The Lost Ark

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The Lost Ark, pt. 1
by Neale Davidson (neale@iquest.net)

Fade into a mountain scene. RATTRAP, robot mode, is making his way into a large cave. We dissolve to him walking through the cut out walls. Smooth scraps of metal lines the outer walls. The place looks like an eerie temple of some sort.

RATTRAP: Man, why do I get all the slaggin' slag assignments?

The Maximal moves forward, and finally sees a large stone in the center of a cul-de-sac. On the stone is an obvious artificial device, a component of a starship. Littering the area about the floor are the remains of a proto-human camp. The place looks deserted, however.

RATTRAP: A piece of cake.

RATTRAP moves forward to take the device from its altar. He rubs his palms, and then quickly swipes it. As he does, we hear a loud creak from behind him. RATTRAP turns around and sees about fifty cyber-spiders, coming up from down the cave.

RATTRAP (nervously): Oh, boy.

RATTRAP breaks out into a full run, barreling past the spiders as they turn to give chase. He maneuvers through the cave to the cave door, now covered in artificial spider-web. He leaps through it, and winds up right at MEGATRON's feet.

MEGATRON: Rattrap. Fancy seeing you here.

MEGATRON is standing smugly, robot mode. TARANTULAS, QUICKSTRIKE, and INFERNO are all around him, in their robot modes as well. RATTRAP shakes his head and MEGATRON lowers his hand expectantly.

RATTRAP: Blow it out your exhaust, Megatron.

MEGATRON motions to the device in RATTRAP's hands.

MEGATRON: Very good, Rattrap. You've done the work for me.

RATTRAP: Too bad your troops don't know how much you stink, lizard-face.

MEGATRON (chuckling): You could warn them, if you could only live long enough.

RATTRAP reluctantly hands the device to MEGATRON, who then turns to face his troops, and hands it over to INFERNO. INFERNO cackles as he receives it.

MEGATRON: Take good care of this, Inferno. Your life depends on it.

INFERNO: I will not fail you, royalty.

RATTRAP: Rattrap, ass-hauling mode!

RATTRAP quickly leaps and transforms to his vehicle-mode, and starts racing away. The Predacons look to MEGATRON in confusion.

MEGATRON (grumbling): After him, fools.

QUICKSTRIKE: Let's get 'im!

We cut to the jungle, with CHEETOR by the side of a lake, fishing. He starts to get a nibble when we hear something screaming at him from behind.

RATTRAP (distant): Kiddo, flight mode!

CHEETOR (distracted): What?

CHEETOR turns around and sees RATTRAP, motor-bike mode being chased by TARANTULAS, MEGATRON, and QUICKSTRIKE. All three Predacons are opening fire upon our hapless hero.

RATTRAP (impatient): Flight mode you little -

CHEETOR: Okay, Okay. Cheetor, air-mode!

CHEETOR transforms to his cheetah mode, then extends his jet wings. As RATTRAP reaches the shoreline, CHEETOR rushes over and sweeps him up. RATTRAP's tires are still spinning as he takes to the air. Meanwhile, the Predacons continue to fire, but it's clear that the Maximals have gotten away.

CHATTOR: So, did you get it?

RATTRAP: Oh you had to ask, didn't you?

Cut to Predacon Headquarters. MEGATRON, robot mode, is in his command chamber. WASPINATOR, and ANTAGONY, both in robot mode, are at the main table as TARANTULAS, robot mode, steps in.

TARANTULAS (annoyed): Must you insist on interfering with my research?

MEGATRON: I have something more important for you at the moment.

ANTAGONY: That would be hard to believe.

MEGATRON (growling): Then what do you make of this?

MEGATRON throws the 'device' at TARANTULAS, who deftly catches. WASPINATOR and ANTAGONY look on it with some interest.

TARANTULAS: Interesting. Where did you find this relic?

WASPINATOR: Waspinator not recognize this equipment. Waspinator want to know where Rex-Bot's been shopping.

MEGATRON: A tribe of proto-humans that we had scared off left it behind. The Maximals were kind enough to fetch it for us.

TARANTULAS: This isn't Predacon technology, but it looks familiar.

MEGATRON (chuckling): This piece predates us, but it remains important, yes. Antagony, perhaps you can identify it?

ANTAGONY (realizing): It's a shield generator. It dates back millions of years. The old Decepticon cruisers used things like this.

MEGATRON: And that is your professional assessment?

ANTAGONY: I've seen them before.

TARANTULAS: It appears to be in moderately good shape.

MEGATRON: Tarantulas, you may install it into the base's defenses. Waspinator will accompany you.

WASPINATOR: Waspinator not like working with spider-bot. Spider-bot is a -

MEGATRON: If Waspinator continues to disregard my orders, he too can be made part of the defenses.

WASPINATOR: Waspinator go help spider-bot.

TARANTULAS and WASPINATOR take the device and head out of the room. ANTAGONY is about to turn to follow them.

MEGATRON: So? Nothing more to say? You have no more witticisms, Antagony?

ANTAGONY: You know what that piece means.

MEGATRON: Oh yes. I've known.

ANTAGONY (snapping): We're on earth, thousands or millions of years in our past. We're in the Decepticon's greatest dream, and you just remain here. How could you?

MEGATRON: Patience, Antagony. These things must be measured.

ANTAGONY turns to leave, as MEGATRON watches her, as if burning her alive with his judgmental stare. As the doors close, MEGATRON drums his fingers.

MEGATRON: And we begin our game anew.

We cut to the Axalon. OPTIMUS PRIMAL and RHINOX, both in robot mode, are standing around the main control panel as RATTRAP and CHEETOR come in.

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: Did you locate anything?

RATTRAP (sighing): I was this close, Optimus. This close. But then Megatron and his cronies showed up.

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: Let me guess. You had to hand it over.

CHEETOR: We were lucky to get out of there with our skins, big-bot.

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: I understand, Cheetor. Believe me. What did it look like, Rattrap.

RATTRAP: Old piece of junk. Pretty good shape. It didn't come from the Preds, or us though. Looked more like old Cybertronian gear, from the Great War.

RHINOX: That's just dandy.

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: And a problem. We'll have to watch Megatron's actions closer from now on.

RATTRAP: You mind telling me what's going on?

CHEETOR: Yeah, what's this all mean?

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: It means Megatron's raised the stakes, Cheetor. You two get some rest. We're going to have a lot of work to do.

RATTRAP (grumbling): And, once again, the rat's the one left in the dark.

RATTRAP and CHEETOR shake their heads, but known when things are past them and head out quietly. OPTIMUS PRIMAL closes the bridge doors and sits, obvious worry on his face.

RHINOX: We'll have to tell them.

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: Maybe, but not yet. We've got our orders.

RHINOX: Slag the orders. If Megatron has found it -

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: We would know already, Rhinox. The only thing we know now is why he's really here. He's still looking.

RHINOX: And when he finds it?

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: Then we stop him, somehow.

RHINOX: And if we can't?

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: Then it's the end of everything.

We focus in on OPTIMUS PRIMAL and fade to black.

The Lost Ark, pt. 2
by Neale Davidson (neale@iquest.net)

We open up on the dark halls of the Predacon base. TARANTULAS and WASPINATOR, both in robot mode, are working together on installing the Decepticon equipment into one of the ship's engine rooms.

WASPINATOR: Circuits are too big. Waspinator can't plug them in.

TARANTULAS: We'll have to improvise. Go to my lab and fetch my red toolkit.

WASPINATOR: Waspinator not a gopher. Spider-bot get his own tool-kit.

TARANTULAS (grumbling): I should have stayed in my lair.

WASPINATOR: That fine with Waspinator.

TARANTULAS (impatient): Get the toolkit, bug. I haven't got all day.

WASPINATOR (indignant): Spider-bot not really work for Megatron. Waspinator not have to listen to what he has to say.

As TARANTULAS is about to raise another protest, WASPINATOR is thrown aside by a small missile blast. Stunned, WASPINATOR hits the wall and slides down.

WASPINATOR (weakly): Waspinator never have good day.

As WASPINATOR falls down and unconscious, ANTAGONY, robot mode, steps in.

TARANTULAS: I was waiting for you to arrive.

ANTAGONY: I won't be coming back.

TARANTULAS: You don't have do to this, Antagony.

ANTAGONY: What choice do I have?

TARANTULAS: Work with me.

ANTAGONY hesitates, and steps over to TARANTULAS. The Predacon scientist and stealth-warrior takes in a quiet breath.

ANTAGONY: I would if the situation were different.

TARANTULAS: Megatron knows what you're planning. He'll try to stop you.

ANTAGONY: He's a fool. He doesn't deserve the name he's taken.

TARANTULAS: No, but he's no fool. I've underestimated him too often. His mind is sharper than you realize. Only now am I appreciating his talents.

ANTAGONY sighs softly and kisses TARANTULAS before turning away.

ANTAGONY: You would have been an excellent Decepticon.

TARANTULAS: You would have been a great Predacon.

ANTAGONY says nothing to this, and heads from the engine room. We cut to the main command center. MEGATRON, robot mode, sits in the central seat. INFERNO, ever loyal, is standing in robot mode aside him. A screen has been playing out the events in the engine room for them both to see.

MEGATRON: Interesting.

INFERNO (protesting): The female has attacked Waspinator.

MEGATRON: He's suffered much worse, Inferno. It's Antagony's next move that interests me more however, yes.

INFERNO: She is leaving the colony.

MEGATRON: She was never a part of the colony. She's had her own designs for quite some time, I suspect. Let's see now where they take her.

COMPUTER: Unit Antagony has left the ship.

MEGATRON: Of course she has. Activate tracking program.

INFERNO: I shall hunt her down for you.

MEGATRON: No need for that, no. I'll deal with her myself.

INFERNO betrays a look of disappointment. On the screen, we see ANTAGONY, robot mode, activate her flight pack and take to the skies. MEGATRON appears a bit lost in thought, watching her.

INFERNO: What are your orders, royalty?

MEGATRON considers a minute, and calls up a tactical map on a holographic screen. INFERNO watches with interest.

INFERNO: What is this, royalty?

MEGATRON: This is a Maximal installation, Inferno. While I track down our wayward Decepticon, take the rest of the Predacons and launch an attack.

INFERNO: I shall not fail you, royalty.

MEGATRON: I doubt that you will.

INFERNO quickly rushes out, leaving MEGATRON to his thoughts. He taps his command console, calling up another screen, showing ANTAGONY, flight mode, heading west at her best speed.

MEGATRON: So predictable, Antagony. So very predictable.

MEGATRON narrows his optics at the screen as we change views to the Axalon.

OPTIMUS PRIMAL and RHINOX in robot mode around the conference table.

RHINOX: We can't just sit here, Optimus.

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: There's nothing to do yet, Rhinox. Megatron's got all the cards in his hand. I don't like it any better than you do, believe me.

SILVERBOLT steps in quietly as RHINOX shakes his head.

RHINOX: Then we wait.

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: Dinobot's sacrifice gave us time, but not much more than that, I'm afraid. Megatron's been changing history since we landed.

SILVERBOLT: The villain has further schemes?

RHINOX: When doesn't he?

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: Find anything on your patrols?

SILVERBOLT: No. I disabled a few jamming towers, but I could not find any other Predacon activity.

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: He's about to make his move. The question is where.

COMPUTER: Warning, Predacon presence detected in sector Wii, sub-sector G.

SILVERBOLT: It seems he's making it.

RHINOX: Only thing around there is an energon production station. It's in the middle of nowhere.

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: All right, we'll deal with it. Good hunting, Maximals.

We dissolve to a barren, brushy area. A small stream cuts through limited growth. Moving near the stream are INFERNO, BLACKARACHNIA, QUICKSTRIKE, and TARANTULAS, all in beast mode.

TARANTULAS: These cannot be the correct coordinates.

BLACKARACHNIA: There doesn't seem to be anything here.

INFERNO: This is where the royalty sent us.

QUICKSTRIKE (chuckling): Maybe he just didn't want to deal with you, blender-butt.

INFERNO: Do you challenge me, Fuzor?

QUICKSTRIKE: I bet I can whoop ya, boot-licker.

INFERNO: You shall burn, Fuzor. Inferno, Terrorize.

INFERNO quickly transforms to his impressive robot mode and draws out his weapon, cackling as he trails a bit of flame around for effect.

QUICKSTRIKE: Let's get it on! Quickstrike, terrorize!

QUICKSTRIKE transforms as well and leaps at INFERNO quickly. INFERNO rears back and merely punches the smaller one in the face. As the two begin to scuffle, TARANTULAS and BLACKARACHNIA transform as well.

BLACKARACHNIA: Idiots. Won't they ever grow up?

TARANTULAS: Not at the rate that they're going.

TARANTULAS looks over the horizon, calling down his binocular lenses. He lets out a chuckle as he finds the target.

TARANTULAS: I've sighted our objective.

BLACKARACHNIA: You're kidding.

TARANTULAS: Foolish widow, don't you realize that we're just a diversion?

BLACKARACHNIA (smirks): Better than you think, psycho.

COMPUTER: Warning, incoming Maximal signatures.

QUICKSTRIKE gets thrown back near the spiders and looks up.

QUICKSTRIKE: Ah shoot, just when I was going to serve some humble-pie to ant-bot over there.

TARANTULAS: Incoming!

We look to the sky and see the forms of OPTIMUS PRIMAL and SILVERBOLT, both moving in at high speed towards the Predacon positions. We angle up, above them, and also see RHINOX, beast mode, moving in a bit behind them on the ground.

INFERNO: The royalty has led us to the enemy. Predacons, stand by to attack.

QUICKSTRIKE: Quickstrike, terrorize!

BLACKARCHNIA (sighs): You already did that.

QUICKSTRIKE: Right you are, sugar-bot. Then lets kick us some keister!

BLACKARACHNIA shakes her head but opens fire with her leg lasers. TARANTULAS quickly follows suit as INFERNO and QUICKSTRIKE ready themselves for the battle. We cut to SILVERBOLT and OPTIMUS PRIMAL, who quickly dive under the assault.

SILVERBOLT: It appears that the battle has been joined.

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: They're moving for the energon collector. We need to cut them off and defend it.

SILVERBOLT: Understood.

SILVERBOLT rushes down, transforming to robot mode as he does so and levels out his flight just above the ground. OPTIMUS PRIMAL lowers as well, ducking under the incoming hailstorm of small-arms fire.

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: Optimus Primal, Maximize!

OPTIMUS PRIMAL turns to robot mode and dives down into the battle. We watch as the four Predacons advance, and fade to black.

The Lost Ark, pt. 3
by Neale Davidson (neale@iquest.net)

We open up on the battle. TARANTULAS opens fire with his leg-weapons as BLACKARACHNIA fires out a missile. RHINOX leaps aside from the blast, and retaliates with his chain-guns.

RHINOX: Seems like a lot of effort for such a small collector.

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: I noticed. Silverbolt, take out the spiders. We need to remove their cover-fire.

SILVERBOLT: Understood, commander. I shall venture to prove myself worthy.

SILVERBOLT rushes aside, coming into a bead at BLACKARACHNIA and TARANTULAS. TARANTULAS cackles and fires another missile at SILVERBOLT. Sadly, the Fuzor is ready for him and fires two missiles of his own. The first smashes into TARANTULAS's shot, destroying them both.

TARANTULAS: No!

The second missile lands next to TARANTULAS, but apparently does nothing. TARANTULAS lets out a sigh of relief, but the missile finally does detonate. The Predacon is thrown back, spinning head-over-feet, and finally lands ungracefully some distance away.

TARANTULAS (sighing): Predacons, I'll be leaving now.

TARANTULAS rights himself by transforming to vehicle-form, and drives off. SILVERBOLT now reaches BLACKARACHNIA, but hesitates. BLACKARACHNIA fires her leg cannons at him, which forces him to dodge, but he's unable to fire back at her.

SILVERBOLT: Give up this battle, dark lady. Your fight has been lost.

BLACKARACHNIA: Oh, come on, Fido, you won't fight me?

SILVERBOLT: I will not strike you. And there are other enemies to battle, my dark lady.

BLACKARACHNIA (sighing): Charmer.

SILVERBOLT dives down, skipping past BLACKARACHNIA and instead fires at QUICKSTRIKE, who's odd beast form leaps aside from the blast. The smaller Fuzor transforms and lets out some blasts at SILVERBOLT's direction.

QUICKSTRIKE: Too slow to whoop this keister, fuzz-feathers.

QUICKSTRIKE turns to fire from his snake-head, but is met with a hail of bullets. We turn and see RHINOX, robot mode, unloading his chain-guns into the Predacon fuzor. QUICKSTRIKE leaps aside, taking some cover.

RHINOX: Silverbolt, reign it in.

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: Silverbolt, circle around, they're leading you too far from the target.

SILVERBOLT turns, realizing that the collector has been vulnerable, and circles around to try and close the distance. A quick blast from QUICKSTRIKE, however, snaps into his wing, causing him to spin off. INFERNO seizes the opportunity.

INFERNO: And now the target shall burn!

INFERNO leaps up, cackling, and fires a lone missile at the collector. OPTIMUS PRIMAL turns to intercept, but it's not going to happen. The missile strikes its target, and explodes. The collector explodes in a brilliant flash of burnt energon and explosive.

INFERNO: Royalty be praised! We have accomplished our goal.

QUICKSTRIKE: These bots need their keisters kicked!

INFERNO: The royalty commands that we return to the colony. Predacons, we leave.

RHINOX opens fire again as OPTIMUS PRIMAL refocuses his energy at INFERNO. The Predacons aren't about to stick around, however, and the four of them pull quickly away from the battlefield.

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: That's just Prime.

SILVERBOLT: The fiends have departed in haste.

RHINOX (grimly): This was too easy. The collector was useful, but it wasn't worth all of this trouble.

SILVERBOLT: The Predacons are known to make foolish strategies at times.

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: Not this time, Silverbolt. We've just been had by a diversion. Megatron wasn't even at this battle. He had some other agenda going on.

SILVERBOLT: Then we should pursue him with great urgency.

OPTIMUS PRIMAL (sighing): We would never reach him in time, Silverbolt. Let's just head back to base, and see to our wounds.

RHINOX: We're not going after him?

OPTIMUS PRIMAL: We can't, Rhinox. Besides, Antagony wasn't here either. I don't think the Maximals figure into his plans at the moment.

We cut to the side of a mountain, a very familiar mountain. ANTAGONY, robot mode, is moving up an etched canyon as she looks up to it. It's obvious that she's tired from the travel. Still, when she sees the cave, she stops, daunted.

ANTAGONY: It's really here.

MEGATRON (from behind): Mount Saint Helena. With that cave is the Ark, the spacecraft which first brought the Autobots and Decepticons to Earth.

ANTAGONY turns and sees MEGATRON, T-Rex mode stepping into the area from the surrounding brush. ANTAGONY steps back, wary.

ANTAGONY: You knew where it was all along.

MEGATRON: Actually, no. The data on it's precise location was destroyed by Dinobot. But, thanks to you, now the prize is before us.

ANTAGONY: Then it's time to follow the real Megatron's orders.

As ANTAGONY turns and moves closer to the cave, MEGATRON lowers and shakes his head as she turns her back on him.

MEGATRON: Not yet, no.

ANTAGONY (stunned): What? We're here. The Ark is inside. All we need to do is activate the repair program on the Decepticons.

MEGATRON: And change history.

ANTAGONY: Without the Autobots on Earth, the Decepticons would have won the Great War. We would rule Cybertron.

MEGATRON: Perhaps. And perhaps the Predacons would never have been created.

ANTAGONY (growling): I see now. You're afraid. You're afraid that if you do what has to be done, you would be cancelled out.

MEGATRON: This is a dangerous maneuver, Antagony. I have already begun experiments to determine the risks involved. I spoke of patience.

ANTAGONY: You're covering your aft. The Decepticons are the rightful rulers. I don't give one whit what happens to you.

MEGATRON (snapping): The Decepticons are dead, Antagony, relics of the past.

ANTAGONY: I'm going in to save them. You want to stop me, then kill me, pretender. I've had enough of your Predacon Alliance. It's time for the real Transformers to return.

MEGATRON has now finally had enough, and steps forward with a slam.

MEGATRON: If you love this generation of Transformer so much, then be buried with them! Megatron, terrorize!

MEGATRON transforms quickly and fires, an angry scowl on his face. ANTAGONY is slammed back into the side of the cave, and stammers. She tries to raise her weapon, but MEGATRON is relentless, and fires into her again. Rocks break free from the cave wall, raining around her.

ANTAGONY (weakly, defiantly): You would kill your own.

MEGATRON: Ah, but you're not a Predacon, are you? In fact you've made a point of not being a Predacon. So tell me again where your loyalties lie?

MEGATRON steps forward, leveling his cannon at ANTAGONY's head. She narrows her optics, looking at MEGATRON with her last bit of defiance.

ANTAGONY: I am a Decepticon.

MEGATRON: A pity. You would have been a fine Predacon. But, as you are, your usefulness is at an end, and your obsession makes you too dangerous to keep around.

ANTAGONY: Then finish it.

MEGATRON: It should not have come to this. My options may have taken me to this road eventually.

MEGATRON considers a moment, and then powers up his cannon. ANTAGONY betrays a look of fear finally as it becomes obvious what's coming.

MEGATRON: In truth, I admire you, Antagony. Few would die for their beliefs. Perhaps that's all you had left to live for.

ANTAGONY: It was enough.

MEGATRON (passively): Farewell.

MEGATRON fires. We don't look to see what happens to ANTAGONY. The cave wall shakes some as more rocks start crumbling loose. MEGATRON turns and heads out, returning to a safe distance. We cut to another view of him, now farther out, as he starts blasting around the cave entrance, sealing it off.

MEGATRON: Another time, Decepticons. Another time, indeed.

The rocks continue to fall. After a moment, we cut to them and reveal a small piece of violet metal, etched with the Predacon symbol. As MEGATRON leaves the scene, we fade to black.

The End