Tales of the Intermezzo - League A Transformers Universe Story copyright 2004 by Dave Van Domelen based on properties owned by Hasbro and DC Comics/Time Warner =========================================================================== "intermezzo - n. A brief entertainment between two acts of a play." - American Heritage Dictionary [2003] Bruce Wayne sat in his study, staring into the screen saver of his computer over steepled fingers. He sought inspiration, but as ever when pursued too vigorously, it eluded him. The training was complete...or as complete as it could be without going out into the field and doing it for real. He was as prepared as he could be: a master of the combat arts, a detective with few peers, an expert in advanced technology. But he needed...a hook, for lack of a better word. Something to give him an edge so that he wouldn't need to use the other skills as often. The best victory is a battle that doesn't need to be fought, after all. "Criminals are a cowardly and superstitious lot," he mused. But how to strike fear into them? Just then, a flurry of batwings beat against his window. He turned to look at the motion, and inspiration fell into his grasp. "That's it! I shall become...a bat!" zeezeezeezee! Bruce's computer flickered to life, beeping softly with the alert of a major news story being picked up by his custom filters. "...was the scene just minutes ago as a number of vehicles on the George Washington Bridge suddenly changed into giant robots to foil a terrorist attack by a group known as Kobra. The robots remained behind to rescue bystanders and told this reporter that they were called Autobots..." Bruce leaned back, lost in thought. Becoming a bat would certainly help against human criminals. But should these "Autobots" prove to be a danger, he'd need to be more than a bat. He'd need to become a robot.... * * * * [2004] "And so, masked warrior, you have proven yourself to be the most worthy Amazon of Themiscyra. Step forward and accept the uniform of our emissary to Man's World," Hippolyta commanded. "Certainly...mother," Diana said, removing her mask. A gasp went up around the arena. Princess Diana had been forbidden from competing, ordered to stay on Paradise Island to continue preparing for the day she would rule in her mother's stead. But, clearly, she had not only disobeyed, she had managed to disguise herself in ways beyond a mere mask. None had suspected! Except, perhaps, one person. "I'm proud of you, daughter. You have proven not only your fitness to leave Paradise Island on this mission, but your readiness. A thousand years ago, you would have meekly accepted my command and remained behind, but now you are clearly grown and ready to be your own mistress." Hippolyta stepped forward and handed a brightly colored vestment to her daughter. "These are your robes of office as ambassador." Then she held out a pair of golden bracelets. "And these are the Master Bracers, ancient when the Amazons were still mortal, artifacts of a mysterious past. Strike them together, and you will find yourself encased in the armor of a giantess. You will need this to meet the threats that now face both Man's World and Paradise Island." Diana took the Bracers to the cheers of the crowd. "Go forth, Diana, and bring peace and wisdom to the world!" * * * * "Lex Luthor is really starting to get on my nerves," Bumblebee complained. "Literally...whatever he hit me with is still jangling me all over." "Well, you're still in one piece," Kal shrugged, patting his friend on the shoulder. "Yow! You're HOT! I felt that!" he jerked away, nearly hitting the high ceiling of the Ark. "Am I?" Bumblebee looked down at himself. "My sensors are all glitchy. I'll have to ask Ratchet to look at me when everyone gets back from chasing Luthor." He was clearly disgruntled at having been ordered to return to the Ark before the battle was over. Suddenly, Teletran-1's alarm klaxons started to sound. "ALERT! Molecular explosive detected!" "Huh?" Bumblebee stepped to a terminal and tried to access the sensor net. Electricity arced from his hand to the terminal, causing it to short out explosively. "Great Rao!" Kal exclaimed. "I can feel the energy coming off you from here! Luthor's gun wasn't a gun at all, was it?" "WARNING. Bumblebee's molecular agitation levels will reach critical mass in fifteen Earth minutes," Teletran-1 intoned. "I've got to get out of here!" Bumblebee shouted, then turned and ran out of the Ark. The scenery flashed by, as if he were running at many times the speed of sound. "Damn, my sensors are really getting messed up!" he muttered. He hoped Kal hadn't followed him, though...if he exploded from this molecular agiwhatsis, it might be enough to kill the young Kryptonian. Then his gyros shorted out and he tumbled across the desert. Desert? How had he gotten all the way to the desert? All was quiet for a few moments, as Bumblebee lay dazed on the desert hardpan. Then he heard the sound of an internal combustion motor growing louder in the distance. A cloud of dust was visible on the horizon, but Bumblebee could only watch. His motor systems were completely overloaded, the slightest attempt at motion led to so much over-reaction that he simply thrashed about on the ground. He couldn't even warn the approaching human to stay away. Everything was black for a moment, or maybe longer. Suddenly a young man in motorcross gear was standing next to him, helmet off to reveal dusty red hair. "Dude, you're one of those Autobots, aren't you?" "Stzzzzcht bkkkkkk!" Bumblebee tried to warn the human. But even his voice was behaving unpredictably now. He held himself perfectly still...a spasm now could smash the fragile organic. "My name's Wally West. Do you speak English?" Wally stepped forward and reached for Bumblebee's hand. ZZZZORCH! Lightning arced between the two! "NnnnoooOOO!" Bumblebee fought the power surging through his body, trying to force it into his laser core and away from the young man. He could feel his body burning, armor buckling and paint burning away. Then it all did go black. "Bumblebee, can you hear me?" Ratchet asked. "I...I didn't explode?" Bumblebee stammered as he tried to sit up. "Nope. You've burned red over most of your body, and I'm getting some really weird readings, but you don't seem in any danger of exploding," Ratchet replied. Now he did sit up. "Wally! The human! What...?" Ratchet shook his head sadly. "The young man's nervous system was overloaded by whatever energy you were giving off thanks to Luthor's weapon. We've fitted him with an exosuit plugged into his brainwaves, but I don't think he'll ever walk on his own again. He's in the next lab over," Ratchet started to gesture, and then he was gone. The whole room was gone. Wait. Bumblebee was standing next to Wally, but barely remembered even moving. He just wanted to be there, and he was. "Whoa," Wally said woozily. "You're a regular jumping jack flash...." * * * * "Sideswipe, Megatron's getting away!" Sunstreaker shouted as he pointed at the flying Decepticon. "No time for that, brother! His space bridge is overloading...it could take out this entire planet!" Sunstreaker practically quivered with indecision. Megatron had escaped from Luthor only weeks before, the two brothers had been the first to track him down. If he got away, it could mean war on Cybertron. Was it worth losing Earth to save Cybertron? Slag it...no. Megatron would show up again, the Autobots would get another shot at him. But Earth wouldn't get a second chance if it was sucked into a rupturing space bridge. "What do we do, Sideswipe?" "Do I look like Perceptor? I say we go with the Brawn school of shutting down runaway machines...start hitting!" With that, Sideswipe extended the pounders on his forearms and started smashing at the space bridge ring. "Works for me, I guess," Sunstreaker raised his rifle and started shooting the controls. He probably shouldn't have been surprised by the massive explosion that followed. Something felt wrong. Sunstreaker unshuttered his optics and looked down at himself. "AAAAAAH! My beautiful chassis, it's all bloated and twisted!" ((And your head is on fire!)) came Sideswipe's voice, as if from a great distance. ((And I can't see my own body! What's going on?)) Sunstreaker looked around. "I can't see you anywhere, but the space bridge is trashed. Looks like we saved the world. Again," he added, smugness displacing some of his panic. "But I'm so ugly now! How can I show my face like this?" ((I'm not sure I even *have* a face to show now. Where am I?)) "Let me jump up on that rock and get a look around. Maybe you got blown over the horizon by the...I'm FLYING!" he shouted. "I couldn't do that before!" ((Huh, you're a real hot shot now, aren't you?)) "I...don't see your body anywhere, brother. You don't suppose we got fused together by that explosion? It might explain why I'm so ugly now." ((Hey!)) "Until we can figure out how to get ourselves split, I don't think I should call myself Sunstreaker...I'd hurt my reputation as a dashing fashion plate! I know...you said I was a hot shot, so that's what I'll be. Hot Shot." ((Works for me. Man, our skidplate is big.)) "What??" ((Kidding!)) * * * * A moment ago, Hal had been in a flight simulator. Now he was inside a wrecked alien spaceship, one built for human-sized pilots rather than the giant robots he'd seen on the news lately. "Hal Jordan," a bald, red-skinned figure beckoned to him from inside the wreckage. "I am Abin Sur, Green Lantern of Sector 2814. I was sent to investigate the reports of Cybertronian activity on this planet, but I was overconfident, and have now paid with my life." "Look, buddy, let me get you to a hospital." Abin Sur shook his head. "The ring tells me the injuries I suffered are fatal, and your planet's science isn't enough to help me. No, you can help me best by taking this ring and my duties. The Cybertronian war must be contained, for if it spreads beyond Sector 2814 it could mean galactic devastation." His voice was now so faint Hal had to strain to hear it. "You who are without fear, you must protect this world, and this Sector." The ring flew from Abin Sur's hand and landed on Hal's finger. He could feel its power filling him, and felt a uniform like Sur's covering his body. He felt compelled to speak.... "In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil's might beware my power, Green Lantern's light!" * * * * "I was invited, Thanagarian, you weren't. Say hello to your gods for me!" Kanjar Ro taunted over comm as Katar Hol's ship spiraled out of control. Stupid, stupid, stupid! Katar had made a rookie's mistake. Just because this world was listed as being early atomic, pre-stardrive, he'd assumed they lacked any weapons that could penetrate his ship's shields. But he should have known that if Kanjar Ro had business on this world, it was with some other interstellar criminal with the resources to be ready for a visit from the Hawk Police. Entering the lower atmosphere, he ejected from his doomed craft, tumbling in the slipstream as he fought to bring his wings to bear. Then there was a horrible wrenching feeling, and Katar saw one of the wings flutter away in the wind. Now he had no control, the Nth Metal could slow his descent but that was all. Touching down, he shed the remaining useless wing and checked his sidearm. Gone. Torn from its holster during the fall. Curse it all. At least he still had his handscanner. "So, Kanjar Ro, where did you land?" The installation was impressive, to say the least. Even without adding the qualifier, "for a pre-stardrive civilization". But its security was strictly amateur hour, at least for anything smaller than a ship. Katar's training was more than a match for the locks and traps and other defenses he found in the underground base. Still, he hadn't found anything he could use as a weapon...well, not counting a metal bar. But that was a pretty pathetic weapon. He broke through another security door, quietly and without tripping any alarms. It led him into a tremendous hangar of some sort, and he let out a low whistle at the sight of the contents. A giant robot of some sort, easily eight or nine times his own height. Now THAT was a weapon. Quick investigation showed that it was incomplete. The power systems lacked a control unit capable of handling the stresses required, and a thin layer of dust suggested that whoever had built it had also abandoned it because of the defect. Fortunately, the computer system was intended to be easy to use, and Katar quickly found the requirements for such a control unit. Requirements met quite nicely by Nth metal. Kanjar Ro's host was in for a rude surprise.... * * * * [2005] The giant head-shaped ship drifted over the horizon, trailing smoke. Moments later, Megatron's command ship exploded, momentarily blinding anyone still looking in its direction. "Prime, I can run out and..." Bumblebee started. "Hold it, Bumblebee. Assuming Megatron survived, we can take care of him another day. We need to make sure Seattle is safe," Prime held up a restraining arm. "Safe as houses, Optimus Prime," Green Lantern replied, the shrunken metropolis held in a stasis bottle in the glowing green hands of the Cybertronian form he projected around himself. "I think I can use my matter rearrangement powers to restore the city to its natural size," Hot Shot offered. Metalhawk shook his head. "The shrinking ray Kanjar Ro sold to Megatron doesn't work via molecular rearrangement, Hot Shot. It's a spatial realignment, your powers wouldn't work." The Batmech stepped over to Green Lantern. "I'm not sure I trust you, Thanagarian. Your armor is a Luthor design, and..." "And I vouched for him with my invisible lasso," Wonder Woman countered. "It compels the truth from any it encircles." There was a flare of light as Optimus Prime opened his chest and Kal-El flew out. Prime faded from blue to red and slumped in exhaustion for a moment before regaining his composure. "Everyone, we still have our work cut out for us," Prime said, holding up a calming hand. "I'm willing to believe we're all on the same side here, clearly we're more effective together than if we're at each other's throats. I'm sure we can find a way to restore Seattle to its proper size if we work as a team." The Batmech stepped back, almost sheepishly. "I'm sorry, Optimus Prime. I've gotten too used to working alone, in the shadows. Everything looks suspicious from where I stand." "You guys should all form a team," Kal suggested, flying at head level for the various Cybertronians and piloted mecha. "Transformers and hum...er, organics, working together. It'd set an example that could do more good in the long run than anything you could do with a gun." "Terrans, Cybertronians, Kryptonian, Thanagarian...it could work," the Batmech mused. "I've been so focused on causing fear in men of ill intent that I forgot about inspiring hope in those of good intent." Wonder Woman deactivated her projected shell in a shimmer of light and flew up to place her hands on Kal-El's shoulders. "You have a wisdom beyond your years, Kal. What better way to promote my mission of peace than to show how good people of so many backgrounds could come together in harmony?" "My loyalty has to remain to Thanagar first," Metalhawk prefaced, "but I don't see how this will be a conflict. Serving justice is my mission, when you come down to it." "Justice is what we all seek, Metalhawk," Green Lantern nodded from within his construct. "Liberty and justice for all." "Sounds good to me," Bumblebee piped up. "Optimus?" Hot Shot asked, deferring to their commander. He nodded. "Let us form an alliance, then. A league of organics and mechanoids, in the service of justice. "A JUSTICE LEAGUE!" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author's Notes: Okay, when I said I had no plans for a sequel to "Elseworld" I wasn't lying. I was just showing bad predictive ability...the next day I had an idea. And, like Elseworld, it came from kitbashes: http://www.dvandom.com/kitbash/JLAutobots.html I cheerfully grabbed elements from all over continuity for this set of origins vignettes. I especially liked the idea of taking Megatron's Big Floating Head from Beast Machines and crossing it with Brainiac's pre-Crisis skull ship, and replacing the bottle city of Kandor with Seattle. Here's a quick list of the Transformers influences for each character: Super Optimus Prime - G1 Original, with a hint of Powermaster Sideswipe and Sunstreaker - G1 Orignal Hot Shot - Armada Bumblebee - G1 Original Batmech - G1 Headmasters Wonder Woman - Japanese Masterforce Pretenders Metalhawk - U.S. G1 Pretenders (not shown, but he does have an inner bot that transforms into a jet), despite the fact the character was actually only in Masterforce. Green Lantern - G1 Original Starscream body, a touch of Masterforce Pretenders in terms of being a projection around a human-sized core (yes, I know that was more of a special effect in Masterforce, not an actual projected energy field). Wally West - Daniel's exosuit from G1 Season 3 and the movie. And a little of Chip Chase. Kalvin Ellington - Obviously, he takes some of Spike's role from G1. Lex Luthor - Lord Zarak, G1 Headmaster Scorponok. Megatron - G1 original Megatron's Ship - Beast Machines Megabolt And, of course, a healthy dose of the "Evil Invention/Alien Device" syndrome from the G1 cartoon. Finally...yes, Prime's last line is kinda hokey. But it's totally in character for an Optimus, after all.