TFP Emblem Chapter 8: Mind Games

I looked at Optimus for what seemed a long time. I was still trying to comprehend what had happened. The Autobots where human. But how did this happen?? It's physically impossible. Isn't it?

"Holy crud monkeys." Mandy said in astonishment as she walked up to Bulkhead.

"This is so.." Dallas began looking at Bumblebee.

"Strange" Scott said examining Arcee.

"How in the name of Primus did this happen?" I asked Optimus, still a little stunned. Optimus shook his head.

"I have no idea Madison. If I knew I would tell you." Optimus said calmly. I still stared at him idly.

"Well? Are you going to stand there gawking at us all day or are we going to get moving?" The man standing next to Optimus growled in Ratchet's voice. The man was just a little taller than Bulkhead but just as worn as Optimus. He wore a lab coat that was very strangely colored: red streaks down his arms and on either arm was a pulse symbol typically found on ambulances. He had a streak of red hair in the middle of his greying hair as well as on his chin and his eyebrows where red as well. Ratchet impatiently folded his arms over his chest.

"And where are we going?" I retorted in a flat tone.

"Back to Base of course! I need my tools to try and undo this mess.." Ratchet said gesturing to himself.

"How are we going to get there?" Dallas asked. We all looked at one another. Team Prime was all present and accounted for. That means no Bridge Operator.

"Smith?" I mumbled. Optimus looked over at me.

"Hmm?" He looked at me as though he had expecting an idea from me. It took me a second to realize he had heard me and he wanted to hear my idea.

"Oh! Um, what about Agent Smith? He's back at Base." I said.

"Does he know how to work the Ground Bridge?" Ratchet asked. I shrugged.

"How am I supposed to know? I hope he does. Maybe we should call him?" I said. Optimus nodded.

"Good thinking Madison. Do we have anyway to contact him?" Optimus said. Scott, Dallas, and I looked between ourselves.


"Landline?" Mandy suggested. We nodded.

"What's a landline?" Arcee asked.

"You'll find out. Come on, let's find a store with a landline." I said. Dallas and Bumblebee hurried ahead while Bulkhead and Mandy when back. Scott and Arcee took the shops across the street while Optimus and I took the middle stores. Ratchet helped too, he asked people on the sidewalk for their cellphones, but I don't think he realized that he might've appeared a little intimidating. After 20 minutes of searching we all gathered by a restaurant called 'Smokey Joe's BBQ'.

"Well, that was very unsettling." I said to Optimus while we waited on the other's.

"How so?" Optimus asked as he folded his arms in a thoughtful manner.

"Well, every store has a phone of some sort to communicate. But none of the stores had any phones of any kind. I find that a bit off." I said. Optimus nodded.

"I think that there is something very wrong too. I've noticed that the shops are empty and the streets are odly barren." Optimus said. Ratchet joined us.

"That was rude! Nobody hardly glanced at me let alone speak to me!" Ratchet growled. I scratched my head.

"Something ain't sitting right here. I smell a rat.." I said looking around. Everybody seemed to have a blank expression on their faces. Nobody even talked, and no cars drove by. I was starting to get creeped out. Bulkhead and Mandy, Bumblebee and Dallas, Arcee and Scott jogged up to us.

"Nothin. Just a couple if blank stares and a bunch of 'no's'." Bulkhead panted.

"Same with us." Said Arcee.

"Us too" Dallas said. Bumblebee nodded.

"Hmm. Something fishy is going on. It seems familiar somehow. I just can't think of it.." I said. I furrowed my eyebrows together and started to pace. Scott looked at me.

"She's right. I got a very bad feeling about this place." Scott said. I started snapping my fingers together and muttered under my breath.

"Animated... G1... G2" I muttered. Arcee eyed me suspiciously. "What does any of that have to do with anything?" Arcee asked.

"I'm drawing upon my geek knowledge of all accounts of Transformers becoming human." I said not looking up. "Geek knowledge? What's that?" Ratchet asked. "

I'll explain later Doc Bot. but I can only count four accounts." I said.

"And? What happened?" Bulkhead asked.

"Well there was the Well of Transformation, Cobra and the synthetic bodies, Soundwave and the virtual reality: twice, and of course your Holoforms. I know how the Autobots got back to their bodies but they where set in different time frames so the possibilities are extremely slim. But considering the fact that Autobots and Decepticons exist, it's not entirely impossible." I said gesturing to the group. Optimus nodded.

"How will we know for certain what our predicament is?" Optimus asked. I bit the inside of my lip and shook my head.

"I have absolutely no idea. Hey, does anybody else hear that noise?" I asked. I could hear a faint humming noise, it was so weird, it was like the hum of a machine. The others looked around in confusion. Optimus raised an eyebrow to me.

"What do you mean? I do not hear anything." Optimus said.

"Me either." Said Ratchet. I shrugged.

"Never mind then.." I said. I felt a little embarrassed.

"No, wait. I hear it too." Scott said.

"Me too" Mandy said.

"Same" Dallas said. I cocked my head to either side to try and see if I could hear it better. I heard this weird crackling noise on the back of my neck, like when I was in a lake and a boat passed by and a weird noise and sensation crept up the back of my neck. The Autobots looked among each other.

"Why can they hear it but we cant?" Bulkhead asked.

"I don't know Bulkhead, but this is very odd." Ratchet said as scratched the back of his head in thought. A loud engine roared behind us that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. We all whipped around to see a purple and black car, a vehicon. My eyes widened and my heart began to race.

"No" I whispered. It suddenly transformed and reached a menacing hand towards us.

"RUN!!" Dallas screamed. The Autobots jumped out of the way before the Con sliced clean through a nearby mailbox. Optimus put a protective arm in front of myself and the other kids while Ratchet tried to herd us towards an alley. Bulkhead clenched his fists and held them up.

"Oh... Right..." Bulkhead said after a few seconds. Arcee ducked between the Cons legs.

"This was a lot easier when we had weapons!" Arcee yelled. Bumblebee nodded and took a boxing stance.

"Optimus we have to run! You can't take him! Trust us when we say it's time to run and think of a stratagey!" I said. Optimus looked at me then back at the Con then nodded.

"Autobots! Fall back!" Optimus called to the others. Arcee jumped out from under the Cons foot before it could step on her while Bulkhead paused from trying to punch the Cons foot. Bumblebee was assisting Bulkhead. They all ran towards us and joined their charges. Optimus and I brought up the rear of the group. I was falling a little behind but I kept pace by concentrating on Scott. I looked around and noticed something: there where no humans and no cars. At all. I skidded to a stop then charged right at the Decepticon. I had an idea, and I quietly prayed to Primus that it would work.

"Madison! No!" Optimus cried, but it was too late. The Con brought down it's hand and I suddenly shook like I was waking up after having a dream when I slam into the ground after falling. I looked around, I was in a gigantic dark room and I was tied to a chair. My heart was pounding. Adrenaline coursed through my veins, making me antsy and unsettled. It worked! I had thought that if I could try and force myself to wake up somehow, then I could try and help the others. I started to wiggle. I was wearing a very strange helmet that felt like it extended to the back of my neck. It was cold and metallic and it slightly squeezed my neck. The ropes started to come loose, and I was free. I un-hooked the helmet and turned around. Scott was also strapped to a chair. So where Mandy and Dallas. I also saw the Autobots strapped to large tables. They where unconscious. In the far off distance, I could see a large figure with it's back turned towards me. There was also a clicking, typing sound that echoed through the cave. The light of nine computer screens lit up the rooms partially. One was black while the others had videos playing of the Autobots in their human state, a window into their prisons. One the middle screen, Optimus, in his current human state, was holding a limp and bloody body. My body. I stared at myself for a second, then shivered. I slowly tip toed to Optimus' table. There was a cord hooked to the back of his head, I jumped onto it and started to pull. It didn't budge. I pulled, and yanked, and tugged but it wouldn't budge. I saw that Arcee's table was closer to the ground and had a few convenient metal boxes stacked underneath that looked like a small step up staircase. I tiptoed to her and climbed up the cold metal boxes and reached up. I twisted it around three times to the left and the clamp released and fell with a hiss. The typing paused, then continued. A minute passed then nothing happened, I began to grow more and more worried when a warm metal hand was gently placed on my shoulder.

"Maddy! Your alive! But how? Where are we?" She whispered.

"Of course I'm alive! That wasn't real, it was all just an illusion, a dream. I think we're in a cave but we need to escape. Help me free the others." I whispered back. Arcee nodded and unhooked the other Autobots while I released the kids. Scott looked up at me sleepily, I put a finger to my lips to say 'quite'. Scott nodded and helped me with Dallas and Mandy. Once they where up, we hurried back to Arcee. She was finishing unhooking Optimus when a shriek nearly made me jump out of my skin came from above. I looked up to see a bat-like thing. It was huge! Bigger than me and it was metallic looking. It had a big purple Decepticon insignia on it's chest. It swooped over us and towards the unknown figure.

"Patience pet. They are almost ready.." A low icy voice said. When Arcee finished she summoned her blasters and slowly approached the figure, blasters pointed at the figure's back.

"Hands where I can see them." She said bluntly. The bat shrieked and flew up while it's master turned towards Arcee. The figure had crimson red optics and a very box like face. It had two antenna that where thick and looked like horns. He was a dark purple with black mesh. His armor folded around him to look like a metal cape of some sort. He was smirking.

"Ah, if it isn't brave little Arcee. Come to play have we?" He asked in a taunting manner. Arcee growled.

"Mindewipe.." Optimus said in a hostile tone as he rose from the table, sword drawn and battle mask on.

"Optimus Prime! Long time, no see.." Mindwipe snarled.

"Not long enough." Optimus growled. Bulkhead and Bumblebee took their places on either side of Optimus.

"Now this isn't fair. Four on one seem's a little one sided. Let's make this more interesting.." Mindwipe said. Starscream, Breakdown, and Knock Out walked out of a corner. Their optics where glowing a deep orange. They moved sluggishly, like zombies.

"Decepticons, attack!" Mindwipe barked.

"Yes Lord Mindwipe." The three said in unison. Then they charged at Bumblebee, Bulkhead, and Arcee.

"Lord Mindwipe??" Scott said in confusion. He and the others stood beside me.

"The Decepti-creeps got brainwashed to his command!" Mandy gasped. While the Autobots took on the Decepticons, Optimus and Mindwipe circled eachother. Minewipe summoned a staff with a long jagged blade and lunged at Optimus, but Optimus deflected it with his own blade and uppercutted Mindwipe. Bulkhead grabbed Starscream and threw him into the other Cons.

"SRTIKE!!" Mandy cheered.

"You four, over here!" Ratchet called. We obeyed and ran over to Ratchet, he was crouched beside the machine, using his blowtorch on it.

"What do you need Doc Bot?" I asked.

"Look outs. Tell me if anybody needs medical attention." Ratchet said. We watched the battle. Optimus and Mindwipe had moved onto hand-to-hand combat. Optimus uppercutted Mindwipe then kicked him across the room. Mindwipe slammed into the wall, causing a few rocks to come loose from the ceiling. Mindwipe stood up then charged at Optimus, then kicked Optimus in the chest. Optimus caught himself and skidded to a halt before charging Mindwipe with a furious battle cry. Bulkhead was busy wrestling Breakdown and trying to knock him down with his wrecking ball, but Breakdown just kept coming. Arcee had her arm blades out while she battled Starscream. Starscream kept firing rockets at Arcee that made the whole room shake when they exploded against the walls. Bumblebee had his hands full with Knock Out. Knock Out had his buzz saw and kept swinging within inches of Bumblebee's torso and chest. Bumblebee could only get in a few punches if he sidestepped Knock Out and hit in the back, which left scuff marks all over the red Decepticon. I snickered quietly to myself at the thought of when Knock Out saw the state of his precious paint job.. It didn't seem like the Decepticons had any real strategy. They just seemed to be on Autopilot. Ratchet looked up from his work.

"Alright, I've deactivated the mainframe so the Decepticons should be waking any minute.." Ratchet said. Without a hitch, the Cons suddenly collapsed to the floor. Optimus had Mindwipe pinned beneath his foot, his sword at Mindwipe's neck.

"It's over Mindwipe." Optimus growled. Mindwipe laughed.

"Soon this world will fall, and you along with it." Mindwipe said as he glared at Optimus. Mindwipe suddenly pulled out a black box and pressed a button. The entire cave began to shake and rocks began to fall.

"It's gonna collapse on itself!" Bulkhead yelled. Bumblebee let out a few beeps as he pointed to where Mindwipe laid: Mindwipe had vanished without a trace. Optimus stomped his foot down.

"Ratchet, Bridge us back! Autobots, grab the children and fall back to Base!" Optimus ordered. I watched as the Ground Bridge opened and the other kids where scooped up by their Guardians and taken through the Bridge. Ratchet was first in, the Bulkhead and Mandy, then Bumblebee and Dallas, then Arcee and Scott. I started to run towards it when Optimus scooped me up. I looked back just in time to see the Cons optics flicker open. Optimus and I arrived where greeted back into the comfortable and warm atmosphere that was the Autobot Base. The kids where phrasing their Gaurdians while they bounced up and down excitedly. I looked up to Optimus and smiled warmly.

"That awesome how you took down Mindwipe with a kick to the chest and an awesome punch to the face! And then how you epicly knocked his spear right out of his hands. WHAM!! BAM!! That was totally wicked." I said as I mimicked the moves. Optimus gave his half smile as his battle mask retracted.

"I only did what was needed. But Madison," Optimus said, his voice deathly serious and his expression a little hard. "don't ever scare me like that again. If it had been real, that would've been an extremely reckless and dangerous act. Never do anything like that again." I nodded and looked down a little guiltily. I know he was scolding me because he worried about me.

"Yes sir.." I said. Optimus nodded and lowered me to the floor. Arcee and Scott walked over to us.

"That was probably the weirdest experience I have ever experienced." Arcee said folded her arms over her chest. Optimus nodded.

"I'm just glad that nightmare is over. I admire you humans for having day-to-day like that. " Ratchet said as he stretched. I snorted. It was a little offensive. Bumblebee beeped and let out a few whines as he and Dallas talked. Dallas was trying to explain why the human girls where attracted to Bumblebee when he was human. Mandy was explaining Bulkhead about why most teenage girls are afraid of big men.

"I wasn't afraid, I was simply concerned for the Group's safety. Learned my lesson the hard way.." I muttered under my breath. Scott patted my head.

"There, there. We know.." He said. I glared at him.

"I. Am. Not. Afraid." I growled. Scott put up his hands and wandered off. Optimus, Ratchet, and Arcee where talking quietly to each other, and looked at me occasionally. I raised an eyebrow to them.

"What?" I asked. Ratchet opened his mouth to say something but Optimus stopped him.

"It's nothing. Really.." Arcee said. I gave her a sideways look then looked up at Optimus and Ratchet.

"Prime!" Smith said briskly as he walked over. Optimus turned to Smith.

I stopped by earlier to tell you guys that the Order had been found and Romanaf was taken and we found out that they where associated with this other group called 'MECH'. No idea who they are, yet. So these guys took off on me without any warning." Smith said gesturing to me. Optimus nodded. Romanaf had been caught. I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Good, good. I'm glad to hear." Optimus said. Ratchet and Arcee exchanged a glance at each other. Smith nodded and headed up the elevator. I walked over to the others who where sitting on some large boxes, often used for chairs, they where chatting as I walked up to them.

"Hey guys, what's up?" I asked. Mandy shrugged.

"Nothing much. We where just talking about all that when on." Mandy said. I nodded.

"That was very weird. Mindwipe got away as well as the Cons. Do you think they'll be back?" Dallas asked.

"Without a doubt." Scott said. I nodded.

"Hey, can we talk?" Scott asked. I shrugged. Scott hopped off of the box and gestured me to follow him. Optimus looked over at us as we walked through the main hall. We walked into the training area.

"I just wanted to say that I'm sorry. I know that whole experience with the Order must've been traumatizing and all. But I just wanted you to know that it's okay to be afraid and that we're here for you. All of us are." Scott said. I looked at him for a few minutes, stumped. I had expected him to be still angry with me but he was apologizing. I nodded and silently walked out of the room, not saying a word. I passed Optimus as he walked in and mumbled my greetings. I could here Scott talking as I made my way down the hall, it was inaudible Then I heard Optimus' voice, crystal clear.

"She needs time." Optimus said. I bit the bottom of my lip and entered the elevator. I walked over the the ledge of Base and hung my legs over it, resting my elbow's on my knees.

"I am afraid.." I whispered.
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[link] Chapter 1
[link] Chapter 2
[link] Chapter 3
[link] Chapter 4
[link] Chapter 5
[link] Chapter 6
[link] Chapter 7