Prime Suspect (Animated)

Transformers Animated: Be the Hero #1 »
Does not feature Jane Tennison.
"Prime Suspect"
Publisher	HarperCollins Publishers
Imprint	HarperCollins Children's Books
Published in	United Kingdom
First published	January 5, 2009
Written by	Richard Dungworth
Continuity	Transformers Animated cartoon
ISBN	0007298900 978-0007298907
Page count	128
Price	£4.99

Optimus Prime goes on the lam.

Synopsis

Page 1

As you step off the hover-tram home from school, a truck bears down on you, out of control. Luckily Optimus Prime jumps in, saving your life. After Optimus stops the truck with a malfunctioning auto-regulator, he checks if you are all right. You are not injured, but Optimus recognizes that you sustain minor shock from the incident. He offers to escort you home.

Accept Prime’s offer? page 26

Turn down Prime’s offer? page 17

Page 26

(From page 1)

You accept Optimus Prime’s offer to escort you back home.

But before Optimus can resume his vehicle mode, a swarm of police copter-bots swarm around Optimus’s head. Several rapid-response police vehicles are soon on the scene as well, and a police SWAT team from the largest vehicle to arrive. Captain Fanzone declares Optimus to be under arrest, and then turns to you. He advises that you step away from the “suspect” so that you don’t get in the way when they tranquillize him with an EMP.

Do as Fanzone says? page 11

Stay close to Prime and attempt to protect him? page 39

Page 11

(From page 26)

You do as Captain Fanzone says.

Before the police can take Optimus into custody, Bumblebee and Prowl come to his rescue. The pair quickly disable the bots encircling Optimus and disorient the officers. In the confusion, one of the copter-bots falls near you, and its blade catches your side. Optimus scoops you up, and the three Autobots retreat. Between the rough ride Optimus gives you and the injury, you’ve sustained, you lose consciousness, only to regain it when the Autobots have brought you back to the Autobots’ factory base.

Lay down for a few moments to recover? page 34

Try and sit up? page 92

Page 34

(From page 11 or page 39)

You take a few moments to recover.

As you rest, Sari and Ratchet come to look you over. Ratchet is able to fix up your injury quickly. Optimus tells Ratchet to keep an eye on you while he goes to investigate why the police were after him. As Optimus leave, Sari grumbles that Optimus shouldn’t be the only to get to play detective. She asks Bumblebee to take her over to the police headquarters.

Go with Sari and Bumblebee? page 64

Stay with Prowl and Ratchet? page 18

Page 64

(From page 34)

You join Bumblebee and Sari on their escapade.

Bumblebee takes out the security cam-bots and the electronic locks of a window, giving your group access to police headquarters. You and Sari scan through data files while Bumblebee keeps watch. But Sari accidentally attempts to access a restricted file, prompting a squad of officers armed with plasma weapons to burst into the room.

Give yourselves up? page 59

Attempt to flee through the window? page 29

Page 59

(From page 30 or page 58 or page 64 or page 69)

You give yourself up to the police.

But just then, the wall besides you explodes. Optimus has busted into the room, and grabs both you and Sari before ordering the Autobots to meet him at the emergency rendezvous. You escape the police, and are soon reunited with the other Autobots in a derelict furniture warehouse. Prowl has discovered that Optimus Prime’s name was repeatedly mentioned over police radio, along with something called “HomeTech.” Sari recognizes the name as belonging to the robotics company near the Speedball Stadium. The Autobots transform and ready to take off towards their next destination.

Take a ride inside Bumblebee? page 10

Climb onto Prowl’s motorcycle mode? page 35

Page 10

(From page 29 or page 59)

You ride in the chosen Autobot towards HomeTech lab.

Once at HomeTech, you meet up with Bulkhead. Bulkhead tells the other Autobots that he’s been eavesdropping on police transmissions, and that Optimus supposedly broke into the HomeTech laboratory. There’s even cam-bot footage proving the allegation. Hometech is to soon release the Pixie-6, their latest home-helpbot. The rumour going around as that one of HomeTech’s competitors hired Optimus to mess the launch for the new robot. Prime asks you and Sari to infiltrate the lab and get ahold of the camera footage. Bulkhead is kind enough to create for you an impromptu door with his wrecking-ball weapon. Once inside the building, you have two choices...

Take the corridor to the left? page 38

Take the corridor to the right? page 74

Page 38

(From page 10)

You take the left corridor.

Before the two of you go too far, Sari asks the Autobots help in finding the recording’s location. Prowl is able to pinpoint the location of digital storage devices by listening to the distinct resonance frequency they emit. He points you and Sari towards the building’s east wing, but can’t specify if the device is on the second or third floor. Sari is happy to have confirmed that taking the left corridor was the correct decision.

Split up and take a floor each? page 87

Stay with Sari? page 27

Page 87

(From page 35 or page 38 or page 82)

You and Sari split up.

You soon regret the decision as you come upon an area filled with police officers. Thankfully, you hide before they notice you. The police are examining the metal doors mangled by last night’s intruder. The police soon complete their investigation and leave the crime scene, allowing you to take a look for yourself.

Sneak through the damaged doors? page 66

Wait in hiding to make sure the police aren’t coming back? page 70

Page 66

(From page 87)

You sneak through the damaged doors.

You follow the destructive footsteps created by the heavy intruder up unto a mezzanine floor within the room. They lead to a high-tech safe that’s been forced open. Near the safe, you find a small fragment of robot armour. As you pick it up, Sari bursts into the room, telling you to hide. She’s being followed by a squad of guard-bots.

Hide inside the safe? page 9

Jump down the mezzanine floor, despite the risk you might knock yourself out in the process? page 42

Page 9

(From page 12 or page 66 or page 80 or page 86)

You hide.

The guard patrol passes by. You and Sari then make your way back to the outside, and present the evidence you’ve found to the Autobots. Bumblebee vaporizes the evidence, so that Prowl can run a spectrograph of its composition. The information is then beamed to Ratchet, who’s gone to the Autobots’ ship to consult Teletran-1. After a brief wait, Ratchet confirms over the comlink that the metal is Cybertronian. Ratchet then uses Teletran-1 to transmit a beacon signal that will lead the Autobots to the one match the computer has detected. Prime thanks you and Sari for your help, but tells you both that it’d be better that the two of you stay out of harm’s reach for the rest of this adventure.

Accept Prime’s decision? page 47

Protest Prime’s decision? page 28

Page 47

(From page 9 or page 71)

You accept Prime’s decision...

But Sari doesn’t. She convinces the Autobots that they might need her and her Key. You are soon along for the ride alongside Sari, coming upon an empty landscape some distance out of the city. At first you believe the place to be deserted, until Bulkhead directs your attention to a massive hovering silver cube above. A number of airborne vessels are attached to the cube’s underside. Optimus tells you this is the wAirhouse, HomeTech’s storage facility for their completed bots. Ratchet catches up to the rest of the team, and uses his magnetic abilities to lift Optimus up towards the cube. Sari, yourself, Prowl, Bulkhead and Bumblebee are all lifted up in a similar fashion. You now find yourself with the Autobots on the service gantry that runs around the wAirhouse’s perimeter.

Look for an entrance along the gantry to the left? page 7

Look for an entrance along the gantry to the right? page 72

Page 7

(From page 28 or page 47)

You look for an entrance to the left...

and soon find one large enough even for the Autobots. As Optimus overrides the door’s locks, Prowl uses his lightning-fast reflexes to capture a nearby security bot before it can transmit your intrusion into the facility.

Examine the cam-bot? page 89

Walk down the passageway? page 37

Page 89

(From page 7)

You examine the cam-bot.

Optimus uses his finger-probe to access the robot’s data-port, and tap into the security network. Unfortunately, this doesn’t help him find the impostor the Autobots are looking for. You set out the track him down yourselves. Setting off along the passageway, you find yourself upon a branching path.

Separate into two parties? page 36

Stick together and choose a passageway? page 72

Page 36

(From page 65 or page 89)

Your party splits upon into two groups.

You and Sari accompany Prime, soon finding yourselves inside a large storage room. Suddenly, there is a whooshing sound and Optimus falls, entangled in a net of silver cable. Leering down from an overhead maintenance platform is a robot that looks identical to Optimus. The doppelgänger tells Optimus that posing as him has its ups and downs, but the holotech disguise’s main appeal is that Optimus will be blamed for the impostor’s thefts. He presents the culmination of the plans and data he stole; a small silver sphere. The impostor then demonstrates the sphere’s power. Using the device, he mentally commands thousand of small domestic robots to surround you. The impostor gloats that he is now able to command all of HomeTech’s new machines. You notice that Prime has managed to discreetly cut several of the net cables holding him. If you can buy Optimus some time, he might be able to free himself completely.

Ask the impostor who he really is? page 53

Ask the impostor to tell you more about his scheme? page 19

Page 53

(From page 4 or page 36)

You ask the impostor who he really is.

To answer your question, the robot deactivates his holographic disguise. The impostor is Blitzwing, one of Megatron’s Decepticons. Blitzwing creates an ice-slide to descend from his perch. But when Blitzwing reaches Optimus, the Autobot has freed himself and catches the Decepticon with a blow from his axe shaft. Enraged, Blitzwing unleashes torrents of fire, vaporizing the ice slide he had previously created. Blitzwing then uses his sphere to command the Pixie-6s forwards.

Try to keep out of the Pixie-6s' reach? page 8

Focus on Blitzwing? page 73

Page 8

(From page 43 or page 53 or page 85)

You try to keep out of the encroaching Pixie-6s’ reach as you retreat...

but soon find yourself surrounded. Optimus grabs both you and Sari, and uses the rocket-thrusters built into his feet to keep up towards a nearby raised platform. Blitzing catches Optimus by the ankle before he can reach the platform himself, but the Autobot stretches out his arms, enabling you and Sari to reach the platform.You haul yourself up, and find the control sphere lying nearby. But Sari is cling on the platform behind you, unable to pull herself up.

Grab the control sphere? page 63

Help Sari? page 45

Page 63

(From page 8)

You grab the control sphere.

As soon as you do, Blitzwing screams in anger, and the sphere becomes too hot to the touch for you to hold onto it. Blitzwing then flings Optimus aside, and unleashes a fiery blast towards the platform. The platform becomes red hot, forcing both you and Sari off of it. Optimus once more saves your life, this time by launching an airbag to break your fall. But Optimus has left himself open to an attack in the process, and is knocked down by Blitzwing. Optimus doesn’t get back up, and Blitzwing turns his attention to you and Sari.

Try to revive Optimus? page 15

Run for it? page 41

Page 15

(From page 13 or page 45 or page 60 or page 63 or page 84 or page 90)

Your efforts yield no results.

Blitzwing moves in for the kill, only to be caught off guard by Bulkhead, who punches Blitzwing in the jaw upon arrival. Bulkhead moves in to knock out the Decepticon, but is frozen solid by Blitzwing’s hyperfrost emitter. Before Blitzwing can finish off Bulkhead, he is once more interrupted, this time by Prowl’s timely interference. Using a shuriken, Prowl shatters the control sphere, causing the Pixie-6 bots to become immobile. A second shuriken is sent towards Blitzwing himself, hitting him behind the knees and sending him toppling. As he reels backwards, Blitzwing fires off a blast of flames, melting a portion of the ceiling above, causing it to collapse onto him. The metal quickly cools, entrapping Blitzwing. Bumblebee then arrives and frees Bulkhead from his icy prison. Optimus is also thankfully alright, and will be able to clear his name thanks to your help.

THE END

Page 41

(From page 13 or page 54 or page 62 or page 63 or page 84)

You make a run for it.

You are able to avoid Blitzwing next attack, but soon find yourself with no place to run to. The Pixie-6s still surround you. Then Prowl and Bulkhead arrive on-scene, the former clutching Blitzwing’s control sphere. Bumblebee arrives next, bursting through the Pixie-6s. Prowl launches the sphere into the air, and Bumblebee destroys it with his stingers. The Pixie-6s become immobile. Enraged at this turn of events, Blitzwing unleashes icy blasts towards all three of the newly arrived Autobots, freezing them where they stand. Blitzwing turns his attention to you and Sari once more, threatening that you shall pay for your interference. But Optimus has regained his bearings, and strikes down Blitzwing before the Decepticon can react. After tying up Blitzwing, Optimus frees his fellow Autobots from the ice encasing them. The Autobots are all happy that Optimus’s name will soon be cleared of all charges. As for Blitzwing, they’ll attempt to reprogram him and make him renounce his evil ways.

THE END

Page 45

(From page 8)

You help Sari up.

Bellow, Optimus is being bombarded with alternating blasts of ice and fire from Blitzwing’s cannons. Before you can make a grab for the control sphere, Optimus yells out to bring your attention to the Pixie-6 bots; they are using their bug-zappers in conjunction to electrocute the platform. Optimus fires up a grapple, allowing you and Sari to evade the lethal shock just in time. You slide down the grapple-line to the floor, only to find Optimus has been knocked out while he was busy rescuing you.

Try to revive Optimus? page 15

Launch one last desperate attack against Blitzwing? page 79

Page 79

(From page 45 or page 54 or page 60 or page 62 or page 90)

You launch one last desperate attack against Blitzwing.

But you only manage to further enrage the crazed Decepticon. As Blitzwing rants, preparing for his final attack, he is entrapped by a force-field and lifted off the floor. Ratchet has arrived, and the old Autobot uses his magnetic powers to fling Blitzwing into the ranks of advancing Pixie-6s. Ratchet then creates another forcefield to bring the control sphere to Sari. Sari then uses her key to interface with the control sphere, causing Blitzwing to clutch his head in agony. The Pixie-6s come under Sari’s command, and she uses the robots’ fire-retardant foam launchers to entrap Blitzwing. Once Blitzwing is no longer a threat, you, Ratchet and Sari go to check on Optimus. The other Autobots burst into the scene, and rush to their leader’s side as well. To everyone’s relief, Optimus is ok, and will soon be able to clear his name.

THE END

Page 73

(From page 53)

You focus on Blitzwing.

The Decepticon is locked in battle with Optimus. Blitzwing attempts to launch a fireball, but Optimus ensnares his foe in a steel net before Blitzwing can fire. But Blitzwing is not so easily detained, and the Decepticon concentrates on his fiery abilities, causing the net around him to begin to melt.

Attack Blitzwing while his hands are still bound by the net? page 43

Run away before Blitzwing can retaliate? page 16

Page 43

(From page 73)

You attack Blitzwing.

But before you, Sari or Optimus can reach him, Blitzing breaks free of the net. Now free, Bitzwing hurls blazing missiles directly towards you. As the flaming projectiles head in your direction, they obliterate all the Pixie-6s in their way. But Prime is at the ready, and uses his fire-retardant foam to squelch the incoming fireball. Blitzwing draws his superheater cannon and advances, skidding awkwardly on the carpet of foam now coating the floor.

Get clear while Blitzwing is slowed by the foam? page 8

Tell Optimus to spray out more foam at Blitzwing’s feet? page 68

Page 68

(From page 21 or page 43 or page 48 or page 50)

Before you can put your plan into action, the other Autobots burst on the scene. Bumblebee and Bulkhead hurry to their leader’s side, while Prowl assumes his motorcycle form and tells you and Sari to hop on. Once you are clinging onto the motorcycle, Prowl brings you to an area clear of the Pixie-6 bots. But Optimus Bumblebee and Bulkhead are struggling against Blitzwing, who is sending volley after volley of fire and ice projectiles towards the Autobots. Optimus launches a grapple-line and brings the control sphere to himself. Blitzwing tells Optimus that the control sphere inks only to his neural circuits, however. This gives Bumblebee an idea; the little Autobot grabs the sphere from Optimus, and electrocutes it with his stingers. The feedback knocks out Blitzwing, and immobilize the Pixie-6s. Bulkhead then crushes the sphere in his mighty fist. Now with the means to clear his name, Optimus promises you to return you home once he and the Autobots have finished putting the facility back in order.

THE END

Page 16

(From page 6 or page 50 or page 73)

You run away.

But the Pixie-6 bots begin to close in. Although they aren’t a danger to Optimus, the threat to you and Sari is very real. Optimus changes to his vehicle mode, and once you and Sari are inside, races away. But Optimus soon finds himself at a dead end. Optimus turns to face Blitzwing once more. The Decepticon taunts Optimus, calling his alternate form worthless before transforming himself into his jet mode, with his missiles trained onto Optimus.

Warn Optimus to move out of Blitzwing’s range? page 90

Get out of Optimus’s cab fast? page 13

Page 90

(From page 16)

You warn Optimus to move out of Blitzwing’s range.

Optimus manages to dodge out of the way of an incoming missile just in time. The missile hits the wall behind you, and brings down the wall and ceiling onto Optimus. When the dust settles, you and Sari crawl out of Optimus’s damaged cab. Optimus manages to transform back into his robot mode, but lies inert under the rubble afterwards. Blitzwing assumes once more his robot shape and advances.

Try to revive Optimus? page 15

Hurl rubble at Blitzwing to fend him off? page 79

Page 13

(From page 16)

You quickly get out of Optimus’s cab.

Once you and Sari are out, Optimus resumes his robot mode. When Blitzwing fires his missiles, Optimus detaches the section of his chest that once formed his fire truck windscreen, and uses it as a shield. Although the shield absorbs most of the missiles’ impact, Optimus is still flung backwards against the wall, knocking him out. Blitzwing transforms back into a robot, and advances menacingly towards you and Sari.

Try to once more evade Blitzwing? page 41

Try to plead with Blitzwing? page 15

Page 19

(From page 4 or page 36)

The impostor sees through your plan.

The impostor’s disguise vanishes, revealing a purple and grey fighter jet, that swoops down and knocks Optimus aside. Sari identifies the evil Transformer as “Blitzwing.” Blitzwing sprouts out a pair of lethal-looking ice-spikes from underneath his knuckles as he advances towards you. Blitzwing also uses his connection to the control sphere up on the platform above to remotely command the Pixie-6s to close in on you.

Retreat? page 57

Brace yourself for the Decepticon’s attack? page 85

Page 57

(From page 19 or page 40 or page 48)

You retreat from the incoming Decepticon.

But Blitzwing pursues you wherever you turn to. Annoyed, Sari changes tactics and charges forwards. Sari wraps herself around one of Blitzwing’s legs, and you charge for the other. You can’t do much against Blitzwing, but you manage to distract him long enough for Optimus to land a punch on the Decepticon’s jaw. Blitzwing stumbles backwards and crushes several of his robot minions while you and Sari get clear. Enraged, Blitzwing assumes the form of a tank, and trains his cannons onto their next target: you!

Hit the deck? page 60

Take cover behind Optimus? page 54

Page 60

(From page 57)

You duck down.

As you do so, Optimus transforms into his vehicle mode and hurtles towards Blitzwing. The impact shakes the very ground and sends Pixie-6s flying. You scramble to check on Optimus. Both Transformers are attempting to regain their robot forms, but Blitzwing accomplishes the task first. Blitzwing is disoriented, but he’s in better shape than Optimus, who now lays unconscious on the floor.

Try to revive Optimus? page 15

Attack Blitzwing while he is still dazed? page 79

Page 54

(From page 57)

You take cover behind Optimus.

As you do, Optimus uses his Ion Axe to deflect a missile that Blitzwing has fired in your direction. But Blitzwing fires again before Optimus can react, and hits Optimus square in the chest. The impact sends Optimus sprawling accords the floor. Blitzwing resumes his robot mode and move forward menacingly. Optimus’s Ion Axe lies on the ground nearby. You wonder if you and Sari could lift it.

Try to attack Blitzwing with the axe? page 79

Run away? page 41

Page 85

(From page 19)

You brace yourself for Blitzwing’s attack.

As Blitzwing draws nearer, he creates an icy armour to cover his upper body. Optimus pulls off a large portion of his chest casing to use as a shield. Blitzwing lunges at Prime with a right hook, only to be deflected by Optimus’s shield. Optimus retaliates with a punch of his own, making contact with Blitzwing’s jaw. Blitzwing lunges forward again, only to be sent skidding across the floor by a hefty clout from Optimus’s shield.

Attack while Blitzwing is down? page 48

Take this opportunity to get clear? page 8

Page 48

(From page 85)

You attack while Blitzwing is down.

But as you, Optimus and Sari charge forward, the floor becomes coated by a sheet of ice. All three of you crash to the ground. Optimus loses hold of his shield, and it comes down next to Sari. Blitzwing recovers as you struggle to brome upright on the slippery surface. Blitzwing then unveils his hyperfrost emitter, and aims it towards you.

Try to take cover behind Optimus’s dropped shield? page 68

Scramble off the ice best you can? page 57

Page 72

(From page 28 or page 47 or page 61 or page 89)

You and the Autobots enter a passageway together.

You soon find your way to the heart of HomeTech’s warehouse. You and the Autobots hear a crashing noise in the distance, and Optimus orders you and Sari to stay put while he, Bumblebee, Bulkhead and Prowl check it out. Sari grumbles about being “treated like a baby.” Optimus returns almost immediately, looking rather bad-tempered.

Ask him where the others are? page 51

Ask him what caused the noise? page 22

Page 51

(From page 72)

You ask Optimus where the other Autobots are.

”Optimus” answers in a voice not his own, telling you that the Autobots are scurrying around after their leader. The impostor explains that he created a diversion so as to be able to confront the two of you in private. The impostor then crouches down towards Sari, and explains that he desires her key. Before either of you can run, the impostor uses his axe to pin the both of you against the wall.

Try to squirm free? page 4

Shout for help? page 31

Page 4

(From page 22 or page 49 or page 51)

You try to squirm free.

But however you struggle, you cannot get free. Thankfully, the real Optimus arrives on scene ad throws his axe towards his double. The impostor is forced to let you go to dodge the axe, and then he flees. Optimus gives chase, followed by Sari and yourself. The pursuit leads you to a large warehouse filled with Pixie-6 bots. Prime’s impostor reals himself up towards a suspended pedestal up above. Optimus warns his doppelgänger that there is no escape, but the impostor laughs; he has no need to run when he has an army at his disposal! The Pixie-6s come to life as the impostor explains that he broke into HomeTech labs to fashion himself a control sphere to command the small robots. He further explains that the little robots working together are a formidable force, and uses their anti-pest phasers on Optimus to prove his point. The collective of beams converge upon and stun Optimus, leaving him lying on the floor. But Optimus stirs still, and might be able to recover if you buy him some time.

Try to compliment the impostor on his cunning? page 19

Ask the impostor who he really is? page 53

Page 31

(From page 49 or page 51 or page 78)

You shout for help.

Your pleas summon the real Optimus, who bursts on the scene with his axe drawn. The impostor steps back, releasing you, and deactivates his disguise. The robot impersonating Prime was none other than Blitzwing, one of the Decepticons. Optimus questions his foe as to why he broke into HomeTech laboratories, and Blitzwing reveals a small black sphere in his possession. He then turns towards you and Sari, and launches a fireball towards you from one of his fists.

Dive out of the fireball’s path? page 6

Stick close to Optimus? page 56

Page 6

(From page 31 or page 46)

You dive away from the fireball.

You manage to narrowly escape being singed to a crisp. Optimus then grabs both you and Sari, and sprints away to better protect you elsewhere. Optimus brings you to a large warehouse, filled with Pixie-6 helpbots. Blitzwing is right behind you, and Optimus puts you down near the pneumatic chutes in which the helpbots are stored to face his enemy. Blitzwing summons a rising column of flame to lift up his small sphere into the air. He then focuses on the sphere, bringing the Pixie-6s in the room to life. Blitzwing rants that his control sphere gives him absolute control over all of HomeTech’s bots. Blitzwing explains that the helpbots will wreak havoc, and Optimus will be put to blame thanks to his disguise. Blitzwing and his personal army advance towards you and your friends.

Try to evade him? page 16

Try to summon the other Autobots? page 24

Page 24

(From page 6)

You attempt to summon the other Autobots.

But before you can shout, Blitzwing launches a supercooling blast in your direction. Though it does not land a direct hit, the emanating cold numbs you and makes you jaw chatter so violently that you cannot yell for help. Another freezing blast glances Optimus, making him move sluggishly. Blitzwing then advances with his hands aflame.

Surrender to Blitzwing? page 50

Try to evade Blitzwing best you can? page 44

Page 50

(From page 24)

You offer your surrender to Blitzwing.

But Optimus does not surrender. Optimus releases a spray of fire retardant foam at Blitzwing’s blazing hands. Blitzwing responds by sending a volley of blasts from his superheater cannon. But Optimus is able to neutralize each blast with his fire extinguisher, enraging Blitzwing further.

Run for it? page 16

Tell Optimus to foam Blitzwing’s face so to blind him? page 68

Page 44

(From page 21 or page 24 or page 56)

You try to dodge away from Blitzwing.

But Blitzwing simply commands his army of helpbots to swarm around you. Optimus, wades through the robots, but Sari and yourself find yourselves cut off. Sari fiddles with the key around her neck nervously, and suddenly a burst of energy emanates from the trinket. A fierce white spark bursts out of the key and leaps from one Pixie-6 bot to another, momentarily stunning them.

Tell Sari to activate the key again? page 84

Try to catch up to Optimus while the robots are stunned? page 62

Page 84

(From page 44)

You tell Sari to activate her key again.

But try as she might, Sari can’t get the key to turn on again. Blitzwing taunts Optimus that he will be unable to help his friends before activating his holotech device once more to assume Optimus’s vehicle mode and plow into the Autobot at full speed. Optimus is knocked out by the sudden attack. Blitzwing then turns towards you and Sari.

Run for it? page 41

Try to revive Optimus? page 15

Page 62

(From page 44)

You try to catch up to Optimus while the helpbots are stunned.

But as you move forward, a jet of thick white foam sends you and Sari sprawling helplessly across the floor. You turn to face Blitzwing, who tells you his disguise can replicate all of Optimus’s capabilities. Optimus attempts to come to your rescue, but he skids on the foamy floor and falls down, losing consciousness. Blitzwing assumes once more his robot form and advances towards you.

Throw all your strength into one last desperate attack? page 79

Run away? page 41

Page 56

(From page 31 or page 46)

You stay near Optimus.

Your Autobot protector easily extinguishes the incoming projectiles with his fire retardant foam. In response, Blitzwing assumes his jet mode and launches a pair of missiles in your direction. Though the missiles miss you thanks once more to Optimus’s intervention, they blow a hole in the wall behind you, through which Blitzwing escapes. You pursue him, only to find Blitzwing surrounded by an army of Pixie-6 robots. Blitzwing holds out the mysterious sphere in his hand, coats it in a layer of ice and adheres it to the ceiling of the warehouse room you all find yourselves in. Blitzwing informs you that he is able to remotely control all of the Pixie-6s thanks to this control sphere, and sends his makeshift army towards you. Blitzwing waxes on how a Pixie-6 helpbot in every home will enable him to spread mass chaos. He then reactivates his disguise, and explains that he will make everyone believe Optimus is to blame for the ensuing carnage.

Tell Optimus to take on his evil double? page 40

Get out of the way? page 44

Page 40

(From page 56)

You tell Optimus to take on his evil double.

Though you and Sari try your best to help Optimus during the fight, there is little the two of you can do. During the course of the battle, the only way to distinguish one robot from the other is that Blitzwing retains a burning madness in his glare. Then, Blitzwing gains the upper hand, knocking away Prime’s axe, and raising his duplicate of the weapon, ready to strike down his opponent. Optimus detaches a portion of his chest, and braces himself for the Decepticon’s strike.

Try to recover Optimus’s axe and return it to him? page 21

Yell at Optimus to retreat? page 57

Page 21

(From page 40)

You retrieve Optimus’s axe.

But once you’ve got ahold of the weapon, the Pixie-6s surround you and Sari. Sari yells out to Optimus for help. Optimus manages to shove Blitzwing away from himself with his shield, and deploys a pair of climbing grips from one forearm to hook Blitzwing’s legs from beneath him. He then plows through the Pixie-6s to reach you and Sari. An enraged Blitzwing gets back to his feet, and deactivates his disguise. He declares that in this form, Optimus will not fare as well against him.

Retreat? page 44

Suggest to Optimus he change into vehicle mode to escape? page 68

Page 22

(From page 72)

You ask Optimus what was the cause of the noise.

”Optimus” answers in a voice not his own, telling you that the noise was simply something he created to distract the Autobots. You and Sari catch on immediately that this is Optimus’s impostor. The evil robot ensnares you both in his rocket grapple, and holds you each in his robotic grip. Sari struggles to get free, and berates her assailant for picking on someone so much smaller than himself. The impostor roars at the both of you to be silent.

Do as he says? page 46

Continue to put up a fight? page 4

Page 46

(From page 22 or page 78)

You do as the impostor says.

Thankfully, the real Optimus barges in on the scene, and processes the situation in a nanosecond. Optimus charges at the impostor, forcing him to drop you and Sari in order to defend himself. As the two robots grapple, the impostor’s holographic disguise begins to falter, revealing him to be the Decepticon Blitzwing! Blitzwing unleashes a torrent of flames, forcing Optimus to roll clear. The evil robot then snatches up a small black sphere adorned with the HomeTech logo. Blitzwing explains that the sphere is the reason for his breaking into the HomeTech labs. But he sees no use in explaining his evil schemes to you further, and extends a flame-thrower barrel from each of his forearms. Blitzwing launches twin streams of roaring flames straight at you!

Dive for cover? page 6

Trust that Optimus will counter the attack? page 56

Page 37

(From page 5 or page 7 or page 65 or page 77)

You continue down the passageway.

You soon arrive in a fully-automated packing depot. A variety of worker bots before you are tirelessly working towards loading and packing the brand-new Pixie-6 bots. As your group makes its way through the room, Prowl picks up a scent similar to one he detected back at the HomeTech lab. Reasoning their target might be nearby, Optimus orders Bumblebee, Prowl and Bulkhead to go check it out. As the three Autobots hurry away, you notice that Sari is missing.

Ask Optimus if he knows where she’s gone to? page 49

Try to find her yourself? page 78

Page 49

(From page 37)

You ask Optimus if he’s seen where Sari went.

Concerned about Sari’s absence, Optimus tells you to stay put while he goes looking for her. Seconds after Optimus has left your line of sight, Sari returns, asking where Optimus and the others have gone to. As though in answer to her question, just giant metal fist grab the both of you from behind. As you are lifted up, you find yourself staring at Optimus Prime’s face… though there is an unfamiliar cruelty in his eyes.

Try to struggle free? page 4

Kick at your captor’s metal casing in the hope of making enough noise to draw the real Prime’s attention? page 31

Page 78

(From page 37)

You go looking for Sari.

You find her observing Pixie-6 bots being encapsulated. Optimus joins you shortly, but you find him staring down at you with an uncharacteristic angry glare. Then, “Optimus Prime” snatches both you and Sari up, and orders you to keep quiet. You realize that this is not the real Optimus Prime, but the impostor that broke into the HomeTech laboratory.

Do as the Optimus Prime impersonator says? page 46

Yell for help? page 31

Page 28

(From page 9 or page 71)

You protest against Prime’s decision.

Sari joins in your protests, and the two of you convince Optimus to bring you along. Optimus, Prowl, Bulkhead drive ahead of Bumblebee, who is carrying both you and Sari inside his vehicle mode. The whole convoy heads out of the city, and towards lake St. Clair. All four vehicles dive into the waters, and you are relieved to find out Bumblebee is watertight. Sitting on the lakebed is a large hemispherical building. Sari recognizes the structure as the Deepdome, a storage facility belonging to HomeTech. Your group make their way into the outer dome through the internal airlock door. Once the Autobots have all resumed their robot forms, Bulkhead asks Optimus what they should do next.

Skirt the dome clockwise to find a way in? page 7

Try looking in the opposite direction? page 72

Page 42

(From page 66 or page 70 or page 76 or page 80)

You slowly regain consciousness…

Overlooked by the concerned faces of Sari and the Autobots. You are now outside, some distance from the HomeTech building. Sari explains that after you blacked out, Prowl turned up and rescued the both of you. Bumblebee drives up to you and lets you know that the evidence you discovered was very helpful. Ratchet and Bumblebee ran a few tests through Teletran-1, the Autobots’ computer, and discovered that the material you found contained trace amounts of a rare Energon isotope. Ratchet scanned the area, and detected an energy signature that machete it. Bumblebee pulls at a tracker, indicating the location of Optimus’s impostor, and the Autobots roll out to track down this villain.

Travel with Sari in Bumblebee? page 77

Travel solo on Prowl? page 5

Page 77

(From page 25 or page 42)

You hop aboard Bumblebee.

The tracker leads you out of the city, to a large silver box at the side of the road in an otherwise empty landscape. Bumblebee lets you out as the Autobots transform and gather round the box. Bulkhead wretches away the box’s outer casing, revealing a complex electronic console. He then brings his fist down onto the console, prompting a section of the road to sink into the ground. You find yourselves descending a sheer-walled shaft. A hundred meters down, the platform comes to a halt. You are now in a brightly-lit underground cavern. Two passageways leave the cavern. The one in the far wall has a monorail running through it, loaded with cargo containers. Sari recognizes this location as one of HomeTech’s storage facilities.

Take a closer look at the cargo containers? page 61

Explore the other passageway? page 37

Page 61

(From page 5 or page 77)

You take a closer look at the cargo containers.

Within are thirty or so transparent pods, each holding a new home-helpbot. Bulkhead finds it amusing that humans found robots like these to be the pinnacle of mechanical engineering before the Autobots showed up on Earth. Sari is nonetheless intrigued by the small robots, and wants to examine them further. Bumblebee suggests that they shouldn’t waste any more time inspecting the machines, as there is still a villain to be caught.

Make Sari hurry along? page 72

Wait until Sari has finished her examination? page 65

Page 65

(From page 61)

You wait while Sari continues to inspect the help-bots.

Optimus tells his Autobots to go on ahead while he keeps an eye on Sari and you. Prowl, Bumblebee and Bulkhead hurry ahead. Prowl inspects the nearby area while you watch Sari tinker with the Pixie-6’s circuitry. Minutes later, Optimus returns by your side and tells you he discovered a secret passageway nearby. Additionally, his sensors have detected faint traces of Energon activity within said passage. Optimus is unsure if he should rejoin the other Autobots, or investigate the secret passageway first.

Catch up with the other Autobots? page 37

Explore the concealed passageway? page 36

Page 5

(From page 25 or page 42)

You ride on Prowl.

You follow the tracking signal south several kilometres out of the city. You soon arrive at the Detroit river, where Prowl pulls up beside the other Autobot vehicles. In the middle of the wide river floats a huge, white, cubic structure. Optimus identifies the building as the WaterShed, a giant warehouse belonging to HomeTech. According to the signal, Optimus Prime’s impostor is within. Optimus launches his rocket-powered grapple to create a way for the Autobots to get from the river bank to the floating building. Prowl goes first, followed by Bulkhead who gives both you and Sari a ride on his back. Next is Bumblebee, and finally Optimus retracts his line to propel himself across the water. Once everyone is together, Bulkhead peels back a section of the Watershed’s thick alloy skin, and the Autobots enter the structure. You find yourselves in a wide passageway line with stacks of white cargo containers.

Take a closer look at the cargo containers? page 61

Follow the passageway? page 37

Page 70

(From page 87)

You wait to make sure the police aren’t coming back.

As you wait, Sari appears through the damaged doorway. You signal over to her, and she joins you. Sari has found some evidence in the other room; she shows you her palm on which is smeared some green gel. She explains that it’s the same type of lubricant she’s seen Prowl use to treat his joints. The police hadn’t spotted the liquid left behind by the intruder, but she recognized it instantly. She proudly says that she doesn’t believe she’s been spotted, despite the place swarming with officers, only to be corrected by a deep voice behind you. You turn to face two officers with their laser handguns pointed at you. One of the officers advises his partner, “Zac” to set his weapon to “stun,” seeing as you are just a couple of kids.

Quickly try to come up with an excuse for your presence? page 25

Try to make a run for it, despite the stun guns being trained on you? page 42

Page 25

(From page 12 or page 70 or page 76 or page 86)

Before you can come up with anything...

Bumblebee and Prowl arrive on scene. With a few shurikens and stinger blasts, they force your assailants into retreating. You then head for the nearest exit, the four of you barely escaping the building’s security lockdown. You hurriedly produce the evidence you discovered, only for Bumblebee to tell you that they already found what they needed. Ratchet used Teletran-1 to tap into the nearby traffic-cam system. He got a positive fix on Prime’s impostor in vehicle mode. The other Autobots are now following the tracer signal that Ratchet transmitted, and the four of you should catch up to them.

Ride along with Sari on Prowl? page 5

Ride in Bumblebee instead? page 77

Page 27

(From page 38)

You and Sari stick together.

On the second floor, you find a door marked “Security Control.” To your surprise, the door isn’t locked. Once inside, you scan the touch screens for recordings of the previous night. After several minutes of searching in vain, Sari comes to the conclusion that the Police have already downloaded all the footage. But when you try to exit the room, you find the door locked from outside. Sari tries to use the Key she keeps around her neck to unlock the door’s mechanism, only to open a hidden door on the opposite wall instead.

Try the locked door again? page 71

Go into the revealed corridor? page 74

Page 71

(From page 23 or page 27 or page 82)

You try getting past the lock.

Thankfully, Sari’s key worked and you are able to continue exploring the HomeTech building. But when you try to enter another restricted area, you accidentally trigger the security systems. You and Sari run back outside as the alarm blares, finding Bumblebee waiting for you. As you and Sari hop into his vehicle mode, dog-bots burst out from the building behind you. Bumblebee drives away at top speed. Sari apologizes for having failed at finding any evidence, only for Bumblebee to tell her that Prowl detected an Energon signature while you were inside. Ratchet’s returned to the Autobots’ headquarters to find a match for it. The other Autobots are now following the trail, and Bumblebee has been ordered to take you two home. Optimus figures you’ve been put through enough already.

Accept Optimus’s decision? page 47

Protest being left out of the action? page 28

Page 74

(From page 10 or page 27 or page 33)

You explore the corridor.

You don’t go far before you come upon a large section of the wall that’s been smashed away. A temporary grille of stun beams has been erected to keep any more intruders from braving the Optimus-sized hole. You wonder if there might be any clues nearby.

Search the debris for clues? page 86

Take a closer look at the entry hole itself? page 80

Page 86

(From page 74)

You search the debris.

Sari soon finds a small pool of glistening orange fluid. She recognizes the substance as Cyberium ‘bot-oil. The intruder must have damaged himself when entering the facility, and sprung a leak. Sari goes on to explain that once the stuff’s been in a ‘bot’s system, it picks up identity-unique program-code traces. You use a magna-clip tray and a spatula-like ruler that you find in a nearby office to scoop up a sample of the oil. As you are finishing up acquiring your sample, two HomeTech guards appear, patrolling the corridor.

Slip back into the nearby office, and hide behind the desk? page 9

Try to think of a better fighting place? page 25

Page 80

(From page 74)

You take a closer look at the entry hole.

You find a sliver of grey metal embedded into the wall. Sari inspects the metal, and tells you it looks like Cyberium steel. It’s a material that makes up many components in Transfomers. You hear incoming footsteps, and the both of you duck behind one of the beam-girlle generators. A group of HomeTech scientists are walking by, lost in conversation. Sari suggest you might risk jumping through the hole before they see you. If the beams are just data-wipers, you will pass unharmed. If they are stun-beams, on the other hand...

Stay put and hope the scientists don’t notice you? page 9

Take your chances with the beam-grille? page 42

Page 35

(From page 29 or page 59)

You ride with Prowl.

You soon find yourself approaching a large white building. Once all the Autobots have resumed their robot shapes, Bumblebee tells Optimus of a radio report he overheard on the way over. The report tells of how Optimus Prime is wanted by the police for breaking into the research laboratories of HomeTech, a robotics manufacturer. The head of HomeTech is accusing Optimus to have been sent by Isaac Sumdac, his main competitor, to sabotage the launch of the Pixie-6 home-helpbot. Optimus wonders why anyone would pose as him for an industrial sabotage job. He turns to you and Sari. Optimus explains that the Autobots are too large to snoop around HomeTech labs to bather evidence and clear his name, but the two of you could look around unnoticed. As Optimus finished explaining his plan, a fifth Autobot, Bulkhead, arrives. Bumblebee asks Bulkhead to help you out in infiltrating the HomeTech laboratories, and Bulkhead obliges by creating a large hole in one of its walls.

Split up and search the lab? page 87

Stick with Sari to explore the lab? page 14

Page 14

(From page 35)

You and Sari decide to explore the lab together.

But just as the two of you approach the newly created hole, Sari turns to Optimus. She tells him she’s just realized that the main reason Optimus has come under suspicion is because he is friends with her, and her father is HomeTech’s main competitor. If she is to be caught snooping around in the lab, it could further incriminated Optimus. Sari thinks about the circumstances for a moment, but shrugs away her concerns anyhow. She decides she simply will have to be careful not to be caught. Sari and yourself enter the building and find yourself in a long, white-walled corridor.

Follow the corridor to the left? page 91

Go right instead? page 82

Page 91

(From page 14 or page 23 or page 52 or page 83)

You find your way to the building’s lounge area.

The scene before you is one of devastation, as the intruder clearly made his way through this room last night. You and Sari spot a smear of colour on a table, the residue of someone scratching off a patch of their paintwork. Sari collects a few paint flakes as evidence, and wraps them in a napkin.

Continue searching the building? page 76

Head back outside? page 12

Page 76

(From page 91)

You continue your search.

As you leave the lounge, you bump into a catering “bot; Tallulah, “your Silver Servo buddy for today!” Looking through the robot’s transparent body, you notice a chocolate nutri-bar. Tallulah is willing to dispense the snack, if you present your ID card. When it becomes apparent that you are unauthorized trespassers, Tallulah summons her security colleagues to your location. Two guard-bots come rushing into the lounge, and warn you that if you try to escape, you will be incapacitated by their stun-guns.

Try and come up with an excuse for your presence? page 25

Try and make a run for it? page 42

Page 12

(From page 91)

You head back outside.'

But you’ve barely left the lounge area before you spot a patrol of four security guard-bots. Sari quickly pulls you aside into a small storeroom to avoid detection. You peer out, and see that the guards are going over the place thoroughly. You can either stay hidden and hope they don’t find you, or try to create a diversion and hope to slip away.

Stay hidden? page 9

Try to think up of a suitable diversion? page 25

Page 82

(From page 14)

You go right.

Sari tells you that the news report mentioned the Pixie-6 robots, and that you should keep an eye open for anything relating to that model. You reach another intersection. As you continue straight on, a force-field flares into life, blocking your path. A panel bearing a domed sensor slides from one wall, and request a pass-chip to proceed. Sari acquiesces that the two of you will have to split up and check out the other two corridors at the intersection, as this way is blocked off. Unless, that is, she attempts to use her key as a pass-chip...

Split up and check the other corridors? page 87

Try Sari’s key? page 71

Page 29

(From page 30 or page 58 or page 64 or page 69)

You and Sari make a dash for it.

Once you are both out of the building, you make a beeline for the nearest skyway. Sari assures you that the Autobots will be able to take care of themselves, and that they have a meeting place to rally to in times they ever get separated like this. She leads you to a disused road tunnel, and within you find the Autobots, Optimus Prime, Ratchet, Bumblebee and Prowl crouching under the tunnel’s low ceiling. Optimus is glad to see you’re alright, but is still confused as to why the police want him in custody. Sari suspects it has to do with the domestic robotics manufacturer, HomeTech. She’s seen the head of the company meet up with her father in the past, and spotted him again today with the police. Optimus agrees that it bears investigation, and tells his Autobots that their next destination is the HomeTech laboratories near the power plant.

Take a ride inside Ratchet? page 10

Climb onto Prowl’s motorcycle mode? page 35

Page 18

(From page 34)

You stay behind with Prowl and Ratchet.

Sari and Bumblebee haven’t been gone for long when Ratchet detects a patrol of police drones scanning right outside the base’s front door. Prowl figures the police must’ve picked up Bumblebee’s trail. Ratchet explains to you that if the drones pick up your life signs, the secrecy of their base will be compromised. You ask if there is a rear exit through which you could sneak out. Ratchet tells you sneaking out is one option, another would be to make you invisible to the drones’ sensors via his magnetic powers. You could then easily walk out through the base’s front door.

Go along with Ratchet’s plan? page 67

Try to find an alternate way out of the building? page 2

Page 67

(From page 18 or page 20 or page 75 or page 81)

To your relief, the plan works.

You are able to escape the building. But you do not get to relax for long, as Prowl picks up an alert from someone named “Bulkhead.” The Autobots assume their vehicle modes, and Prowl pulls up next to you, clearly intending for you to get on. A hair-raising ride later, you are before a massive white hexagonal building. A logo on its side reads “HomeTech.” The other Autobots and Sari are already gathered before the building. With them are two unfamiliar figures; a large been Autobot who you presume is Bulkhead, and a terrified man in a security officer’s uniform.

Ask Sari what’s goin on? page 83

Talk to Optimus instead? page 52

Page 83

(From page 2 or page 67)

You talk to Sari.

Sari explains that the man insists that Optimus broke into the building the previous night. The rumour going around is that he had been hired by another corporation to sabotage HomeTech, and that’s why the police is after him. Sari recalls that HomeTech is soon to release its latest product, the Pixie-6 helpbot. Someone must be impersonating Optimus to prevent its release. After the Autobots have questioned the security guard, Bulkhead takes him away. Ratchet leaves to scan around the site’s perimeter and see if he can detect any clues. Optimus turns to you and Sari to let you know that he has obtained a pass-chip for the HomeTech building. He uses the chip to prompt open one of the HomeTech building’s doors. He then tells you and Sari that although he, Prowl and Bumblebee are too large to go looking around the building stealthily, the two of you have a good chance to look around undetected.

Walk ahead into the HomeTech building? page 91

Let Sari lead the way? page 33

Page 33

(From page 52 or page 83)

Sari leads the way into the building.

You sneak about the facility, careful not to be spotted. You reach a sort of hub that splits off into several corridors. One of the corridors is sealed off by a large door adorned with a security notice: “Restricted Access. Pixie-6 production staff only.” The door looks battered, as though it has been recently forced open. Though this door looks promising, you do not have a pass-chip that will grant you access through it. That is, unless you want to try using Sari’s key in lieu of a pass-chip.

Try Sari’s key? page 23

Choose another corridor? page 74

Page 23

(From page 33)

You try Sari’s key.

Unfortunately, Sari’s key often behaves in unpredictable ways, and by attempting to use it, you’ve triggered several doors to slide down and block off the rest of the corridors. The only way left to go is into an elevator in the middle of the room. Sari suggests giving the key another go, as it might do the opposite of what it did last and unlock all the doors, including the one you initially wanted to go through.

Go up the elevator? page 91

Try the key again? page 71

Page 52

(From page 2 or page 67)

You try talking to Optimus.

But you can’t get his attention. He is too busy listening to the ravings of the security guard. The guard prattles on about how Optimus knocked his coworker Charlie out cold the previous night, and how Optimus clearly plans to sabotage the release of the Pixie-6 home helpbot. Optimus turns to Ratchet, and asks the Autobot medic to give the man something to calm him. Ratchet, unsure how to treat organic life, suggests a shot of Energon-suppressant. The guard faints at the sight of the long syringe that slides out from under Ratchet’s knuckle. Satisfied with the results, Optimus asks Ratchet to keep an eye on the guard. Ratchet transforms into his vehicle mode, and takes the guard away. Bulkhead says he’ll take a look around, and drives away as well. Determined to clear his name, Optimus uses his axe to pry open one of the HomeTech building’s ventilation grilles. The open shaft leads to a corridor within, and is just big enough for you and Sari to crawl through. Optimus asks the two of you if you are interested in doing some detective work.

Crawl ahead into the HomeTech building? page 91

Let Sari lead the way? page 33

Page 2

(From page 18 or page 20 or page 75 or page 81)

You try to find an alternate route out of the building.

After a frantic search, you find one, and you and your two robotic companions escape the building. You haven’t gone far when you run into another Autobot, Bulkhead. Bulkhead is embarrassed to admit he was at an outdoor laser-sculpture exhibition when he got Optimus’s signal, and was tardy due to being all the way across town. Prowl concentrates and uses his high resolution senses to pick up Optimus’s trail. Prowl transforms into his motorcycle mode and gives you a ride to the rest of the Autobots’ location. You soon find yourself in the company of Sari, her five Autobot friends, and a man in a grey security uniform, the later in nervous conversation with Optimus.

Ask Sari what’s goin on? page 83

Talk to Optimus instead? page 52

Page 92

(From page 11 or page 39)

You prop yourself up.

As you do so, a dizziness come over you and you black out. You regain consciousness only to behold the face of an old grizzled Autobot staring down at you. Someone else then leans in, a small girl with bright red hair. The girl, Sari, tells you not to mind the grumpy old Autobot Ratchet. She then asks if you’re feeling any better. To your surprise, you are feeling great. Looking around, you notice your surroundings have once more changed. You are now in a warehouse crammed with rows of inactive robots. Sari tells you she and Ratchet were ordered to look after you while Optimus investigates why the police are after him. Sari had her own plans, and brought the rest of the Autobots to the facility where the police recharge their surveillance bots, with you in tow. Unfortunately, scouring the bots’ memory banks has yielded nothing of value. Bumblebee peeks out from around a corner, and says that he and Prowl have found more robots. He will check them out and meet up with the rest of you back at the Autobots’ base.

Go with Sari and Ratchet? page 69

Stay with Prowl and Bumblebee? page 20

Page 69

(From page 92)

You go with Sari and Ratchet.

As you head for the exit, an alarm begins to sound. Armed police officers swarm into the room, and recognize your Autobot companion as being an associate of Optimus Prime. The officers take aim with their stun guns towards you and Sari, but their fire is deflected by a magnetic field that Ratchet erects. The officers continue firing, their shots ricocheting off of the barrier that Ratchet has created. One officer is hit by one of the ricochets, and Ratchet figures he better turn himself in before anyone gets hurt. That is, unless you and Sari can escape out of harm’s way first.

Give yourselves up? page 59

Make a dash for the exit? page 29

Page 20

(From page 92)

You stay with Prowl and Bumblebee.

The three of you scan the remaining police ‘bots, but find no useful information. As you head out of the building, you find your path blocked off by a grid of motion detectors. Though Prowl is able to make his way through the red lasers gracefully, Bumblebee stumbles and triggers the alarm. The exit becomes blocked off by a series of vertical plasma bars. An exasperated Prowl recalls seeing the plasma generator on the outside wall. He hypothesizes he might be able to launch a shuriken through the bars and deactivate it.

Try Prowl’s plan? page 67

Search for another exit? page 2

Page 39

(From page 26)

You stay near Optimus.

But Captain Fanzone isn’t one to let anybody mess up his arrests. He pulls out a thick-barrelled firearm and unleashes a pulse of crackling electromagnetic energy towards Optimus. The blast glances you before Optimus is able to deflect it. With a swing of his axe, Optimus takes out the entire host of copter-bots. He then slumps down to pick you up as you begin to lose consciousness. You are vaguely aware of Optimus speeding across town, carrying you in his vehicle mode. He then brings you to an old engineering plant, where you see two more robots. One is meditating while the other is playing video games. Optimus orders the later, Bumblebee to fetch their medic Ratchet, and orders the former to activate the medi-station. As Bumblebee zooms away, Prime lays you down on the table-like slab that Prowl activated.

Lay down for a few moments to recover? page 34

Try and sit up? page 92

Page 17

(From page 1)

You turn down Optimus Prime’s offer.

Optimus simply nods and advises you to go on home safely. Just then, a yellow car comes racing by, and out of it comes a young girl with bright red hair. She hurriedly addresses Optimus, informing him that the police is after him. The yellow car transforms into another robot, “Bumblebee", and confirms what the girl, “Sari,” is saying. Captain Fanzone and half the Detroit Police Department are on their way to arrest him. Optimus is confused as to why he would be wanted by the police. Not wasting any time thinking the situation over, Optimus orders Bumblebee to meet him and the other Autobots to meet him at the construction site for the new racebot arena. Bumblebee resumes his vehicle configurations, and opens up his passenger door for Sari — and you.

Get inside the car? page 88

Stay put to avoid getting involved in this situation? page 32

Page 88

(From page 17)

You get in the car.

Optimus and Bumblebee tear away with the cops in hot pursuit. Once they reach the area Optimus previously mentioned, he and Bumblebee split up. Bumblebee drives through the doors of a derelict shopping centre. He then gently ejects you and Sari onto the mall floor, and once more transforms into a robot. The three of you hide and wait to see if you’ve shaken off the police. You hear a copter-bot hovering nearby. Then, a magnetic field encapsulates the ‘bot, preventing it from moving or transmitting. Another Autobot, Ratchet, is to thank for isolating the copter-bot. He informs Bumblebee that he will distract the cops while Bumblebee takes you and Sari to safety. Bumblebee gestures towards a pair of nearby escalators.

Go up to a higher floor? page 3

Go down a level? page 55

Page 3

(From page 32 or page 88)

You go up a floor and find a place to lie low.

A pair of police officers with robotic sniffer dog slowly approach your position. Before they spot you, another Autobot, one Bumblebee identifies as Prowl drops in before the two officers. Prowl then runs off in the opposite distraction from where you are hiding. The officers give chase. Then, you hear a voice, and turn to find yourself staring at Prowl. Bumblebee explains that Prowl used a holographic decoy of himself to distract the officers. Bumblebee then takes off to check up on Optimus, leaving Prowl with you and Sari. Prowl seems slightly put-off with having to look after you two, and suggest to pass the time with some Circuit-Su meditation.

Ask Sari what “Circuit-Su” is? page 81

Try to meditate yourself? page 58

Page 81

(From page 3)

You ask Sari about Circuit-Su.

She explains that it is a form of martial art from Cybertron. Sari then sets out to check if the coast is clear. She isn’t gone long before Ratchet returns, and tells you that Sari is with Optimus Prime. The Autobots have shaken off the cops and are returning to their base. But there is a demolition robo-crew outside ready to begin levelling the building you’re, so the three of you need to move out in a hurry. Plasma-charged wrecking balls begin crashing through the walls, creating gapping holes. Prowl points towards one of the holes, and says that you could escape through it if you time it right.

Follow Prowl’s lead? page 67

Try to find another exit? page 2

Page 58

(From page 3)

You attempt to meditate.

Sari giggles as you try to imitate Prowl’s meditation pose. But she stops when she hears the sound of the dog-bot patrol returning. The officers’ approach spur Prowl out of his trance, and he readies a pair of ninja shuriken. The dog-bots switch to attack mode, and bound towards you. Prowl launches his shuriken and silences both canine ‘bots. The officers call for back-up, and Prowl looks uneasy. He cannot engage the officers fully without risking harming them. But he can buy you some time to escape. Prowl points you towards a nearby fire escape.

Make a dash for the fire escape? page 29

Turn yourselves in? page 59

Page 55

(From page 32 or page 88)

You go down a floor.

But no sooner have you reached the lower floor than you are confronted by a dozen officers, armed with EMP tranquilizer guns. They are lead by Captain Fanzone, who Bumblebee recognizes. Fanzone demands that Bumblebee tells him where Optimus Prime is hiding. Though Bumblebee attempts to stall, Fanzone orders Bumblebee knocked out and taken in for questioning. The officers fire their weapons, but Bumblebee neutralizes their blasts with his stinger weapons. The officers continue to fire towards Bumblebee, who points you towards a nearby exit, and tells you and Sari to escape while you can.

Make a dash for the exit? page 75

Stay with Bumblebee? page 30

Page 75

(From page 55)

You run for the exit, but only Sari makes it out.

You are pinned down by more EMP fire. Sari calls over that she will get help before going outside. Help comes sooner than Sari could have hoped; moments after her departure, another robot Bumblebee calls “Prowl” cartwheels onto the scene. With a series of kicks, he knocks the tranquilizer weapons from the officers’ hands. Fanzone orders his men to fall back. Then, the building around you begins to rumble. Prowl tells Bumblebee that his skirmish has weakened the building’s already weak infrastructure. As you run towards the exit, a section of the ceiling collapses, blocking the door. Bumblebee ponders out loud if he should attempt cutting out a hole through the debris with his stingers.

Try Bumblebee’s plan? page 67

Search for another way out? page 2

Page 30

(From page 55)

You stay by Bumblebee’s side.

Bumblebee begins to struggle to deflect all of the incoming blasts. One of his stinger blasts goes wildly astray and blows a hole in the building’s wall. Bumblebee suggests that maybe he should surrender, before someone gets hurt.

Surrender? page 59

Make a break for the hole in the wall? page 29

Page 32

(From page 17)

You stay put.

But Sari urges you to get in, insisting that Bumblebee won’t hut you. A yellow robotic arm emerges from the vehicle, and shoves you within the yellow car. Once you are safely strapped in, Bumblebee takes off after Optimus. You soon find yourself in the part of town that Optimus mentioned. As you turn into an empty street, you find yourself before another Autobot, Ratchet. The old Autobot asks about the situation, and Bumblebee tells him of how the police are chasing down Optimus. Optimus orders Bumblebee to get you and Sari to safety while he and Ratchet lead the police away. Bumblebee shepherds you towards towards the nearby entrance of a multi-storey car park. Ramps lead up to both an upper and a lower level.

Go up to a higher floor? page 3

Go down a level? page 55

Featured characters

Autobots	Decepticons	Humans	Others
Bumblebee Bulkhead Optimus Prime Prowl Ratchet	Blitzwing	You Sari Sumdac Captain Fanzone	Tallulah

Quotes

"It's like kung fu for robots."

—Sari describes Circuit-Su.

"Oh, what the heck! Attack's the best form of defence. Geronimo!!"

—Sari prepares to assault Blitzwing.

"Autobot down and out! I think that deserves a toast, and you're the toast!"

—Blitzwing

"We will attempt to amend his programming. He may yet renounce the malevolent influence of Megatron, and become a better 'bot."

—Optimus Prime announces his intent to mess with Blitzwing's brain.

Notes

Errors

• How does anyone in the HomeTech laboratories building not hear Bulkhead making a large hole in the side of it?
• Blitzwing's holographic cloak somehow makes him look exactly like Prime, despite the significant difference in size. He also gains all of Optimus's weapons, gadgets and abilities, despite a hologram being by definition nothing more than an illusion. His vehicle mode while in disguise even acts accordingly to a truck, instead of say a tank in disguise.

Multipath

• In this story, you are school age. You are unfamiliar with the Autobots and their battle.

Continuity notes

• Prowl utilises Circuit-Su meditation. His knowledge of Circuit-Su is referenced on his packaging bio.
• In one path, Bulkhead was at an outdoor laser-sculpture exhibition when he got Prime's alert. His love of art was established in "Headmaster".

Trivia

• Megatron is mentioned but does not appear in-story.
• Transformer armour is made of Cyberium. It's also available as a bot oil.
• Optimus has rocket thrusters under his feet. He can remove his chest armour and use it as a shield. He has a portable airbag that he can throw down to prevent falling fleshies from injuring themselves.
• Ratchet's magnetic fields can be used to cloak objects from police scanners, as well as making a handy force field.
• Blitzwing's holographic cloak also allows him to use Prime's alternate mode, grapples, and shoot fire suppressant foam.
• Blitzwing's "Ice" and "Hothead" personalities are depicted as possessing a lot more in the way of powers than in the cartoon. In his icy persona he can turn the moisture in the air into ice slides, form ice armour on his upper body, and create icicle knuckle spikes. In his hothead mode, he can manifest flames all over his body.
• In the course of proving Optimus innocent of breaking and entering, the criminal acts you commit include:
  • Resisting arrest
  • Interfering with a crime scene
  • Removing evidence from a crime scene
  • Assaulting a police officer
  • Destruction of police equipment
  • Unauthorised access of a police computer system
  • Vandalism
  • Industrial espionage
  • Breaking and entering
• What lesson have we learned today, children?