.)

Scene goes to after they have docked, the doors on both sides of the pod open, four guards in red and gray uniforms come in and confiscate their weapons, one guard leads them to a small arch.

GUARD: Please step through the metal- (The guard next to him whispers something in his ear, the first guard swivels his neck back to them in embarrassment.) Well that won't help will it? Please follow us, Warden Kellst is expecting you. (As they walk Pestalance decides to make conversation.)

PESTALANCE: Ah so, is dis base some kind'a military installation? (The second guard chuckles.)

GUARD: You could say that, we're a disciplinary unit.

PESTALANCE: Prison!? This is a huge jail!?

GUARD: Yes, five dozen personnel and several million prisoners. (The hope in Pestalance's eyes is fading. They step into an elevator, the guard hits a button for the top floor. The elevator flies up at an incredible speed, yet no one is even slightly thrown off by the velocity, they stop and the bell dings.) Observatory floor, this is your stop. (Waspinator and Pestalance step out into huge dome, around the outside edges and in the center are two rings of consoles, fifteen of the species are working diligently, their uniforms are gray and yellow.)

WASPINATOR: Oooh. (Inside the dome you can see the brilliant blue dwarf star safely because of tinted transperisteel. Kellst steps up from a chair, he walks up and shakes both of their hands.)

KELLST: Hello, and welcome, to the Rock. (He looks at them.) What species are you?

PESTALANCE: Cybertronian, we're from Cybertron, it's a long, long way from hee'.

KELLST: All right, my companions and I are of the Kasguyt, our home planet is Host One, although our species inhabits thirteen systems. (He turns and faces the sun.) We built The Rock to eliminate the cluttered prisons on our planets and isolate all of the quadrant's most dangerous and deadly creatures. (He turns back to them.) We are very proud of this station, with no escapes and very few mishaps.

PESTALANCE: Mishaps?

KELLST: Prisoner revolts, none of which have ever ended in anything the prisoners wanted. (He snaps out of his reflective trance.) Well, you said you needed our help, how may we be of service?

WASPINATOR: Bad-bots attacking friends, lots of slagging, bad. (Kellst cocks an eyebrow at the transmetal bot.)

PESTALANCE: We're fighting against other transformers, Predacons, there are 'bout eleven of'em now, but numbers may keep growing. (Kellst turns and looks at him, surprised.)

KELLST: Eleven!? I expected larger numbers in a war.

PESTALANCE: Both our species are very durable. (He taps his metal head.)

KELLST: Well, we will have to know more of the details before we offer our services, we must have a reason for their arrest. (He motions for them to get back in the elevator.)

PESTALANCE: Heh! That shouldn't be too hard.

(They get back into the elevator and it speeds down, they pass the docking decks and enter into a huge dome space, the outer walls are lined with baloneys and cells, two prisoners in each, as if responding by reflex, all of the prisoners hoot and holler, it is hugest mix of creatures ever seen, some step against their invisible force field bars and are shocked into submission. As they pass by the camera backs into a cell, inside is a huge, burly Yuatja, laying in his bunk against one wall, and a gangley Zandorahn slamming his multiple arms against the force-field, the Yuatja turns his ghastly face to his cell-mate, his voice is deep and scratching.)

YUATJA: Why bother Vrock? (The six-armed Zandorahn turns his small and sharp face, glaring back and staring into the Yuatja's beady, evil eyes.)

VROCK: Why bother!? (His voice is a high, sort of Eegor pitch.) I tell you why Pakandus, because sometime, just once, I will hit it on a power shiver and disrupt the whole station- (Pakandus sits up.)

PAKANDUS: And lead us all into victory? I was involved in five attempted escapes before you got here. (Vrock points a long finger in the towering form's face.)

VROCK: Which proves nothing, my burly friend, but that you are a bungler-(Pakandus howls and picks up Vrock by his neck and holds him inches from the force-field.)

PAKANDUS: Bungler!? You would dare to call me a bungler!? (Vrock gropes at the tree-trunk arms with his long and ropey arms.)

VROCK: Put me down! Do you want us both to get re-hab scheduled!? (Pakandus cringes at the word.) Yeah, that's what I thought. (Pakandus sets him down but doesn't let go.)

PAKANDUS: You are a worthless computer thief, why should I let you bother me?

VROCK: Hey! Hey! It's hacker! I am a hacker!

PAKANDUS: Not a very good one.

VROCK: I almost succeeded in transferring all of this station's credits to my account.

PAKANDUS: Almost.

VROCK: At least I didn't screw up a simple hunt! (Pakandus's eyes flare and he throws Vrock into the force-field, his spidery body is wracked by electricity and thrown against the back wall.)

PAKANDUS: I told you never to speak of that!

VROCK: What'd you do that for!? Learn to take a little criticism. (He lifts his charred body off the floor and lays down on his bunk.) So who do you think it was? (Pakandus looks at him confused.) The two in the elevator with Kellst?

PAKANDUS: Oh, I don't know, they looked like some kind of robots or something. (Vrock sits up.)

VROCK: No, you don't think they're going to switch to automated guards do you?

PAKANDUS: I certainly hope not. (He looks out into the massive room, watching the few guards walking their rounds.)

Scene goes to later in Kellst's office, Pestalance has just finished showing him virtual images of the Titans and Predacons, Kellst takes the small disk out of the computer and gives it back.

KELLST: Wow, this is not good. (Waspinator and Pestalance exchange worried glances.)

WASPINATOR: Fleshy-lizard-bot will help? (Kellst rubs his forehead.)

KELLST: I'm sorry, we have very few resources as-is, I could not afford to send my men in to be slaughtered, I could get you a ship though.

PESTALANCE: What!? With the Preds still operation the ship'll be destroyed!

KELLST: I said I will not send my men to die for nothing. (His raises his voice but he remains calm.) These, Titans, alone could defeat our entire crew. I am sorry.

PESTALANCE: I know, I understand. I wish there was anotha' way. (Kellst sits silent for a moment then opens his desk.)

KELLST: There is. (His voice is excited.) I'd forgotten it, there hasn't been a war for years. (He pulls up a file.) Ah, here we go, you wouldn't be opposed to help from our prisoners.

PESTALANCE: I wouldn't, I can't be too sure 'bout Dinobot though.

WASPINATOR: Lizard-bot not here though. (Pestalance turns and grins.)

PESTALANCE: Let's hear it.

KELLST: It was a war-time program, intended to use the prisoners against our enemies, but it has never been needed. It's very simple, we offer the prisoners a full pardon for their services.

PESTALANCE: You let them go.

KELLST: They will be monitored, they are planted with a small self-destruct probe, a kind of gut-buster. If they're good, nothing happens, but if they're bad, boom.

PESTALANCE: How fast can you react, if they've got a gun to my head, will they be able to take me down before they explode?

KELLST: The gut-buster scans live infrared images of the prisoner and his surrounding environment in a twenty foot radius, they can all be monitored at once from this station, if they attempt anything they will be terminated instantly.

WASPINATOR: Waspinator thinks this be messy. (Pestalance smiles.)

PESTALANCE: Let's try it! (Kellst sits back and smiles to himself.)

KELLST: And since this prison is outside of any peace-movement's attention, no-one will be on my case about prisoner cruelty, (He stands up and picks up the intercom.) most of the prisoners in here deserve a little cruel treatment after what they've done.

PESTALANCE: Oh that's reasurin'. (Kellst flips on the intercom.)

Scene goes to the prisoner exercise room, there is an assortment of prisoners on various weight and exercise machines with ten armed guards in a perimeter, Pakandus is benching a massive amount of weight while Vrock spots him.

VROCK: I may have six arms, but I'm not going to catch this if you drop it. (Pakandus approaches his tenth rep.)

PAKANDUS: I don't need a spotter on this. (Vrock is about to return a witty remark when Kellst comes in over the intercom-)

KELLST: Greetings prisoners, this is warden Kellst, (The entire prison shudders with millions of howls and curses.) I am giving you prisoners a chance at redemption, our visitors have agreed to recruit a squadron of you to face on front battle lines, if you are good little boys and girls you with be given a full pardon, and for others, a clean bill of mental health. (Pakandus sits up and nudges Vrock in the shoulder.) You will be selected by military or strategic mental ability.

VROCK: We are a shoe-in.

Scene goes to a briefing room the next day, names are being called out of the prisoners who signed up, after they are called they go into a large briefing room.

Announcer: One-one-four-three-eight, Pakandus Schielt Rahjkat. (Pakandus steps up and goes into the room, the announcer goes through a few more names; Vaktu Ghusak Kahkja, another Yuatja like Pakandus; Mason Griffon, an ugly reptilian creature with a long neck and razor-sharp beak that is cracked down one side; X-Seven, a pitch-black spidery creature with four long legs and two very long arms; Tarton Facta, a very large and muscular humanoid bull; and several others, then-) two-four-one-nine, Vrock Shvick. (Vrock walks up, inside the briefing room, the door is closed and all fifty seats are filled with the galaxy's deadliest, and most intimidating murderers and psychos. Kellst steps in front of them.)

KELLST: Greetings, today you fifty are given a chance to make something of yourselves, and receive a full pardon. You will be fighting against a very powerful force, (The wall behind him lights up with 3-D schematics of a few of the Predacons and the three Titans.) each one is armed to the teeth and have high survival abilities, which means they can take a lickin' and still blow your head off. You will all be supplied with the weapons that were taken from you at your arrival and more if necessary. But this does not come free, you will receive a probe that will monitor everything you do, and if you try anything screwy, you die. Any questions? (Mason Griffon cockily raises his hand and stands up.)

MASON: I'm guessing you won't be joining us huh?

KELLST: No, you will leave in a military quick-drop ship escorted by our visitors. Any more questions? (No-one has anything more to ask.) All right then, we have preselected five platoon leaders, Pakandus, Mason, X-Seven, Facta and Vaktu, who are each conveniently seated on the end of each of the five rows, which means your row is your platoon. Platoon one, please commence single-file through the door to your right. (A door slides opens, Pakandus is in the first row so he gets up and goes through the door, they enter into a small hallway. Kellst turns to one of his officers.) Finish up here. (He walks into another door that leads to a room where they can see the small hallway with Pakandus's platoon, Waspinator and Pestalance are already seated.) Here's your first platoon gentlemen, lead by Pakandus of Rahjkat, also known as the Predator, he fumbled a hunt of a royal Ambassador when the Ambassador's daughter lured him into a bedroom and knocked him cold with a pulsar taser.

PESTALANCE: Fatal attraction, heh heh. I don't think I want to know where she shocked him. (Inside the small hallway the prisoners are facing a peculiar mirror when robotic arms come down and grab them by the necks, a tube then shoots down their throat, a second later the tube is withdrawn and a small dispenser drop out mints for them, Pakandus crushes it to powder.)

PAKANDUS: Cute Kellst, how about a little Kalkrien wine too? (He taps the mirror with one of his claws, Kellst speaks over the intercom.)

KELLST: Please exit to your right. (A door opens to the armory.)

PAKANDUS: Now that's what I'm talking about. (He steps up to a guard who is filling out a form connected to a shopping cart-sized basket full of Pakandus's confiscated weapons and wardrobe, he eyes the guard.) I can handle it from here. (The guard cautiously backs off. While Mason's group is being placed with Gut-busters Kellst reads a brief history of some of them.)

KELLST: Mason Griffon, your everyday criminal until he got a good funder and started in the assassin business, he was caught by two rookies on patrol, he killed one and the partner cracked his beak with a chromialead bar. (The tubes withdraw.) Please proceed through the door at your left. (They head into the armory, Vrock steps in and is met by Pakandus, in full suit; fishnet over his whole body, various armor, a medic pack on his belt, smart disks also on his belt, an extendible hunting spear, a shoulder ion cannon that links to a tri-laser site mounted on his hunting helmet, as well as gauntlets on both wrist that both hold double hunting blades, with a cloaking device on the left and a self-destruct on the right. The camera shows from his vision an infrared image of Vrock.)

VROCK: Boy, you sure clean up nice.

PAKANDUS: Great to see from hunter's eyes again. (He turns his head, dread locks whipping around, to look at Mason, loading himself with military issue lasers and his own personal body armor.)

MASON: I knew these guys would come around sooner or later. (He charges a huge plasma rifle and takes aim at one of the guards.) Ha-ha-(BOOM! He is blown in half as the gut-buster goes off. Everyone turns in surprise and wipes his entrails off them. Kellst storms out of the observatory room.)

KELLST: See what happens! Don't screw with us! Vrock! (Vrock turns his head.) You're promoted. (The prisoners have a new respect for their implants and go about carefully loading up their weapons. Inside the observatory Kellst sits back down, X-Seven's platoon is being implanted. He picks up an intercom that goes to the exercise room.) Ensen Rousht, please quickly select one prisoner and escort him to the briefing room with the others, a position just opened in platoon two.

PESTALANCE: At least we know they work. (Kellst laughs.)

KELLST: Ha! I hated that cocky lizard anyway. (He takes a drink from a glass sitting next to him, then notices X-Seven and points.) Ah, X-Seven, A.K.A. Black Death, Black Plague, Nightmare, Nospheractu, or just Evil X.

WASPINATOR: Waspinator not like Spider-monster.

KELLST: He is the first we've ever seen of his species, and hopefully the last, he lives off of the vital fluids of any species he can find, while infecting that species with a deadly virus. He traveled over seven systems, leaving a trail of death. He was finally taken down by a fleet of our best and unfortunately survived, even before he came out of his coma his poisonous venom was surgically removed, he has lived off of vitamin supplements ever since.

PESTALANCE: Are you trying to make us feel better? (Kellst turns on the intercom.)

KELLST: Please proceed through the door at your left. (In the armory Vrock has finished picking out weapons, along with his confiscated laptop.)

PAKANDUS: You're taking a computer?

VROCK: This computer can hack silently into any other super computer, it holds more memory than this station thanks to my own super-light crystal computer chip design. (A guard steps up to Pakandus, cautiously.)

GUARD: Pakandus of Rahjkat, please take you platoon through that elevator to the ship deck, (He points at a door on one wall of the massive wearhouse-like armory.) remember, we can blow your guts all over the walls if you try anything. (Pakandus's helmet returns a blank stare at the guard as he considers the order.)

PAKANDUS: Platoon One! Move out! (He leads the nine members of his platoon into the large glass elevators, the door closes on the heavily armored mercenaries.)

Scene goes to much later that day, in the docking bay, Vaktu, in armor resembling Pakandus, is leading his platoon into the strategic drop-ship, a few guards are putting Pestalance and Waspinator's pod fighter into the bridge launch bay, Kellst is walking with Pestalance and Waspinator to the ship.

KELLST: The drop-ship can send out the five skimmers, you two will be able to guide your army to the surface, and the carrier is yours to return to your Cybertron. We will still have full monitor over them and the frequency the gut-buster uses travels at a sub-matter level, which means instant results.

PESTALANCE: Thanks for your help. (They ascend the stairs to the bridge. The camera shows the inside of each of the five skimmers, first Pakandus's platoon, strapped in around the wall of the small ship, then Vrock's, then X-Seven's, then Facta's, then Vactu's, all of them are anxious some longing for battle, some longing for freedom, some both. The docking bay is cleared and the force-field opens out of the enormous station, the military drop-ship exits and heads full speed in. Inside the bridge Pestalance and Waspinator are sitting alone, the sole pilot and co-pilot.)

PESTALANCE: We should be there in a matter of hours.

WASPINATOR: Waspinator hope this works.

PESTALANCE: Me too.

Scene goes to a few hours later, the sun is just set outside the Maximal base, in the com room, Dinobot and Whiplash, in beast mode, are going over something on the computer, Bambard and Razorjaw, both in robot mode, are playing cards, while Boomerang, Parrator, and Panthor are watching the scanners. A big blip appears on Parrator's screen.

PARRATOR: Whoa! Whoa! Hey guys! I got something here! (He reroutes it to a 3-D image on the table in the center of the room, scattering the cards.)

BAMBARD: Hey! (He sees the map.) Whoa.

RAZORJAW: A ship! (Dinobot transforms and steps up.)

DINOBOT: Whiplash hail them. (He starts to work on the computer.)

WHIPLASH: They're already hailing- (Pestalance's voice rings over the speakers.)

PESTALANCE: Greeting one and all!

PANTHOR: Pest!?

PESTALANCE: The one and only! I good news, and I got great news!

DINOBOT: You got a ship! Ha! I knew you'd come through! You are cleared to land. (Outside the ship comes down through the atmosphere, trees rustling from the engines, he maneuvers to a position under the equally sized base. Pestalance and Waspinator walk out, Pestalance looks up at the base, the same back end of a once operational ship now held to the mountain's face by it's tri-claw-like wings.)

PESTALANCE: It's great to be back, it took us so long to get to that station and a few of hours to get back.

WASPINATOR: Waspinator not like planet, Waspinator always get slagged on planet. (The elevator opens and the Maximals step out, all in robot mode.)

DINOBOT: Welcome back! (He realizes his outburst and stands firm.)

BAMBARD: Sweet! A military drop-ship! (He thinks about that.) Why a drop-ship? (Pestalance gives a hopeful grin.)

PESTALANCE: That's the other good news.

DINOBOT: I'm not going to like this am I?

Scene goes to a little later after Pestalance is done explaining, Dinobot is amazingly calm.

DINOBOT: So, you've brought along fifty of the most dangerous convicts in the known universe? (Pestalance nods.) And you are sure that they cannot turn on us? And they are going to be given a full pardon for their service.

PESTALANCE: It is the 'honorable' thing to do. (He heavily emphasizes 'honorable'. Dinobot thinks for a moment.)

DINOBOT: All right, but I would like to speak to them before we do this, Bambard, inform the Amazons that we will launch a full-force offensive on the Predacons in a short while. (Bambard runs to the elevator.)

BAMBARD: You bet! (The Maximals are getting excited.)

RAZORJAW: I just got here a few days ago and the wars already going to end.

DINOBOT: Pestalance, let's see our army. (Pestalance turns on a communicator on his wrist.)

PESTALANCE: All right men, file out! (Pakandus hears the message and opens the hatch from his ship. Five hatches open from the stomach of the ship, the platoons line up neatly, each platoon leader ten feet apart with his platoon behind him in rows of three. The Maximals are intimidated by the deadly force before them.) At ease! (They rest their various, and large, weapons. Dinobot walks in front of them.)

DINOBOT: Impressive, have you been told of what you will face? (There are various agreements among them.) I am sure this group could easily defeat only the Predacons, accompanied by us as well as the Amazons, that may be the case. The Titans have not been seen or heard of since an accident in the desert. If they were to appear with any surprises we would have problems. What I want to know is, once you see that the Predacons will not go down with one shot, (He stops and looks at Pakandus.) as I'm sure most of you are used to, will you be tempted to run, or even turn against us? I have also been informed that you have no choice in helping us, I would normally not believe that to be fair but you have made that choice yourselves and are at a do-or-die. I don't know any of you, and I admit I wouldn't care to see you die for your offenses, but you are in my army now, and we will not lose this battle. I would be honored to grant you your freedom for time well fought. But that can only happen if we trust one another. I am sure neither of our sides trust each other entirely, or ever will. But if it comes to being condemned to this planet, or fighting alongside proven warriors and gaining passage home, my choice is obvious. As I'm sure you would like nothing more than to gain your freedom, not all of you will survive this, I can be very assured of that, but the choice of what effort you give in your lasts moments, whether you plan on redeeming your sins and making your life worth some purpose, is yours and yours alone. I end this with saying that warriors are honored, heroes are never forgotten, and legends never die. I promise you this, your exploits here will be told, your names will be cleansed, those of you that survive will have the choice of starting a fresh new life. Will you take it!? (The prisoners are impressed and cheer and start clapping. Inside the base Bambard is contacting the Amazons, Dragoness's face appears on the screen.)

DRAGONESS: Oh hi Bambard, (She turns and yells.) Shellshock! It's for you!

BAMBARD: No that's not what I called for, I have an urgent message.

Scene goes to the Predacon base, all of the Predacons in robot mode are gathered inside the bridge of their base around a computer screen, Drone has brought up an image of the Maximal base, scanners showing a very large number of life-forms. Tarantulus is freaking out.

TARANTULUS: No! It's over! It's all over! No!

BATTERAM: This can't be happening.

TERADUCTILE: They're bio's, one-hit kills, come on. (He doesn't even seem self-assured.)

ANACRONDA: Oh slag, (He thinks for a moment then realizes something that could save them.) the Titans! With their combined strength we could possibly come through.

TRANSQUITOE: No, this is hopeless! (Drone turns on the communicator.)

DRONE: Titans! Titans please respond!

TARANTULUS: Titans! We are in extremely deep slag here! (The camera shows a computer console in the Titans dark underground base, a red light is blinking while Tarantulus and the Predacons continue to scream over the communicator. It is very dark in the cavern, a huge claw suddenly comes down on the console, muting it, the camera pans up, to show Brutallion's monstrous beast form.)

BRUTALLION: Maybe it's time we made our comeback. (Quake's huge and jelly-like beaked-worm body moves up next to him.)

QUAKE: I tend to agree, there is no better time. (In the darkness behind them lurks the true queen of nightmares, her crested head bent down in thought, her six arms folded over each other.)

DARKRAZOR: I see no reason why not, we can not allow the loss of our only allies, we must act fast. Our little surprises are ready not a moment too soon. (The camera pans back around to five ten-foot tall capsules, located against the wall of the tunnel, tubes running from the three big CR tanks connecting to them like spider webs. The camera zooms in on a small window of one of them, a round, slit pupilled, bright glowing yellow eye opens and focuses on the camera, camera fades.)