Transformers One Page #4

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Announcer:
I don’t believe it! The miners take down Darkwing!

Darkwing:
(angrily) Oh, miners!

Orion Pax:
Great effort, Darkwing!

D-16:
That worked! It actually worked!

Orion Pax:
Is this the dumbest thing we’ve ever done?

D-16:
Oh, yeah, it’s up there!

(The final obstacle to the finish line are magnetic tunnels. Bots passing through them end up injured as the magnets force them into the wall. Orion and D-16 are briefly sent in the air as they pass a tunnel.)

Announcer:
A four-bot pileup in the magnetic tunnel and the two miners are now in first position! This is unbelievable!

(A passing racer is also caught in the magnets, and a part of them hits D-16, injuring him.)

D-16:
Ah!

Orion Pax:
D!

D-16:
No. Go. Leave me!

Orion Pax:
No, we do this together.

(Orion carries D-16 toward the finish.)

Announcer:
One miner is now carrying the other mere steps from the finish line in the most amazing, sensational, dramatic, heartrending, exciting, thrilling finish in the history of…

(However, Chromia speeds by, knocking them down while crossing the finish line.)

Announcer:
We have a winner! Chromia comes from behind to take the prize. Talk about an Iacon 5000 for the ages.

Orion Pax:
Well, second place is still pretty good.

(Unfortunately, the other racers pass them. At a hospital...)

Intercom Voice:
Paging Dr. Ratchet. Dr. Ratchet to Medical Bay 94.

(One robot is seen being wheeled on a bed.)

Orderly Bot:
Do not worry. You will be fixed up in no time.

Wounded Bot:
(groans painfully) Did I win?

Orderly Bot:
You...participated.

Wounded Bot:
(weakly) Yay...

(We then see Orion and D in a medical bay, fixed up from their injuries.)

Orion Pax:
So… how long do you think we’ll be here?

D-16:
I’m not talking to you.

(The two remain in an awkward silence.)

D-16:
You know what? I can’t believe you made me do that. We are so screwed!

Orion Pax:
Thought you weren’t talking to me.

D-16:
Hey, look, I know it’s all a big joke to you. But not me. I was paying my dues. I was going places. And now they’re gonna bust me down I… I don’t even know how many tiers!

Orion Pax:
I’m sorry, D. But come on, didn’t you feel it? Even for just a second, didn’t you feel liberated? Didn’t you feel like you were something else? Like you could be more than what they say you are?

D-16:
Yeah, I felt it. I did. But it doesn’t matter. We’re going to get punished and demoted. (sighs) Sentinel Prime saw the whole thing. This is so embarrassing.

(Just then, a spider-like robot, Airachnid, steps in and turns her head to show extra eyes on the side. The eyes stare at the two robots.)

Airachnid:
It’s clear.

(Sentinel Prime enters the room, looking stern.)

Sentinel Prime:
Orion Pax. D-16. What you two did today was one of the craziest things I’ve ever seen...

Orion Pax:
Sir, this is all my idea, and we’re so sorry.

Sentinel Prime:
I loved it!

Orion Pax:
You did?

Sentinel Prime:
How could anyone not love it? You gave my best racers a real run for their money.

D-16:
So, we’re not getting demoted?

Sentinel Prime:
Demoted?

(He laughs with the two laughing nervously.)

Sentinel Prime:
(while laughing) Demoted.

D-16:
(while laughing nervously) What is happening?

(Airachnid laughs sarcastically. They all stop laughing.)

Sentinel Prime:
The fact of the matter is we’re halfway into the first shift since the race ended and that mining crew has already reached 150% quota. You inspired them to work harder!

Orion Pax:
Sentinel Prime, sir, we joined the race to show everyone our potential. That we bots can do more than just mine…

Sentinel Prime:
Outstanding! I love a bot that can think for himself. Perhaps you two could tour the mines, speak to your brethren, and help them see their potential.

Orion Pax:
(laughs) Wow! Okay, great. (stammering) That sounds incredible. I would love to…

Airachnid:
Sir, it’s time.

Sentinel Prime:
Ah, yes. I’m sorry, friends. We’re preparing our next travel to the surface. But in the meantime, I’ve got a treat for you. Hang tight. Airachnid, have someone escort these heroes to my personal service facilities. Best care in Iacon. Until next time, legends.

(Sentinel and Airachnid leave the medical bay.)

D-16:
(excited) Sentinel Prime. (laughs) The Sentinel Prime!

Orion Pax:
You still mad at me?

D-16:
I am less mad at you.

Orion Pax:
I’m telling you, D… I got a feeling that everything’s gonna change and we’re gonna go…

(Unfortunately, Darkwing enters the room, seething mad at the two for embarrassing him at the race.)

Darkwing:
(growling in anger) Miners!

D-16:
(nervously) Hi, Darkwing...

(Soon, Darkwing drags the two deep underground.)

Orion Pax:
Oh, no, no, no.

D-16:
No!

(Darkwing throws them into a room.)

D-16:
Wait, wait! You don’t understand! We were supposed to go to Sentinel Prime’s service pod!

Darkwing:
(angrily) You two dolts aren’t going to see anyone ever again! I’ll make sure of that.

(He flies away, leaving the two alone.)

D-16:
You’re making a mistake! Ask Sentinel!

(The door slams in front of them.)

Orion Pax:
(groans) I hate that guy!

(Looking around, they see a conveyor belt sending scrap into an incinerator. A masked bot notices their presence.)

Masked Bot:
You! How did you get down here?! There’s no access to this level! There is nobody down here but me! Oh, my- Oh, my gosh, (removes his mask) you’re real! You’re others! You’re not… me! You’re here, and you’re not me! (laughs)

Orion Pax:
Uh, yeah.

Masked Bot:
Awesome! I am so sorry. That must have been weird for you. I just haven’t had a lot of company since they put me down here in sublevel 50.

D-16:
Fifty? But there are only 40 sublevels.

Masked Bot:
That’s what I thought! Turns out there are ten more, and they are not pleasant. Probably why nobody ever really talks about them.

Orion Pax:
How long have you been down here?

B-127:
How long have I been here? (laughs) Let’s see, somewhere between a long time and forever? I mean, I had other jobs, but I kept getting reassigned ’cause I’m so good at what I do. Oh! I’m B-127, by the way. But you can call me B. And I’m actually working on some nicknames. The one I’m floating right now is Badassatron. Which is actually pronounced… (in a deep voice) “Badassatron.” (in normal voice) But if you have any critiques…

D-16:
Yeah, great. How do we get out of here?

B-127:
Great question - you don’t.

D-16:
We don’t?

B-127:
Nope. We have limited access to the waste management area, but the new shift manager there does not like distractions. No, they prefer we stay here on the task at hand.

Orion Pax:
Which is?

B-127:
Oh! The scrap comes in from the chute there onto the conveyor belt. Our job is to look for anything that might be worth salvaging before it hits the furnace and gets smelted.

D-16:
So, you watch garbage burn?

B-127:
Yes! It is so great that you’re here now. I can’t wait to learn everything about you. And then tell you everything about me! I have a lot of hopes and dreams that I am just dying to share with one or two new best friends.

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