02x08 - Bumblebee's Night Off

[bunniefuu]

( upbeat theme playing )
GRIMLOCK: Nothing here.

Nothing here.

Oh my! Nothing here either.

We get it, Grimlock.

But try searching without the sarcasm, please.

It's just, we've hunted down some of the worst of the worst, and now we've spent weeks looking for a cord.

For the ninth time, some investigations take a while.

And even the ones that seem the least interesting can be the most fruitful.

Finding this cable could lead us directly to the 'Cons! FIXIT
( over comm )
: Bumblebee's right.

Every crate of high
-output cable that's come into that train yard in the past month has been stolen, and I bet my bolts Decepticons are to blame.

Ah! The most recent shipment is here somewhere.

Now, we can use it for 'Con bait.

The Thief or Thieves may know something about this new grouping of fugitives we've been hearing about.

Boring part of mission over! I found the cable, I found the
( grunts and groans )

( grunting )
You unworthies blocked my path to Doradus before! You shall not do so again! Doradus and the Fountain of Energon are myths, Springload! Ha, ha! The spirits said you would try to cloud my mind with untruths! But Steeljaw has promised Doradus to me as soon as I return with this bounty! Split up and set your Decepticon Hunter on wide dispersal.

I want that Amphibi
-con unharmed and able to tell us all about Steeljaw.


( groans )

( gasps )

( gasps )
No! Transformers Robots in disguise Robots in disguise
( roars )
Robots in disguise Robots in disguise Grimlock! Grimlock! Are you okay?
( groans )
Someone's shaking me really hard.

Lieutenant! I heard a sh*t! Yeah, that was Bumblebee, sh**ting me.

Actually, if I'd hit you with a concentrated beam, you'd be Grimlock, I'm sorry.


( laughing )

( cackling )
Scrud.

Sorry about Springload, guys.

We're back on patrol in 15 minutes, team.


( both sigh )
You know, Bee, I think the team may need a break.

Autobots don't require breaks.

You've been going non
-stop for weeks.

Grimlock didn't report his position to you, you went trigger happy and almost roasted his capacitors, and Springload escaped.

You're all mentally fried! Ugh, we have been revving pretty high.

But the Decepticons are gearing up for something, and we can't just stand down.

FIXIT
( over comm )
: You may not have to, Lieutenant.

There have been an unusual number of thefts in Crown City involving high
-tech sound boards.

I've compiled the police reports, and am 97.

3 percent certain I know the next tar pit Carpet Target.

Sound boards? Those consoles used for recordings and concerts? I get that human musicians might want them, but what would Decepticons need them for? Typical sound boards could be converted into sonic asteroid deflectors for Cybertronian starships.

One of the last places left untouched in Crown City for the thieves to target is the Rumbledome.

Where, tomorrow night, a concert has been scheduled featuring the musical consortium Rear Axle.

BOTH
( gasp )

- Rear Axle?
- Lame! I assume by lame, you mean the most awesome band ever!
( rock theme playing )
No, I mean lame as in lame.

Are those humans? They're just in costume, Grimlock.

I became a huge fan of theirs the last time I was on Earth.

I mean, they play songs about fighting for justice, and not giving up so long as the music's still playing! I mean, it's like they know me! Which is exactly why the team should stake out the Rumbledome parking lot.

If 'Cons try to infiltrate the show, you can intercept, but if they don't, you can all relax and enjoy the noise! Uh, music.

A chance to be near Rear Axle? We are in! Actually, I'm way behind on my continuing education requirements.

I'd be available for backup.

Ahem, me too! I've been wanting to work on some, uh, sculpting.

Well, then I suppose Denny and I will just have to rock out enough for all of us.

Yes! No! Oh, I promised Crackpot Carl the Camshaft Collector I'd look at his newest finds tonight.

I've already rescheduled twice, and they don't call him Crackpot Carl for nothing.

But, I mean, someone has to pay for parking at the Rumbledome.

Without a human, I'll never get in.

Russell can help you out.

If you promise to get clear at the first sign of danger.

Oh, uh, I have plans tonight too.

Doing anything but going to a Rear Axle concert.


( gasps )
Russell! I can't believe you would refuse to help Bee on such an important mission! I'll give you a week off dinner clean
-up, if you bring me back a T
-shirt.

You're gonna change your mind about Rear Axle, Russell.

Their performances are legendary! Aren't we supposed to be searching for Decepticons? Of course.

But the band newsletter says their new stage show features an epic
- space battle!
- Oh!
( band playing rock music )

( crowd cheering, chattering )
The opening act is still playing! Oh! I can't believe I'm really here! Uh, I'd better make sure those fans are screaming with joy, and not because they've seen a Decepticon.

Remember, first sign of trouble, get clear! And don't forget your dad's T
-shirt! And get a steering wheel cover for me if they have one! Size medium! Ah, hopefully they have ear plugs too.


( crowd cheering )
MAN: Ladies and gentlemen, Rear Axle!
( crowd shouting, cheering )

( grunts )
This isn't the parking lot.

Aw, great.

Ah!
( machine whirring )
Whoa!
( gasps )

( grunts )
Anvil, Hammer, sic him!
( both growling )

( sighs )
I know what made the noise, you brainless drones.

I want to know who knocked them over! Of all the Mini
-Cons in the galaxy
( all grunt )
We have to disconnect the cords carefully, or the equipment could be damaged!
( groans )
Argh, what did I just say? Get away! Or I'll left
-down
-up
-up left
-right you!
( sighs )

( yells )

( all grunting and panting )

( band playing )
Blimey! Too much reverb up here, Ted! Check the blooming bass on the sound board! Stop! We'll have squishies down here any minute! Guard the doors! I'll find our lurker! Whoever you are, you're playing against opponents with much higher combat attributes than yourself!
( grunting )

( ominous theme plays )
Everything looks good down there.

Rock on.

Mini
-challenge fail.

Back to the primary quest.

And I forget where we parked, ugh.

Bumblebee!
( alarm wailing )

( alarm wailing )
Aw, come on!
( Bumblebee humming )

( humming )

( gasps )

( sighs )
What's it like in there? Did you see the band? They haven't played Carpool Lane To Your Heart, have they? Bisk and two Mini
-Cons are here!
- Bisk?
- I made a wrong turn.

They're in the storage area under the stage, trying to grab a backup sound board! I tried to get clear but they were between me and the exit! Ah, and I was just starting to have a good time.


( upbeat theme playing )

( grunts )
Nice! That's not sculpting, that's turning big rocks into smaller rocks! Hm, some 'Bots have no appreciation for art.

Traffic code 790.

Failure to slow for emergency personnel during a pursuit on a one
-way thoroughfare through a commercial district?
( bell dings )
Yes! BUMBLEBEE
( over comm )
: Strongarm, we have Decepticons.

Is your offer of backup still good?
- On our way, Lieutenant.


- See you soon.

If we let Bisk go, couldn't we just follow him to Steeljaw
- and these other Decepticons?
- By now, it's too risky.

If that sound board is the last piece the 'Cons need, we could end up facing a fully armed spaceship, or a doomsday w*apon or worse.


( revving engine )
We'll have to hope Bisk responds well to questioning once we get him back to the Scrap yard.

Think they'd let us in to the Loading Dock if I explained an extraterrestrial lobster's about to steam up their day? No worries.

I have an idea.

Yo, hit me back.

Ciao.

Dude! You can't park here! Hey, my Dad's the drummer for Rear Axle.

And he's gonna blow his stack at you two if I'm not inside ten minutes ago.

Clear?
- Oh, sorry, sir.

Go right in.


- Obvi.

STRONGARM
( over comm )
Strongarm to Bumblebee.


- Go ahead, Cadet.


- Traffic jam, sir.

And too many humans for us to sneak away.

We'll get there as fast as we can.

Understood.

Carpool Lane To Your Heart".

All right, let's see if we can wrap this up so I can at least catch the encore.


( band playing )
Ugh, we lost them.

And the sound board.

Maybe not.

Bisk took a sound board, but there'll be another one on the arena floor, mixing audio for the concert.

Come on.


( band playing )

( all cheering )
I can't believe this! Why am I not hearing the snare? Ted? Ted! Earth to sound board!
( grunts )
Someone get Ted replacement headphones now! This better be the last thing that goes wrong tonight.

Do we have replacement headphones for the sound board yet?
( gasps )

( crowd cheering )
Oh, sorry, didn't see you there.

Oh, yes, be ready for your cue.

BUMBLEBEE: Any way to get up there without walking past a million humans? RUSSELL: Those go right up to the side of the stage.

With all the weird props these guys use, you'll fit right in.

Find a security guard.

If things go wrong, the crowd will need to be evacuated.

Then get somewhere safe.

Decepticons stealing property.

Threatening innocent humans.

Making me miss a Rear Axle concert?
( grunts )
Bisk messed with the wrong Autobot.

Huh? What are you doing, messing about down there! Get on the bloomin' stage! If you insist!
( both grunting )
The one player I never defeated! Well, here's where I high
-score you right out of existence! I've seen your moves, Bisk.

Believe me, you're nowhere near my level!
( all cheering )

( band playing )
It's like being in a video game! It's like being in a dream!
( all grunting )
Hammer! Anvil! Sic 'em! I never liked multi
-player anyway.


( both grunting )

( gasps )

( cheering continues )
Oh yeah! Did I choreograph that? Well, I must have.

Because that is brilliant.


( upbeat theme playing )

( all cheering )
Hey! No costumes out of the arena.

He's a friend of mine.

b*at it, you boneheads.

Strongarm just commed.

Traffic eased up and they should be here soon to help us transport the prisoners to the scrap yard.

You know, Rear Axle wasn't actually all that bad.

Sorry you didn't get to enjoy the concert, Bumblebee.

Are you kidding? I was part of the concert! Me, up there with Rear Axle! I feel like a brand new 'Bot! Oh ho ho Brand new bot
- Ah, sorry about the
- It came pre
-distressed! Heh, it's almost like I was there! Tell me everything! Was it a blast and a half? Actually, Dad, you didn't miss much.

Yeah, just another night, just another show.


( rock theme playing )