Obsessive Drive

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Obsessive Drive, pt. 1
by Neale Davidson (neale@iquest.net)

We fade in onto Cybertron. FORTRESS MAXIMAL, city mode, dominates the scene. Near one of the impressive gun ports, SPIKE, PROWL, IRONHIDE, and SILVERBOLT stand over three ornately decorated caskets. As we change to their point of view, we see hundreds of Autobots stands there quietly.

SPIKE: Fifty years ago my life was saved by Optimus Prime. I was just a teenager back then, a human. I didn't at that point what direction that my life would like. I've been involved in galactic wars, diplomatic missions, and now I've even become an Autobot myself.

SPIKE steps to the center casket. From here we can see into the steel-glass window, revealing the inert face of LIOCONVOY, robot mode, inside. SPIKE readies a nervous breath as his followers look on.

SPIKE: Through this all, Optimus remained a good friend, and the greatest of Autobot leaders. With his passing, I feel a chapter has closed. This time, not on just my life, but on Cybertron itself.

PROWL nods to IRONHIDE, who activates a panel next to him. The caskets slowly begin to angle upward as SPIKE continues.

SPIKE: The Decepticon Empire is gone, replaced with its child. A new chapter is being written as we speak. With these three lives, the Autobot legacy passes on as well. We protoforms are the children of the Autobots. We Maximals will carry on in the same spirit as those who came before us. But we will not look to the past. We will rebuild, and we will forge ahead for our future.

PROWL: Order, hutt!

The sound of a thousand soldiers' snapping-to fills the air as SPIKE, PROWL, IRONHIDE, and SILVERBOLT stand formally. The caskets angle almost vertically now, and quietly begin to lift off to the air. Somewhere distant, the music of 'Amazing Grace' is quietly playing.

SPIKE (quietly): Goodbye, old friend.

We show the caskets up close now, leaving FORTRESS MAXIMAL, then leaving Cybertron, into the depths of space. As we angle away, we reveal a large computer screen displaying the image. MEGATRON, robot mode, is watching the screen with quiet interest. CICADACON and SKY SHADOW remain with him, also in their robot modes. We are in Darkmount, the central command chamber.

MEGATRON: And so ends the era.

SKY SHADOW (smirking): If he doesn't come back to life some day.

MEGATRON: He does have a habit of doing that, yes. But, let's not worry with his repeating his immortality at the moment. We have our own matters to attend to.

CICADACON: Another cunning plan, Megatron? We're running out of troops for them.

MEGATRON: No, no more plans. It's time to play the final card.

SKY SHADOW: All or nothing?

MEGATRON (grimly): Surrender.

SKY SHADOW (shocked): Surrender?

CICADACON (shocked): You can't be serious. Our troops would never go for it, and there's no reason the Autobots would accept it.

MEGATRON: They will accept it, yes. The leaders of the Autobots and Decepticons are gone, eliminated. If these 'Maximals' want a new age, we'll give it to them.

SKY SHADOW (doubtful): Maybe, but a lot of them are going to know that it was Predacons that killed off Optimus Prime.

MEGATRON: For self-defense of our homeland. Cicadacon, your team will be the diplomatic council in negotiating with the Autobots and Maximals. You have full authority to negotiate a truce.

CICADACON: If we were going to surrender, then why have the battles? Why put us all through this effort?

MEGATRON: Survival. We had to show our enemies what defeating us would cost them. They know now.

CICADACON: That they do. All right, but I've little faith in this.

MEGATRON: Nor do I, but a truce buys us time. For Predacons, a truce allows us to clean our wounds, then re-arm to fight anew.

SKY SHADOW: So it's insincere?

MEGATRON: It's an option.

We focus on MEGATRON and change to show IRONHIDE, robot mode, standing and pacing in a conference room. PROWL, SPIKE, and SILVERBOLT are all there, sitting quietly.

IRONHIDE (shocked): I don't believe it.

PROWL: The word came from Megatron himself. They're offering a truce, an end to the Great War.

SILVERBOLT: We know how much we can trust Megatron. His schemes never end.

SPIKE: So he's not sincere.

PROWL: Maybe, hard to say. I would be wary.

SPIKE: It's good that you would be. I'm assigning the three of you as diplomatic council. You'll be the Maximal Elders. No one else has your experience with these Predacons.

IRONHIDE: You think we ought to negotiate.

SPIKE (sighing): Yes I do. We may be able to win the war, but we'll lose a lot of troops doing it. Not only that, but our only option is to commit genocide and kill every last Decepticon and Predacon. I'm not willing to commit that crime.

PROWL: I agree. We need to end the military conflict. I think Megatron knows he's on the losing end. We can negotiate from a position of strength.

SPIKE: Then that's what we do. You three are in charge. I've got some thinking to do.

SILVERBOLT: We'll do what we can. I'm nervous about all of this.

SPIKE (smiling): Just don't give away Iacon.

We cut back to Darkmount. CICADACON approaches RAM HORN and SEA CLAMP in a hall. All are in robot mode.

RAM HORN: Any reply?

CICADACON: We're meeting with the Maximal elders. It will take place immediately, in secret for now. We're meeting in Iacon.

SEA CLAMP (smirking): In the lion's den.

CICADACON: So to speak, yes.

SEA CLAMP (distantly): I'll be damned.

RAM HORN: What is it?

SEA CLAMP: You know, according to history, the first Tripredacus council were the ones who negotiated the first peace.

CICADACON (sighing): He knew. He knew all along what would happen.

RAM HORN: So we are the Tripredacus council?

CICADACON: As of now, yes.

SEA CLAMP: We sent ourselves back in time to stop Megatron. Transquito was just too much of an idiot to make it work.

RAN HORN (confused): But we would know we failed, right?

CICADACON: There are some differences, but we don't know what just yet. We may be in a different timeline, or any number of things could be different between now and three hundred years from now.

SEA CLAMP: He knew Prowl would steal our ship. He knew about the Magnasword. He knew how this battle would end. He's planning something larger.

CICADACON: That goes without saying. The question is, What do we do now? We can't abandon Cybertron now. It's not like we can send anyone back to try again.

SEA CLAMP: Right now, we negotiate the truce, or try to. Pity we already know how it will end.

We watch as CICADACON and SEA CLAMP sigh, then head off. Behind them, tucked behind a corner, is ANTAGONY, robot mode. She has been listening intently.

ANTAGONY (whispering): There still may be a chance.

ANTAGONY moves off, following the Tripredacus Council, as we fade to black.

Obsessive Drive, pt. 2
by Neale Davidson (neale@iquest.net)

Fade in over Cybertron. We see ASTROTRAIN, space-shuttle mode, flying over in due haste.

ASTROTRAIN: We're nearing the Autobot lines now. You better be right, because the last thing I want is to be blown to pieces going to our own peace conference.

We cut inside and reveal CICADACON, RAM HORN, and SEA CLAMP, all in robot mode, waiting.

CICADACON: The Autobots - The Maximals have their orders. They'll listen to any peace offers we have to make.

ASTROTRAIN: I wouldn't.

CICADACON: Nor would I, but we're Predacons. We know the truth about such things. Still, Megatron has given us this chance at least.

RAM HORN: Let's just hope that it's worth it this time.

We cut to Iacon. EJECT and REWIND, both in robot modes, are looking over defense screens. BLASTER, also in robot mode, is sitting at his usual post, overlooking them. SLAMDANCE, robot mode, steps in.

SLAMDANCE: All's quiet on the front, Blaster.

BLASTER: Ready to take back your observation post?

EJECT: It's not quiet. The Preds are throwing a long bomb at us.

REWIND: Confirmed, one bogey in. Its energy signature matches those of later-model Decepticon transports.

EJECT: It's Astrotrain.

SLAMDANCE: Punctual, aren't they?

EJECT: They're passing the line of scrimmage.

BLASTER: Is he signaling?

REWIND: Yes, sir. Getting his transmission now.

EJECT (surprised): Blaster, he's requesting landing permission.

BLASTER (sighing): I know, let him land.

EJECT: Sir?

SLAMDANCE: You heard the order, Eject. Let him come down.

EJECT: Roger that. Astrotrain, this is Iacon, you're cleared to come land. Repeat, you are cleared to land on the tarmac.

BLASTER: Spike, I hope you know what you're doing.

Cut to Iacon's landing tarmac. PROWL, IRONHIDE, SILVERBOLT, and SPIKE are all standing by in robot modes as ASTROTRAIN, shuttle mode, lands gracefully before them. IRONHIDE rubs his two powerful fists together nervously as PROWL and SPIKE step forward.

ASTROTRAIN: Been a long time since I've seen Iacon.

PROWL: Not surprising. You made it in all right?

ASTROTRAIN: We're here, aren't we?

ASTROTRAIN's side door opens, revealing CICADACON, robot mode. SEA CLAMP and RAM HORN are just behind them.

PROWL (surprised): Cicadacon.

CICADACON: Prowl. Pleasant we meet again, face to face.

PROWL: I didn't imagine that it would be a peaceful meeting.

CICADACON: Nor did I. You're the Maximal Elders now?

PROWL: And you're the Tripredacus Council.

IRONHIDE: We've got to negotiate with these three?

RAM HORN: Megatron has given us full diplomatic powers, Maximal.

SPIKE: Whatever's going on between you, put it aside for now. Too many lives are counting on both your groups.

PROWL: Understood, Spike. Cicadacon, if you'll follow us to what will be your quarters.

CICADACON: Accommodations? How very pleasant of you.

CICADACON follows PROWL out of the bay. IRONHIDE, SILVERBOLT, RAM HORN, and SEA CLAMP quickly follow suit.

ASTROTRAIN: You're Spike?

SPIKE: That's right, Astrotrain.

ASTROTRAIN: Definite improvement. Did your mate approve?

SPIKE (grimly): She's not alive to ask.

ASTROTRAIN: If it makes you feel better, she always did have a thing for robots.

SPIKE: Shut up, Astrotrain.

ASTROTRAIN (grumbling): What am I supposed to do now? Just sit here?

SPIKE: Shut yourself down. Someone will be along shortly to refuel you.

ASTROTRAIN: So much for conversation.

ASTROTRAIN's lights flicker off to sleep as SPIKE turns around and leaves. After another moment, a dark figure steps out of the hold. It's ANTAGONY, robot mode, sneaking out of ASTROTRAIN.

ANTAGONY: This is all history to them. They're ship's not here.

ANTAGONY looks around and frowns. There are no other ships in the room. She sighs softly and starts to scurry out of the tarmac. As we look back on ASTROTRAIN, we see a shadow move from within. We cut to the hallway, as PROWL and CICADACON, now alone, move to their secured quarters.

CICADACON: Ironic, isn't it?

PROWL: What?

CICADACON: Megatron was experimenting with changing time. Instead it seems he merely locked it into happening.

PROWL (grimly): There have been changes.

CICADACON: Minor ones, perhaps. That too may have been the point.

PROWL: Why else would he be there?

CICADACON: Earth's past. With the right knowledge, he could change the future in ways we cannot begin to imagine.

PROWL: Are you unhappy with how things are turning out now?

CICADACON (sighing): Yes. In our history, the council failed to act when needed. They - we were too fearful of stepping on Maximal toes. It's hard to accept that the Council would be us.

PROWL: Something else may have happened. This is just a page in our history. There are still three hundred years for issues to develop. There already have been some changes to history. Who's to say what will happen now?

CICADACON: An optimist, Maximal?

PROWL: A realist. I know what this truce really is. It's an excuse for you to rearm and rebuild. I don't believe for a minute that you or Megatron desired a peaceful Cybertron.

CICADACON: Then why did you accept us?

PROWL (firmly): To keep an optic on you. Make no mistake, the Predacons lost this war. You've done enough already. We're not going to allow any treaty that will put your military back in power.

PROWL opens a door next to him with a quick gesture. CICADACON sucks in a breath and steps in. Without another word, PROWL disappears behind the closing door. We're now in a spacious apartment, overlooking the interior of Iacon's dome.

CICADACON is alone.

CICADACON: So, it begins.

We cut to another hall. This one is more narrow and guarded than normal. HURRICANE and BOSS, robot mode, are stepping through on watch, and pass by an access vent. We zoom into the vent and show ANTAGONY, robot mode, curled inside.

ANTAGONY (whispering): Beast Mode.

ANTAGONY transforms to her ant mode and uses her pincers to quietly tear back the vent grating. She then scurries out and heads to a corner between two corridors. Nearby, FLASH, robot mode, walks down on his patrol.

ANTAGONY: Antagony, terrorize.

ANTAGONY transforms and rushes to the side of the hall, near the corner. FLAME turns around, and sees an empty hall, shaking his head.

FLAME: Nothing.

ANTAGONY is about to turn through the corner but a large pair of orange pincers stops her movement. She sucks in a breath and turns around. We see SKY SHADOW, robot mode, standing to stop her.

ANTAGONY: How did you sneak up on me?

SKY SHADOW: Didn't you know? Green and blue is a camouflage pattern.

ANTAGONY: Smart-ass.

SKY SHADOW: You're intent on doing something, Antagony. You're just blind to anything else.

ANTAGONY: You know me so well, do you?

SKY SHADOW: Pretty well.

SKY SHADOW turns to look behind him, then back at her. ANTAGONY shakes her head, trying to decide what to do.

ANTAGONY: You going to drag me back to your leader?

SKY SHADOW: No. No, I'm not.

ANTAGONY: Then are you going to help me?

SKY SHADOW: Just to keep you from getting killed.

ANTAGONY (smirking): I can take care of myself.

ANTAGONY turns aside and continues down the hall, undaunted. SKY SHADOW shakes his head and moves forward behind her.

SKY SHADOW: That's all you seem to be doing.

ANTAGONY turns, venomous look on her face. SKY SHADOW, however, remains firm in his stance.

ANTAGONY (quietly): You really believe that.

SKY SHADOW: Tell me I'm wrong. Tell me you're not here to try and fix things to your own image of what they should be.

ANTAGONY: You know what I want.

SKY SHADOW: It's over, it's done. If you keep living in the past, you'll deny us our future.

ANTAGONY: What kind of future do you think we'll have?

SKY SHADOW: I don't know.

ANTAGONY: Neither do I, and that scares me more than anything.

ANTAGONY turns again and heads off. SKY SHADOW lets out a quiet sigh, shaking his head, as we fade to black.

Obsessive Drive, pt. 3
by Neale Davidson (neale@iquest.net)

Fade in to Iacon. PROWL, IRONHIDE, and SILVERBOLT are entering a large conference room in their robot forms. They are alone, the first ones to arrive. In the center is a large hologram image of Cybertron.

PROWL: Maximals, today we start the future, again.

SILVERBOLT: It's funny. We've come so far, and we wind up here.

IRONHIDE: Right back to where it all started, the end of the Great War.

SILVERBOLT: And it all starts over again.

PROWL: We know what Megatron will be planning. We'll take steps to prevent it from happening. He can't be allowed to go into Earth's past. With transwarp drive, the risks are just too great.

SILVERBOLT: Agreed. So, what do we do about it.

PROWL: Block it out. We'll classify Earth's past. We'll keep Megatron from ever being able to make his move. Nobody will know the details. Without them, we keep the present safe.

IRONHIDE: Maybe. I'm not sure it's going to work out like that.

PROWL: What choice do we have? No one else can go back in the past. No one.

We cut to ANTAGONY and SKY SHADOW beast modes, reaching the central launch tower of Iacon. SPIKE is here, looking over Prowl's starship, musing to himself.

SPIKE (quietly): Am I doing the right thing? It seems like peace with the Predacons is our only answer, yet deep down I'm not sure I can live with it. They've done so very much.

SPIKE looks over Prowl's ship again, sighing softly.

SPIKE: If I don't accept this now, do I change the future? If I don't make peace, like Prowl said that I did, do I doom all of Cybertron? Does the binary curse end our history? Should it end our history? If only I knew for sure.

SPIKE turns quietly and shakes his head. After a quiet moment, he leaves the bay, leaving ANTAGONY and SKY SHADOW alone. The two venture forward and transform as they approach the ship.

SKY SHADOW (grimly): We're here.

ANTAGONY: So we are. Let's get to it.

ANTAGONY rushes forward to the ship, and reaches the main hatch. At once, alarms sound. SKY SHADOW curses softly and follows, raising his pincer.

SKY SHADOW: Can't you check for traps or anything?

ANTAGONY: What does it matter? We'll be gone soon.

ANTAGONY opens the main hatch and steps just inside. She turns back and offers her hand to SKY SHADOW. The Fuzor hesitates, then makes his decision.

SKY SHADOW (quietly): I'm not going with you, Antagony.

ANTAGONY: What? You've come all this way.

SKY SHADOW: I came all this way for you. But I don't agree with what you're doing. I need to be here. Too many Predacons need my attention to the here and now. I can't run off with you.

ANTAGONY: That's it, then? You've thrown your lot in with the pretender.

SKY SHADOW (sighing): I look to the future, Antagony. I'm just sorry that you're not in it. If it helps, I wish you well.

ANTAGONY is about to raise a protest, but SKY SHADOW raises his pincer to silence her. Without another word, the Fuzor closes the hatch on the ship and turns. As the ship's engines power up, we see SPIKE, robot mode, rushing forward. TORCA and AIR HAMMER, both in robot mode, rush forward behind him.

SPIKE: What are you doing?

SKY SHADOW turns quickly, growling, and opens fire. AIRHAMMER takes the brunt of the attack, and is thrown back. TORCA and SPIKE level their weapons and fire at SKY SHADOW, who leaps aside.

SPIKE: Torca, stop the ship.

TORCA: Yes, sir.

TORCA stands and, but SKY SHADOW has his mission. He leaps up and moves in a blur at TORCA. The Maximal Fuzor steps back, but is unable to dodge the large pincers as they slice into armor.

TORCA: Dammit, Predacon.

SPIKE: That's far enough, Sky Shadow.

SKY SHADOW turns and looks up. SPIKE now has the drop on him. The Maximal leader has his cannon leveled at SKY SHADOW's head. TORCA growls and throws him off. In the distance, we hear the engines of the ship come online.

SPIKE: What the hell are you playing at, Sky Shadow?

SKY SHADOW: My apologies for your guards, Spike. I hope they're not too heavily injured.

SPIKE (worried): Get her out of that ship, Sky Shadow. You don't know what's she's planning.

SKY SHADOW: Neither does she.

The ship lifts up slowly, and SPIKE opens fire on it. SKY SHADOW leaps forward, blocking the shots and then grapples on SPIKE himself. Though SPIKE is able to throw of the Fuzor easily, the distraction worked.

SPIKE: How could you let her do that?

SKY SHADOW (flatly): Because I love her.

We look out and see the ship dissolve into space. Aboard is ANTAGONY, robot mode, at the main controls. She sucks in a nervous breath.

ANTAGONY: Calculate return course to previous coordinates.

COMPUTER: Unable to fully comply. Transwarp drive has sustained slight damage.

ANTAGONY: Best estimate then.

COMPUTER: Area is under restriction by Maximal Elders.

ANTAGONY: Who? The hell with them, whoever they are. Follow the plotted course.

COMPUTER: Acknowledged.

The ship shimmers and shakes. Systems begin to fail all around as ANTAGONY looks around, beginning to worry.

ANTAGONY: What's happening?

COMPUTER: Temporal stress has exceeded hull integrity. Unable to compensate. Ship is self-destructing.

ANTAGONY: No. Not now.

We cut to an external of the ship, showing it starting to buckle and crack. Finally space reasserts itself, as we see Earth in all it's glory. The breaking ship is tumbling towards it, starting to heat up. Inside, ANTAGONY is being thrown inside the cabin of the ship.

COMPUTER: Warning, hull breakdown imminent.

ANTAGONY (struggling): Have to get to the escape pod.

COMPUTER: Incoming message from planet.

ANTAGONY: What?

MEGATRON: Ah, Antagony. I've been expecting you.

ANTAGONY: Megatron? Expecting me?

MEGATRON (smirking): It could only be you, and I've had centuries to wait. Welcome to the Beast Wars, Antagony. It's so nice to see you again.

We focus in on ANTAGONY, who stammers back, and fade to black.

The End