Arsenal sat in Base One's Monitor Room, looking for signs of B'Harnian or 
Lyran activity. In the weeks since a small band of Jihaddi had invaded an island 
holding several Jihaddi POWs, absolutely no activity had been detected. This 
rubbed Arsenal the wrong way.
	"There's gotta be *something* out there," he muttered, half to himself.  
Then he noticed an incoming communique from the team at La Brea.
	"Arsenal here."
	"Commander, we found something."
	"Explain."
	"Well, sir, we've just completed a magnetic resonance scan of one of the 
tar pits, and there's definately something metallic down there. We estimate that 
it's about fifty tons, and roughly the size of an African elephant.  We're going 
to try and raise it using a powerful electromagnet, as soon as the equipment 
gets here."
	"Fine.  Keep me posted."
	"Arsenal," a feminine voice behind him asked, "what's so important about 
La Brea?"
	Arsenal turned to face the newly installed General of the Blood Jihad 
Army/Air Force, Keili.  Keili had been a Colonel before Gen. Petronis's 
retirement, and had been requested as his replacement.
	"It's something from before the Blood Jihad was formed, Kei," he 
explained. "A while back, I detected Baby Bop and a squad of Loved Ones 
attempting to drain a tar pit.  Suffice to say, I put a stop to that.  But I was 
curious as to what she was after.  This should be the answer."
	"What did she say it was?"
	"A dinosaur-like robot of some type."
	"Wierd."
	"You're saying that, after what we've been fighting?"
	"Good point," Keili laughed, leaning back in a chair.
	Arsenal studied her face for a moment before asking, "So, are you up for a 
road trip?"

	A small group of Blood Jihaddi called Arsenal and Keili to a halt as the 
two came up to the barrier set across the road.  Saluting, they removed the 
obstruction.
	"How's the situation, Corporal?" Arsenal inquired.
	"All's proceding well, sir." was the reply.  "Senior Technician Meethos 
arrived about half an hour ago, and is overseeing the operation."
	"Very well, soldier. Carry on."
	With that, Arsenal pulled the Battle Van foreward and headed into the base 
camp.
	"Easy does it," Meethos called to a few technicians, as they dropped the 
giant magnet head into the tar.  The head sunk beneath the surface.
	"Once," a disembodied voice rumbled, "I would have joined you in this 
endeavor.  Once, I would have joined you in field stripping a shotgun in the 
barracks.  But for now, I must remain..."  A seemingly young man in a black 
trenchcoat and felt Fedora, holding a glowing staff, appeared out of thin air. 
"...a Stranger."
	"Who the snarf is that?" Meethos yelled down.
	"I am... the Dvandom Stranger."
	"I'm psychotic," Meethos called back, taking a long drag on his Jolt.  
"I'm not impressed!"
	"Ah, but I have a message..." He swung his Editorial Staff in Arsenal's 
diorection.  "...for YOU!"
	"OK, Dave. I'll bite."
	"You know of me?" the Stranger asked, surprised. "Oh, wait! That's right! 
You're your Writer's counterpart."
	"Huh?" Keili asked.
	"Long story," the Stranger said.
	"So what's the message?" Arsenal queried.
	"Dark things are afoot, the twilight of seasons is upon you.  Should you 
proceed down the path of your own choosing, a clown will honk your nose."
	"Come again?"
	"Oops! Wrong message!"
	With a grinding noise, the huge electro-magnet dredged the robot from it's 
murky resting place.
	"Get that truck over here!!!" Meethos yelled into his comm unit.
	"OK OK! Now I've got it!" the Stranger said, shuffling through his notes. 
"You are to....  Ssaaaaay, is that a REAL Transformer?"
	Arsenal glanced over to where the giant triceratops-resembling robot 
stood, dripping with tar.
	"Sorry, Dave. It's just a SLAG unit," Arsenal stated.
	"'SLAG unit'?" Meethos, Keili, and several technicians asked in wonder.
	"SLAG unit," Arsenal explained. "It's a B'Harnian designed battle droid.  
Stands for 'Super-dee-dooper Lavender Assault Gizmo'.  I destroyed one in the 
23rd Century, right before we learned that one had been sent into the past."
	"Interesting," the Stranger stated.  "Then, for right now, this one is one 
of a kind."
	"Look, Stranger, you came here to give me a message.  What is it?!"
	"Hrrmm?  Oh, yes."  He swung his Editorial Staff in a dramatic arc.  "You 
are to receive a gift from your past, and inherit a legacy from your future.
	"And now, I must take my leave of you.  But first, are you *sure* that's 
not a real Transformer?"  The Dvandom Stranger disappeared in a cloud of black 
smoke.
	"What was *that* all about?" Keili asked.
	"I'm not quite sure myself," Arsenal muttered.

	To be continued?