I just remembered how much I really, really love how these came out.
Lines and colors by me, with edits, additional lines/colors, and vectoring by @babblingbug
I made these as stickers for Botcon 2015? I can’t remember. I gave JRo the ones of Ambulon, Kaon, and Quark (”you like the original characters, huh?” to paraphrase his response), and the Windblade sticker to Sarah Stone and Mairghread Scott.
I debated wanting to sell these, but wasn’t quite sure if anyone would be interested. I’d love to sell them though, if anyone would want them.
I kinda wanna make a Froid one. If @babblingbug would be willing to vector it again, that is. Because oh God these were hideous lumpy things before she cleaned them up. Though I don’t know if anyone would want Froid stickers, but I guess I’d just give it to JRo on Twitter.
From a discussion I had with @babblingbug (spoilers for TLK):
Wind back the clock on The Last Knight. Cade has recently saved Izabella, and is living in the junkyard with his Autobot friends. The next morning, Cade gets up out of bed, all cowlicked hair and groggy. Izabella and Sqweeks are making coffee; the coffee machine is broken since Cade’s experimenting on it to make it better. But Izabella has found a way--and the tiny Grimlock baby is using its fire to heat up the cups of java. Jimmy arrives and has brought doughnuts, which he reminds Cade he needs to repay him since this is the third time.
Hound is fast asleep, snoring on his back, the only Autobot not resting in alt mode. Sometimes he stirs in recharge, grumbling and slapping at the air. At one point he slaps Wheelie who has come over to tell him to stop fuckin’ snoring, he can’t sleep because of all the fuckin’ noOOMPH. Drift is meditating to the sunrise. Bee is out doing some sweet new moves and practicing. But everyone else seems to be sleeping or just waking up.
As the day starts, suddenly Cade gets a call from Chief Sherman that someone riding on a motorcycle is headed to his junkyard. Cade can see, in the distance, this motorcycle approaching. He and Jimmy yell at Hound to wake up and transform while Izabella shoves Sqweeks into the back of an old car trunk. Drift, of course, transforms peacefully. Hound does wake up in time and transforms, but not before bitching about it. Bee’s notified but is a safe distance away so as not to be seen.
Cade and Jimmy wait at the entrance of the junkyard. Izabella watches from inside the car where Sqweeks is also hiding. She stuffs the Dinobot babies back down when they try to sneak a peek, too. The person on the motorcycle pulls up; engine off, they stand, wearing a helmet obscuring their face. They remove the helmet, take their hair from its ponytail and shake it free.
The person introduces herself as Mikaela Banes, and she is here to speak with your Autobots.
The group feign ignorance to what she’s implying. Mikaela removes her phone and reads off the list of Autobots she knows are hiding here. They still insist she’s got the wrong place. Mikaela scans the junkyard and then points out Crosshairs. Cade still insists--but Crosshairs transforms, saying their cover’s blown, and he’s ready to blow this nosy little human away.
Then Mikaela’s motorbike transforms. It steps over, introducing itself as Elita One. She is the only survivor of her sisters from the fight in Egypt. Mikaela fixed and patched her up, and she looks different from before. Nonetheless, she implores Crosshairs to lower his gun and listen. At that moment, Wheelie falls out of the trailer window, screaming about his GLORIOUS WARRIOR GODDESS and runs over to hug/hump her leg. She smiles, greets him with a “Hey, Wheelie.”
Bumblebee, in the mean time, has driven back and is absolutely ecstatic. He lifts her up and she gently gives him a forehead nuzzle. Bee is even happy to see Elita survived, too, having thought she perished.
Cade knows about Mikaela from Wheelie’s and Bee’s stories as well as bits and pieces on the news from years ago. Mikaela explains that she’s been going around the country, looking for Autobots and human sympathizers. She wants Cade and the Autobots to come with her back to Nevada, to her shop. It takes some convincing, but they agree--mostly because the Autobots are curious and Mikaela mentions knowing the location of other Autobots, too.
Izabella also pops out, saying she wants to go as well. Cade says he plans on taking her to the nearest city, where she can go to the police and have them take care of her (without spilling the beans, you little shit.) Izabella begs Mikaela and Mikaela says she can--she knows Izabella, too, but how? All will be explained later.
Cade, Jimmy, and Izabella take Hound, Crosshairs, Bumblebee, and Drift to Mikaela’s. The Dinobots stay behind, because--well, can’t drag dinos out. Not yet. Alternatively, Jimmy stays behind to keep an eye on the place as well as the Dinobots/Wheelie, etc.
When they do arrive in Nevada at Mikaela’s shop, she explains that both her and her father are mechanics. Her father is retired, and she took over the shop, relocating it elsewhere. It seems like a simple mom and pop type shop. Not much activity. It’s in a small town toward desert land. Mikaela takes them inside, past a couple of her workers, into her office. Pressing a button hidden behind a framed photo of her and her dad (cliche but it makes her feel like James Bond, all spy-like and shit), a part of the wall slides aside, revealing a door with a screen and control panel.
Mikaela has her retinas and fingerprints scanned. Voice recognition, too. Then a voice, mechanical and obviously Transformer as well as a little uneasy, asks about her friends. Mikaela assures them they’re unarmed, there’s no cameras, etc. They’re clean. The TF seems hesitant to let them pass even then. “Just open the door, Red Alert,” Mikaela sighs, glaring into the screen. Red Alert sighs as well, still distrusting of these new people, but opens the door.
Cade and Izabella (and Jimmy, if he goes) are awed to see that, after walking down a flight of stairs, there’s an underground bunker. And it’s FILLED with Autobots! Very spacious, too. Elita took Cade’s Autobots to the back entrance.
Mikaela explains she’s been gathering and helping to repair Autobots on Earth ever since Cemetery Wind took over. Defunct, but now they have the TRF to deal with. Among these Autobots may be Jolt and Sideswipe, who died offscreen but what the Hell. Old faces and new faces. There’s at least twenty Autobots down here.
Red Alert, meanwhile, continues shadowing the group, watching them closely. Preforming scans on the humans to make sure there’s no weapons, etc. At one point, while talking to Mikaela, Cade stops to ask if Red Alert can quit with the scans already. (Think of that Bones and Kirk scene in Into Darkness.)
“Does he need to follow us?” Cade asks.
“Yes,” Mikaela and Red Alert respond in unison. She assures the group Red Alert’s harmless... mostly. Red Alert smirks and pats his shoulder cannon. Even Sqweeks came, riding with Izabella. Sqweeks meets Brains, who mocks and pokes and prods him, but they eventually form a bond, both being messed up and damaged.
Mikaela says thanks to Red Alert, she’s been able to hack into numerous government satellites, channels, signals, including IRF’s, which is how she knows Izabella from the fight earlier in the movie. She has agents out on the field looking for more Autobots to help and bring here--one agent includes Inferno.
Anyway, TLK AU where Mikaela and her bots join the fight and things go more or less the same but obviously differently. Would be fun if Mikaela was chosen as the knight instead of Cade, but w/e. Mikaela even helps calm Optimus down with Bee.
At the end, with the IRF disbanded, Cade is pardoned of his crimes for helping save the Goddamn world. Lennox decides to help Optimus again, rebuilding Cybertron. Later, when Cade finally gets to visit Tessa without problem, Lennox brings Annabelle over, who is now a teenager, maybe around Iza’s age. Annabelle has never forgotten about Ironhide, and ever since she learned of his death, has wanted to become a soldier--like her dad, like Ironhide. She and Izabella hit it off; Iza teaches her some mechanical tricks while Annabelle gives her some defense training (she’s like a pro in martial arts, etc; if she’s old enough, she also provides some moves from military training.) Mikaela becomes something of a big sister to Iza, too. Maybe Vivienne and Cade hook up and Cade adopts Iza.
(And Sam comes back, revealing he and Mikaela got back together some years ago, and his break-up with Carly was amicable and Carly later even helps them out financially and whatnot with her higher-up connections. But this is just a bonus.)
But now there are more Autobots to help Optimus rebuild Cybertron and fight future Decepticon/non-Decepticon threats.
Also, in the bowels of the new KSI from AOE, there are cars built from the Transformium that have yet to be destroyed or were “failures.” Suddenly, one transforms and Starscream bitches about being reincarnated into a fucking grounder.
Or, you know, most of this could happen AFTER TLK and be the beginning of a new movie haha.
Here is your gift ficlet, @babblingbug! As I said, posting two fics a day until the 22nd since I will be out of town for Christmas. I hope you enjoy!
Summary: Wheeljack shows off a new invention to Sunstreaker.
Sunstreaker was not a fan of snow.
It was wet, it was cold, it got into his seams; it stiffened his actuators and hydraulics. It was, of course, one of this primitive planet's many faults, but fortunately this weather didn't last for too long.
So one could imagine just how infuriating it was driving in all this ice and sleet and snow. Wheeljack better have had a damn good reason for calling Sunstreaker out here, so far away from base, in this miserable, frigid weather. He couldn't even drive fast, unless he wanted to slip and crash into a tree.
The drive wasn't long, but in the snow, it felt like days. Sunstreaker transformed into bipedal mode once off in the distance, away from the major highways and roads. He grumbled to himself as he trudged his heavy feet through the piles of ice, around tall trees, and up a steep hill. Sunstreaker could see Wheeljack standing up top, back turned to the approaching Autobot, currently staring at something down below.
Sunstreaker clutched his fists and put on his best bitch face. "You better have a damn good--"
The cannon suddenly whipped around, pointing its barrel at Sunstreaker. Sunstreaker stepped back, equipping his gun.
"No need for that," Wheeljack replied, patting the cannon. "It won't hurt ya."
"Why's it pointed at me?"
"Motion sensors. Still tryin' t'get it to recognize Decepticon signatures only."
Sunstreaker slowly subspaced his gun and made his way up. The cannon followed, and if it had eyes, it would probably be glaring at the Autobot suspiciously.
"Why did you call me out here?" Sunstreaker demanded once he was side by side with the scientist.
Wheeljack pointed down the hill. "Look," he said.
Sunstreaker was almost reluctant to obey; he wanted an answer, dammit. Exventing, he humored Wheeljack and looked to where he was pointing. To his surprise, it was a little town, nestled in mountains and miles away from the big cities. While it was relatively small, every house and building, lamp post and front lawn, was adorned with Christmas lights and decorations. From the standard red and green, to flickering gold, to twinkling white.
There were snowmen dressed up in hats, scarves, even gloves; fake, plastic deer alongside plastic elves; giant inflatable Santa Claus and reindeer; down the road, a giant glowing Star of David on the roof. Anything and everything Christmas and holiday-related was on display, turning this small town into something of a tourist trap. It was lit so bright, it was almost blinding.
"Pretty, ain't it?" Wheeljack chuckled.
Sunstreaker harrumphed. "It's just a bunch of red and green and white snow," he said. "Not a very attractive color combination, if I do say so myself."
Wheeljack laughed, his sirens flickering. "Aw, ain't you sweet," he teased. "All these Earth holidays... There's so many. An' t'think, we only celebrated the major solstice seasons."
"It's noisy and bothersome, especially during this... Christmas time," Sunstreaker grumbled, "the roads are always packed, and there are so many humans running around."
"Don't be so grumpy, Sunstreaker," Wheeljack said, "or yer gonna git coal in your stocking."
Sunstreaker blinked. "... What?"
"I stumbled on this town last year, actually," Wheeljack explained, "'round this time, if not a bit earlier. Same lights an' everythin'. I thought it was really beautiful, especially when ya can see it all from up here. I found myself comin' back to this place three more times afterward. Jus' to sit an' look at the lights; calm my circuits." His optics dimmed, lidded. "It ain't much, I know, but it kinda reminds me a little of Cybertron. An' so, I thought, maybe, you'd kinda see that, too, an' maybe it might lift yer spirits, as the humans say."
Sunstreaker frowned. "I see." He looked back at the town. If he thought about it, really imagined it, he could see Cybertron in all her glorious, brightly glowing beauty.
"Chip says this time of the year makes people miss home the most," Wheeljack said. He leaned back against the cannon. "I think he's right..."
Wheeljack chuckled softly. "I sure hope so," he said. "I'm old, but I ain't ready to retire. Not on this planet, at least."
Sunstreaker rolled his optics. "There you go again," he snorted. "When are you going to start up with the 'you circuit-snappers an' yer fancy new gizmos an' gadgets'?"
Wheeljack raised his hands. "I ain't that bad!" he sulked.
Sunstreaker sneered. "Okay then," he said, "mind telling me what that cannon is here for?"
Wheeljack's optics and fins lit up. "Oh! Yes! Well!" He ran behind the cannon. "Yanno how a few days ago, Spike an' Carly were complainin' about how their Christmas lights keep gettin' tangled up an' it's a pain to unravel 'em? Remember that big bag they brought over?"
"Yeah," Sunstreaker grumbled, "it was a damn mess."
"Well, I asked Spike an' Carly if I could keep the lights," Wheeljack continued. "I said I'd recycle 'em. An' so I have... with this!" He pat the cannon. "The Lighter Up is a one of a kind, Wheeljack Approved weapon that uses old, tangled Christmas lights an' turns 'em into ammo!"
Sunstreaker looked dubious.
Wheeljack laughed. "What ya do is pack the lights in the back 'ere--see 'em?--an' activate the machine. It only takes 'bout a minute or so. The cannon proceeds to roll the lights up in a tight ball. An'... Well, you get the rest."
"So... you made a cannon that shoots cannonballs made of... broken Christmas lights?" Sunstreaker still looked dubious.
"Yea! Fun, huh? An' accordin' t'Spike, lotsa humans throw old gnarled Christmas lights out every year! I'm still workin' on a few things, though." Wheeljack removed a remote from an arm compartment, showing it to Sunstreaker. "Would ya like t'see her... LightHER up?" He snickered.
Sunstreaker frowned. "That was awful, even for you."
Wheeljack swished a hand. "Now, the cannon requires a good deal of energy to activate. But fortunately, it's capable of absorbin' energy from nearby machines an' electric lines." He winced. "Er, not from any sentient being, though, so don't worry 'bout it suckin' us dry. I charged it before I left, so it might not need a boost, but..." Wheeljack directed the cannon to the open fields down below, away from the town. "On the count of three. Onnnnneeee... twwwwoooo--"
"Go," Sunstreaker deadpanned.
Wheeljack hit the button. The cannon activated immediately, and two seconds later, every single light in the town went out.
"Did you do that!?" Sunstreaker gasped.
Wheeljack widened his optics. "I-- It couldna been-- The radius is-- I mean, that much-- I--" He hit the off button. Only the cannon remained online--still charging--and the town remained dark. "Oh, scrap. Oooooh, scrap." He punched the blue button repeatedly, to no avail.
The cannon was buzzing and whirring, and soon started shaking. "It--it's still absorbing energy!" Sunstreaker exclaimed, stepping away.
"No no no no no," Wheeljack whined. He hit the button so hard and so fast it soon became lodged and stuck in the remote. "Oh noooo!" He glanced down at the town, guilty-eyed. "I'm so sorryyyy!"
Smoke was billowing from the cannon's mouth and seams. Sunstreaker gasped. "Wheeljack!" he cried. He rushed forward, throwing himself against the scientist. Wheeljack grunted, and the two fell over, rolling down the hill. Not a second too soon--the cannon suddenly exploded into a dozen little pieces, shooting its three wadded rolls of Christmas lights into the air. Two hit the ground, the third striking and unfolding instantly against a tree.
Wheeljack slowly raised his head, Sunstreaker's arm thrown across his back. He glanced over his shoulder, at the pile of smoldering, burning cannon remains. "Heh." Wheeljack looked nervously to Sunstreaker laying beside him. "T-That wasn't too bad, right?"
Sunstreaker raised his head, entire face coated in snow. He said nothing.
"Umm..." Wheeljack cautiously wiped the snow from his optics (burning) and mouth (frowning). "But!" He leaned in, and nuzzled his mouthplate against Sunstreaker's cold cheek. "My hero."
Suddenly, electricity returned to the town, lights glowing once more.
Wheeljack's fins twitched. "Look! The town's okay!" He looked to Sunstreaker, who was still glaring hateful knives at him. "H-Hooray?"
Sunstreaker moved fast, and in a second, Wheeljack was flat on his back, wide-eyed and looking up at the Autobot towering over him, straddling his hips.
"You owe me now," Sunstreaker growled.
Wheeljack blinked. He laughed. "You circuit-snappers an' yer need to be rewarded 'cause yer inflated pride; can't just take honor in the act itself. Need t'be paid back."
Sunstreaker bowed down, their foreheads touching. "We're using the probes tonight," he whispered harshly.
