Transformers One Page #2

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D-16:
(intrigued) What Megatronus Prime thing?

(Orion takes out a decal sticker.)

Orion Pax:
Ah, it’s nothing. Just a, you know, mint-condition Megatronus Prime decal, first edition.

D-16:
(gasps) What?

Orion Pax:
If you don’t want it, I can just throw it away.

D-16:
Throw it away? Don’t… That’s not funny. Let me see.

Orion Pax:
Wait. Don’t grab. You’re gonna crease it.

(Orion sticks the decal on D-16's left shoulder, the latter gasping in awe.)

D-16:
You know, Sentinel says Megatronus was the…

Orion Pax:
(with D-16) The strongest Prime to ever live. I know, buddy. Looks good on you.

D-16:
Ah, it’s really cool. Thanks.

Orion Pax:
Always got your back. No matter what.

(The two fist bump as the train approaches the mining area.)

P.A.:
Approaching sublevel station. Stand clear of doors.

(The mining area are full of teams of mining bots preparing to mine for Energon.)

Mining Leader:
Mining teams, prepare to unload.

(Orion and D-16's team, led by Elita-1, fly toward their workspace with jetpacks.)

Elita-1:
Metal to the pedal, drill bits. This is it. How much Energon have you mined under my leadership?

Miners:
So much, Elita-1!

Elita-1:
And how perfect is my mining record?

Miners:
So perfect, Elita-1!

Elita-1:
We are a mere 30 units of Energon away from my promotion to supervisor. Are you happy for me?

Miners:
So happy, Elita-1!

(After they arrive and begin prepping their equipment...)

Orion Pax:
Elita… I mean Captain, you are looking especially shiny this morning. New polish?

Elita-1:
Orion Pax, I’m sorry that I somehow gave you the impression that we’re friends.

Orion Pax:
Apology accepted.

Elita-1:
Light up that wall! Let’s go! Ten seconds!

Orion Pax:
Happy to take the lead today, Captain. Feeling like I have enough power in me to drill down and touch Primus myself.

Elita-1:
You don’t have the touch or the power. (to other miners) Ready positions, rust buckets! Let’s go!

Orion Pax:
She’s in a good mood today.

D-16:
(unconvinced) Mm-hmm.

Orion Pax:
You ready?

D-16:
Always ready.

Orion Pax:
Let’s punch in.

(Using mechanical wedges, the miners enter the cave to mine Energon, using saws, jackhammers, and other tools. A specific miner, Jazz, taps a weak spot in the cave wall.)

Jazz:
I tapped a vein!

(The cave starts to close up.)

D-16:
It’s unstable!

Orion Pax:
We got to go, we got to move!

Elita-1:
Evacuate! Everyone out! Evacuate immediately! The tunnel is closing. I repeat, the tunnel is closing!

(The other miners escape the cave, with Orion, D, and Jazz en route.)

Orion Pax:
You with me, D?

D-16:
On your six! Keep going!

(Dodging the closing caves, the three make their way to the exit, but the walls cause Orion to lose his jetpack.)

Orion Pax:
Look out!

(The cave causes a boulder to drop, trapping Jazz by the leg.)

Orion Pax:
Jazz is stuck! Elita, we’ve got a trapped miner. I’m falling back to assist.

Elita-1:
Negative. Do not break protocol. Evacuate!

(Orion and D-16 attempt to lift the boulder to free Jazz.)

D-16:
We’re gonna need more lift.

Jazz:
It’s closing! Just grab your pack and go.

Orion Pax:
Yeah. Good idea.

Jazz:
What?! No, I didn’t mean it!

D-16:
Pull him clear!

(Orion grabs his jetpack, using it to lift the boulder and pull Jazz out, albeit him losing his leg in the process.)

Elita-1:
Pax, what’s happening?

Orion Pax:
Nothing much. Just normal protocol-following stuff. It’s all good.

(The cave continues to close up...)

Orion Pax:
Oh, that’s not good.

(Outside...)

Elita-1:
Orion Pax, could you please exit the tunnel of death?

Orion Pax:
Elita, it’s about to get messy out there!

(A shockwave escapes the cave as Elita spots, Orion, D, and Jazz almost out of the cave. Elita throws more wedges to keep the cave walls open long enough for them to jump out. As the entrance caves in, the broken wedge flies into a generator, damaging it.)

Elita-1:
What the hell, Pax? I told you to evacuate.

Orion Pax:
I did, eventually.

Elita-1:
If I get fired because of you…

Orion Pax:
Oh, please. They’re not gonna fire you.

(Elita's superior, Darkwing, appears.)

Darkwing:
Elita-1, you’re fired.

Elita-1:
What?? Why? I followed protocol to the letter.

Orion Pax:
That is true. I was the one who broke the rules.

Elita-1:
No one asked you! (to Darkwing) Darkwing, please, I’ve worked too hard for this.

Darkwing:
You are no-cog bots with limited options. Report to waste management immediately.

Elita-1:
Waste management?

Orion Pax:
Elita…

Elita-1:
Next time, why don’t you stop and think before you ruin someone’s life?

Orion Pax:
I’m sorry!

(Elita storms off. Orion then turns to Darkwing.)

Orion Pax:
Hey, Darkwing!

D-16:
Don’t do it.

Orion Pax:
I may not have a cog, but my finger can transform. Guess which one? I’ll give you a “limited option.”

(He imitates a transforming sound as he's about to flip the bird at Darkwing. The bot bully notices and prepares to punch him, but D-16 grabs his fist.)

D-16:
Excuse me, sir. Allow me. (punches Orion) I apologize on his behalf for the--

(D is interrupted as Darkwing slugs him.)

D-16:
(in slow motion) Whyyyyyyyy?

(At the miners' dormitory, Orion and D sit beside each other, the latter still feeling the pain from Darkwing's punch.)

D-16:
That really hurt. (sighs)

Orion Pax:
What’d you expect? He’s metal.

D-16:
You know you were out of line, talking back to a superior like that.

Orion Pax:
Darkwing was out of line. He deserves it. (sighs) Aren’t you tired of being treated like we’re nothing?

D-16:
He had every right to hit me. I interfered. Hey, and I appreciate you having my back.

Orion Pax:
I’m glad you were there with me to get punched in the face. That was fun.

D-16:
(laughs) Anytime, buddy.

P.A.:
Attention, all sectors. Stand by for a live transmission from Sentinel Prime.

D-16:
He’s back? He’s back already?

Orion Pax:
Maybe he found the Matrix.

(The miners gather as a transmission of Iacon's leader, Sentinel Prime, activates.)

Sentinel Prime:
Is it on? Okay, thank you. Hello, my friends. Hello, Iacon City! Hello to our saviors, the industrious miners who toil selflessly to maintain our Energon reserves. I celebrate you.

(The miners cheer in response.)

D-16:
Humility and presence! That’s leadership! Ah! Nobody does it better!

Sentinel Prime:
Once again, I have narrowly returned with my fleet after another treacherous expedition across the desolate, dangerous surface of our planet. I departed with hopes of finding the Matrix of Leadership, the key to bringing balance to Cybertron. I regret to inform you that we’ve returned empty-handed. This is a setback, but not a failure. Rest assured, I will find the Matrix of Leadership, so that Energon can flow again. But that’s in the future. Right now, I think we all deserve a little fun! Tomorrow, there will be no work. All shifts off because tomorrow is the Iacon 5000!

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