Battlegrounds, Part 1

1 ( upbeat theme playing ) STRONGARM: Tag. You're it. ( groans ) A little more work on your free-running, and you'll be able to stay ahead of even the best-trained tracker. What? I'm not yet skilled enough to outrun the great cadet Strongarm? - That's not what I - Tag! Let's see you catch me this time. ( sighs ) Sideswipe, don't run angry. UNDERBITE: Hey, I'd love to stomp him too, but you know Steeljaw would want us to bring him back THUNDERHOOF: Cadet Strongarm. Ain't this a surprise? We was just out shopping for parts, but it looks like we'll be going home with a whole lot more. Aah! What do you want, a standing ovation? You saved the human, but you exposed your flank on your first jump. Micronus, I have been training for what seems like cycles. Surely I am prepared for ( laughs ) Optimus, I'll let you know when you're surely prepared to ( lightning crashes ) It begins. And we, you, are not ready. Transformers Robots in disguise Robots in disguise ( roars ) Robots in disguise Robots in disguise ( dramatic theme playing ) She's mine. Strongarm to base, requesting immediate backup. I'm being pursued by Underbite. Aah! ( grunts ) I love technology, but there's something to be said for old-fashioned brutality. Let's put these sleeping beauties on ice before they start getting mouthy. ( groaning ) Strongarm. Strongarm, come in. These are her cooperate Co-authoring Coordinates. What are we waiting for? Strongarm needs backup, let's go back her up. Strongarm went offline abruptly. We're way past backup. Strongarm and Sideswipe need a rescue. What are we gonna do? They hid out in a dam before. Yeah, because they wanted a place that could hold a Decepticon army. A location with a lot of space. Maybe something industrial. How about an abandoned steel mill two klicks northwest? We will almost certainly be walking into a trap. I know, but we don't have a choice. - I'll get my gear. - Now that the security system is back online, the scrap yard is the safest place for you. Are you sure, Bee? If Sideswipe and Strongarm have been captured, the team is seriously undermanned. Er, under-botted. You know what I mean. Windblade. That's what I call good timing. Why? What's going on? Where's Strongarm and Slick? We think they've been captured. Is that why you're here? Did Steeljaw's pack make the top of your Decepticon take-down list? My enhanced senses tell me this is where I'm supposed to be, but it feels different somehow. We think the Decepticons might be holed up in this steel mill. I'll run recon. Drift, Grim, let's roll to the rescue. Wait. No. Somebody's already using that battle cry. Never mind. Let's just move out. ( tires screech ) ( engines revving ) Engaging security protocols. So, uh, wanna help me arrange the bicycles by color? STEELJAW: This is a pleasant surprise. Not only do we have the electronic components, but you've brought me useful bargaining chips too. What do you figure that First Decepticon wants with all this junk, anyway? I don't know and I don't care. I just want him off my back long enough to make this planet safe for Decepticons. Under my benevolent rule, of course. ( chuckles ) But first, I need our captive brethren released from Autobot custody. What if the other Autobots come looking for 'em? Oh, I'm sure they're on their way now. Which is why Fracture is going to go to their base and capture their Mini-Con. He should be quite exposed at this moment. ( engine revs ) That Mini-Con controls the Autobots' security, communications, and scanning capabilities. Without him, they will have no choice but to accept my FIRST DECEPTICON: Steeljaw. What progress have you made? ( sighs ) We have secured everything you asked for. We'll begin construction of the devices as soon as my Decepticon army is released from captivity. Your army can wait. I am ready to return to Earth. You will begin construction now. I need my army to help build the devices you require. ( screams ) CLAMPDOWN: Stop! Stop! Somebody make it stop, please! This is what I call entertainment. Enough. Enough! ( whimpers ) Do not seek to deceive me. I am not without power. One of the devices requires a metal anchor of sufficient mass to dissipate the energies released during my arrival. Those energies might otherwise interfere with the equipment. We're in a steel mill. That should be more than enough mass for whatever you're talking about. You're in an abandoned steel mill. OPTIMUS: Micronus, what is this? Where are you taking me? ( lightning crashes ) MICRONUS: To the ones who demanded you be trained in the first place. The Primes. VECTOR PRIME: Micronus, the crisis is upon us. And we sense our chosen champion is not prepared. If innocents are threatened, preparation comes secondary to swift action, determination and will. Send me to Earth, please. You do not understand, Optimus Prime. For you to face this challenge, we must share with you a portion of each of our sparks, an awesome amount of power. If you are not properly prepared, you will not survive. Begin the transfer. ( groans ) ( electricity crackles ) ( screams ) You will survive this, Optimus Prime! You must! ( howls ) (upbeat theme playing) ( dramatic theme playing ) I'm over the mill now, but I don't see anything. Aah! Windblade? Scrap! Hey, wait up! I only got one gear! STEELJAW: An excellent throw, Underbite. ( scoffs ) Waste of a tasty chunk of steel if you ask me. Secure our new captive and bring her along. One can never have too much leverage. ( laughs ) ( dramatic theme playing ) Huh? HANK: Hey, Rusty, you in there? Oh, no. It's Hank. Make her skedaddle. If she hangs around outside the gate, she could get hurt. Rusty? - Uh, Hank, now's not a good time to - What's with the new gate? And why is it locked during business hours? We're, uh spraying for bugs. You can't come in. Okay. Hey, I brought something for you. A Bronko Kowalski rookie card. My dad has two of 'em, so I figured you might want one. Cool. Um Thanks. You're weird, Rusty. Somebody was here recently, but the place is empty now. DRIFT: Over here. There are flecks of paint on this tree, and footprints along the edge of this crater. I believe Windblade fell, and the Decepticons took her in this direction. HANK: Hey, Rusty! Aw, what now? ( yelps ) ( groans ) Sorry, Hank. We're-we're still spraying. Rusty, I need that card back. My dad freaked when he found out I gave it to you. Said it was gonna pay for my first year of college. Uh-uh, sure, sure. Here. No, you have to hand the card to me. If it gets even a scratch on it, forget college. I won't make it to Monday. ( sighs ) ( keypad beeps ) Here you go. I don't think I scratched Aah! It's a trap! Close the gate! Humans. So easily fooled by holo-fields and a little research. Rusty? No! FRACTURE: Stop, human. All I want is the Mini-Con. Hand him over, and Junior remains in one piece. Dad, no. I don't really have a choice, do I? ( computer beeping ) GRIMLOCK: What's happening? - I can't see anything from here. - BUMBLEBEE: Pipe down, Grim. Scrap. The next one goes right between your servos, Fracture. Remind me to be terrified. Oh, scrub Scram - Scrat - Come on! I want the Mini-Con. And if the humans get in your way, do not be gentle. Oh! ( grunts ) We need weapons. ( footsteps thudding ) ( explosion ) One, two three! ( all yell ) ( groaning ) Whoa. You are Denny and Russell. I've heard that voice before. You're Optimus Prime. But you look way different. I must speak with Bumblebee immediately. He went to rescue Strongarm and Sideswipe from Steeljaw's pack. I'll pinpoint his location. Optimus, are you here because a great evil is really coming? If it is not already here. But you completed the training Bumblebee told us about? I shall face any challenge to the best of my abilities. Got 'em! They're near Crown City, along the riverfront. I must go. If they're that close to the city, my dad and I should come with you. The situation is far too grave for humans. That's why you need us. If the Autobots are busy fighting, there won't be anyone to cover for you with the human authorities, or to evacuate the citizens. FIRST DECEPTICON: The time has come for me to make my journey to Earth. Your machines aren't ready yet. Then work faster, Steeljaw. If I remain trapped in this dimension for much longer, you will all pay. One day, you other-dimensional blowhard, you will receive your comeuppance by my hand. ( grunts ) ( groaning ) What? Hey, Windblade. What are you doing here? Ugh, same as you, Slick. Strongarm, you okay? Other than the constant ringing in my audio sensors? Yeah, I'm fine. Any idea what the Decepti-bums are up to? SIDESWIPE: No clue, but I'm betting it's not a charity event. ( electricity crackling ) ( powering up ) ( all screaming ) That arch-thingy is hurting 'em! Though the odds are against us, we must act now. Whatever the 'Cons are up to, that arch is the key. Destroying it has to be our top priority. Drift and I can blend in with the traffic across the bridge. With any luck, we'll get within blaster range before the 'Cons spot us. Grim, you're gonna to have to go underwater which means we'll probably get there before you. Not if I get a head start. Our oafish teammate's enthusiasm is as large as he is. ( tires screech ) Faster! The sooner we are done, the sooner Earth belongs to me. Boss? Human motorists. Pay no attention to Wait. ( growls ) Autobots. Not now. Underbite, Thunderhoof, deal with them while we finish the arch. Fine. I'd rather bash Autobots than build whatever this is anyway. Let me bulk my beautiful self up a little first. ( engines revving ) ( tires screech ) ( yells ) ( roars ) ( bubbling ) Anybody home? Grimlock! Destroy the arch! ( grunts ) Let go! ( arch powering up rapidly ) ( all screaming ) ( dramatic theme playing ) Okay, we've convinced Optimus to bring us here. Let's get into character and head for the bridge. By the power of the Primes, I will end this threat before it begins. ( roars ) ( Clampdown screams ) ( circuits sizzling ) ( bots groaning ) ( ominous theme playing ) It cannot be. But it is. At long last, Megatronus stands triumphant!