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Previous Episode: The Face of Darkness
Next Episode: Fear and Fortitude
TEASER
FADE IN:
EXT. SPACE - DEVORON
The Decepticon flagship Relentless is still orbiting the
ruined Devoron Station. A Quintesson ship has pulled along
side them. A small shuttlecraft leaves the Quintesson ship
and docks in the Relentless's shuttle bay.
INT. RELENTLESS - BRIDGE
Soundwave, Scrapper, Cyclonus, Scourge, and Blitzwing are on
the bridge. Galvatron is in the command chair.
SOUNDWAVE
Quintesson shuttle has docked in
shuttle bay.
GALVATRON
Excellent! Blitzwing, go down and
greet our guests!
BLITZWING
Why me?
GALVATRON
(sarcastically)
Who better than you to greet our
new allies?
BLITZWING
Trusting the Quintessons is a
mistake. They'll betray us the
first chance they get. We should
strike against them now, when
they're vulnerable.
(snarling)
Their history speaks for itself.
GALVATRON
Of course you shouldn't trust them!
But their designs serve my purpose.
Now get going!
BLITZWING
I say you owe it to us to explain
the purpose of this meeting. We've
wasted time and precious energy in
mounting --
CYCLONUS
Galvatron owes you nothing,
Blitzwing! He will share his plans
only when he thinks it is
necessary. A good Decepticon is a
loyal Decepticon. Let us not
forget your traitorous history
speaks for itself as well.
Blitzwing stops and looks around. Cyclonus, Scourge,
Soundwave, sycophantic loyalists all.
BLITZWING
(defeated)
I am loyal to the Decepticon cause.
(half to himself)
I have always been loyal to the
Decepticon cause.
He gets up and EXITS the bridge.
INT. RELENTLESS - SHUTTLE BAY
The Quintesson shuttle is touching down in the
Relentless's shuttle bay as Blitzwing ENTERS from
the upper decks. He is flanked by Hook and
Bonecrusher, who have weapons drawn.
BLITZWING
Keep your sensors on alert. If
they try anything, shoot them.
The Quintesson shuttle's doors slowly open. Out
first step Divebomb and Rampage, followed by
Tantrum and Headstrong, who take defensive
postures. Finally, Razorclaw EMERGES, weapons
drawn himself. He steps aside, revealing the
three Quintessons who led the party.
QUINTESSON A
(unctuous yet sinister)
Greetings, Blitzwing. It has been
too long since Decepticon and
Quintesson have stood together.
BLITZWING
Not long enough, I say.
QUINTESSON B
Come now. Let us put aside past
grievances and hostilities.
He motions to Razorclaw. The Predacon leader nods
slightly and puts his gun away in a show of trust,
but behind his eyes gleam a residual hint of
malice.
QUINTESSON C
Perhaps only when we repair our past can
we move forward into our future.
QUINTESSON A
A great and glorious future: the birth
of the new alliance between the
Decepticons and the Quintesson Alliance.
Blitzwing's contempt is plain on his face, but this is
neither the time nor the place. He escorts the Quintessons
and the Predacons as they EXIT the shuttle bay into the
Relentless.
FADE OUT.
END OF TEASER
-------------------------------------------------------
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
INT. AUTOBOT SHUTTLE
Reese is still caring for Dr. Pilar, who is lying down and
seems to be asleep. Swoop is standing around in robot mode.
Hot Rod walks up to Reese.
SWOOP
How rescued human is?
REESE
Slightly better, I guess. I can't
say for sure. I'm not a doctor.
HOT ROD
I'm sure you're doing the best you
can.
REESE
I wish I could be that confident.
(beat)
She's suffering from dehydration,
exhaustion, and she's still in a
state of shock. We have to get her
back to Proxima soon.
Kup and the Dinobots ENTER the shuttle through its entrance
shaft.
HOT ROD
Find anything?
KUP
Not much. No sign of a Quint
anywhere, and nothing to get from
their computers. The Quints did a
good job of encrypting and purging
all their systems when they left.
(beat)
We did find Dr. Pilar's original
shuttlecraft. It was badly
damaged, and it looked like its
computer systems were tapped.
(hands Hot Rod a disc)
This was all we could retrieve from
its memory banks.
Hot Rod inserts the disc into a computer console. Screen
after screen of information flashes by, detailing images of
the Quintesson arch in the Devoron system, along with
charts, data readings, emission measurements, and vast
quantities of research findings.
GRIMLOCK
What is it? What on disc?
REESE
(looks at it)
This looks like data readings of
that gateway we found buried on
Devoron Seven.
KUP
A Quint gateway of some sort.
HOT ROD
Maybe a lost Quint outpost?
(to Reese)
Do you understand these readings?
REESE
No. I'm just a pilot, not a
scientist. Anyway, this discovery
was pretty hush-hush. I doubt
anyone in the EDC science bureau
could ID this, except Dr. Pilar of
course.
HOT ROD
(pointing to one set of
readings)
These seem to be various radiation
emission readings. Maybe Perceptor
can make sense of this.
REESE
Perceptor?
KUP
Head of the Autobot Science Council
back on Cybertron.
REESE
(looking at Pilar)
We should be going. We need to get
Dr. Pilar home.
HOT ROD
Right.
(he and Kup go to their
chairs)
Setting a course for Proxima.
(to Kup)
Contact the Fortitude. We need to
update Optimus Prime of our
situation.
EXT. CALYX TWO
The Autobot shuttle FLARES its thrusters and flies off into
space back on its way...
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT ONE
-------------------------------------------------------
ACT TWO
FADE IN:
INT. SIXSHOT'S FIGHTER - REPAIR BAY
Sixshot is lying on a repair table as SPARKS fly from the
repair machines try to fix the damage in his shoulder.
Onslaught and Blast Off are monitoring the machines.
SIXSHOT
(as his shoulder sparks up)
Watch it, you fool!
BLAST OFF
This process would continue more
apace if you would keep your
demonstrations to yourself.
SIXSHOT
We're wasting precious time. The
Autobots are refortifying their
positions as we speak!
BLAST OFF
Just... about...
(the machines crack with one
final spark and then shut
down)
done. There.
Sixshot climbs off the repair bay and flexes his arm. He
draws one of his guns, TWIRLS it to test the repaired
circuits, and then points it at Onslaught, more as an angry
gesture than an actual threat.
SIXSHOT
We would have had Proxima by now if
you hadn't given the order to
retreat!
ONSLAUGHT
We were at a tactical disadvantage.
Our single fighter was no match for
the Fortitude.
At this, Sixshot LEAPS over to Onslaught and gets right in
his face.
SIXSHOT
We are Decepticons! We do not sit
and worry about tactical
stratagems. No one in the galaxy
can match the might of the
Decepticon army. We will take what
is ours!
(stepping back from
Onslaught)
Contact the other fighters. It is
time to plan our new offensive
against Proxima. This time,
nothing will stop us.
INT. SIXSHOT'S FIGHTER - BRIDGE
Sixshot STORMS onto the bridge, followed by Onslaught, who
is trying to give Sixshot his assessment of the tactical
situation, with limited success.
ONSLAUGHT
The Fortitude is the flagship of
the Autobot fleet. Our individual
fighters are no match for its
firepower head-on. What we have on
our side is speed and tactics.
Prime's first instinct will be to
protect the humans' outpost from
our attacks. We have three
fighters to his single ship. If we
plan fast strafe runs from
different vectors to draw the
Fortitude from its position --
Sixshot SITS in the control chair, forcefully SWINGS it
around, turning away from Onslaught and dismissing him
without so much as a backwards glance, to face the main
viewscreen. He taps at communications controls on his
panel. The bridges of the two other Decepticon fighters --
one with Dirge and Ramjet commanded by Thrust, the other
with Triggerhappy and Misfire commanded by Slugslinger --
are brought up on the viewscreen.
SIXSHOT
Thrust! Slugslinger! Our ships
have been reenergized and rearmed.
It is time to crush the Autobots
once and for all. Move your ships
into formation and notify your
troops to prepare for a frontal
assault against the Proxima System.
(deactivates the viewscreen,
turns pointedly to Onslaught)
You were saying?
(turns to Swindle and Brawl at
the helm)
Charge weapons systems. Activate
shielding. Full speed ahead.
EXT. SPACE - DECEPTICON FIGHTERS
The three Decepticon fighters FIRE UP their engines and move
towards Proxima.
INT. FORTITUDE - BRIDGE
Optimus Prime is on the bridge, along with Ultra Magnus.
Hot Rod and Kup's communication signal is visible on the
viewscreen.
HOT ROD
We completed the mission, Prime.
We recovered the scientist, Dr.
Sandra Pilar, but she's in bad
shape. The Quintessons imprisoned
her... they must have terrorized
her beyond comprehension.
KUP
Another thing, Prime. When we got
there, the entire base was cleared
out, not a Quint to be found. We
did manage to find some of their
files. We think this might have
something to do with that gateway
in the Devoron System.
OPTIMUS
Well done. Transmit your findings
to the Fortitude. And return as
quickly as you can.
HOT ROD
Understood, Prime. Transmitting
now.
Suddenly, the Fortitude is ROCKED by a giant blast. Static
fills the viewscreen as the communication signal is jammed.
OPTIMUS
Report!
Another blast. Ultra Magnus activates the viewscreen, where
the three Decepticon fighters can be seen, weapons BLAZING.
ULTRA MAGNUS
Decepticon fighters, moving in.
OPTIMUS
Return fire. Raise our defenses.
INT. PROXIMA STATION - COMMANDER'S OFFICE
Faireborn is sitting at her desk. She has a channel open to
Optimus on her viewscreen.
OPTIMUS
Three Decepticon fighters moving in.
Withdraw your forces. We'll try to
cover you.
FAIREBORN
We're not going to just sit on the
sidelines. I'm signaling the EDC
fleet to take defensive postures.
OPTIMUS
The Decepticons' ships are too
powerful for you to take on.
FAIREBORN
We're professionals. We've trained
for this. We are a part of this.
OPTIMUS
We can't guarantee your safety. If
the Decepticons try to --
This signal is jammed as well; the viewscreen fades into
static.
EXT. SPACE - PROXIMA
The Fortitude MOVES in front of Proxima Station and FIRES
its weapons, trying to shield it from the Decepticon
fighters, but the Decepticon fighters are faster and more
maneuverable, and WEAVE in and out firing at the Fortitude
and Proxima Station, the latter taking heavy hits.
A squadron of EDC fighters FLIES out to swarm the
comparatively massive Decepticon fighters and draw their
fire away from Proxima. Their tactic works, some of the
Decepticon ships break formation and go after the fighters,
but their guns quickly mow down a number of the EDC ships.
INT. FORTITUDE - BRIDGE
Optimus sees the battle on the viewscreen. The sight of EDC
casualties pains him to his core, as he COLLAPSES back into
his chair.
OPTIMUS
I swore... never again to let the
humans come to harm because of this
war we brought to their world.
ULTRA MAGNUS
We can't shield the EDC fighters
and protect the station at the same
time.
Another blast ROCKS the ship.
ULTRA MAGNUS
And as long as we stay here, we're
sitting ducks.
OPTIMUS
No. If it takes all the energon in
the ship, we will stay here. We
have to protect the station.
EXT. SPACE - PROXIMA
A Decepticon fighter makes a STRAFE run against the
Fortitude, CUTTING into its side with its lasers. The
Fortitude returns fire, but the Decepticon ship hits its
afterburners and ZOOMS out of range. Another Decepticon
fighter STRAFES in from another angle, FIRING at the
Fortitude again. The Fortitude is big and heavily armed,
but it cannot moved, helplessly tied to the station, and the
smaller Decepticon ships' hit-and-run tactics are weakening
its shields.
INT. SIXSHOT'S FIGHTER - BRIDGE
VORTEX
The Fortitude's shields are
weakening.
BRAWL
And Slugslinger is clearing out
some of the puny human ships.
SIXSHOT
Our moment of victory is at hand.
Behold the end of the Autobots.
Behold the end of Optimus Prime!
EXT. SPACE - PROXIMA
The battle rages on as we...
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT TWO
-------------------------------------------------------
ACT THREE
FADE IN:
INT. AUTOBOT SHUTTLE
Hot Rod and Kup stare at the static now ENVELOPING their
viewscreen, trying to work the communications panels.
HOT ROD
I've lost the comm link with Prime.
KUP
I'm trying to reestablish the
signal...
(works at his console)
Nothing. There seems to be some
sort of jamming signal broadcast
from Proxima.
HOT ROD
Decepticons?
Kup nods silently.
REESE
We have to get Dr. Pilar back to an
EDC medical facility immediately.
HOT ROD
We could be walking into a
firefight if we return to Proxima.
KUP
The jamming signal is affecting all
wavelength transmissions... no
sensors, no communications, nothing.
No way of knowing what's going on
over there.
GRIMLOCK
No matter what goes on in Proxima!
If Decepticons there, we smash!
HOT ROD
Our first priority is Dr. Pilar.
She needs immediate care, and she
can't get it if we get caught in
the crossfire.
KUP
(picks up the data disc)
We also gotta get this information
to the rest of the Autobots. Our
transmission to the Fortitude was
cut off before we could send the
disc. If the data on this contains
information about a new Decepticon
or Quintesson weapon, we need to
decode it and find out what it is
as quickly as possible.
REESE
There are no EDC facilities this
far out in space.
HOT ROD
No. But there is an alternative,
where we can get both medical
attention and have access to the
necessary scientific instruments.
(to Kup)
Set a course for Cybertron.
EXT. SPACE - AUTOBOT SHUTTLE
The Autobot shuttle TURNS sharply away from its original
course to Proxima, heading for Cybertron.
INT. RELENTLESS - BRIDGE
Blitzwing ENTERS, followed by the Predacons and the
Quintessons. Galvatron turns to greet them.
BLITZWING
The Quintesson envoy.
GALVATRON
Welcome, Quintessons. I trust our
agreement is still in effect. Do
you have confirmation?
QUINTESSON A
Our sensors have confirmed the
presence of the sphere on the
seventh planet of this system.
Energy waveforms precisely coincide
with expected parameters.
The lead Quintesson takes a disc and hands it to Galvatron,
who inserts it in a console. On the main viewscreen, an
image FORMS of the archway found on Devoron Seven, flanked
by various readings. It appears closed at first, but then
the archway BURSTS open, revealing behind it a SHIMMERING
blue-white energy core that emits a radiance that undulates
over the entire bridge. The audience is captured in awe.
GALVATRON
Decepticons! Quintessons! The
dawn of a new era begins now!
Behold, on the seventh planet in
this system, one of the most
powerful devices ever constructed!
An ancient Quintesson weapon, lost
for millions of years, found once
again! Those pathetic humans found
it, never realizing its true power!
The Decepticons exchange glances.
GALVATRON
Now, it is ours! The humans have
led us to it, and the Quintessons
will activate it once again! Once
it is open, the entire galaxy will
be ours!
The viewscreen continues to show the core of the gateway.
Waves of chronal energy PULSE from the heart of the gateway;
its core shows the pure essence of time itself.
CYCLONUS
(half to himself)
He's found it, a way to travel
through time...
GALVATRON
With this, all of history will be
ours to rewrite! We will conquer
the entire galaxy at the dawn of
time! We will shape the destiny of
countless worlds!
(beat)
And we will destroy the Autobots
before they were ever built. We
will erase them from history!
The Decepticons are amazed at the sight of this. They had
heard legends of these Quintesson gateways, and had seen the
Quintessons use one before, but to have one of these
gateways in their control, to have the ability to rewrite
history, the power it represented, it was amazing to have...
BLITZWING
(awed)
A chronosphere.
EXT. SPACE - CYBERTRON
Hot Rod's shuttle approaches the planet Cybertron. Reese
looks out over its metallic, wondrous surface in awe.
HOT ROD
Approaching Cybertron orbit. Hold
on...
EXT. CYBERTRON
The shuttle moves in and TOUCHES DOWN on an Autobot landing
pad. Near it is an immense building, an Autobot command
center built on the surface of Cybertron.
Hot Rod STEPS out of the shuttle, followed by the Dinobots
and Reese. Reese is wearing his pressure suit, as Hot Rod
looks at him.
HOT ROD
You don't need that here. The air
is breathable.
Hot Spot and First Aid EMERGE from the command center and
walk down the landing area to meet the shuttle.
HOT SPOT
Hot Rod! What's your situation?
FIRST AID
We were told you had wounded.
HOT ROD
You could say that.
HOT SPOT
Say the word, the repair bay is up
and running.
HOT ROD
It's not quite like that.
Kup EMERGES now from the shuttle, in vehicle mode, driving
down towards the party with Pilar lying in his trunk.
First Aid immediately sizes up the situation and TRANSFORMS
into ambulance mode. A ramp ROLLS OUT from his trunk. Kup
TRANSFORMS to robot mode and helps Pilar into First Aid, who
drives off towards the command center.
REESE
Will she be all right?
KUP
First Aid and his staff will do all
they can.
REESE
First Aid?
HOT ROD
Oh yes, how rude of me. Hot Spot.
The ambulance was First Aid, of the
Protectobots. Lieutenant Reese of
the Earth Defense Command.
HOT SPOT
Lieutenant.
REESE
H-how do you do.
(still overawed by this whole
new planet of giant robots and
therefore more comfortable
talking to Hot Rod)
Will, will they be able to care for
her? I mean, no offense, but how
much experience do you have caring
for humans?
KUP
You'd be surprised. There are
humans living on Cybertron to this
day.
REESE
Humans on Cybertron?
Almost as if on cue, a small yellow Volkswagen Beetle DRIVES
out from the control center up to the others. Its door POPS
open and a distinguished man in his early sixties EMERGES.
His hair, once brown, shows considerable graying, and he
leans slightly on a cane due to an old injury in his left
leg, but this doesn't detract from his demeanor in the
slightest. The Beetle TRANSFORMS into a familiar face...
BUMBLEBEE
(eagerly)
We heard that humans had arrived on
Cybertron. After twenty stellar
cycles -- excuse me, twenty-two
Earth years -- with no contact with
Earth, and suddenly, here we are
with more humans landing on
Cybertron!
MAN
It's been too long.
The man steps forward to meet Reese, who looks a bit more at
ease now that someone else of his scale is around.
REESE
Lieutenant Maxwell Reese of the EDC.
How do you do, sir?
MAN
A pleasure to make your
acquaintance.
(extends a hand)
My name is Spike, Spike Witwicky.
(beat)
Welcome to Cybertron.
We can see as Reese extending his own hand to meet Spike,
two humans, standing in front of each other on this strange
world. As they shake hands, we pull back to see the
Autobots, the buildings, the entire city in all its grandeur,
and we marvel at just how tiny these two humans are in this
futuristic, technological city, a city of metallic
skyscrapers and robotic giants. As we pull further back, to
see the entire planet, we...
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT THREE
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