It is a quiet day in the Autobot headquarters, hidden deep within the hills near Center City, Oregon. Optimus Prime, leader of the brave and peace-loving alien robots, glances around at the pulsing machinery, monitoring devices, and electrical equipment that make up headquarters. "What a pleasant change," he says. "No fighting for once."

"Yeah," agrees Beachcomber, who always yearns for the quiet life. He settles back in a lounge chair. "It's wonderful when the Decepticons are laying low."

"It gives me a chance to polish up my gorgeous body," says the vain Sunstreaker, buffing his back.

"And I can stay in shape," says Brawn, working out on the special circuitry-building equipment. "Strength is the only way to keep those evil robots in their places."

"Sometimes a little trickery helps," says Mirage with a mischievous grin. "I can get to those Decepticons every time when I project my image and appear to be where I'm not!"

"I wish the Decepticons would show up," boasts Powerglide. "I'd teach them a thing or two."

"Well, don't worry," answers Cosmos. "We're about due for another attack. The last one was at least…two days ago."

"You know what I'd like to do?" Beachcomber says. "I'd like to forget the Decepticons, transform into my dune buggy mode, and take a long drive."

"Yeah. That's one thing the Decepticons can't do," says Sunstreaker. "When they abandon their robot form, they turn into missiles and planes."

"I think you have the day off, Beachcomber," says Optimus Prime. "You deserve it."

And that's exactly what Beachcomber does. Within a few minutes, he's left headquarters and has transformed into his dune buggy mode. He heads into the countryside.

The road Beachcomber is driving on slowly becomes rougher and rougher. Soon he turns onto a dirt lane and just jounces through the countryside.

After a while, Beachcomber pulls to a stop beneath a tall pine tree. He listens. He can't hear a sound except for a lone bird crying. This is the life, thinks the Autobot. No wars, no fighting. Just plenty of silence and beautiful land. Suddenly--rumble, rumble, BOOM!

Beachcomber feels the ground shake beneath his wheels with a terrifying force. It feels like the whole earth is breaking apart. What's happening?

Beachcomber gets moving, trying to find out what's making the earth shake. Pulling up behind some boulders, he peers around, trying to discover some clue. Suddenly, Beachcomber spots a movement. It looks like…the Decepticon Rumble. Rumble is small but tough and can cause powerful earthquakes with the low-frequency groundwaves he creates.

Beachcomber watches Rumble. It looks as if he's practicing. But, Beachcomber thinks suspiciously, why would he need to do that? Maybe the Decepticons are planning something big!

After a few more small earthquakes, Rumble saunters proudly away and begins to climb up a cliff. Beachcomber follows from a safe distance.

Soon, Rumble pauses in front of a sheer cliff face. Suddenly, as if by magic, a huge double door hidden in the cliff opens just long enough for him to enter.

Beachcomber realizes that he's found the Decepticons' hidden fortress! He wants to report back to Optimus Prime, but he's afraid that if he leaves, he might not be able to find this remote location again. Maybe he should investigate the Decepticon fortress himself immediately. What do you think?

If you think Beachcomber should hurry back to Autobot headquarters, click here.
If you decide Beachcomber's best move would be to enter the fortress alone, click here.
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