\u201cAn encounter with MECH?!\u201d yelped Alexis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re beefing up security as we speak,\u201d replied Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith Teletraan going nuts?!\u201d argued Alexis. \u201cOptimus, we\u2019re in a tight spot! We have no clue what Shockwave and Eggman are planning! MECH\u2019s got wind of you! Your a.i. is losing it! Worst of all, we\u2019ve got angry bots that turn into dinosaurs!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI will admit, it\u2019s precarious,\u201d answered Optimus, \u201cbut things WILL get better.\u201d They arrived at his office and he opened the door. \u201cWe just need\u2026to\u2026\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Where\u2019s your desk?\u201d asked Alexis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat about Cralzar?\u201d Cliffjumper asked Bumblebee. \u201cThey\u2019ve made a successful one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt proved to be too unstable,\u201d sighed Bumblebee. \u201cIt\u2019s a good starting point, but we need more info to make a Spark-Stone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCorporal Bumblebee!\u201d called Optimus\u2019 voice. The two Stinger Brothers saw an irate Optimus standing in the hallway. \u201cMy office, now!\u201d ordered Optimus. Bumblebee was worried as he followed Optimus. They entered Optimus\u2019 office and Bumblebee got a good look at his surroundings. Alexis was there as well. \u201cWell?\u201d quizzed Optimus. \u201cExplanations?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Where\u2019s your desk?\u201d asked Bumblebee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t play dumb, Corporal!\u201d snapped Optimus. \u201cComputer, who authorized my desk\u2019s removal?\u201d Majel Barrett-Roddenberry\u2019s voice came through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCorporal Bumblebee authorized the removal of your desk,\u201d reported the secondary computer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot true!\u201d argued Bumblebee. \u201cComputer, what was the code?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c1-7-8-8-2-7-E-0-9-4-2-6-3-9-A-5,\u201d the secondary computer relayed. \u201cCode matches that of Corporal Bumblebee\u2019s authorization code.\u201d Bumblebee\u2019s optics went wide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRouge,\u201d he whispered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat about her?\u201d asked Alexis. Bumblebee steeled himself. He was going to get in trouble either way, but he\u2019s STILL an Autobot. Better to soften the blow with the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2026let Rouge use my authorization code to get a solar array for our backup energy stores,\u201d answered Bumblebee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026You\u2026let\u2026Rouge\u2026use\u2026your\u2026code?!\u201d snarled Optimus, trying to keep his cool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI WILL get your desk back!\u201d assured Bumblebee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, I do believe you will,\u201d remarked Optimus. \u201cThere are a lot of top secret documents on the hard drive in my desk and I don\u2019t want a security risk! So, you\u2019re going to get my desk back and put it back exactly as it was!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m coming with you,\u201d supplied Alexis. \u201cI want to know why Rouge took his desk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut, I\u2019m not all that attentive to decoration detail!\u201d yelped Bumblebee. \u201cJust landscapes, numbers, and research!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m aware of that,\u201d answered Optimus. \u201cThat\u2019s why I think you\u2019ll appreciate your partner.\u201d Bumblebee picked up on what Optimus was saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSir, come on!\u201d he begged. \u201cThat\u2019s cruel and unusual punishment!\u201d Optimus activated his comms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cProwl, come to my office,\u201d he called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t sell Optimus\u2019 desk,\u201d assured Rouge once Prowl, Bumblebee, and Alexis met with her. \u201cI just loaned it to someone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho?\u201d asked Prowl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAl Lorenzo,\u201d answered Rouge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cChief Engineer Al Lorenzo?\u201d quizzed Alexis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat does he want with Prime\u2019s desk?\u201d inquired Bumblebee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe wants to take a picture of it,\u201d replied Rouge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d interrogated Alexis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe likes taking pictures of himself sitting behind the desks of great people,\u201d replied Rouge. \u201cUsually, he\u2019d sneak into their offices, but with MECH\u2019s interest with you guys and with Shockwave and Eggman cooking something up, it\u2019s been hard for him to get away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMakes sense,\u201d mused Alexis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe\u2019s got quite the collection, too,\u201d continued Rouge. \u201cCommander Tower\u2019s desk, Queen Aleena\u2019s desk\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI get the point!\u201d interjected Bumblebee. \u201cSo, once he\u2019s got his picture, he\u2019ll give us the solar array?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, he\u2019s giving you a hard-light generator,\u201d corrected Rouge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut, we don\u2019t need a hard-light generator,\u201d answered Prowl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut, the Mazuri branch for G.U.N. does,\u201d relayed Rouge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd they\u2019re giving us the solar array?\u201d asked Prowl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, they\u2019re giving you a plasma coil,\u201d replied Rouge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut, we don\u2019t need a plasma coil!\u201d snapped Bumblebee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut, the test site does,\u201d assured Rouge, \u201cand THEY have the solar array.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey\u2019re willing to give up a solar array for a plasma coil?\u201d quizzed Alexis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the rumor,\u201d answered Rouge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRumor?!\u201d repeated Bumblebee as his shoulder armor twitched on its own in worry. \u201cYou made all these deals based on a rumor?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFrom a very reliable source,\u201d assured Rouge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat if it turns out to be untrue?!\u201d yelped Bumblebee, fearing for his career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou have to have faith,\u201d replied Rouge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn a rumor?\u201d muttered Prowl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn the Great Equalizer,\u201d answered Rouge. Bumblebee rolled his optics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho is that?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not a \u2018who\u2019, it\u2019s a \u2018what\u2019,\u201d corrected Alexis. \u201cAll Mobian Bat species believe in it, a great, unifying force binding us together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI must have missed that when I was a cadet,\u201d sighed Bumblebee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe learn about the Equalizer when we\u2019re able to speak,\u201d revealed Rouge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRouge, this is no time for our combined culture\u2019s fairytales,\u201d snapped Alexis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou and I both know that the Equalizer is real!\u201d snarled Rouge, her ears flattening in irritation. She then calmed down before she spoke again. \u201cThe universe is filled with trillions upon trillions upon trillions of civilizations, each one having too much of one thing and not enough of another. The Great Equalizer goes over them all like mighty winds from have to want and back again. Now, if we, as mortals, navigate those winds with skill and grace, then, when we die, we will have everything our heart desires, no lack of anything, just peace and wealth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRight now,\u201d mumbled Bumblebee, \u201cI\u2019d settle for a solar array and Prime\u2019s desk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe winds will provide,\u201d assured Rouge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf we don\u2019t get caught in an updraft first,\u201d snarked Bumblebee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo, let me see if I got this,\u201d sighed Optimus as he rubbed his temples, \u201con top of my desk coming back, we\u2019re getting a hard-light generator, which we give to the Mazuri branch, and they give us a plasma coil, which we give to the test site we delivered the Dy.N.Ge.S to, and they give us the solar array. Even then, that\u2019s just a rumor that Rouge heard, and she asked you to have faith in a religious force that all Mobian Bat cultures believe in that the rumor is true. Did I miss any of that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, Sir,\u201d replied Bumblebee. \u201cAs an aside, I have a request form to change my authorization code.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhich I will approve,\u201d remarked Optimus, \u201cas soon as you explain THIS.\u201d What he was referring to was a white, wooden mock-up of his desk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d mused Prowl. \u201cAside from the fact that it\u2019s the wrong height, wrong width, wrong color, and wrong material, I\u2019m sure you\u2019ll never know it was a mock-up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe point is,\u201d snapped Optimus, \u201cit\u2019s not my desk!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026I\u2019m gonna paint it\u2026\u201d gulped Bumblebee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGet it out of here!\u201d ordered Optimus. At that moment, Trema stomped in. \u201cMay I help you, Trema?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, but Prowl can!\u201d snarled Trema.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRock-rum?\u201d quizzed Prowl as he looked at the open containers that would hold Nebulan alcohol. Amy was sitting on a lid to one of the containers as Optimus, Bumblebee, Prowl, Alexis, and Trema stood in the Nebulan\u2019s quarters in the base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c25 bottles of the stuff, sent to me by my two husbands and wife!\u201d growled Trema. \u201cProwl, where are they?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow should I know?!\u201d protested Prowl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou authorized their removal,\u201d replied Amy as she pointed to the pad on Trema\u2019s desk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDid not! I don\u2019t drink!\u201d snapped Prowl as he took the pad. He then saw the authorization code and his face went a lighter shade of grey. \u201c\u2026Rouge\u2026\u201d he whispered feebly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIs there some code-swapping epidemic here?!\u201d shouted Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cProwl,\u201d Trema was dangerously near him with an animalistic look on her face, \u201cI want my rock-rum here by tomorrow morning. Understand?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The rock-rum was easier to locate as Rouge didn\u2019t get very far with it. Turns out, she had a buyer who was interested in exotic liquors, but she had to cancel the deal once she was caught. The rumor about the chain of organizations needing something, on the other hand, WAS true, so Al Lorenzo got his picture, the Mazuri branch of G.U.N got their hard-light generator, the test site got their plasma coil, the Autobots got their solar array, and Optimus got his desk back. He assembled all those that were involved with Grimlock watching from the sidelines. Commander Tower was with them. \u201cAll right, this kind of slag has gone on long enough, so Commander Tower and I will make ourselves clear!\u201d snapped Optimus. \u201cBumblebee, you do NOT give your authorization code to anyone! I don\u2019t care if it\u2019s for your research, you do NOT do it! Am I clear?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, Sir!\u201d confirmed Bumblebee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cProwl,\u201d hissed Optimus, \u201cyou may be my best strategist, but I\u2019m about to become the Chief Cause of Your Very Bad Day! You do NOT do what Bumblebee did and you do NOT keep me in the dark about this kind of thing! Am I clear?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, Sir!\u201d answered Prowl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAgent Rouge,\u201d rumbled Commander Tower, \u201cmy most trusted spy, I am a tolerant man, except when it comes to security and trust with our allies! You do NOT make deals based on rumors! I don\u2019t care how reliable the source is, you do NOT do it! You especially don\u2019t use our allies\u2019 furniture as a bargaining chip! I expect you to use more stable reasons to make these kinds of deals! Do I make myself clear?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, Sir,\u201d replied Rouge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow, if Commander Tower or I hear a peep out of you three relating to these matters, I\u2019ll be feeding you all to Grimlock on toast! Dismissed!\u201d commanded Optimus. He then left them to ponder what happened. Commander Tower left the base for the same reason. Grimlock gave a dark smirk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNever tried you guys before,\u201d he chuckled. He then requested a beam-out and vanished in shimmering light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Anyone else creeped out?!\u201d gulped Bumblebee.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cAn encounter with MECH?!\u201d yelped Alexis. \u201cWe\u2019re beefing up security as we speak,\u201d replied Optimus. \u201cWith Teletraan going nuts?!\u201d argued Alexis. \u201cOptimus, we\u2019re in a tight spot! We have no clue what Shockwave and Eggman are planning! MECH\u2019s got wind of you! Your a.i. is losing it! Worst of all, we\u2019ve got angry bots that […]<\/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":[98,229],"tags":[146,337],"class_list":["post-1312","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-transformers-mobian-chronicles","category-transformers-mobian-chronicles-arc-5-rise-of-the-eggman-hive","tag-sonic","tag-transformers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1312","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=1312"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1312\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1313,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1312\/revisions\/1313"}],"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=1312"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1312"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1312"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}