DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
The Maze
HTML https://themaze.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: Matrix Saga (2013-2014)
*****************************************************
#Post#: 504--------------------------------------------------
Transformers: Boxes and Dunes
By: Ashes Date: August 14, 2014, 12:31 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
HTML http://oi59.tinypic.com/2qnp7cx.jpg
(see full-size version here
HTML http://oi60.tinypic.com/2q011l0.jpg)
A quick visit to the planet Ra grows complicated when the
Maximals discover Paradise boxes – objects that link worlds. As
the team try to unearth the purpose of the boxes, a mysterious
ship hangs in the air above the planet, and the Maximals’ unity
shall be driven through the mud. Starring Alec Baldwin, Daniela
Bobadilla, Susan Eisenberg, Jocelyne Loewen, Scott McNeil,
Tuppence Middleton, Ron Perlman, Paul Rudd and Johnny Yong
Bosch.
A.
#Post#: 509--------------------------------------------------
Re: Transformers: Boxes and Dune
By: Ashes Date: August 30, 2014, 1:01 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
BOXES AND DUNES
Airdate: Saturday 30th August 2014
Synopsis: Lights out on the Dawn Katana; Mirage is viewing her
celestial holo-map, her attention continually slipping back to
Ra. After some thought, she heads out of her room and off to the
bridge. Scale is flying the ship; the two greet one another, and
Scale asks what Mirage wants. The fembot informs him that, as
they are nearing the area, she would like to visit Ra. Scale is
uncertain, but Mirage uses her position as second-in-command to
have him comply. As he starts to redirect the ship, Mirage
comments that she is coming home.
[logo only]
Later, with the ship’s lighting now on; Waspinator and Paladin
enter the bridge, talking, only to stop upon noticing that the
ship is entering Ra’s atmosphere. Mirage cheerily greets the
two, and Waspinator demands to know what is happening. The
former-pharaoh explains that she wanted to check in on her
home-world, but Waspinator tells her that they cannot stop by
the team members’ homes whenever they feel like it. He reminds
her that they were only passing through this region of space,
relatively close to the Cybertronian conflict, to pick up a
conversion machine to allow them to use other galaxies’ fuels.
Mirage shrugs him off, stating that she served Ra for thousands
of years and has a responsibility to check in on it.
Waspinator: We’re only in this region of space because we need a
conversion machine. The ship can’t take some of the more exotic
fuels further afield without it.
Dawn Katana: I did try, though. Do keep that in mind. It was
just… messy. For everyone. I’m sorry about that.
Waspinator: We can’t stay near the conflict against Necrocide
any longer than needed. After this, we’re gone again.
Mirage: Understood, and ignored. I was the pharaoh of Ra for a
very long time. We’re close and I want to check that
everything’s okay. That’s my responsibility.
As the other Maximals gather in the bridge, Scale pilots the
ship down through the atmosphere. Paladin explains to Wildfire,
Swingback and Andromeda that they are visiting Mirage’s
home-world; the three all become interested in stopping by
theirs, although Andromeda quickly remembers her banishment.
Waspinator informs them clearly that they shall not be
revisiting any planets, as Mirage notices holding pens on the
surface containing various aliens. The Dawn Katana performs a
scan as it draws near, stating that they appear to be various
sentient species, all hailing from different, distant planets.
The ship lands, and Mirage swiftly heads out, being greeted by a
surprised guard. She uses her former status to get an answer out
of him – that the various aliens walked out from the desert,
with one of them clearly remarking that they came through a box.
The other Maximals join Mirage, as the Dawn Katana rewinds his
recorded footage of the planet and starts to locate anomalies on
the surface. Swingback ponders whether the “box” is some kind of
unfolding portal device, but the guard remarks that the alien is
fluent… they really mean a box.
The current pharaoh of Ra approaches the Maximals as they
discuss the boxes amongst themselves; Mirage greets her
successor, and immediately puts the team forward to investigate.
The pharaoh, however, asks for the group to follow him into a
nearby facility – inside, he shows a box, brought along by one
of the aliens. It is large enough to fit an average Cybertronian
in, and ornately-carved. The pharaoh explains that only a few
know of this box being here and that they have not yet performed
any tests on it.
Pharaoh: Only a small few beside myself know of this box being
here. We only received it a few days ago… we’ve not run any
tests yet. We’re not quite sure how to test it, really. We’ve
not even opened it.
Scale begins scanning it, and Andromeda admires it, but Mirage
chooses instead to open it. Inside, the bottom has opened like
another lid, showing a glimpse of a tropical canopy. Taken
aback, and as the new pharaoh fusses, Mirage heads through,
clambering out of another box and finding herself in a
rainforest, by a small waterfall. The jackal-bot explores her
surroundings, finding that she can see out to a greater expanse
of rainforest below and stretching to the horizon. Her wonder is
disrupted by a large red crosshairs falling upon her – she looks
up to see a large ship lurking in the sky, locked onto her. She
quickly heads back to the box as the crosshairs tracks her,
passing through and collapsing to the floor of the facility. The
crosshairs shines through the box, striking the ceiling, before
Paladin quickly shuts the lid. Mirage regales what she saw, as
Waspinator receives communications from the ship. The pharaoh
ponders what Mirage tells him, as Waspinator explains that the
Dawn Katana has located the boxes out in the desert. Mirage
insists that they investigate, which Waspinator exasperatedly
agrees to, leading the team off (Prophecy stares at the box as
they leave). As the bots head back to the ship, they glance at
the various species being held in the pen, and Paladin notes
that they must help them return to their own worlds.
As the ship heads across the desert, Wildfire notes how
daunting it all looks, observing that he prefers Kerritol’s
bustle to Ra’s arid land. Mirage reminds him that her people
generally stick to their civilisation. Andromeda informs
Wildfire that she would love to see his home-world, which
flusters him, before pondering what treasures she could find
beneath Ra’s sands. Waspinator again reminds the group that they
shall not be making a habit out of visiting their home-worlds,
and Mirage coldly asks him if that is simply because his home is
destroyed.
Waspinator: Listen, I don’t want to have to keep saying this…
we’re not going to start visiting all of our home-worlds on a
whim.
Mirage: Is that because there’s nothing left of your home-world?
The leader almost snaps, but the Dawn Katana announces that they
have arrived before he can. Mirage leads the team out as
Waspinator tries to calm himself. The team are surprised by the
number of boxes, doubly so by a second Prophecy being amongst
the boxes – the Prophecy with the team chronoskims back,
declaring that she will see the others “in a now”, as the
iteration amongst the boxes declares that there are 98. Paladin,
Wildfire and Swingback find themselves drawn towards random
boxes, while Scale, Mirage and Andromeda meander through.
Paladin opens a box, and heads through to find himself in a
rocky outcrop… on Heng. He heads back through, terrified,
yelling that the mind-bugs will get him without his telepathy.
Upon hearing it said that Paladin found his home-world on the
other side of his box, Wildfire and Swingback both head through
theirs – Wildfire immediately finds himself in a back alley in
suburban Kerritol, while Swingback arrives on the roof of a
large arboreal building. Waspinator joins the others, and is
surprised by Paladin’s revelation. Scale wonders if it is more
than coincidence that the boxes are on each of their
home-worlds… just as Mirage notices the large ship looming up
above. Waspinator orders Scale and Andromeda to head after
Wildfire and Swingback, and has Mirage stay amongst the boxes,
while Prophecy and Paladin follow him back aboard the Dawn
Katana.
Scale finds himself in the tree tops of Saimo, and presumes
that this is Swingback’s home world, just as the fembot swings
over in beast mode. She welcomes him, and asks him what he
thinks of her world. The former-mercenary is unimpressed, and
Swingback hastily points out that they are currently on top of a
building, leaving the actual city hard to make out. She asks if
he cannot find a box leading to his home-world, and he responds
that he has no true home. Swingback invites him to stay with her
on Saimo, but he reminds her that she is part of a team, taking
her back through the box. Andromeda flies around the suburban
area on Kerritol, eventually spotting Wildfire staring into a
corner-shop window. She lands down beside him, telling him that
she likes the area. The bobcat-bot notes that he always
considered moving here from the city, and Andromeda tells him
that he still can.
Wildfire: Yeah… it’s really nice here. I can’t remember how many
times I thought about moving out here… the city’s fine, but
there’s nothing quite like this.
Andromeda: I guess you still could. It’s never too late to try
something new, right?
Torn, Wildfire notes that the Maximals are his new family, but
Andromeda reasons that they may not be together forever. She
teases that she would love to join him on Kerritol, and drags
him back off in his flustered state. The Dawn Katana lands down
in the large ship’s docking bay; on-board, the A.I. informs that
the large ship is assigned to an organisation called Towards
Paradise, although he cannot gather any further information.
Waspinator tells Prophecy and Paladin to be prepared for
anything, as he leads them out… only to find service droids
manning the ship. The trio are bemused, until they are greeted
by laughter – a large, long-scaled alien applauds the look on
their faces, and introduces himself as Ohwa. Waspinator
introduces himself, Prophecy and Paladin, and asks what the
boxes are. Ohwa suggests that they come with him, and leads them
off into the ship. Waspinator whispers that they need to remain
on-guard.
Scale, Mirage, Wildfire, Swingback and Andromeda stand amongst
the boxes; Wildfire and Swingback are insisting that they should
be allowed to visit their homes, but Scale insists that it is
not necessary. Mirage growls that they have a responsibility on
Ra and shall be leaving afterwards, but Swingback points out
that the visit was nothing more than Mirage feeling homesick.
The jackal-bot snaps that she took advantage of an opportunity,
but Wildfire notes that they are doing the same with the boxes.
Aboard the Towards Paradise ship, Ohwa is sat with Waspinator,
Prophecy and Paladin – he explains that the boxes are called
Paradise boxes, and that they bridge worlds. 100 planets were
selected to test them on, each one “seeded” with 99 boxes
connecting to each other planet. Paladin asks why it happens
that their various home-worlds are amongst those planets, but
Ohwa shrugs it off as coincidence. Prophecy mutters “Paradise”
to herself, which briefly gains Ohwa’s attention. Waspinator
explains that there are citizens of a number of worlds on Ra,
far from their homes, and no doubt similar situations on other
worlds. Ohwa refers to this as the first steps in a new level of
interconnectivity between worlds, but Paladin states that it is
dangerous, potentially spreading illness or stirring conflict.
Ohwa: Good! They’re spreading, exploring… they’re learning. It’s
happening – the first step towards a bright new future. Every
world connected, one bright and shining universe.
Paladin: It’s too dangerous. You can’t just throw worlds
together. Sicknesses can spread, and wars can start. You’ll be
spreading chaos and catastrophe if you rush things.
In response, Ohwa loads up information on a data-pad, observing
that Paladin found the Ra-Heng Paradise box and stating that
people are drawn to their home-world’s box if they long to
return home. Paladin furiously denies this, but Ohwa informs the
trio that he shall not negotiate the boxes’ placement, phasing
them down to the planet – Waspinator’s data is added to the pad
through this. As they arrive amongst the boxes, Mirage leaps
into the energy field without a second thought, materialising in
front of Ohwa. Aboard the Towards Paradise ship, Ohwa informs
Mirage that he will not remove the boxes, but the fembot snarls
that she wants more than that – her world is disrupted and her
team-mates are in disarray. She wants revenge.
Wildfire and Swingback make clear their complaints to; the
leader explains that he understands their longing for home, but
that they cannot risk spending time this close to Necrocide and
that responsibility should take precedence over personal
interest. As he says this, Mirage attacks Ohwa, though she finds
that he heals instantly when struck – he claims that the boxes’
energies are like an elixir. The fembot brings down part of the
ceiling, and uses the distraction to hide behind a wall.
Swingback argues that Waspinator does not understand as
Cybertron is no more, but the hornet-bot snaps that he misses
his home deeply, as well as his friends and allies fighting
Necrocide, but he knows that he cannot return to them. It is
something that Wildfire and Swingback must accept too; even
Paladin, although the lyrebird-bot insists that he is glad to be
away from Heng.
Swingback: You don’t understand! Cybertron’s been destroyed, so
it’s not like you have a home to return to!
Waspinator: Of course not! But that doesn’t mean I don’t miss
it! Every memory I have of Cybertron means so much to me, but
it’s gone. There’s nothing left but scraps drifting through
space. And you know what? Even my friends, and my allies, the
people I’ve known for so long, even they are so far away from
me. They’re all I have left of my home, and I can’t join them, I
can’t be with them. Half of them might be dead by now! It’s all
slipping away from me and I can’t do a thing about it! But I
know why I can’t – because I have a responsibility, and if I
care about them at all, I need to fulfil it. The two of you need
to accept that… to accept that what you’re doing, however much
it hurts, is because of something far greater than any of us.
Paladin, too; you have to understand that.
Paladin: Hey, don’t listen to what Ohwa said. I chose to leave
Heng and I’m glad to be away from there.
As Ohwa searches for Mirage, he tells her that the Paradise
boxes, in time, shall pave the way to the future, in more ways
than one. He reaches her, but she introduces herself, stating
that her name is not without meaning. She vanishes, and the true
Mirage becomes apparent at the ship’s controls – she threatens
to blow the ship up unless Ohwa removes the boxes and helps the
stranded aliens home. Ohwa asks if she would sacrifice herself
for that, but she comments that she is immortal; grimacing, Ohwa
notes that she is lucky that he cares more for his own life, and
that one day she shall realise the consequences of this and it
shall be too late. He uses the data-pad to make the boxes shift
down into nothingness, drawing the Maximals’ attention. Scale
mutters that this is Mirage’s work, and Paladin questions what
shall happen to the aliens, just as Mirage phases in with the
Dawn Katana. Paladin addresses her and she says that Ohwa shall
deal with them. She adds that she is ready to go, and ready to
say goodbye to Ra. She suggests the others do the same as she
boards the ships, with the others slowly following. On the
Towards Paradise ship, Ohwa comments that he has gained a lot of
data even in this short span of time, and checks that it is
reaching its true destination.
Cast:
Mirage – Tuppence Middleton
Scale – Ron Perlman
Dawn Katana – Joe Thomas
Waspinator – Scott McNeil
Paladin – Paul Rudd
Andromeda – Daniel Bobadilla
Swingback – Susan Eisenberg
Wildfire – Johnny Yong Bosch
Prophecy – Jocelyn Loewen
Guard – Scott McNeil
Pharaoh – Ron Perlman
Ohwa – Alec Baldwin
[hr]
A.
*****************************************************