Tails and Optimus were busy playing something popular on Mobius. \u201cSo, what, now other animals aside from slimes and hen-hens are in this game?\u201d asked Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYep,\u201d replied Tails. \u201cI\u2019m surprised you knew about Slime<\/em> Rancher<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe only game where a slime\u2019s poop is valuable,\u201d chuckled Optimus. \u201cStill, it\u2019s nice to get some relaxing game time into my\u2026ARGH! NO! PLORTS ARE FLAMMABLE NOW!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDid you activate the vacpack\u2019s flamethrower function?!\u201d yelped Tails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026Maybe?\u201d mumbled Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWE DON\u2019T USE IT!\u201d shouted Tails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe vacpack never had a flamethrower on Cybertron!\u201d protested Optimus. The screen then flickered. \u201cHuh?\u201d quizzed Optimus. The lights then followed. \u201cWhat in the\u2026? I thought we went through an overhaul!\u201d snapped Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHey, guys,\u201d called Teletraan, \u201cI\u2019m having trouble keeping up with things. I\u2019m getting random glitch reports.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re investigating now,\u201d replied Optimus. \u201cSend Ratchet to the main server room. I don\u2019t want to run the risk of whatever\u2019s doing this corrupting you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m coming with you,\u201d declared Tails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood idea,\u201d praised Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is Ratchet, en route to the server room,\u201d called the CMO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood to hear,\u201d replied Optimus. He and Tails met him outside the room and they started looking around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHey, guys!\u201d cried Tails. \u201cLook! Over here!\u201d He held up a circuit board. It was sparking and looked like something chewed on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat animal could chew through that?\u201d asked Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cQuite a few, but I doubt they\u2019re Mobian like Tails,\u201d muttered Ratchet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHey! Guys! Check this out!\u201d called Sonic\u2019s voice. \u201cCute little thing!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSonic, we\u2019re a little preoccupied right now,\u201d dismissed Tails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut, it\u2019s so cool!\u201d answered Sonic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt can wait!\u201d hissed Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut, you need to see it!\u201d insisted Sonic. Ratchet finally lost patience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re busy!\u201d he snapped as he made eye contact. Then, he saw the object in Sonic\u2019s hands. He gave a yell of terror. Optimus whirled and gave a similar yell. Sonic was holding an elongated spike with big, soulful, purple eyes. They pointed their weapons at the thing and Tails misunderstood their intentions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWAIT A MINUTE!\u201d he shouted as he got in front of the weapons. \u201cTHAT\u2019S SONIC!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSonic, put the Scraplet down!\u201d gulped Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cScraplet?\u201d repeated Sonic. \u201cYou mean, this thing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat\u2019s a Scraplet to you guys?\u201d asked Tails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s the worst vermin ever to crawl on Cybertron!\u201d shuddered Ratchet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat, this thing?\u201d laughed Sonic. \u201cCome on, it\u2019s tiny. You guys are big.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou don\u2019t know the damage ONE Scraplet can do!\u201d gulped Optimus. The Scraplet\u2019s eyes flickered from purple to red as it jumped out of Sonic\u2019s hands. The spike bit split apart into ten legs, revealing a dripping mouth with whirling teeth. It jumped up and latched onto Optimus\u2019 arm, digging its legs underneath his armor and using four of them to bring chunks of metal to its mouth. It worked quickly, making a path leading up to his elbow joint. Optimus and Ratchet swatted it off and it tried another jump until Optimus shot it repeatedly. He was catching his breath as Ratchet looked at the damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWas that thing\u2026?!\u201d gasped Sonic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cChewing on me?! Yes!\u201d confirmed Optimus. \u201cScraplets eat anything made of metal!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou guys must be meals on wheels to a Scraplet,\u201d gulped Tails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, it\u2019s dead,\u201d sighed Sonic as he looked over the Scraplet\u2019s corpse. \u201cInfestation over.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOne dead Scraplet does not mean the infestation\u2019s over,\u201d countered Ratchet as he patched up Optimus\u2019 wound. \u201cAnd Mr. Jell-O Prime here has an intense phobia of the things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou try getting munched on by those things when you\u2019re a Sparkling!\u201d protested Optimus as he tried to stop himself from shaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou think there\u2019s more?\u201d stammered Tails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m transferring to the Space Colony, just in case,\u201d reported Teletraan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou do that,\u201d replied Optimus. \u201cThe rest of us are freezing the Scraplet colony.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cColony?\u201d repeated Tails. \u201cThey\u2019re like non-Mobian ants?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYep,\u201d answered Optimus. \u201cAnd there\u2019s a Queen at the apex of the colony.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFreeze her,\u201d continued Ratchet, \u201cand the colony enters a shutdown mode.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI heard there\u2019s a Scraplet infestation,\u201d called Jazz\u2019s voice. He and the other Autobots came into the server room. They were armed with tanks on their backs and blowers attached to the tanks. \u201cHere\u2019s a Scraplet freezer for you,\u201d offered Jazz as he tossed one to Optimus, who shook less once he caught it, \u201cand one for you,\u201d finished Jazz as he tossed one to Ratchet. \u201cI\u2019ve got Amy, Shadow, Rouge, Omega, and Knuckles waiting for us. Prowl figured one bot; one organic should give us enough of an edge over the Scraplets.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood thinking,\u201d praised Optimus. \u201cAmy, go with Jazz. Rouge, with Bumblebee. Knuckles, with Ironhide. Shadow, with Prowl. Omega, with Cliffjumper. Tails, with Ratchet. Sonic, you\u2019re with me. Amy and Jazz will go to the command center. Tails and Ratchet will go to the med-bay. Shadow and Prowl will go to the training facility. Rouge and Bumblebee, you\u2019re checking out our Energon stores. Omega and Cliffjumper, I need you at the Ground Bridge room. Knuckles and Ironhide, you\u2019re needed at weapons storage. Sonic and I will investigate the area he found the first Scraplet. Let\u2019s roll out!\u201d The teams headed off. Sonic led Optimus to a hallway near the mountainside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI get to be your bodyguard this time!\u201d he cheered. \u201cHow cool is that?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re getting a kick out of this,\u201d muttered Optimus. \u201cEr, you said you found the first one here?\u201d The lights went out and someone gave a yell. When the lights came back on, Sonic saw Optimus on one foot with his arms shielding him from a nonexistent attack, his optics wide in terror.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDid you just scream like a little girl?\u201d asked Sonic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNO!\u201d yelped Optimus. \u201c\u2026Maybe\u2026 Can we talk about this later?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPrime, what caused you to be so terrified of them?\u201d asked Sonic. \u201cAside from their metal eating tendencies?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cChildhood trauma,\u201d explained Optimus. \u201cWhen I was a newborn, Dad\u2019s estate was infested with a Scraplet colony. I had a few of them digging into me. Mom got everyone out, but it was too late for the rescue crews. It was all eaten. The Queen was destroyed, and the colony\u2019s corpses went into space. Mom had an estate in New Caminus, so I was raised there, but I live in constant fear of Scraplets. I\u2019m not afraid to admit it. If anything, letting my friends know of one weakness helps me to know they at least understand why I do what I do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat, and your journey taught you to ask for help,\u201d recalled Sonic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat too,\u201d conceded Optimus. A thought then occurred to him. \u201cWait, how did the Scraplets get in here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSorry?\u201d asked Sonic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBefore I went off, Amy and I told everyone about the protection spells we set up,\u201d explained Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHey, yeah,\u201d remembered Sonic. \u201cAmy told me about that. How could they chew through the\u2026?\u201d A tinkling sound could be overheard in the ceiling. In a fit of panic, Optimus shot up there, then something fell. He screamed again and flailed wildly to get the things off of him. Sonic facepalmed. \u201cReally wish I didn\u2019t see that,\u201d he sighed. \u201cOPTIMUS! You\u2019re fine! It\u2019s just a bunch of cables!\u201d Optimus stopped moving and got a closer look. The objects that fell on him were, indeed, overhanging cables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026I knew that!\u201d he countered. \u201cI was just\u2026doing one of my katas!\u201d He then did very poorly done martial arts moves while making Bruce Lee noises. \u201c\u2026You\u2019re not buying it,\u201d he observed as Sonic tapped his feet. \u201cGive me a break!\u201d protested Optimus. \u201cYou\u2019d do the same if snake-like things fell on you while there\u2019s a Scraplet infestation!\u201d He pulled on a cable, and then\u2026they came down! Scraplets entered the area. Optimus screamed again and fired the freezer gun while Sonic spin-dashed them. They soon got them all cleared. Optimus had more than a few bite marks. He then deployed a scanner. It made a few sweeps with its sensors. \u201cAll clear,\u201d reported Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSomething very weird is going on around here,\u201d muttered Sonic. \u201cLet\u2019s reconvene at the command center.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll Autobots, converge on Jazz and Amy\u2019s position,\u201d called Optimus on the comms. He was met with static. \u201cAnyone? Scrap! Those buggers must have taken out communications!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLet\u2019s hope the message is passed on,\u201d gulped Sonic. They headed to the command center to see Jazz freezing Scraplets while Amy smashed them with her hammer. Optimus and Sonic joined in the fray. They were getting swarmed. They put up a valiant effort, but they started tiring out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCome on!\u201d gasped Jazz. \u201cThis can\u2019t be how I go!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKeep up the attack!\u201d encouraged Optimus. Then, it came! At first, Optimus didn\u2019t believe it, but, there, standing in the command center, with the Scraplets parting to make way, was a ten-legged, two-armed, femininely-built, Transformer-sized Scraplet. Its head was similar to a human woman\u2019s, just bald. It eyed Optimus with a hungry look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat manner of creature is that?!\u201d breathed Amy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am the Scraplet horde,\u201d buzzed the creature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s a contradiction right there,\u201d argued Jazz. \u201cThe Scraplets are a collective consciousness, like the Borg. There aren\u2019t any individuals.\u201d The Large Scraplet chuckled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am the one who begins life by ending another,\u201d she continued buzzing, \u201cthe one who is many. I am the Scraplet Horde.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re the colony\u2019s Queen,\u201d guessed Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDo not be afraid,\u201d whispered the Scraplet Queen. \u201cYou will be used to make new parts of my whole.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow else can I feel?!\u201d yelped Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYour fears are\u2026small,\u201d dismissed the Queen. She reached forward, only for Optimus to perceive something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWait,\u201d he interjected, \u201ceven simple organisms have some degree of magic energy, or mana, as we call it. Where\u2019s yours?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have no need of mana,\u201d buzzed the Queen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot true,\u201d argued Optimus, \u201cScraplets DO have mana. I could feel it when I was a baby! I just didn\u2019t know it at the time!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHey, yeah!\u201d called Amy. \u201cEven Teletraan has mana! Only non-sentient things have no mana! You\u2019re not really a Scraplet Queen!\u201d The creature then roared and charged at Optimus who punched it, dispelling the illusion. The Scraplets vanished and the Queen was revealed to be a black, bulkier version of the Holo-droid! It roared as it punched Optimus. His weapons were sent flying out of his subspace as the gun landed near Jazz and the axe landed near Sonic. The axe shrunk, and Sonic grabbed it, splitting it into two and spin-dashing the thing, knocking it down. Jazz then leveled the gun at it. It roared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYEAH, FRAG YOU TOO!\u201d shouted Jazz as he pulled the trigger. The shot punched a hole in its chest. The thing fell and made a resounding crash. Whatever damage that was caused by \u201cScraplets\u201d had vanished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHey, my systems are fully operational again!\u201d reported Teletraan. \u201cWhat IS that thing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2026I\u2019m not sure!\u201d gulped Jazz. \u201cIt\u2026kind of looks like the Holo-droid.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat, or some heavily modified version of it,\u201d supplied Sonic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOne of my men based the designs of that thing off your Holo-droid,\u201d called a voice. Everyone turned to see Grimlock standing there. \u201cHowever, for all his genius, he called it a Fear-o-tron. It plays on a person\u2019s fears, really gets the phobias going.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAutobots, we have an intruder!\u201d shouted Optimus. \u201cReturn to the command center!\u201d All teams ran in. Ironhide, Ratchet, and Prowl goggled at the intruder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGrimlock!\u201d gasped Ironhide. Optimus turned to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s Grimlock?! Leader of the Lightning Strike Coalition?!\u201d yelped Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe call ourselves the Dyno-bots now,\u201d answered Grimlock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t care WHAT you call yourselves!\u201d hissed Optimus. \u201cI thought you had a sense of honor and integrity for a Decepticon, but, apparently, you do not!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFORMER Decepticon,\u201d corrected Grimlock. \u201cAnd what prompted the slur on my honor?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUsing my own phobia against me!\u201d snarled Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRegrettable,\u201d replied Grimlock, \u201cbut needed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy would you need my Scraplephobia?!\u201d demanded Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHaven\u2019t you figured it out?\u201d asked Grimlock. \u201cYou\u2019re about to unlock your weapons\u2019 full potential. A good, strong emotion really gets things pumping, especially with magic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI didn\u2019t know you were skilled in magic,\u201d remarked Ironhide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBeen a wizard of the Green Order for some time,\u201d answered Grimlock. \u201cIn any case, I need those weapons at their full potential, get them\u2026\u201d a device went off. Grimlock checked it. \u201cThey\u2019re already ripe for picking!\u201d he cheered. \u201cI didn\u2019t need to do a damn thing!\u201d He then gave a wicked grin to the bots. \u201cI won\u2019t get them now, but I WILL get them. Later, bots.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cStay where you are!\u201d ordered Optimus. \u201cI want answers!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSorry, little mech,\u201d chuckled Grimlock. \u201cAin\u2019t got the time.\u201d He pulled out a flash grenade, armed it, and threw it. The flash blinded everyone. As soon as their vision was back, Grimlock was gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe\u2019s scrambled his end coordinates,\u201d sighed Teletraan. \u201cI can\u2019t find him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFirst Eggman, then Shockwave and Metal Sonic, now Grimlock,\u201d muttered Optimus. \u201cFun for the feeble minded.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Tails and Optimus were busy playing something popular on Mobius. \u201cSo, what, now other animals aside from slimes and hen-hens are in this game?\u201d asked Optimus. \u201cYep,\u201d replied Tails. \u201cI\u2019m surprised you knew about Slime Rancher.\u201d \u201cThe only game where a slime\u2019s poop is valuable,\u201d chuckled Optimus. \u201cStill, it\u2019s nice to get some relaxing game time into […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1058,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[98,228],"tags":[146,337],"class_list":["post-1280","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-transformers-mobian-chronicles","category-transformers-mobian-chronicles-arc-4-loose-ends","tag-sonic","tag-transformers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1280","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1280"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1280\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1281,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1280\/revisions\/1281"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1058"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1280"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1280"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1280"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}