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Market Commodity	By : Scienceteacher Category: Transformers > G1 > Round Robins Views: 11586 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Do not own the Transformers, am not making anything from this story.

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*** Market Competition part 1a** written by StSE, Universe G1

“The sheer amount of these clones that are in the human population is staggering,” Perceptor reported to the group with a frown on his face. The charts in his Power Point Presentation showed the staggering increase in the numbers of clones sold. Something that truly worried the Autobots…

Optimus leaned back in his chair, rubbing the chin of his face mask as he thought about what this might mean. “Well, other than Swindle, we know that the Decepticons really aren’t motivated by money. So they’ve got something up their sleeve with this product,” he stated.

“But what? Is the question,” Prowl added. His optic ridges scrunched together as he worried about the future ramifications of the sheer numbers of Decepticon clones which were now involved.

“And how to find out?” Prime said as he met his officer’s optics.

“Well, the human that’s been doing the research and has the most experience with them, is Dr. Sharon Trakersly at MIT,” Perceptor informed them. A short video clip from one of her interviews popped up on the screen. The dark haired woman with the blue Seeker clone sitting quietly next to her as she answered the questions of the interviewer..

Every Autobot in the room couldn’t help but narrow their optics at the sight of the Thundercracker clone. His Decepticon insignias shone on his wings, his optics, even his voice – identical to that blasted Seeker. Several snorts were heard as the clone answered questions, his tone innocent, his mannerisms more that of a young human teen – than a con.

“Need to blow those damned clones up!” Sunstreaker growled as he glared at the image of his hated enemy sitting there on the screen.

“Oh, they’re so iiiinnnnnoooooocccceeeennnnntttttt and cccuuuuuuuutttttttteeeeee. We just looooooooovvvveeee them,” Sideswipe snickered sarcastically as he imitated the human’s reactions to the damned blue Seeker clone.

“That’s enough!” Optimus barked as he continued to study the professor. “Well, we know that this Dr. Trakersly cannot be stupid,” he observed.

“And she’s one of the human’s top experts in robotic programming, so we can assume that she and her research team have looked through the clone’s programming thoroughly,” Perceptor added.

“So if the Decepticon’s had snuck some type of hidden programs into these clones, we can assume that Dr. Trakersly is aware of it,” Prowl interjected.

“I believe that’s most likely the case,” Perceptor agreed.

“But it’s her brother’s company that’s selling these things. How can we get her to cooperate with us?” Optimus stated as he drummed his fingers on the table top.

Perceptor punched a couple keys, switching from the clip with the Dr in it, to one of another interview with a blond man and a yellow clone in it.

“You’ve got to be KIDDING?!? A freagin’ Drag Strip clone?!? I’m gonna backfire over this one!!!” Sunstreaker snarled as he got up and started pacing back-and-forth. His optics were full of righteous rage.

“Sunstreaker, remember these AREN’T the actual cons! They are programmed to be totally different. To interact with the humans on a, um, personal basis,” Prowl stated as he grabbed the yellow mech’s arm and forced him to sit down again.

“I don’t give a frag! The clones need to be sent to the junkyard where they belong!” Sunstreaker grumbled with a harrumph as he sat down.

“Unfortunately, I don’t think that will ever happen Sunstreaker. Apparently these clones interact so well, and then ‘learn’ and adapt their programs to their particular human’s environment – that the humans and clones actually develop an attachment to each other. Even the MIT professor has actually taken that Thundercracker clone as her ‘boyfriend’,” Perceptor explained.

Optimus shook his head as many of the other mechs snorted in absolute disgust. “So, these clones really DO interface with the humans then?” he stated.

“Affirmative,” Perceptor replied.

“So what are we going to do about it?!?” Sideswipe asked.

Prowl stood up. “Well, there are two things we need to consider doing. First, we get this Dr. Trakersly to cooperate with us. Find out what the Decepticons are planning to do with these clones,” he stated, “And to do that,” he motioned to the video of the blond man and his Dragstrip clone, “We bring her brother and her here, as well as their two clones – and interrogate them.”

The rest of the Autobots hummed their agreement to that idea. Normally, Autobots didn’t drag people in and interrogate them like criminals – but this wasn’t a normal situation! There were thousands of these Decepticon clones now. And they HAD to find out what the cons had planned for them!

“Ok, that sounds good, what’s the second thing?” Optimus asked him.

Prowl and Perceptor exchanged a look. “Well, then we develop our own clones for this market, sell them, and balance out the number of Decepticon clones – with Autobot clones,” Perceptor stated.

“You’re SERIOUS!?! Make a clone of ME so that humans can freagin’ interface with him?!? Over my rusted chassis!” Sunstreaker snorted.

Sideswipe hit him. “Look at it this way. Be nice to have your clone outsell HIS,” he motioned to the Dragstrip clone on the screen, “wouldn’t it?”

This caused much laughter to course through the mechs, as Sunstreaker was forced to admit that it would feel darned good if his clones outsold Dragstrip’s.

-----

TC transformed and flew down to the end of the driveway. True, it was a very short distance and it would actually be easier just to walk it. But he loved practicing transforming in midair and dropping lightly onto his thrusters. So, every morning when he went to fetch the newspaper, he flew there and back. He was a little sad that Scream had gone on that trip with Tom, for it was twice as fun to have his red side kick at his wing!

But this time, what was sitting by the driveway caused him to stand there with his mouth hanging open in total shock! He walked slowly around the car parked there, staring at it in total disbelief. Getting back to its hood and the big bow on it, he reached over and grabbed the card taped there. Flipping it open, he read it.

… ‘A present to the droid that saved my granddaughter, enjoy!’ … the card said.

TC looked at the car again. It was the most beautiful sports car he’d ever laid his optics on. Its white paint gleamed; the sleek form of the Porsche 935 just shouted speed and style. The blue clone yelped in excitement as he ran around to the driver’s door and opened it. Retracting his wings, he dove inside, rubbing the driver’s wheel in total amazement. “I got a car! Wow, I REALLY GOT A CAR!!!” he exclaimed to himself.

It started as he turned the key. The high-performance engine purring as he touched the gas. “Wow, my very, very own car! This is SOOOOOOO COOOOOOLLLLLL!!!” he squealed in delight as he ran his hands over the consol. Then his optics fell on the stereo system. Since he, Scream and Speed had been lusting over stuff at the audio department, he had an idea of what he was looking at. “Oh Wow! Speed and Scream are going to so drool, so fucking DROOL!!!” he snickered as he reached over and turned the system on. Some good rap music started to play and he pumped up the volume and the base end. The Porsche literally rocked up the driveway as TC pulled it up to the garage.

He turned the key, and slowly got out, kissing the door before he carefully shut it. He ran his fingertips lightly over the car’s body as he walked around it, His optics full of appreciation for its beauty. “My baby…” he murmured as he left it and walked inside the house.

After the door closed, the Porsche began to snicker quietly. “Perceptor’s right, these clones don’t act anything like the con. They’ve actually got TASTE!” he snickered. Then Jazz forced himself to quiet down. After all, right now he was just a gift… Just a simple car…

“Someone gave you a WHAT?!” Sharon asked in shock as she set down her coffee.

TC was literally bouncing up and down in his excitement. “A car! Like a really, really COOOOOLLLLLL car! You wanna see it?!?” he asked as he twirled the key around his finger. He grabbed her arm as she nodded, dragging her towards the door.

Sharon’s eyes got huge as she saw what kind of car was sitting in the driveway. She stopped dead in her tracks with her mouth hanging open. TC ran around it, patting it like a pet as he smiled at her with happiness in his red optics. “See Sharon?! It’s beautiful isn’t it?? And wait to you hear the sound system!!! Man, it rocks Sharon! It really, really rocks! You wanna go for a drive.. PLLLLEEEEAAAAASSSEEEE?” he squealed.

She came up to the Porsche. Reading the card taped to it several times. But then she shook her head. “TC, we can’t accept this. It’s just too expensive..” she said.

“But they gave it to ME!! Its mine! It says so on that card!” TC whined as he looked at her in disbelief.

She came over and sat on the hood, motioning for TC to come over. He pouted as he sat down on it next to her. Putting her arm around him, she squeezed. “TC, I know you’re excited. But this car is worth more than I make in a year. We just can’t accept it,” she said softly.

“B… But it’s mine, the card says so,” TC pouted, his optics welling up with tears.

“TC, some person worked really hard for the money to buy this. I know they say they gave it to you because of what you did at the bridge. But maybe they’re so happy that their granddaughter’s alive, that they aren’t thinking clearly?” She said in a soft voice. She hated to do this to him, but she just didn’t think it was right.

“Why would they not be thinking clearly if they’re happy?” TC asked, tears now streaming down his face.

She stood up, pulling the sobbing clone into her arms. “Sometimes strong emotions make humans not think clearly. It makes them make bad decisions. We need to take this car back to the dealer and find out who paid for it, ok?” she asked.

TC sniffed a bit. “But what if you talk to that person – and you think they’re thinking clearly? Can we keep it then? Please? PLEASE!?!” he pleaded.

Sharon pulled back, wiping the mineral oil tears from his gray cheeks. “Ok, if I think that they gave this with a clear mind – you can keep it.” She promised.

Squealing in delight, TC pulled her to him and gave her a big kiss. Then he jumped off the hood and ran over to the driver’s door again. “I’ll drive. Just tell me how to get to the dealer!!” he said excitedly as he pulled open the door.

Sharon stood up, chuckling at his antics. “TC, I’m still in my nightgown you silly thing. Let me get my shower, dress and read the paper – and then you can drive me. By the way, where’s the paper?” she asked as she cocked her head.

“Oh, ya, um, sorry I forgot,” TC stammered. He shut the car’s door; tossed Sharon the key, transformed, and zoomed towards the end of the driveway to fetch the paper.

Sharon patted the hood of the Porsche as she chuckled. “Well, I hope your owner gave you with a clear head. I’m going to hate dealing with his whining if he didn’t,” she said with a sigh as she walked back to the house.

When the woman and clone were back inside the house, Jazz couldn’t help but chuckle. Even though the clone was of Thundercracker, he had to admit it, the little mech WAS adorable! And he could see why the humans liked them, if they were all this innocent. He almost hated the fact of what he was doing to ‘TC’; the clone was going to be so depressed when he found out ‘his’ car was not a car at all.

-----

“Ok, take a right out of the driveway, then the third left,” Sharon told him as she clicked her seatbelt securely over her.

TC nodded with a happy grin as he rubbed his hands excitedly on the steering wheel. Turning the key, he actually hummed in tune with the purr of the engine. “Check this out!” his chortled as he leaned over and turned the sound system on. Moving his shoulders in time with the beat as he backed the car and then headed down the driveway…

Sharon just shook her head with an amused smile on her face as she watched TC. He was so, so happy! So much like a teenager showing off his first car to his girlfriend! It made her feel young again to be with him. Machine or not, she loved him…

They passed the left turn that TC was supposed to make. Sharon turned down the radio. “TC, you missed the turn. We need to make a u-turn and go back,” she told him.

He nodded and pushed down on the car’s brake pedal. Nothing happened. Frowning, he stomped down on it again. But instead of the car slowing, it sped up. “What the?” he muttered in shock as he continued to stomp on the brake pedal.

“Quit stomping, that stings man,” a male voice said to them, just as all the windows rolled up and the doors locked.

“What the hell!?!” Sharon screamed as she started to bang on the door.

TC freaked out and started trying to escape as well. But the doors stayed shut. The car’s speed increasing…

“TC activate weapons and-“ Sharon began to order.

“You’re not in danger. We just want to talk with you,” Jazz said as he cut her off in mid-sentence.

TC’s cannons were heating up, waiting for her order. The mech’s sensor’s picked up the energy buildup. “Seriously dude, we’re not going to hurt you guys,” he said, trying to diffuse the situation.

“Who are you? And you better be straight – or I’ll give the order!” Sharon growled in a threatening tone. She didn’t like this one bit. Being trapped in a car – that was driving itself!

Well, at least he now knew that the clones had been equipped with weapon systems - which wasn’t a good thing at all for the Autobots! But Jazz had to get the pair to Autobot City, which was his mission, which meant he had to diffuse the situation. “I think we got off on the wrong foot Professor. Uh, hi, my name’s Jazz and I’m an Autobot,” he said, making sure his tone indicated that he was friendly.

“B… But you’re MY CAR!” TC howled as he sat there with his activated cannons ready to fire at Sharon’s order.

“Well, um, sorry man ‘bout that. I’m a mech, not a car,” Jazz explained in an understanding tone of voice.

“B… But..” TC stammered, his face showing his absolute confusion over the entire situation.

Sharon put her hand on his arm, realizing they were trapped inside this Autobot and were going wherever he was taking them. “Power down weapons TC,” she ordered.

“B…. But… My…. Car..” he stuttered, giving her a pleading look.

“Just do what I said TC. This was no car, this was a trap,” Sharon growled.

TC’s cannons cooled off as he deactivated them. But his optics filled with tears. “You mean no one gave me a car?” he pouted.

“Sorry man, she’s right,” Jazz replied.

The blue clone buried his face in his hands, sobbing dejectedly. Taking off her seat belt, Sharon tried to consol him as best she could. “You bastards better have a damned good excuse for playing the poor thing like this,” she snarled at Jazz, “You’ve hurt his feelings for no good reason!”

Jazz didn’t realize that the clone would have such an emotional response to the fact he’d been tricked. And as he drove and listened to the sobs of the small mech, he really began to feel bad about it….

-----

Speed skidded to a stop, sliding past the mailbox, shrieking in glee as he laid down some impressive black strips on the pavement. Locking his brakes, his turned his front tires and floored his engine. Spinning in circles with his rear tires creating a cloud of smoke that drifted around his yellow chassis… Transforming, he landed on his aft, giggling because his motion sensors were just a tad off because of the spin maneuver. He was, in fact, dizzy!

After a few astroseconds his sensors reset. “Ah, damn! That dizzy thing just don’t last long enough!” he snickered as he stood up. That’s when his optics landed on the yellow Lamborghini parked in front of their mailbox. A big bow was on the top of it.

“What the hell is THAT doing there?!?” Speed snorted, “I can’t even get to the freagin’ mailbox now!” He walked up to the yellow sports car, trying to decide what he should do. His identifier programs logged the car in as a Lamborghini Countach, a classic sports car. The type that Sam would give to Daniel as a gift! Was it Daniel’s birthday or something?!? Speed checked his data files, his optics gleaming with excitement. But no, Daniel’s birthday was more than a month away..

“Well, it’s not Daniel’s or Sam’s birthday, so what the hell are you doing – blocking MY mailbox?!” Speed griped as he kicked the car’s tire.

“Why you freagin’ little slogger! That’s new chrome!” the Lamborghini growled as he transformed and grabbed the shocked clone. He brought him close to his face plate, glaring at the little twin to Drag Strip.

Speed was shocked, but not afraid of the big mech. He glared into those blue optics. “Well then you shouldn’t have blocked MY mailbox! You fuckin’ asswipe!” he snarled.

Sunstreaker couldn’t believe the audacity of the little clone! “You were supposed to read the slaggin’ card and get in you idiot!” he growled at him. “I should so off line your little aft right now! Right now!” he threatened.

The little clone, crossed his arms as he glared haughtily at the big yellow mech. He wasn’t scared in the least that his lower chassis was trapped in the guy’s hand. He was still ticked. “WEEEELLLLLL DUMBASS! Obviously, I’m not DUMB enough to get suckered by such a STUPID trick!” he snickered. And then his optics landed on the bow still taped to the mech’s chest. “By the way, that bow makes you SOOOOOOOOO pretty!” he smirked.

The Autobot looked down, realizing that he still had the bow and card stuck to his chest. With a snort, he ripped it off and threw it on the ground.

“That’s a five hundred dollar fine for littering,” Speed snickered as he held out his hand as if expecting the mech to hand him the money.

Sunstreaker glared at him, but realized that he HAD broken a human law concerning littering, and Optimus would kick his tail pipes if he found out. Grumbling under his breath, he reached down with his empty hand and snatched up the bow. “I otta see how much of this I can shove down your trap!” he snarled.

Speed cocked his head, smirking at him. “You and what army?” he snickered.

“I thought you little pricks were supposed to be cute and cuddly – not arrogant pieces of slag!” he insulted.

The yellow clone was actually enjoying this mech, he was better with comebacks than TC. And much, much better than Scream! “The freagin’ flyboys are the sissy’s – I’M no sissy! I’m that yellow streak that flies by you – when I’m leaving your aft in my dust!” Speed snickered. His optics scanned the bigger mech’s chassis critically. Yep, this guy was built for speed too. It’d make for an interesting match.

Sunstreaker cocked his head, studying the feisty little clone. Although the little slogger was annoying, he kind’ve liked his spunk. A real Decepticon in his situation would be trying to figure out a way out of it. But here he seemed to be actually challenging him to a race! “So you REALLY think you can beat me, you little go-cart?!?” he challenged.

Speed grinned and nodded. But then he realized that the yellow mech had never given him the reason why he was even parked there. “Maybe I’ll give you the pleasure of a match – if you tell me why you’re here?” he snickered, one of his optic ridges going up in a silent challenge.

Well, his cover was already blown, and Sunstreaker still had to get this clone and Daniel Trakersly to Autobot city one way or another. If he didn’t, the other Autobots would never let him live it down. He set the clone back down on the pavement and shrugged. “I came to take you and Daniel to Autobot city for a little meeting,” he said.

Speed looked up at him, with a curious look on his face. “So you’re like a real Autobot or something?” he asked.

“Yep,” Sunstreaker said with a smug look on his face.

Sizing the big mech up, Speed grinned. “So, do you guys like to race at this city?” he asked.

The yellow mech began to grin, realizing that this clone had the same compulsion of the mech he was cloned from. That meant it would be easy to manipulate his little aft! He leaned down, like he was going to tell him a secret. “Bunch of us like to race. And you wanna know what?” he whispered in a conspiratorial tone.

“What?” Speed asked his optics bright as he envisioned a whole city of mechs that liked to race. It was paradise!

“One of my buddies kicked Drag Strip’s aft on the race track. I’d lay money down that you could beat him though,” he snickered.

Speed started to hop from foot-to-foot in excitement. To actually RACE the mech that had beaten the mech he was cloned from!?!? And this guy thought he could BEAT him!!! “I wanna race him! I wanna! I wanna!” he shrieked in glee.

Sunstreaker grinned maliciously; he couldn’t wait to see Mirage kick this little clone’s aft! But he had him hooked now, which was what he had intended to do. “Well, as soon as we get Daniel in my seat, we’ll head off to Autobot city,” he purred.

-----

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