Trichess MST Part 2!!

BROOKLYN: I have blood in my caffeine system!

"Then do it... Woops, what's the lady doing down there?"

He bent down to take something from the floor - it was the white queen. He placed the piece on the chessboard without thinking about it. He had taken square D1: the queen's next move would be the bishop's end...

GECKO: *stands up and does a cheer.* Go, Arty! Go Arty! Go Arty! Go! Go! It's your birthday, let's party!

BROOKLYN: It wouldn't be Arty.

GECKO: Damn. *Slouches back in his seat.*

*INTERLUDE 1*

The klaxon blares a different tune, as ARIN frantically checks the gauges on the console.

ARIN: Proximity alert! A new ship has approached bearing seven-two-niner!

ARTEMIS: *stops from pounding Starscream's face into the console.* Can you ID it?

ARIN: From our records, it's matching an Autobot shuttle, armed to the teeth.

GOURRY: Could it be those evil Autobots Megatron was talking about?

ARTEMIS: Possibly. Arin, full shields.

DAVIS: Shouldn't we get Cyrway and the boys?

ARTEMIS: Negative. We might be wasting time pulling them out of the theatre. Head on! *Neat Transformation sequence as she backflips, transforming into the head of her Artemis Prime form, the body which miraculously appears out of nowhere. She now towers over the others.* I'm taking charge now.

STARSCREAM groans, rolling his optics. ARTEMIS storms over to him and yanks off the duct tape off his mouth. He screams in pain.

STARSCREAM: Insolent wench! I will have your head for this insubordination!

ARTEMIS: GIR, you and Starscream go down to meet up with Washu to get our propulsions back online.

STARSCREAM: I don't take orders from you!

ARTEMIS takes him by the neck and winds up to punch him.

ARTEMIS: You take the order, or I ram it down your throat. Your choice.

STARSCREAM scowls and, when she releases him, sulks off, with GIR dancing around him.

GIR: YAY!!! We're gonna see Washu! Yay!!!

STARSCREAM: Shut up, you insolent insect!

ARIN: The new ship has engaged in battle with the Decepticon ship! It's ignoring us for now!

ARTEMIS: Tactical! How are our weapons systems?

MALIBU: *off camera* We have no weapon systems!

ARTEMIS: *directly into the camera.* What?

MALIBU: Brook was bluffing!

ARTEMIS: Fine then. If diplomacy doesn't work, then we let them board and kick their ass from within.

DAVIS: Sounds good to me!

ARTEMIS: Arin, hail the ship!

ARIN: No repsonse!

The gang watches as there is a bright explosion in on the screen. There is stunned silence.

TASUKI: That...was a bad thing, right?

DAVIS: I'm not entirely sure.

ARIN: They're not dead....they're just blown clear.

BASS: Great. Just like Megaman. *Grumbles*

ARIN: The new ship's about-facing us!

ARTEMIS: Full shields! Open all frequencies!

ARIN: They're hailing us!

ARTEMIS: On screen!

A bridge showing various recognizable Autobots, all in a state of battle damage, with Optimus Prime looking worn for wear, at the helm.

OPTIMUS PRIME: *pained* Another Autobot...

ARTEMIS: I am Artemis Prime, commander of the Wreckers. Our navigation systems were destroyed in a failed transwarp jump.

OPTIMUS PRIME: The Decepticons...ravaged our homeworld...destroyed everything...

ARTEMIS: What is your current situation? Do you require medical attention?

OPTIMUS PRIME: Wheeljack and Ratchet....heavily damaged...we are on...minimal life support...

ARTEMIS: A moment, Prime. Arin, cut sound. *Turns to the others.* I don't trust anything in this universe right now. Bass, Davis, Quatre, suit up and go with Tasuki and Gourry to the docking bay. We'll bring them in for medical treatment. If anything happens funny, we take them down. Arin, have the DRDs on them at all times. Washu, come in.

WASHU: *over the intercom* Propulsions are completely shorted out, Cap'n.

ARTEMIS: You, Screamer, and GIR are on standby. We're taking on wounded, but it may be a trap.

WASHU: I think I could whip something up for the occasion.

ARTEMIS: Audio back on. *Turning to the screen, she nods.* We can assist you in any medical repairs you require. It is the least we can do for sending those Decepticons packing.

OPTIMUS PRIME: We are indebted to you, Prime. Optimus out.

ARTEMIS: *sets her jaw.* This is going to be interesting.

GIR: *over the intercom* I'm gonna sing the Doom Song now!

EVERYONE: NO!!!

Mag enjoyed the warm water running over her skin. Once a day she needed a shower

GECKO: Most people do.

- as hot as possible. Normally, she preferred low temperatures, and she felt content when others started to feel cold. Hot climates made her tired.

CYRWAY: At last! She has something in common with me!

GECKO: What, you're both SNADs?

CYRWAY: Don't make me go Scorpion on your arse.

But the shower had to be hot. Once a friend had remarked:

GECKO: "I'll wash your back if you wash mine!"

"Your ancestors must have been from Island. Cold weather and hot geysers"

BROOKLYN: She must mean Iceland.

"Yes," Mag thought. "There was one of the places where you still could physically feel the elementary power of the planet..."

GECKO: More pagan stuff.

CYRWAY: I get that feeling when I'm crossing the Two Cent Bridge in the middle of a snowstorm.

She turned off the shower and groped for the towel.

GECKO: I'll grope something...

BROOKLYN: You pervert.

GECKO: Damn straight!

Five days had passed since that night.

BROOKLYN: Temporal jet lag.

During this time, she saw through his eyes how the undersea base had slowly grown.

GECKO: Phallic symbol and all.

She was spiritually present when he constructed the microsizer, the device that would enable him to shrink to human size.

BROOKLYN: Oh dear. *Hides his face.* I should have seen that coming.

This night they would meet for the first time!

CYRWAY: Tamahome....

GECKO: Miaka...

CYRWAY: Tamahome...

GECKO: Miaka...

CYRWAY: Tamahome....

GECKO: Nuriko...

CYRWAY: *dissolves into a fit of giggles.*

Thoughtfully, she dried the sparkling water drops from her body.

BROOKLYN: The mandatory shower scene.

What she had seen - had it been real?

GECKO: Hitomi...

CYRWAY: Van....

GECKO: Hitomi...

CYRWAY: Van...

GECKO: Hitomi...

CYRWAY: *falsetto* VAN-SAAAAMMMMMAAAA!!!

GECKO: Merle?!

Or had she made a fool out of herself because of her immense imagination?

GECKO: Padme...

CYRWAY: Anakin...

GECKO: Padme...

CYRWAY: Anakin...

GECKO: Padme...

BROOKLYN: Enough with the stupid dreamy names bit! *grumbles*

Maybe he was just a wishful dream she vainly tried to catch?

CYRWAY: The signs of a total fangirl.

As so often in her life, she started to cast doubt on everything.

BROOKLYN: Like watching Episode 2.

Once again, her intellect fought against her intuition.

GECKO: *Yoda-speak* Clouds the mind, emotion does. Else mistaken you do, reality and fantasy.

No matter if dream or reality...

ALL THREE: "Open your eyes, look up to the skies and see!"

The towel landed, thrown vigorously in the next corner.

GECKO: Allowing it to develop mildew.

CYRWAY: *Towelie voice.* Don't forget to bring a towel!

... she will be at the rendezvous! You can only win if you dare!

BROOKLYN: HIT THE DECK!!! *Both he and Gecko dive for cover as CYRWAY jumps onto her seat.*

CYRWAY: *belting out.* "DARE! Dare to keep all your dreams alive! Dare to be all that you can be!"

There was the tender mental touch again.

CYRWAY: *still belting out.* YOU'VE GOT THE TOUCH!!! YOU'VE GOT THE POWER!

GECKO: *tackles Cyrway.* No more Stan Bush!

Magic, beautiful, beloved Magic...

BROOKLYN: Harlequin romance for Transfans.

CYRWAY: At least it's not incest.

GECKO: Not yet, at least.

Alas, beloved... I'm afraid!

GECKO: *falsetto* I'm afraid some militant anti-SNAD will MiST this fic! *Normal* Oh, wait...

Love, I... I am afraid, too. I fear my dream could be shattered...

BROOKLYN: ...in the case I step on you.

Mag sighed deeply and started to put on her clothes - black material. There was no need for the neighborhood to notice as she stole through the garden during the night.

GECKO: Ah, wearing the black leather teddy, I see...

Her watch showed it was three minutes past eleven.

GECKO and CYRWAY: *singing, in the turn of "Two Minutes to Midnight" by Iron Maiden.* "Three minutes past eleven!"

BROOKLYN: Weak, guys.

Mag could not resist the urge to laugh as she thought of the day before yesterday.

CYRWAY: *higher pitch.* I dreamt that I was in a fic where the Decepticons were good and--wait a minute...

She and her sister's friend Andra

GECKO: "Valley girl, she's a valley girl!"

had been shopping in the city when a tall, blond boy had asked them for the time. It had been three minutes past eleven... am.

GECKO: "Okay, fine! Fersure, fersure! She's a valley girl in a clothing store!"

BROOKLYN: What's with the Frank Zappa?

GECKO: *shrugs*

Indeed, he had been a really handsome guy; in other words: Andra had been in love at once...

"Mag, wasn't he cuuuuute..?" the freckled girl had sighed, right after he had passed them by.

GECKO: In a Rocky Horror sort of way, I guess...

"Not the type of man I prefer," Mag had answered, which had caused Andra to grin.

CYRWAY: I used to be into the undead spectres until I saw Rayden's alternate costume in Deadly Alliances...Yum!

"I forgot, for you it had to be some Transformer!"

BROOKLYN: Just like Ace!

GECKO: Naw...they just have to be cars with manual transmissions.

"Not 'some'", Mag now thought while standing in front of the mirror, drying her hair. "A special one..."

CYRWAY: *sighs dreamily.* Sideburn....oh, Sideburn!

BROOKLYN: Told you.

Ten minutes later, she left the house via the back door.

ALL THREE: *continuously hums the mysterious creeping music.* Dum--Dum-dum-dum-DUUUUUUMMMM-da-da-da-da-da-dum....

In the sky hung a nearly new moon. Which meant it was relatively dark, though the starry sky was clear. A fortunate coincidence: this way she would not be seen while she was crossing the garden. She, on the other hand, could still see enough in the poor light. See enough...?

'See inhumanly well' described the fact much better! Mag's eyes seemed to be made for the night.

GECKO: She just eats a lot of carrots.

Soundless as shadow, she scurried over the dew-wet lawn . Not even the neighbor's dog noticed her action.

GECKO: Stupid Pomeranian not doing his job.

Only the trees and bushes seemed to know where she was about to go to. The leaves' silent rustling sounded as if they wanted to encourage Mag in her intention. She loved the old trees.

BROOKLYN: Better a tree than ol' Buckethead!

She slipped through the garden gate, crossed the broad forest road, and entered the dark canyon. The scent of the forest filled the air - a fresh smell of dark, fertile ground, of moisture and life.

CYRWAY: I wonder if the author's pagan.

Mag felt as if she was home at last . Here she felt safe and secure. Free like a wild animal... like a mustang, a puma or a wolf.

Like a wolf... a she-wolf...

CYRWAY: Wolves kick ass.

BROOKLYN: They must to be one of the favourites to make Beast Wars fan characters from.

As if it was just a plain street, she followed a narrow path which was full of roots. She did not stumble, she did not get caught, she moved along fast. This was her hunting ground!

GECKO: However, due to the sprawl of the American cities, all the potential prey decided to migrate to Canada.

In the distance, the whistling noise of a jet engine mingled with the sounds of the night. A jet plane approached at high speed.

CYRWAY: So much for calling the corners.

BROOKLYN: What?

As the craft crossed over the canyon, the whistling noise increased to a roaring thunder which caused even the rock to tremble. Just a few seconds later the spook was over; the plane had disappeared in the distance.

GECKO: I guess she missed that "Nellis Air Force Base: Restricted Area" sign thirty feet away.

All around Mag, everything was like it was before: the forest, the sounds, the scent... No - not everything was like it was before! Something had changed

CYRWAY: Somethin' bad...

she could feel his physical presence.

GECKO: As he accidentally stepped on her.

He was close by!

BROOKLYN: Flashbacks to the first issue of the Dreamwave comic...

GECKO: All we need is the Latino mercenary taking a whiz, and the scene is set!

Carefully, she continued her way.

CYRWAY: And lo and behold, she came across the Latino mercenary taking a whiz.

Mate..?

GECKO: Oh, now Megsie's is going to tell her that he had been controlled by Lazarus all this time...

She felt how uncertainty tied a knot inside her chest.

BROOKLYN: *falsetto* Oh, God, what am I doing?!

The wind rustled through the leaves -

Courage!

ALL THREE: THE COWARDLY DOG!

She went on...

The first thing she saw between the trees was two lights that illuminated the darkness with a soft red shine.

CYRWAY: It's the aliens bringing back Mulder.

Then at last - coming closer, she could fully see him.

ALL THREE: The Latino mercenary taking a whiz.

He was tall. Although he had used the microsizer to decrease his body size, he was still about seven feet tall.

GECKO: And of course, Starscream never thought of stepping on Megatron afterwards.

His metal body sparkled silvery in the light of the stars. His red optics looked yearningly at her.

CYRWAY: Kill the fleshling creature!

Mag's heart beat as if it wanted to burst. A single second seemed to last for an eternity.

CYRWAY: You know, it's not the same if it's not Screamer.

GECKO: You just like humiliating the poor bastard.

CYRWAY: We're talking about Starscream here.

"Megatron," she whispered softly.

GECKO: Magic...

CYRWAY: Megatron...

GECKO: Magic...

CYRWAY: Megatron...

BROOKLYN: Cut it out!

The word finally untied the tortured knot inside of her. Emotions, freed at last, burst out of her like a torrent of lava out of a volcano. No holding back ...

GECKO: "Oh baby, everytime we kiss, hot lava..."

"Oh, Megatron..." She flew into his arms. "How... how have I longed for you..."

CYRWAY: Emotional awe of silence, folks!

BROOKLYN: I think it's more of being stunned.

GECKO: Just wait until Megatron's Master Plan...

She forgot all her doubts.

CYRWAY: She forgot he was the enemy.

GECKO: Only proof that love is blind. And functioning on one brain cell.

He was there, he was real and not just a dream. Mag could touch his metal.

GECKO: I bet she touched his metal.

As he tenderly returned her embrace, she felt the living warmth that came from his systems.

CYRWAY: Inu-yasha...

GECKO: Kikyo...

CYRWAY: *irriated* I'm Kagome!

GECKO: Same difference.

CYRWAY: SIT BOY!

"My sweet, little Magic..." He buried his angular robot face in her soft locks. "What have you done to the crazy, old Decepticon I am..?"

GECKO: Do you REALLY want to know?

Her body was so warm and soft... it was so good to feel her. Close... Never let her go. Just immerse completely in this feeling.

CYRWAY: Too...much...romance...

GECKO: *falsetto, as though reading a romance novel.* "As he clutched her to his smooth chest, whispering that he would never leave her...she had truly found happiness." *normal.* Or at least a one night fling.

"Magic," he said silently. "Teach it to me..."

BROOKLYN: Teach what? Checkers? Mahjong? Final Fantasy?

His fingertips softly caressed her cheek.

BROOKLYN: *smiling wide.* This is so cute and innocent. *Still smiling.* I'm going to be sick.

CYRWAY: *sinks into her seat.* I'll be looking for Octane and Sandstorm yaoi fics if you need me.

"Teach to me the feeling to kiss."

GECKO: Use lots of tongue.

This yearning in his optics -

BROOKLYN: He's just using you, Magic! Run! Run while you can!

She felt his embrace tighten as her lips touched his. He was like someone thirsty, nearly perished of thirst who got water at last

GECKO: Cold shower time.

- refreshing, cool spring water.

ALL THREE: "Poland Springs! What it means to be from Maine!"

Magic, I love you! Great Cybertron! Magic, I love...! I, Megatron, the Slagmaker, can love...!

BROOKLYN: It's not as fun as poking at Starscream, you know...

A storm of emotions raved inside of him. In the ocean of feelings the waves were high.

ALL THREE: *singing to the tune of the Gilligan's Island theme* "If it wasn't for the courage of these hecklers, the fanfic would be lost! The fanfic would be lost!"

"Magic, my love... My Magic..."

Magic - yet, only her sister and he had known this name, her true name.

CYRWAY: Her sister and everyone else reading this fic.

She took him by the hand to lead him back the path she had come, out of the canyon.

GECKO: Come with me to the casba.

Megatron transformed when they reached the broad forest road.

BROOKLYN: And she was picked up by local police for possession of an unregistered handgun.

GECKO: *Negaduck voice* Megatron...my precious....my precious.... *Laughs maniacally*

The trees' silent whisper in the night wind greeted her return as she slipped like a shadow throught the garden back to the house, holding the gun in her arms tight to her body.

CYRWAY: Why is that scene from--

GECKO: --Guy Double Target?

CYRWAY: Yep.

GECKO: It's in my mind too...oh yes, it's in my mind too.

"There is no other explanation..."

BROOKLYN: Whoop! Scene change!

CYRWAY: CLUTCH!!!

Megatron mentioned thoughtfully while looking at the little Action Master version of himself,

GECKO: Don't let Starscream see himself!

CYRWAY: Especially the Pretender shell...ye gods, ESPECIALLY the Pretender shell!

BROOKLYN: That would be a GOOD thing, Ace.

"... The humans who invented this must have received data from Teletraan 1's memory banks."

GECKO: Jeez, I would hate to see where McFarlane got his inspiration from. *shivers*

CYRWAY: Or Giger... *Gecko shivers again.* Mmmm...Giger-drawn WarWorld...yum....

He put the action figure carefully back on its place in Magic's collection.

CYRWAY: Musing to himself that Starscream's toy was just perfect in the fact it didn't mouth back.

GECKO: *Megatron voice* Starscream, I have decided to replace you with an action figure version of you.

BROOKLYN: It would be a hell of a lot smarter, that's for sure.

"Some kind of telepathic transmission... Amazing!"

CYRWAY: Naw, Takara hacked into Teletran 1.

He took a closer look at the different Transformer figures: Optimus Prime, Starscream, Jazz, Thundercracker, Bumblebee... He knew every corresponding original.

GECKO: Starscream and Thundercracker, with all two points of articulation! *Moves his arms stiffly up and down.*

The terrestrial alternate forms fit nearly exactly...

CYRWAY: Except Skyfire.

BROOKLYN: Jetfire.

CYRWAY: Whatever.

"... however - the robot forms aren't quite close," Magic remarked.

GECKO: Case in point: Ironhide.

CYRWAY: Is there any question why I love the RiD Autobot toys? Articulation....yum!

BROOKLYN: Is "yum" your favourite word or something?

"You think so..?" Megatron asked, wrapping his arms around her waist.

BROOKLYN: You've seen the trigger in his toy, right? If it wasn't ambiguously obvious.

She smiled softly.

"At least, one Transformer looks much better in original form..." She tenderly caressed his cheek.

Don't stop, Magic...

CYRWAY: Oh, THERE'S a pickup line...

GECKO: At least it's not like Screamer to Arty... "Hey, wench...are you drunk yet?"

He kissed the palm of her hand.

... I need your love...

Come with me, beloved...

CYRWAY: My kingdom for some Sideburn and Hot Rod smut fics.

She lead him up the narrow staircase to the loft chamber.

GECKO: Trip! Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-CRASH!

BROOKLYN: *falsetto* Mag, are you sneaking boys in your room again?

CYRWAY: No....

BROOKLYN: *falsetto* Are you sneaking megalmaniacal leaders of an evil alien race then?

CYRWAY: No!

The warm light of the small lamp softly illuminated her pale-colored body, giving her something mysterious and something familiar at the same time. She was beautiful!

CYRWAY: Not as beautiful as a 1967 Pontiac GTO hardtop, four-on-the-floor shift, 360 horsepower 400HO engine! Ow! I'm in love!

Megatron had lived this moment so often with her - on a mental basis.

CYRWAY and GECKO: *"Evil Fantasies" by Judas Priest* "You give me evil, fantasies! I wanna get inside your mind! Come on and live those fantasies! I'll show you evil, you can't hide!"

But this was something different, this was real! He nearly did not dare to touch her, fearing to hurt her. Her skin was so soft and warm!

BROOKLYN: Humans bruise easy.

GECKO: Meaning she's on top.

CYRWAY: I don't think Megatron

He felt her tender kisses on his metal, her hands that lovingly caressed him.

CYRWAY: *sinks in her seat.* Oh dear.

Magic had lit up a fire inside of him that was burning more and more, that was rising to an inferno.

ALL THREE: MY QUEEN! *Salutes the screen.*

He was not simply a machine.

GECKO: He was...a love machine! *Starts air guitaring porn music.*

He was an electromechanical living being that had feelings.

CYRWAY: "Feelings...nothing more than feelings!"

GECKO: Cut it out! It doesn't go with my porn music! *Continues his air guitar.*

Love... Desire... He was full of love and desire for this woman!

BROOKLYN: Amy, I'm worried about you...I feel that you may be straying onto the path of the dark side of the fangirls.

CYRWAY: Thanks. I'm gonna go and kill a tribe of Tuskan raiders just to prove you wrong.

He was a real man.

ALL THREE: "I'm a man, without convictions!"

Never before he had felt it so clearly. Not only his soul, but his body also was the body of a real man!

GECKO: Moonie smut! Moonie smut! *Hyperventilates.* Kitties and puppies!

Magic, oh Magic... I love you!

CYRWAY: And cut to an ellipsis....

Her body's heat was increasing - the fire burned inside of her, too.

BROOKLYN: The fire burned so hot, the corn began popping.

Megatron embraced her tightly and carefully at the same time.

Beloved, make a real woman out of me tonight..!

GECKO: Megatron then realised she was a he.

CYRWAY: "Man! I feel like a woman!" *hums to Shania Twain's "Man! I feel like a Woman" as she stands up and does a quick line dance.*

The lovers neither noticed the ticking of the alarm clock nor the soft, metallic noise of his hip armor as it hit the floor.

GECKO: See? What did I tell you! Moonie smut!

BROOKLYN: *hides his face.* Oh, dear.

CYRWAY: Let's see those cables and wires, baby! *Waves a dollar bill.*

In their world there existed nothing but each other...

GECKO: And Skywarp standing the the doorway, his mouth slack as the scene before him.

There is nearly nothing more exhaustive then to fire a matter-antimatter blast: The increasing magnetic field strains your systems to their limit - every circuit goes crazy, you are not able to think clearly anymore. Then, the antimatter gate opens inside the field: it is not bigger than a molecule but it sucks in your energon as mercilessly as a hungry parasite. It sucks you dry like a spider does its prey.

CYRWAY: Get the same from sticking your finger in a light socket.

And finally the blast itself... Yes, this blast makes you feel as if you are being ripped into smithereens yourself.

GECKO: Robotic orgasm.

Minutes after, your body is still completely drained. Your exhaustion would make you a vulnerable victim to your enemies if they still were able to take advantage of this weakness...

CYRWAY: Starscream, for example, would take advantage of this situation, yes.

There is nearly nothing more exhaustive, except for one thing.

GECKO: Masturbation.

BROOKLYN: *groans.*

But the exhaustion after that is pleasant. Embraced by sweet tiredness, you find yourself secure in the arms of a beloved being...

CYRWAY: Or your mortal rival. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

BROOKLYN: Even as to sleep with them? Ace, you're demented.

CYRWAY: Yes, yes, I know dear.

Megatron nestled closer to his mate. He listened to her breathing, felt the rhythmic beating of her heart. All was so new and so familiar. In her nearness he was welcome, here was his home. Home did not need to be a place. Home - for the Decepticon leader, it was a small, human lady.

GECKO: She's no lady! She's my wife!

A special lady...

A strong lady...

BROOKLYN: A kinky lady....

His lady!

CYRWAY: Hey, when did Harrier make his appearance?

There was it again, her tender touch, the soft caress on his metal.

GECKO: *Megatron voice* Not now! I haven't recovered yet!

"Magic..." he started softly.

BROOKLYN: Don't you two start again!

GECKO and CYRWAY groan disappointed.

"Yes?"

GECKO: Side Burn...

CYRWAY: Hot Rod...

BROOKLYN: I said don't start!

"The story behind the cartoons... It shows exactly how I was and... how I would be without... you."

BROOKLYN: That's funny...

GECKO: Ah, the wonders of Mary Sues.

CYRWAY: My Mary Sue has flings! *Bounces up and down.* Side Burn and Hot Rod! Side Burn and Hot Rod! I'll have them both!

BROOKLYN: Your Mary Sue is rather promiscuous.

GECKO: Cavalier wouldn't even know what that word means!

"Yeh," she answered and kissed the tip of his nose. "There are two different stories that have the same prologue - the one behind the cartoons and our own."

CYRWAY: Ah, she goes by the fanfiction within a universe law.

GECKO: There's more than two, Mag! There's infinite, countless possibilities! Each atom is a universe of wonder! Each molecule--

BROOKLYN: Gecko, you're rambling.

A cunning smile appeared on Megatron's lips.

"How many different stories may exist?" he considered.

BROOKLYN: You don't want to know.

Magic looked through the window at the starry sky, her chin resting on his head.

GECKO: *falsetto* "I can see Uranus!"

"Maybe millions," she answered. "Maybe as many as universes exist."

"And how are these other stories?" he wanted to know, curious.

CYRWAY: Should we tell them about Beast Machines?

"Well..." Magic started. The fantasy shone rascally in her eyes. "They are different in each universe... There is, for example, a universe where Megatron is still a beastly, mean, nasty Decepticon

CYRWAY: Or he's an insane leader of the tattered remains of a once glorious army, manipulated and mutated by the great god of Chaos Unicron...

and Magic..." She pulled the cover like a kerchief over her head, hunched and made a very 'frightful' face. "... an ugly, old witch!"

ALL THREE laugh painfully.

GECKO: And then there's the universes that exist as Mary Sue fantasies...

Megatron laughed, watching his mate making faces.

GECKO: *Megatron voice* My god, what have I done?!

"Oh, Magic," he said while caressing her soft, dark locks. "You are a universe yourself... full of life... full of stories... full of magic..."

BROOKLYN: Full of something, all right.

Suddenly he hugged her tightly.

"Magic... Oh, Magic... I love you so much!"

CYRWAY: Yes, yes, that has been made abundantly clear.

Half an hour later, Megatron had entered a regeneration mode that took care of his systems and gained them time to regenerate. The condition was quite similar to sleep.

GECKO: Good. Let's break out the markers and draw peace signs, flowers, and Jerry-Bears on him.

Magic hit the switch of the lamp on the bedside table to shut off the light. Now the entire room was dark, except for a broad streak that came from the terrace door where the night's blue light tried to illuminate something with nearly no success.

CYRWAY: False Night, in other words.

BROOKLYN: Let's give it up for the stage manager!

A few stars reflected in Megatron's metal.

"I love you, Megatron," she whispered and kissed his helmet.

GECKO: I love you, Ace.

CYRWAY: I love you, Brooklyn.

BROOKLYN: You two are degrading.

She felt his systems working, the warmth, her mate's shining, non-organic body on her skin. It made her feel so good!

GECKO: And then the horror starts...FURMAN WAS RIGHT ABOUT BUDDING!!! RUN!!!

He rested in her arms - a restless soul who found peace at last.

CYRWAY: Only because he was too heavy to push off.

BROOKLYN: Crushing...vital...organs....

Magic closed her eyes and fell asleep.

*INTERLUDE 2*

A narrow hallway. Gourry, in the lead, with Tasuki flanking him. Bass, now in his biomerged form with Treble, and Davis, with Exveemon flying overhead, take up the back. Quatre, goggles on top of his head, walks at Davis's side, assessing the situation logically.

QUATRE: All right, Gourry and I will be the diplomats...we assess the damage to them and see what we can do to help in the immediate. Tasuki, Bass, we'll need you behind us in the case things start getting too hairy. Davis, we'll need you to get help in the case we're overcome. With the exception of Sandrock, we may be underclassed to fight Transformers in the case this is an attack. We may need Artemis and Starscream to back us up.

DAVIS: Anyone remember that Transformers episode "Fight of Flee?" Maybe if we killed them with kindness, they'll realise we mean no harm to them.

TASUKI: *to Quatre* Where did we pick him up again?

DAVIS: Excuse me? I was here long before you!

QUATRE: Please, let's not fight amongst ourselves. We have too much riding on this contact.

GOURRY: So why do I have my sword drawn?

BASS: I'm having a craving for ice cream right about now.

GOURRY: Me too. *Sheathes sword.*

QUATRE: Bass, open up the bay doors and let them in. Artemis, this is Quatre.

Cut to the Bridge, where Artemis and Arin are still present.

ARTEMIS: Yes, Quatre?

QUATRE: *over the intercom.* Tell the other Autobots that they can now board. We're ready for them.

ARTEMIS: Understood.

ARIN: Should we inform Ace and the others of the situation?

ARTEMIS: We can handle this; I don't want to interrupt their viewing pleasure.

The sun had not yet risen. Only at the eastern horizon, a slight touch of light blue give a presentiment of the morning driving away the night. Dewdrops sat in cobwebs that covered the roof-terrace's lawn like tiny strings of pearls. On noiseless beating wings, an owl passed by.

CYRWAY: And somewhere, Spike was trying to get into Buffy's pants.

GECKO: *Evil Willow.* Bored now.

"I have to reach the rendezvous before Skywarp does," Megatron said softly.

BROOKLYN: Or Megatron would never hear the end of it.

"The Decepticons mustn't know where I've been... where you are... It would be too dangerous for you!"

CYRWAY: Starscream would get very jealous to know Megatron has a new playmate.

He embraced Magic tightly, buried his face in her hair. To stay with her forever, feeling her warmth... Her heart's calm beat was the rhythm of life.

"Nothing shall ever harm you, Magic... Nothing shall ever harm you..!"

GECKO: Save if he falls asleep on you...

"Nothing will harm me, Megatron. I can take care of myself," she tried to calm him. The young woman tried bravely to stay confident. Regardless, the lump in her throat constricted as she thought about the other Decepticons. How would they react upon a weak Earthian being their commander's mate?

ALL THREE: Badly.

CYRWAY: Hey! Earthian! Great shonnen ai anime!

The tall Transformer kneeled on the moist grass in front of his mate. Holding her hand, he watched the night wind playing with her locks.

The stars adorn you like jewels, my love... my queen!

ALL THREE: FOR THE ROYALTY!

"Magic, you mean more to me than all the power of the universe ," Megatron started.

BROOKLYN: Quite possibly, all the galaxy, too.

"I wish, I simply could forget who I am... what I am... I wish to leave my old body behind to start a new life right at your side." He lowered his head. "I'm so tired of all the fighting..."

CYRWAY: But it's just too...much...FUN!!!

Magic wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Megatron, I've known you for a few years now. Long enough to know that you are a warrior... a warrior through and through. You need the fight like a wolf needs the hunt," she said softly. "And... what stupidities do you think would the Decepticons would do if you didn't take care of them?"

CYRWAY: Stupidity? Starscream? NEVER!!!

Again, there was this rascally smile on her face.

"The greatest possible! As far as I know Starscream and the other chaotics." Megatron answered.

CYRWAY: But Starscream has CHARISMA!

"Exactly." Magic nodded. "When the cat is away the mice will play - my granny used to say. Or... what do you think? Tiger..!"

GECKO: Tiger, eh? Let me show you my putter again....

She kissed his nose's tip.

"You are right, I have to go back..."

GECKO: And bitchslap Starscream for just thinking about taking my place.

He got back on his feet.

One day I'm going to stay with you, Magic. Forever..!

BROOKLYN: However, mortality is a bitch.

His fingers tenderly touched her face.

"I love you, my little Magic."

GECKO: And I love you, my little Megatron.

"I love you, too, Megatron."

The light band at the horizon was already growing broader as the two silhouettes of the unlikely couple merged again for a long kiss goodbye.

ALL THREE: *silence, then* WHERE'S THE FIGHTING?!

The morning birds started to sing.

GECKO: And all was happy and right in the multiverse.

BROOKLYN: Crap! Megatron forgot to tell Shockwave to cease Operation Meteor!

Take care, beloved!

ALL THREE: Take it where?

Her sending accompanied him as he rose into the early morning sky.

In the distance, she saw his silver-shining form growing again as he deactivated the microsizer. But soon there was no more visible difference between his shine and the stars' sparkling.

CYRWAY: "Don't you know, know, know, it's love!"

Magic still continued to watch. She could feel her mate wherever he was.

The young woman was happy. The man she loved was not just fiction, as everyone had wanted to make her believe for all time. He existed! He lived and... he loved her!

BROOKLYN: Or using you for his evil purposes.

But out of a sudden, her joy came to an end. Out of the blue, she got an icy feeling rushing down her spine. An image appeared in front of her mental eye: the chess-board she saw at the Adventurewood - both kings endangered by the black bishop. This - a scene of everyday insignificance - gave her the terrifying feeling that her dream was about to change into a nightmare - she feared Megatron could lose his life...

GECKO: Starscream wins. Fatality. Double Flawless.

CYRWAY: I love it when you talk nasty.

4:43.

A twin-jet fighter, F-15 style, arrived, as planned, from a south-easterly direction.

Its color scheme was non-military: red and blue on an unusually bright metal.

CYRWAY: YAY!!! ENTER THE CHAMPION!

The cockpit window was oddly shaded yellow. It showed no ID-number, but had a purple symbol on top and bottom of both wings.

The craft had the unusual speed of Mach 3. It could not be a matter of a standard Eagle...

CYRWAY: Seeing that the normal Eagle can cruise at Mach 2.7...

BROOKLYN: Nitpicker alert.

Abruptly, the plane slowed down. It had localized its target...

GECKO: Cyrway's apartment.

A few seconds later, it had company.

CYRWAY: *as Artemis.* DIE, YOU BASTARD!!!

"Was your mission successful, mighty Megatron?" Starscream asked, trying to sound as uninterested as possible. However - it was obvious that curiosity was nearly killing him.

BROOKLYN: That's not the only thing that's going to kill him if he doesn't zip the lip.

"It was, Starscream, indeed," his leader answered shortly.

GECKO: *singsong voice* I got laid and you didn't! I got laid and you didn't!

"However - I remember ordering Skywarp to meet me here..."

GECKO: You see one Seeker exhaust port, you've seen them all.

"He had to accomplish important tasks...

BROOKLYN: He was too busy sorting his porn magazines.

so I thought it was sensible to arrive at the aerial rendezvous instead..." Starscream explained hastily.

CYRWAY: Flyboy's scheming something....

His lie was so obvious that Megatron became amused.

BROOKLYN: No! Starscream lie? Impossible!

"May I ask, what was so important that only you alone could carry it out?" the F-15 wanted to know.

CYRWAY: Wouldn't you like to know.

GECKO: He does.

BROOKLYN: Much to Starscream's chagrin, he is no longer Megatron's bitch.

CYRWAY: *Starscream voice.* I'm the bitch?!

GECKO: *as Randall from "Clerks"* "Well, if we were in a homosexual relationship, that's how I would see it...."

"There is no need for you to know, Starscream," Megatron replied severely. "Now open your cockpit!"

ALL THREE: I KNEW IT!

GECKO: *starts up the porn music again.*

The yellow-shaded windshield opened, clearing the entrance into the pilot-less cockpit.

CYRWAY: Kinky Transformer interfacing! Now this is what I like!

Megatron transformed and landed on the pilot's seat in his Walther P-38 form.

GECKO: Guy Double Target! Guy Double Target! *Laughs maniacally*

"To headquarters!" he ordered.

GECKO: *air guitars the original Batman theme.*

BROOKLYN: Well, that was certainly a quickie.

The cockpit closed again. The jetfighter increased his speed to Mach 3.

BROOKLYN: From Gillette.

GECKO and CYRWAY: "The best a man can get!"

About two and a half hours later, Starscream circled above the Atlantic Ocean. The sun shone brightly in the sky - it was noon. The sea was lumpy.

GECKO: Bin Laden's new plan to dump instant potatoes into the Atlantic!

The waves whipped angrily across the Middle Atlantic Ridge.

Suddenly, a metal tower broke through the water's surface.

GECKO: Arise, phallic symbol of doom!

Unimpressed by the breakers that hit it, it rose to gigantic heights until it touched the sky. Salty water dropped from cold, technical-looking wall parts of unbelievable extents.

BROOKLYN: If that wasn't Freudian imagery, I don't know what is.

GECKO: IT'S THE OVERFIEND! No, wait...that would be WarWorld Starscream with Arty.

BROOKLYN: *facefaults as CYRWAY cracks up.* You sick bastard.

This was no building made by human beings.

CYRWAY: But by horny alien robots with very little contact with females of their species.

A massive tower of sky-scraper size: the entrance to the Decepticons' underwater base.

GECKO: The Decepticons were perverted bastards.

CYRWAY: I can't believe Soundwave would allow Rumble and Frenzy to be subjected to these scenes of gratuitous sexual innuendos!

At the upper part of the building, in reaction to a radio signal, a docking bay opened. Starscream landed.

GECKO: And Megatron docked.

As the Decepticon got some ground under his undercarriage at last, Megatron gave the order to transform.

GECKO: *as Starscream* No one tells Starscream to transform! In fact, I'm going to transform in spite of you!

Starscream did as demanded, shutting the docking bay's gate afterwards. Meanwhile, his commander was suspiciously looking around.

BROOKLYN: You boys had a party while I was gone, didn't you?

"What's the matter with you, Megatron?" Starscream wanted to know, surprised by his leader's behavior.

GECKO: *singsong* Megatron got laid by a fleshling! Megatron got laid by a fleshling!

BROOKLYN: Do you have to be so perverted?

GECKO and CYRWAY: Yes.

"Something's wrong here," Megatron answered, first checking the elevator thoroughly before he entered it. "It is much too quiet..."

CYRWAY: That's because Starscream bound and gagged everyone...and you're next. *Laughs maniacally*

The trip down turned out well, without any incidents. The elevator worked properly. Everything was normal. However, there was this sinister feeling...

GECKO: Soundwave comes out, dressed up in fishnet stockings, singing "Sweet Transvestite."

Megatron nervously grasped his fusion cannon with his left hand.

BROOKLYN: Good, he remembered it. Would have been embarrassing had he left it at Magic's place.

"You are becoming paranoid, oh mighty Megatron," Starscream sneered.

CYRWAY: Only around you, dear.

He lazily laid against the elevator's wall, a complacent smile on his lips.

CYRWAY: He's so sexy when he does that.

Megatron answered nothing. But the expression of his face told his companion clearly that next time, he should better think three times about what he was going to say and, even more important, how he was going to say it.

The doors opened: they had reached their destination. Damn - it was still too quiet..!

BROOKLYN: Rumble and Frenzy were grounded. They made all the noise.

GECKO: *Soundwave voice.* You two are grounded. Get in my chest now.

No shriek of Laserbeak and Bussaw,

CYRWAY: Or Starscream.

no roar of Ravage,

GECKO: *Big Gay Al lion* RRRRoar.

no quarrel between Frenzy and Skywarp

BROOKLYN: Ending usually with Skywarp punting Frenzy into suborbit.

like during the last three days -, and also no 'Hi, boss!' of Rumble...

Only the noise of the heavy machines which were about to bring the tower down again,

GECKO: *goes to say something, but Brooklyn reaches over Cyrway to clamp his mouth shut.*

and the sounds of the sea that were created by the water on the station's surface, echoing throughout the base.

Otherwise - deathlike silence. Quietness seemed to creep around.

BROOKLYN: Uh oh....it's a surprise party for Megatron....

"Soundwave! Thundercracker!" Megatron shouted.

No answer.

Only the sea...

"Skywarp! Astrotrain! Blitzwing! Where are you battered idiots?!"

CYRWAY: *as Blitzwing* I forgot!

Nothing!

Only the whispering of the ocean...

Megatron now ran to the main control room, his adjutant following close by. Meanwhile, the latter had admittedly a strange feeling himself. Something dark and dangerous enclosed the entire base.

BROOKLYN: It was Starscream's ego.

Starscream swallowed. He could had sworn something darkened the lamps... like a slight fog.

CYRWAY: THE SWARM!!! RUN!!!

Nonsense! He vigorously shook his head. All imagination!

As the reached the main operation hall: nothing!

Nothing again! It was deserted - nobody was there...

GECKO: Meanwhile, Dirge and Thrust are hiding under the dining room table, snickering.

Only the computer was busily wasting its time with a kind of stand by routine that some comedian had programmed.

GECKO: Ah, looks like the Terrance and Phillip comedy hour.

Megatron annoyingly interrupted the program, which caused a "DON'T DISTURB MY CIRCLES!" to appear on the screen. The demand was accompanied by an image: a four-square chessboard with a black bishop hanging in front of it.

BROOKLYN: Checkmate.

"'Don't disturb my circles'..? What does this mean?" Starscream asked.

ALL THREE: "I don't mean to walk around in circles..."

"An dictum a Terran philosopher should have created," Megatron answered. "No Decepticon could know about this phrase... Some human must have successfully gotten access to our computer system!"

CYRWAY: Well, what do you expect, seeing your entire program is based on 7-bit ASCII.

Starscream's senses sharpened!

GECKO: Starscream sense tingling!

If no Decepticon could know of this imbecile saying, then how could Megatron? And... what in the universe was a human? Besides; how did this self-satisfied heap of scrap metal that called himself ruler of the Decepticon empire get all this information about this planet they were stranded on? For someone who had woken up from a four-million-year-long deactivation just shortly ago, he knew simply too much about this world! And this mission that he could only accomplish alone!

BROOKLYN: Well, I'll give her one thing...she knows how to portray Starscream as a stupid side of smart.

Starscream decided to keep his sensors attentive. He had to find out about the Decepticon leader's mysterious secret. It might contain the ultimate chance to get rid of him at last!

CYRWAY: Starscream will solve this groovy mystery!

While his aid-de-champ

BROOKLYN: *under his breath.* Aide-de-camp.

GECKO: How would you know?

BROOKLYN: Owen Burnett was an aide-de-camp to Xanatos.

GECKO: Just because you're a gargoyle doesn't mean your so frellin' smart...

CYRWAY: It was probably lost in translation.

forgot everything around him, working on intrigues again, Megatron carried out a visual security check on the different sectors . As far as that was possible.

Nothing! Not a single Transformer in sight!

GECKO: Oh my god...

ALL THREE: IT'S LAZARUS!!!

The only thing the screen showed was empty corridors and rooms. The entire complex was deserted. However - he felt like he was being observed...

BROOKLYN: *as Megatron* Nightbird, you naughty little blowup doll, are you spying on me?

"What kind of scrap did these idiots cause this time, Starscream?"

CYRWAY: *as Starscream.* I told them the surprise party was a bad idea!

The glowing of his optics showed that Megatron was about to become really angry!

GECKO: That's normal for him, tho.

Dragged out of his thoughts, Starscream automatically stepped backwards as his leader glared him wrathfully.

BROOKLYN: I DIDN'T DO IT!!!

"I... I have no idea..." he stammered meekly.

"According to you intelligence level, I haven't expected anything else from you!"

ALL THREE: YOU'RE INCOMPETENT!

GECKO: And, according to Arty, impotent too.

Megatron disdainfully turned his back on him, taking care of the computer again.

Starscream relaxed a bit.

CYRWAY: Hey, did Arty just say he was impotent?

Meanwhile, a map of the complete undersea base was appearing on the screen, as usual as a three-dimensional image.

BROOKLYN: Looks like Draven was here.

CYRWAY: *dramatic voiceover.* Transformers: Redemption. Coming 2002.

GECKO: And here it is, 2003.

The entire complex mainly consisted of the old Decepticon spaceship which, like the Ark, crashed on Earth four million years ago.

GECKO: *Beast Wars Megatron voice.* The Nemesis!

Furthermore, there existed two bunkers on the sea-bottom which were directly connected to it, the docking tower and an area that was in a state of construction. The latter was blinking red in the image.

"We have neither visual nor acoustic contact with sector F," Megatron noticed.

GECKO: Decepticons Unplugged.

"Maybe we'll find the others in there and... a few answers! Follow me, Starscream!"

CYRWAY: I'm not going to follow you! But just out of spite, I'm going to tag along anyway.

The two Decepticons left the main control room and made their way through the empty corridors of the undersea base. The walls echoed their steps frequently - luridly and threateningly. It was like an army of ghosts pursuing them...

BROOKLYN: Sounds like Resident Evil to me.

Starscream jerked around, frightened. Had there not been a movement in the shadows..? No - just imaginary! In the moment, his sensors somehow worked in a rather hypersensitive way.

BROOKLYN: Yes, you're paranoid, and yes, Nightbird's following you.

Cold, purple-blue light illuminated corridors of grey steel. Everything was grey here - walls, floors, ceilings, doors - grey, technical and cold.

GECKO: And sterile too.

They reached the gate of sector F, the part of the base that was in a state of construction.

GECKO: *Wedge/Build Boy of Build Team voice.* All right, good work, boys! We'll have this up in no time--aw, shit, we're on the wrong set again, aren't we?

Starscream unlocked the gate and opened it. With a short hissing sound, the heavy bulkhead slipped aside. The sluices' interior radiated grave-like darkness.

"What happened to the lights?" Magatron's adjutant asked puzzled. "They should switch on when...."

CYRWAY: *Starscream voice* Well, they were obviously cut, all mighty Megatron.

BROOKLYN: You read that wrong.

CYRWAY: *rereads.* Dammit, Starscream, you're an idiot!

"I know!" the Decepticon leader interrupted, ignoring the comment. "We could check that later. Now open the other gate!"

GECKO: Opening the other gate, sir!

CYRWAY: Gate is open, sir!

BROOKLYN: Shall we proceed, sir?

Starscream did as demanded and unlocked the second bulkhead. Again there was a hissing sound.

GECKO: Good job! We successfully opened the gate!

The corridor behind was even less illuminated than the sluice. There was only a slight bluish shine coming from a row of windows beneath the ceiling, poor remains of sunlight which had managed to press down this deep. The ocean showed its presence without compassion.

CYRWAY: Rather, it showed its presence with compression.

GECKO and BROOKLYN: *groans*

Megatron started to become nervous again And when he got nervous, he got in a rage.

BROOKLYN: It's time Megatron took some rage management courses.

Someone was playing hunting games. And he hated to be forced into the prey's role.

"Starscream, you'll take the left to investigate the generator chamber! I'll go right..."

CYRWAY: There's three rules when encountering this type of predicament.

GECKO: One, never do drugs or drink alcohol.

BROOKLYN: Two, never have sex.

CYRWAY: And three...

ALL THREE: NEVER SPLIT UP!

"Maybe it would be a better idea to stay together, Megatron..." Starscream dared to contradict.

GECKO: He's chicken.

CYRWAY: He's smart.

There was this glowing in Megatron's optics again: "Go!"

BROOKLYN: He's Starscream.

The next moment, Starscream disappeared inside the generator room.

CYRWAY: Here comes the ominous "D" music....

"Miserable coward," Megatron grumbled as his companion left at last.

BROOKLYN: No, he was smart. You were the idiot not to see his logic.

He carefully followed the corridor, his fusion cannon armed and ready to fire.

GECKO: What was that? BAM! Oh, shit, sorry, Soundwave!

Why had he gotten so upset about Starscream's behavior? Even though he never had shown it, he knew this feeling as well. The feeling of a giant claw grasping into his chest, crushing everything it could reach inside. The feeling he had exactly now, and which he tried to ignore. Magic knew what he felt: Megatron was afraid.

CYRWAY: Just that Starscream was smart enough to express fear.

GECKO: Even though he won't admit it.

He shook his head to clear his mind. It was of no use - the fear was still present.

GECKO: Sucks to be you. *Continues air guitaring ominous climatic horror music.*

It was this threatening atmosphere inside the base, this impression of being observed... This uncertainty - Megatron was used to facing his opponents, being able to grasp them! He was not accustomed to fighting against phantoms!

BROOKLYN: Megatron, you face the Phantom Menace!

He ripped a door out of its track because the opening mechanism failed.

CYRWAY: A likely excuse.

But there was nothing behind it that could help him in any way. There were only a few construction materials here, stored by the Constructicons.

BROOKLYN: Either that or the global space bridge really does a bit of a loop.

GECKO: This is what happens when Build Team's led by a kid with a Digimon voice actor.

The next room also was empty - dark and empty...

GECKO: *Megatron voice.* Like my spark without Magic...

CYRWAY: That was creepy, dude.

Where were his men?

BROOKLYN: You sent the only one you had left in the opposite direction, you idiot.

Confound it - where were they..?

GECKO: I think Megsie-wegsie needs his security blanket.

Damn! Damn! Damn!

CYRWAY: Damn Starscream! Damn Soundwave! Damn Optimus Prime! Damn fanfiction authors! Damn them all to the lowest pits of hell! *Cackles maniacally and falls on the floor with a thud.*

BROOKLYN and GECKO look down.

BROOKLYN: She lost it.

He feared, really becoming paranoid.

GECKO: "Finished with my woman cuz she couldn't help me with my mind!"

CYRWAY: *joins in.* "People think I'm insane because I'm always laughing all the time!"

"Starscream, have you discovered something?" he asked over radio.

No answer -

GECKO: You EXPECTED there would be an answer? You are dumber than you look.

"Starscream..?"

Hastily, as if the devil was pursuing him, he ran back down the corridor, passed by the sluice, trying to reach the generator room.

"Starscream..!"

Damn - they should have stayed together!

CYRWAY: *chanting* He was right, you were wrong! He was right, you were wrong! *Giggles*

Somehow the energon in Megatron's systems turned into something as icy as liquid nitrogen.

GECKO: *stands up, arms flexed. Boris from "Goldeneye"* I am invincible!

What is going on, Magic? Damn it - what is going on here?

CYRWAY: Ask the human. She knows.

I wish, I knew! I only have a strange feeling about it... Please take care of yourself, Megatron. I don't want to lose you..!

BROOKLYN: In the meantime, just use the toy as a substitute.

GECKO: Pull my trigger.

At the door to the generator room, he stopped abruptly. Bearing against the wall, his canon prepared to fire, he listened.

GECKO: *waits a moment, then makes a popping, then a hissing sound.*

CYRWAY: Starscream popped Nightbird!

Nothing - damn! Wherever he went: nothing and nobody..!

GECKO: *air guitars "Old Time Rock 'n Roll" by Bob Seger"*

The door stood open. Carefully he stole inside - expecting an ambush at any moment...

CYRWAY: And does the world a favour by blasting Nightbird as she rushed to him for comfort.

A metallic noise - he nearly had fallen over something large.

BROOKLYN: How did this conveniently placed nuclear warhead get here?

Megatron bent down to see what it was. It was Starscream!

GECKO: In spite of popular belief, Megatron in reality tripped over Starscream's ego, not Starscream himself.

He lay on the floor - unconscious!

BROOKLYN: At least he's being useful.

Behind you, Megatron!

Magic had noticed the moving shadow.

CYRWAY: How, well, it's magic.

GECKO: *as Xellos* That is a secret.

But her warning call came to late: Megatron felt the paralysing pain creeping up his left leg to take, in torturing slowness, control of his entire body. The mighty Transformer desperately tried to fight the paralysis; he fired aimlessly into the darkness but without hitting the mysterious shadow, and finally felt forward, fainting...

ALL THREE: *air guitar the end-battle victory theme to Final Fantasy.*

"MEGATRON!!! "

Magic fell onto her knees, semi-stunned.

CYRWAY: CLUTCH!

They must have heard her scream even three blocks down the road.

GECKO: All mumbling about the crazy broad who loved her Transformers a little too much.

Something hit the floor and cracked.

BROOKLYN: My guess would be the plot.

"M... M... Megatron..?" Her voice quavered, her mind completely clouded.

It took her a few minutes until she could think clearly again.

CYRWAY: *falsetto* My god, what am I writing?

"Oh, Megatron... Beloved..." A silent whisper - that was all that was left of her voice.

Only hesitatingly, she dared opening her mind to her sentiments. She feared not to feel his living soul anymore - only his death...

CYRWAY: STARSCREAM'S NOW LEADER!!! YAY!!!

But their link still existed. Megatron was alive! However - she could not reach him. He had lost consciousness.

Magic took a deep breath. She felt little relief. Nevertheless she caught herself as she tried to ran out, jump into the car and start driving.

GECKO: How can one try to run out--

CYRWAY: What did we say about heckling the translation?

"Damn, Magic, you nutty nut, you couldn't cross the entire U.S. and half the Atlantic ocean in your Beetle within ten minutes..!"

ALL THREE: Ahhh...A Beetle...! And she's in the States!

CYRWAY: I can do it! *Beams*

GECKO: Wait...Pacific! The Nemesis was in the Pacific!

She heavily dropped herself into an easy chair, placed her head in her hands and bit her lower lip. She felt sick. She had to do something! Anything!

GECKO: I know! I can sit here and mope!

The sherds

GECKO: "Sherds?"

CYRWAY: Shards.

on the floor told her that her most favorite mug had died.

BROOKLYN: Here lies my favourite mug. It was a good mug.

GECKO: Ashes to ashes, all fall down.

A fact that momentarily didn't bother her in any way.

Something happened to Megatron! Something happened to the Decepticons... but what? She had to find out!

Alone she would not get very far against someone who knocked out giant, battle-tried robots!

BROOKLYN: Why do you say that? All you have to do is seduce them.

She was small and absolutely not battle-tried... She needed help! But who..?

GECKO: The other fangirls! Like you! Hell, I bet Cyrway here could loan you a couple bad-ass gals to help!

CYRWAY: *mallets Gecko.*

No human being would believe her telling a story about Transformers that had disappeared. They would think that she was hysteric or somehow else mentally disturbed.

BROOKLYN: I would say that's a good bet.

No human being would listen to her...

GECKO: Except for Decepticon Dominion and Femmes Unite.

No human - but... maybe... other Transformers!

CYRWAY: GO AUTOBOTS!!!

Of course... the Autobots!

This time she really jumped out of the chair, packed her belongings and left the house to get to the garage.

GECKO: TO THE WICCA-MOBILE! *Air guitars the Batman theme.*

"Pentacle, old girl...," she addressed her Volkswagen, right after she had turned the ignition key and the engine had started to putter in its usual Beetle sound,

CYRWAY: My Beetle sounds like "Rrrrrr....Rrrrrrr...cough cough....Rrrrrrrrrrrrwwwwwwwhhhhhhiiiiinnnnnneeeeeeeee cough cough."

BROOKLYN: Your sister flooded it again, didn't she?

CYRWAY: *pouts* Little witch. She doesn't even like the poor car.

"... we have a long way to go..."

Inside the Ark was busy activity.

GECKO: Tracks was flirting with Jazz.

Something was built here, some other thing repaired there, and right in the middle of all the events, a little cylindrical droid rushed around.

BROOKLYN: Oh, dear....R2's back.

GECKO: Well, as long as it's not Jar Jar Binks.

For some kind of obscure reason, it had the weird programming to polish everything that came into its way.

GECKO: *Jar Jar voice* Meesa programmed little droid all by meself!

Walls, screens, even the stalactites - nothing was safe from its brushes.

CYRWAY: I need that little droid.

However, as it started to unyieldingly pursue Wheeljack just because of a small oil stain at his right knee,

BROOKLYN: Definitely programmed by Decepticons.

GECKO: Meesa not Decepticon!

the chief engineer decided briefly to take out the unit's fuses.

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Back to the GAG!