Desert of Danger

« The Transformers Adventure Game Books
"Appear on the cover I shall! Snarl at the reader will I!"
"Desert of Danger"
Publisher	Corgi Books
Imprint	Young Corgi Adventure/Adventure Game Books
First published	1987
Writers	Dave Morris
Illustrator	Bob Harvey (interior pencils and cover painting)
ISBN	ISBN 0 552 52502 2 ISBN 9780552525022
Page count	71 pp

You get embroiled in a Decepticon Headmaster plot on Nebulos.

Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Featured characters 3 Notes 3.1 Errors

Synopsis

Page 1

You are the co-pilot of an interstellar cargo ship. Today, you venture farther from Earth than you ever have before; you are en route to Nebulos, a planet beyond the galaxy’s rim. Harry, the ship’s pilot, guides the ship towards its destination while you take a moment to admire your the Milky Way as it fades out of sight behind you. You are jerked out of your daydream when Harry lands the ship, and subsequently asks you to start making your deliveries while he gets the proper paperwork filed through Traffic Control. While checking the cargo, you pause to look out across the mining town in which you’ve landed. It is the only settlement on the planet’s equatorial continent, otherwise covered in a vast desert. The desert is nicknamed "Dust Bowl" by the locals, and you can attest that it lives up to its moniker. page 7

Page 7

(From page 1)

Night begins to fall. You watch daily life take its course in the city. Harry notices that you are once more lost and thought, and urges you to get to work. Once in the crate hold, you notice three different crates that you can opt to deliver first. The first is a large box containing an Earth-type sports car, decorated with fiery paintwork. The second is a small package containing computer discs for a "Professor Sparks". The third create contains bottles of Sirian brandy to be delivered to the Wolf at the Door nightclub.

Start by delivering the computer discs? page 42

Begin by unloading the sports car? page 36

Deliver the brandy first? page 15

Page 42

(From page 7)

You decide to deliver the computer discs first.

As you reach for the box, you notice that the sports car is to be delivered to Professor Sparks as well.

Deliver the car and the discs? page 36

Decide to deliver the brandy first after all? page 15

Page 36

(From page 7 or page 42)

You head for the crate containing the sports car.

You notice a light flashing within the crate, and are unable to contain your curiosity. You pry open a couple of planks and squeeze within the crate to investigate. The flashing light turns out to be an illuminated button marked with a spark symbol set into the vehicle's dashboard. Once more unable to contain your curiosity, you press the button. The next thing you know, you have been catapulted away from the vehicle, as the crate splinters to bits before you. Instead of the sports car a red-and-gold robot stands before you. The robot introduces himself as Hot Rod, and thanks you for waking him. Hot Rod had dozed off within the first few parsecs of the journey, and asks you if he's reached Nebulos yet. page 37

Page 37

(From page 36)

Hot Rod explains that he is one of the heroic Autobots, and begins to look around for Professor Sparks’s package. You are still somewhat confused about the situation at hand, leading to Hot Rod explaining that he finds the cost for travel aboard an interstellar passenger liner to be too steep. He delivered himself through freight to spare himself the expense of travelling to Nebulos. Hot Rod then grabs the package containing the discs, and invites you to tag along with him.

Join Hot Rod? page 56

Explain to the Autobot that you have other deliveries to make? page 49

Page 56

(From page 23 or page 37)

You join up with Hot Rod.

Before leaving, you secure the cargo to make sure no one can pass by and steal it. Hot Rod informs you that there is very little theft on Nebulos, however. Almost all crime is the handiwork of the Decepticons and their Nebulan henchmen on this planet, and they very rarely stoop to petty theft. The crimes that these villains concoct are much more sinister. You climb aboard Hot Rod’s vehicle mode with the discs, and the two of you take off, soon reaching speeds exceeding a hundred miles an hour. page 58

Page 58

(From page 56)

You soon exit the city, and drive down a dirt track fringed with unearthly cacti. The greenish-white sand of the Nebulan desert stretch farther than you can see. Then, you come upon Professor Sparks’s place of residence. Hot Rod introduces the two of you to one another, and tells you of how Sparks transforms into "the niftiest electrostatic discharger rifle this side of Andromeda. The bashful professor sparks modestly insists that his weapon mode is quite ordinary. page 59

Page 59

(From page 58)

Despite the professor’s protests, Hot Rod continues to wax on about the Nebulan’s amazing capabilities in his weapon mode. You and Hot Rod are invited inside the professor’s lab. The professor explains that, unlike the deserts on Earth, Nebulan deserts remain scorching hot all throughout the night. Hot Rod interrupts the professor before he can begin to talk at lengths about the properties of Nebulan sands, and tells him he didn’t come over for a science lecture.

Ask Sparks to explain his scientific work? page 16

Ask about the conflict between the Autobots and the Decepticons? page 22

Do you think that neither of these subjects are any of your business? page 30

Page 16

(From page 59)

You ask Sparks about his scientific work.

Professor Sparks is ecstatic that you show interest in his projects. He points out a giant dish-shaped mirror on the roof to you, and explains that it is called a parabolic reflector. He begins to explain that his experiments involve reflecting the light of a laser that he has placed in orbit around the planet, before once more being interrupted by Hot Rod. The young Autobot would rather go into town than hear about science experiments.

Go along with Hot Rod into town? page 30

Ask the professor to tell you more about his experiments? page 35

Ask about the Autobots and the Decepticons? page 22

Page 30

(From page 16 or page 22 or page 35 or page 59)

You and Hot Rod decide to head into town next.

Professor Sparks settles alongside you inside Hot Rod’s vehicle mode, and the three of you head towards the city. Looking towards the clear night sky, you spot a brief flare in the distance, and point out the shooting star to your friends. Sparks notes that it is the second unusually bright meteor to come down this week. He suggests that Hot Rod detour so that he can investigate the fallen space debris. Hot Rod insists in heading into town, as he knows the professor will fritter the whole night away on scientific tests if given the chance. Sparks yields, admitting that the meteor can wait until tomorrow. Have you delivered the consignment of Sirian brandy yet?

Yes? page 43

No? page 50

Page 43

(From page 30)

You remember your delivery of the brandy.

You suggest that if you are to head for a night club tonight, as Hot Rod and Sparks have agreed upon, that you should steer clear of the Wolf at the Door club. You tell your new friends that you find the owner to be a disreputable type of guy. This piques Hot Rod’s interest, who asks you about the club’s owner. Once you’ve told him of your meeting with the club owner, Hot Rod decides that the three of you should investigate the matter further. page 21

Page 21

(From page 43)

Hot Rod comes to a halt outside the Wold at the Door nightclub. Sparks stammers nervously about the club’s frightful appearance wile Hot Rod resumes his robot form. After your previous visit to the club, you share Professor Spark’s feeling of dread. But Hot Rod is not intimidated. Hot Rod strides past the club’s doorman and sits down at a table, soon to be followed by Spark and yourself. Most of the club’s customers are grizzled old miners. You cannot hear what any of them are saying over the club’s loud electronic music, and question the establishment’s taste in pop songs. page 70

Page 70

(From page 9 or page 17 or page 21 or page 28)

A tall blue-gray Nebulan overhears your comment and lumbers over to your table. He tells you to leave if the music isn’t to your liking. Hot Rod comes to your defence, and tells the newcomer that whatever private conversations the three of you have is none of his business. Monzo, the club’s owner, disagrees, and tells Hot Rod that humans are not welcome in Wolf at the Door. Hot Rod is angered, and ready to start an argument with the Nebulan, before being stopped by Sparks. The professor tells Hot Rod that now is not the time to pick a fight, and the three of your will simply take your business elsewhere. As you walk away, Monzo gloats that he would have sent Hot Rod to the scrapheap had the Autobot begun a scuffle. page 2

Page 2

(From page 70)

Once outside, Sparks expresses his puzzlement over Hot Rod’s love for nightclubs. Hot Rod reassures him that not all nightclub are like the Wolf at the Door. He then transforms into a sports car once more, and suggest the three of you start looking for a better spot. Is there something about the club’s cellar that you want to mention to Hot Rod?

Yes? page 24

No? page 31

Page 24

(From page 2)

You tell Hot Rod that you find it odd that the Wolf at the Door does not serve humans, yet it has brandy in its stock.

Hot Rod reverts back to his robot form and ponders on your comment. He then decides that all this weirdness definitely prove the need for an investigation. Sparks suggest that you sneak into the club and hide behind the bar. When the club locks up for the night, you are to unlock to door and allow Sparks and Hot Rod access to the building. Sparks’s plan sounds like it will take most of the night. Do you wish to go along with it?

Yes? page 44

No? page 31

Page 44

(From page 24)

You agree to go along with Sparks’s plan.

The first part of the plan goes smoothly. You find yourself in the desert club after hours with Hot Rod and Sparks. With Hot Rod leading the group, the three of you head towards the cellar. You notice the lights are still on inside the club’s basement, and pre cautiously peek into the cellar. You see a large robotic wolf enter the cellar via a sliding door on the far side of the room. "Weirdwolf," as Professor Sparks knows him by, is carrying a large metal cylinder in his jaws. A hatch opens in the Decepticon beast’s back, and out clambers Monzo. page 45

Page 45

(From page 44)

Another Nebulan, Vorath, greets Monzo. Vorath then asks Monzo is he had difficulty "getting in." Monzo tells his associate that Weirdwolf easily sniffed out the cylinder. He adds that the Decepticon had to kill a space pilot who was taking a stroll in the desert, and Vorath drily responds that Weirdwolf must have enjoyed the kill. Weirdwolf lowers the cylinder to the floor, and tells the others they cannot risk anyone spying on them. Vorath tells Monzo to go check their tracking apparatus at the abandoned mines, to make sure the pilot didn’t get the chance to tamper with them before Weirdwolf got to him. Monzo agrees, and the three villains leave through the sliding door.

Do you wish to take a closer look at the cylinder? page 38

Do you wish to leave immediately? page 52

Page 38

(From page 45)

You take a closer look at the metal cylinder.

As you make your way towards it, Sparks points out a second cylinder to you beside the door. Hot Rod takes notice that one of the cylinder’s end is made out of glass and peers within the container. He tells you that there are robots within the containers; Attack Squad robots. They were used as infantry by the Decepticons during the war on Cybertron. The robots are inactive, however, and floating in a strange chemical. Sparks confirms that the robots inside the cylinders are "ASRs," but he notes that they are advanced models, equipped with lasers and atomic power batteries. Sparks does not have enough information to understand what all of this means.

Suggest opening one of the cylinders? page 66

Do you wish to take a closer look at the brandy you delivered earlier? page 60

Do you now wish to leave? page 14

Page 66

(From page 38)

You suggest opening one of the cylinders.

Hot Rod thinks it’s a good idea. Sparks is too distracted by some nearby Decepticon electronic devices to notice Hot Rod forcing the cylinder open at first. When he does take notice, he is too late in warning Hot Rod that the liquid within the cylinders is over a hundred degrees bellow zero. The liquid soaks you and Hot Rod. Though Hot Rod’s armour might protect him, you have no such luck.

THE END

Page 60

(From page 38)

You take a closer look at the brandy you delivered earlier.

When Sparks examines the liquid within the crates, he realizes that it isn’t brandy at all, but a catalytic stimulant. The ASRs are in a form of suspended animation, but once the stimulant is added to the chemical they are floating in, they will awaken once more. Before you can suggest what your next move should be, Hot Rod hears a sound, and shoves you out of sight. You watch alongside Hot Rod from your hiding place the sliding door open, and Monzo stepping into the room. Hot Rod thinks that he could take on the smaller robot, but you point out that it might alert Monzo’s associates of your presence. You suggest that you leave instead. page 14

Page 14

(From page 38 or page 60)

You leave the nightclub.

As you return to the spaceport, Sparks outlines the plan for the next day. He will run the facts you’ve uncovered through his computer, and then return to meet you in the afternoon to bring you up to speed. You enter your should, only to discover that Harry has yet to return. Although this is odd, there could be a simple explanation, and so you don’t think too much of it. The next morning, you are awoken by three Nebulan police officers. One of them has Harry’s wallet and ID card. You confirm that the wallet belongs to the ship’s pilot. The police officer hands you the wallet and Harry’s jacket, and tells you they were found out in the desert, near a meteor crater. He says that someone else was murdered under similar circumstances a week prior. Although they can’t be certain until they find a body, they fear that the same fate has befallen your coworker. Shaken by the news, you gather a few belongings and hitch a ride to Sparks’s laboratory. You relay the news to Hot Rod and Sparks, who tell you that they are sure the Decepticons are to blame for this turn of events. page 4

Page 4

(From page 14 or page 54 or page 61 or page 63)

Sparks believes he has deduced what the Decepticons are up to. On Nebulos, the Autobots came to an agreement so as to prevent their struggle into escalating into an all-out war. As neither side wants to see Nebulos devastated in the same manner that Cybertron was, it is forbidden for reinforcements to be called in planet-side. The only Transformers allowed on Nebulos are those partnered with Nebulan companions. Hot Rod explains that the Decepticons are attempting to smuggle in additional operatives without the Autobots’ knowledge. A chilling voice informs Hot Rod that he has indeed figured out the Decepticons’ plot. You turn to see two of the ASRs walking into Sparks’s laboratory. page 11

Page 11

(From page 4)

You glance out of the window, and come to the realization that you are surrounded. Skullcruncher, the Decepticon Headmaster waits outside. Monzo is guiding Weirdwolf around the back of the laboratory to prevent you from escaping through that route. In the sky above is Mindwipe, the Decepticon with hypnotic powers. Sparks is undeterred by the sudden ambush, and flicks a switch that activates a number of hidden weaponry. Has Sparks told you about the parabolic reflector on the roof?

Yes. page 68

No. page 5

Page 68

(From page 11)

You suggest that Sparks use the reflector instead of the weapons.

You explain that pointing the device towards Mindwipe would reflect the Decepticon’s hypnotic powers back at him. The ASRs rush forward to prevent Sparks from implementing your idea, but Hot Rod is too fast for them. As Sparks works the controls, Hot Rod grabs ahold of the ASRs and pins them to the wall. The two ASRs fall to the ground, stunned. You watch Mindwipe being startled by his own reflection through the window, and succumb to his own hypnosis. Although Mindwipe falls into the sand dunes unconscious, Skullcruncher leaps forwards and grinds Sparks’s dune buggy in his tungsten-steel jaws. He announces that even if Mindwipe has been taken out of the find, Weirdwolf and himself will be able to kill the three of you. page 12

Page 12

(From page 5 or page 68)

Hot Rod is taken by surprise by one of the ASRs, who he had forgotten about while watching the Mindwipe spectacle. The ASR informs the Autobot he was merely playing possum as he tears into his armour. The second ASR activates a jet pack and takes to the air in order to have a clear shot at Hot Rod with his ruby lasers. You look back outside to see Skullcruncher slowly advancing.

Help Hot Rod with the ASRs? page 20

Run outside to confront Skullcruncher? page 27

Page 20

(From page 12)

You help Hot Rod in his fight against the ASRs

But you are merely in Hot Rod’s way, who would have been able to take care of the two smaller robots on his own. Hot Rod flings away the ASR grappling him with a judo throw, finishing it off with a powerful punch. Hot Rod then moves to deal with the second ASR, but the flying robot has set his sights on you. The ASR unleashes his ruby laser in your direction, and though Hot Rod attempts to shield you with his body, he is unable to intercept the laser in time. For you, this is...

THE END

Page 27

(From page 12)

You run outside to confront Skullcruncher

You are unsure how effective you will be against the powerful robot, but you try to formulate a plan as you run. Meanwhile, Hot Rod and Sparks work in tandem to send powerful bolts of electricity towards the dazed ASRs. You put on a brave face, and tell Skullcruncher that he should give up, seeing as Mindwipe has already been disabled. But Skullcruncher is too enraptured by the mindless destruction he is causing, and strides towards a hoverjeep parked nearby, planning to grind it up as well.

Jump into the hoverjeep and start it up? page 33

Do you have the anti-gravity pod? If so, do you want to drop it inside the jeep? page 41

Page 33

(From page 27)

You jump into the hoverjeep and start it up.

You are lucky to find the keys still in the ignition. As the jeep starts up, Skullcruncher sneers, and asks you if you truly believe you will escape him. But you do not plan on running away. You charge Skullcruncher at full throttle. Skullcruncher stands his ground as you barrel towards him. At the last moment, you ditch the jeep and land in the soft sand nearby. Skullcruncher catches the jeep in his open maw and attempts to swallow it whole. But the jeep’s momentum is so great that it sends the Decepticon flying backwards, with all the force of a punch delivered by Ultra Magnus himself! page 48

Page 48

(From page 33 or page 41)

But now you must contend with Weirdwolf, who is treading back towards the front of the laboratory after seeing what has become of his comrades. Weirdwolf threatens to eat you whole, and you have no doubt that it would be a task easily accomplished for the robotic wolf. You look on towards Hot Rod and Sparks, who are on the verge of defeating the ASRs. But will they be able to rescue you?

Turn and run? page 69

Stand your ground and wait for Hot Rod and Sparks to come to your aid? page 6

Page 69

(From page 48)

You attempt running away from Weirdwolf...

but he is much faster than you are, and soon outpaces you. You see Hot Rod and Sparks emerge from the laboratory, but they are too far away to save you. In your last moments, you realize that you will never know whether or not the Autobots will be able to defeat Weirdwolf. Then, his metal jaws clamp shut.

THE END

Page 6

(From page 48)

You stand your ground as Weirdwolf approaches.

Hot Rod and Sparks emerge from the laboratory moments before Weirdwolf is ready to devour you. When your friends emerge out in the open, Weirdwolf immediately loses all interest in you. Relieved, you scramble out of harm’s way. Sparks assumes his weapon mode, and Hot Rod points him towards Monzo, currently sitting at Weirwolf’s command module. Hot Rod asks Monzo whether or not he feels confident he will survive a blast at his current range. Monzo throws his hands up in surrender. Weirdwolf howls in despair, hating the taste of defeat but unwilling to act in opposition to Monzo’s orders. While Hot Rod holds Monzo and Weirdwolf at gun point, you head within the lab to contact Hot Rod’s fellow Targetmasters. Kup, Blurr and the others soon arrive to help your group with the Decepticon captives. page 13

Page 13

(From page 6)

You ask Hot Rod what will happen to the captured Decepticons after he’s taken you back to the spaceport. Hot Rod tells you they will simply be handed back to Decepticon command, as the treaty on Nebulon prevents them from taking further action. The ASRs, on the other hand, are not covered by the treaty, and will be melted to slag. Hot Rod then assures you that it will be a while before the Decepticons attempt another plot of this magnitude. As you step within your ship, you are surprised to see Harry sitting in the pilot’s seat! page 72

Page 72

(From page 13)

Harry appears bleary-eyed, and is nursing a headache. When you ask him where he’s been, he winces and asks you to lower your voice. Harry has been drinking with his friend Bob Traven. And when Harry and Bob get together with a bottle of old Betelgeux whiskey, they have a tendency to overindulge themselves. Harry is happy to see his jacket and wallet, which he thought he had lost for good. Relieved that your friend isn’t dead, you tell him you will pilot the ship back home, and tell him of your adventure with Hot Rod and Sparks.

THE END

Page 41

(From page 27)

You search your pockets for the anti-gravity pod.

You then activate the device and drop it inside the jeep. After the deed is done, you begin to run away. Skullcruncher is too fixated on you to notice that the jeep has begun to float off the ground. Skullcruncher devours the jeep, and makes towards you. But his next leap forward takes him right over you, where he remains stationary in mid-air. Skullcruncher begins to spew out threats, but you cannot help but laugh at him. page 48

Page 5

(From page 11)

You tell Sparks to use his laboratory’s weapons.

Mindwipe is startled by the missile incoming towards him, but Skullcruncher comes to his fellow Decepticon’s rescue. Skullcruncher deflects the missile with his powerful tail, sending it in your direction! You leap out of the missile’s path just in time. The window before you is smashed, but Sparks shield you from the shrapnel with his metal body. Sparks then takes on his rifle mode, and tells you to shoot down Mindwipe before he hypnotizes all of you. You raise up the heavy weapon as Mindwipe lowers himself to concentrate his hypnotic gaze through the broken window. Hot Rod is still busy dealing with the two ASRs. With a momentous heavy, you manage to point Sparks in the right direction and pull the trigger. Mindwipe is thrown back by a blast of electricity. From the way he falls into the sand, you can tell he is out of commission for the time being. page 12

Page 52

(From page 45)

You suggest leaving immediately.

Sparks agrees with you. Hot Rod reluctantly goes along with the both of you. Hot Rod takes you back to your spaceship, and he and Sparks tell you they will do some further investigating on their own. They will then return tomorrow afternoon to pick you up. Looking around the ship, you notice that Harry has not yet returned. You figure he might be out late playing cards or something. As you sleep, you are haunted by Weirdwolf’s image in your dreams. The next morning, you are woken by three Nebulan police officers. One of them has Harry’s wallet and ID card. You confirm that the ID indeed belongs to the ship’s pilot, and the Nebulans hand you Harry’s wallet and jacket. They tell you Harry’s possessions were found near where a meteor fell last night. Someone was murdered in that area a week beforehand, and they believe the same fate has befallen Harry. You are stunned by the news. Could Harry truly be dead? page 3

Page 3

(From page 31 or page 52)

Once the policebots leave the ship, you contemplate your situation in the ship’s cockpit. You cannot pilot the ship back to Earth on your own. You realize that you must get help from Hot Rod and Sparks, in order to confirm whether or not he has been killed, since his body has yet to have been found. In the case that Harry has been murdered, you will dedicate yourself to bring his killers to justice. You hitch a ride to Spark’s lab outside of the city. Once there, you find the door locked and no sign of your friends. You think of the abandoned mines south of the city, and reason that Sparks might be there collecting ore samples. Or perhaps he and Hot Rod have returned to the Wolf at the Door nightclub They could have also simply gone for a stroll in the desert.

Look for Hot Rod and Sparks in the abandoned mines? page 18

Look for Hot Rod and Sparks at the nightclub? page 25

Look for Hot Rod and Sparks out in the desert? page 10

Page 18

(From page 3 or page 10)

You go looking for your friends in the abandoned mines.

You appear to have guessed right, as you spot deep footprints leading down a mineshaft. Such footprints could only have been made by a large robot. You call out Hot Rod’s name, but you do not even here an echo in answer.

Go into the mine? page 32

Take a look around first? page 46

Page 32

(From page 18)

You enter the mine.

Inside the tunnel, you find the desert’s heat only intensifies. In addition, the deeper down you go, the less light there is to guide your path. You must move slowly to avoid deadly pitfalls that were left behind when the mine’s machinery was taken out. You then hear something, and turn around only to be blinded by the glare of an arc lamp. You ask if the silhouette before you is Hot Rod, but an eerie voices tells you that isn’t the case. Every bone in your body is then shaken by the force of a subsonic boom. As you begin to fall unconscious, you hear the robot calling to his "Attack Squad" to put you where you can do no further harm. page 40

Page 40

(From page 32 or page 62)

Hours later, you regain consciousness. You find yourself surrounded by darkness, and figure that the Decepticons stunned you with a sonic blast before leaving you somewhere to die. Feeling about, you discover that you have been placed in a narrow rock crevice of which the entrance has been blocked off by large boulders. You begin to panic, when you hear metal footsteps heading towards you. It could be the Decepticons returning to finish you off, but you see little harm in screaming for help. You hear Hot Rod’s voice urging you to keep quiet, and the Autobot soon has you freed from your prison. Hot Rod knows there are Decepticons about, and wants to lead you out of the mine before they return. As you make your way upwards, you find yourself at a fork. Hot Rod admits that he is lost, and does not know which path to take to the surface.

Take the right passage? page 54

Take the left passage? page 47

Page 54

(From page 40)

You take the right passage.

After walking for a few minutes, you catch a glimpse of moonlight ahead. You have reached the mine entrance. But just as you make your way outside, footsteps boom out behind you, and you hear a Decepticon raise the alarm. Hot Rod is not planning on waiting around to be captured. He assumes his vehicle configuration, and tells you to hop in. As Hot Rod evades the Decepticons’ fire, you ask him how he knew you were in the mine. Hot Rod tells you that he simply found you through luck, and that he was in the mine to do some spying. You arrive at the lab, where Sparks is waiting for you. Hot Rod fills him in, and Sparks begins to prepare his laboratory’s defences. Hot Rod tells you that he and Sparks found out that Monzo’s club is a front for a Decepticon operation. They found two metal cylinders in the club’s cellar, each containing an Attack Squad Robot in suspended animation. Individual ASRs are not too powerful, but the Decepticons might be planning to smuggle hundreds of them to Nebulos. page 4

Page 47

(From page 40)

You take the left passage.

You have only walked down this path for a few moments when a steel door drops down behind you. Lights begin flashing before you as a siren blares. You have triggered an alarm. A Decepticon that Hot Rod tells you is named "Mindwipe" appears ahead, blocking you from going any further. Although Hot Rod does his best to protect you, without Sparks at his side Mindwipe has the advantage. The Decepticon disables Hot Rod quickly with his viper pistol and steps towards you. As you see him bearing down on you, you realized that this is...

THE END

Page 46

(From page 18)

You take a look around before deciding whether or not you will enter the mine.

Looking more closely at the footprints, you realize that they were made by two different robots. Four-footed robots. You logically assume that the tracks were made by Decepticons. You decide against entering the mineshaft, and head back to town. You will check if Hot Rod and Sparks paid Monzo’s nightclub another visit. page 25

Page 25

(From page 3 or page 10 or page 46)

By now, you are sure that the Wolf at the Door nightclub is a front for a more sinister operation. You make your way through the club’s back door. The club is deserted save for an android polishing glasses. You sneak past the android and make your way down to the cellar. You find that Hot Rod and Sparks are indeed here, but they have been captured by the Decepticons! Monzo tells Vorath to shut off a machine, as he’s already managed to drain both Sparks and Hot Rod of most of their energy. Coiling up a cable, Monzo tells his comrade that they will be able to deal with the Autobots at their leisure, but should check up on the ASRs right away. Once they have left, you inspect your friends. They are so drained of their energy that neither of them can move or even talk. Should you switch on the power supply and then plug the metal cable that Monzo removed back into your friends?

Yes? page 39

No? page 53

Page 39

(From page 25)

You reverse the power flow and take hold of the cable

But you forgot that as a robot, Monzo could handle a live power cable with ease. You are mere flesh and bone, and handling the cable means certain death. Thousands of volts of electricity course through your body, which means that this is...

THE END

Page 53

(From page 25)

You decide against handling an uninsulated power cable.

Handing a live cable of such high voltage would mean certain death for a human. So you decide to plug in the cable into one of your friends first, and then turn on the power supply.

Plug the cable into Hot Rod first? page 67

Plug the cable into Sparks first? page 61

Page 67

(From page 53)

You plug the cable into Hot Rod.

But as the larger of the two robots, it takes longer for Hot Rod to be re-energized. Before Hot Rod has enough power to stand, Monzo returns, riding on the back of the Decepticon Weirdwolf. The two of them transform and combine into the shape of a tall robotic warrior. Weirdwolf raises his pistol and thermal sword and vaporizes you in a split-second.

THE END

Page 61

(From page 53)

You plug the cable into Sparks.

Being much smaller than Hot Rod, it only takes a minute for Sparks to be re-energized. Sparks then transforms into his electrostatic rifle mode. Carefully directing the rifle towards Hot Rod’s power pack, you and Sparks work together to unleash a torrent of electricity into the component. Hot Rod leaps to his feet, good as new. With the two of them once more operational, Sparks suggest they retreat back to his laboratory. Before leaving, Hot Rod smashes the energy-draining machine. Once the three of you are back at the lab, Sparks runs the data he’s collected through his computer. While the computer processes the information, Sparks and Hot Rod tell you they discovered that special robot fighters from an Attack Squad division have been smuggled onto Nebulos in mysterious steel cylinders. page 4

Page 10

(From page 3)

You go looking for your friends out in the desert.

You soon give up the search, however, finding the arid heat of the desert too much for you to take. You decide to look for you friends elsewhere.

Head back to the nightclub? page 25

Head for the abandoned mines? page 18

Page 31

(From page 2 or page 24)

You object against going along with Sparks’s plan.

You point out to your friends that you are a mere human and do not possess the level of stamina they do. You need to get some sleep. Sparks and Hot Rod agree to call it a night. They take you back to your ship and inform you that they plan on investigating further before returning of you tomorrow afternoon. Once inside the ship, you find Harry strangely absent. You assume he is simply out late playing cards, and go to sleep. Your dreams are haunted by the imagery of the Decepticon Weirdwolf. In the morning, you are woken by three Nebulan police officers. One of them asks you if the ID card he holds in his hand belongs to the ship’s pilot. Recognizing Harry’s ID, you tell him that is correct. The Nebulans give you Harry’s wallet and jacket, and tell you that these items were found near the impact ground of a meteor that fell last night. There was a murder a week ago in the same area, and they believe the same fate might have befallen Harry, though they have yet to recover a body. You are stunned by the news. Is Harry truly dead? page 3

Page 50

(From page 30)

You remember the crate of brandy you have yet to deliver.

You tell your friends about it, and ask to stop by the spaceport so you can pick it up. That way, you can finish your daily task and be ready to go into club immediately afterwards. Once you are aboard your ship, you fetch an anti-gravity pod. The small devices makes cargo weightless so that you can deliver it with ease. Hot Rod tells you the device is unnecessary, as he is strong enough to pick up the crate by himself. You slip the anti-gravity pod into your pocket. page 51

Page 51

(From page 50)

You soon arrive at the nightclub. Hot Rod offers to take the crate down to the cellar, but this time you insist on doing your job yourself and affix the anti-gravity device to the crate. You tell the other two to find somewhere to sit while you complete your delivery. You go down the cellar steps, and once at the dimly-lit cellar door, return the anti-gravity pod to your pocket. Then you notice a gleam from the corner of your eye.

Take a closer look? page 9

Return upstairs to join Hot Rod and Sparks? page 17

Page 9

(From page 51)

You investigate the white gleam you saw.

You edge towards the dark cellar, and find it to be a larger room than you would have guessed. You cannot see a thing in the darkness beyond, however. Your feet brush up against a tarp. You lift it up, only to discover a pile of human bones! You hurriedly replace the tarp and head back upstairs. You find Hot Rod and Sparks already enjoying a drink of high grade oil. Hot Rod offers to buy you a glass of cola, but you shout back that you can hardly hear him over the music. page 70

Page 17

(From page 51)

You rejoin Hot Rod and Sparks.

It takes you a while to find your friend once more amongst the crowd of drunk Nebulan miners. When you find your seat, Sparks asks you if you find the loud music as bothersome as he does. page 70

Page 35

(From page 16)

You ask the professor to tell you more about his experiments.

Sparks shows you one of the computer discs that you’ve brought from Earth. He explains that the software contained within will allow him to tilt and rotate the reflector. Sparks boots up his computer and directs your attention towards a monitor. An image of the desert appears on the screen. With the touch of a switch, Sparks makes a grid appear superposed over the image. Sparks then invites you to alter the mirror’s position yourself through the use of a dial. As you manipulate the dial, a patch of bright light appears onscreen. Hot Rod, gaining interest in what he is seeing, asks Professor Sparks what the light is. Sparks explains that it is a patch of reflected moonlight, focused by the dish. Before he can further delve into the subject, Hot Rod stifles a yawn and suggest they hit a nightclub. Although Sparks is nervous at first, he is persuaded by the young Autobot. page 30

Page 22

(From page 16 or page 59)

You ask for more information about the Autobots and the Decepticons.

Although Sparks is hesitant to divulge "classified information," Hot Rod sees no harm in telling you all you want to know. He tells you about how all Transformers are originally from Cybertron, a planet that has been ravaged by the war between the Autobots and the Decepticons. Some Transformers boarded a ship called the "Ark" and found their way to Earth. But this took place long before Hot Rod was "matrixed." Another group of Transformers found their way to the planet Nebulos. To cement their alliances with the native population, each Transformer entered into a "binary bonding" with a Nebulan. Hot Rod and Sparks are binary-bonded. Hot Rod is ready to continue his history lesson, but Sparks suggests they head out into town instead. Hot Rod is eager for some action and agrees. page 30

Page 49

(From page 23 or page 37)

You tell Hot Rod that you need to complete your deliveries.

You ask him if you could maybe join him tomorrow, and Hot Rod is happy to tell you to drop by Professor Sparks’s laboratory at any time. Hot Rod assumes his sports car mode once more and speeds off.

Have you yet to deliver the Sirian brandy? page 64

If you’ve already delivered the brandy, you might as well get some sleep. page 8

Page 64

(From page 49)

You set out to deliver the Sirian Brandy.

Seeing as the crate is quite heavy, you grab an anti-gravity pod from the ship’s locker. Once affixed to the crate, the device renders it weightless. You reach the nightclub, but find it looking sinister in the darkness of night. A blue neon sign flashes above the door, depicting the image of a hungry wolf. The electronic music within is so loud that you can hear it from outside. Once inside, you find yourself swallowed up by a crowd of drunken Nebulan miners. The nightclub’s androids make their way through the crowd to hand out spark plugs and cans of oil. One of the androids sees you have a crate of brandy to deliver, and points you towards the steps that lead down to the cellar. You make your way before the large unlit room, and put the crate down before pocketing the anti-gravity device. Just as you are about to make your way upstairs, you notice a white gleam in the darkness.

Investigate? page 57

Head back upstairs immediately? page 65

Page 57

(From page 64)

You investigate the white gleam.

You cannot see anything inside the dark room, but your imagine that any number of creepy things could be concealed in the shadows. You notice a tarp at your feet and lift it up. You gasp in horror as you see that the tarp concealed gnawed human bones! You hurriedly replace the tarp and rush back upstairs. As you make your way towards the door, someone calls out to you. page 28

Page 28

(From page 57 or page 65)

The one calling out to you is Hot Rod! He is sitting with a smaller robot, whom he introduces as "Professor Sparks." You are invited to join them, but Sparks notices that the music bothers you. He admits not being a fan of the sound either, and tells you that it is so loud because the miners are half-deaf due to the continual noise of the drilling machines they work next to all day. page 70

Page 65

(From page 64)

You head back upstairs.

The cellar gives you the creeps and you don’t care to stay close to it any longer. As you make your way towards the club’s exit, and robot gets up from his seat and calls over to you. page 28

Page 8

(From page 49)

You lie down to rest.

You are woken the next morning by three Nebulan policebots. One of them shows you Harry’s ID card, and asks you if it belongs to the ship’s pilot. When you confirm that is the case, the police officers hand you Harry’s jacket and wallet. Harry’s possessions were found out in the desert, near to where a meteor fell. Someone else was murdered in that vicinity a week ago, and they fear that Harry has also been killed. They have yet to find the body, however. You are stunned by the news, and once the officers leave, your thoughts turn to Hot Rod and Sparks. They are the only people you know on Nebulon now. You decide to make your way to Professor Spark’s laboratory, and ask your friends to help you find Harry’s killers. You hitch a ride with some Nebulan traders who drop you off at your destination. But when you knock on the door, there is no reply. You figure they might have headed out into the desert to carry out a scientific experiment. Eager to begin trailing Harry’s murderers, you decide to go looking for them.

Take the hoverjeep parked outside the laboratory? page 19

Do you prefer to walk instead? page 26

Page 19

(From page 8)

You take the hoverjeep.

You manage to easily figure out the vehicle’s controls, and are soon gliding above the pale green dunes. In the jeep’s glove compartment, you find a map noting where two meteorites made landfall. Two circles also denote where murder victims were discovered. Seeing as the meteors and the deaths took near one another, you figure Sparks must have discovered a connection between the two. The map also denotes the site of an abandoned mine, with the words "Decept HQ?" written next to it. You figure there is as good a place as any to begin your search for Hot Rod and Sparks. The mine’s entrance soon comes into view.

Turn off the jeep before walking towards the mine’s entrance? page 34

Ride the hoverjeep all the way up to the mine’s entrance? page 62

Page 34

(From page 19)

You walk over to the mine’s entrance.

You do not want to alert anyone to your presence in case someone unfriendly is waiting nearby. When your eyes adjust to the darkness inside the mineshaft. you notice two figures lying inside, pinned down by boulders. One of them is Hot Rod, which means the other must be his friend Professor Sparks. You ask Hot Rod what happened, but he shushes you. He whispers that they ran into the Decepticon Mindwipe, who collapsed the tunnel onto them. They cannot get themselves free. Sparks claims that they are already doomed, and that you should get away while you still can. But you refuse to leave them behind.

Start lifting the rocks? page 55

Try to think of something else? page 63

Page 55

(From page 34)

You attempt to lift the boulders off of Hot Rod and Sparks.

But it takes all of your strength to lift the smallest of the rocks. You suggest that if you can find a plank, you might be able to use it as a lever… But a voice behind you tells you that you have run out of time. You turn to see a giant mechanical wolf, the Decepticon Weirdwolf! Sparks urges you to run, but there is nowhere for you to go. Staring at Weirdwolf’s gleaming jaws, you realize that this is...

THE END

Page 63

(From page 34)

You decide to use the anti-gravity pod in your pocket.

With the device’s help, you are able to quickly lift all of the rocks from your friends. Once the deed is done, you return the anti-gravity pod to your pocket, and the three of you speed back to Spark’s lab. En route, Hot Rod brings you up to speed; the Decepticons have two Attack Squad robots in metal cylinders in the basement of the Wolf at the Door nightclub. The club’s owner is none other than Monzo, Weirdwolf’s Nebulan trainer. Once at the lab, the three of you begin to set up the building’s defences. page 4

Page 62

(From page 19)

You ride the hoverjeep all the way up to the mine’s entrance.

Suddenly, a huge robot emerges from the mine’s entrance. The sound of the jeep’s engine has betrayed your presence to an unfriendly Transformer, who uses a sonic rifle to first disable your jeep, and then knock you unconscious. You regain a semblance of consciousness for just enough time to be dimly aware of being carried down into the mine before blacking out again. page 40

Page 26

(From page 8)

You walk out into the desert.

The scorching heat soon overwhelms you, and you give up searching for your friend within half an hour. When you try to find your way back to the laboratory, you come to the realization that you have become lost in the windy sand dunes. You stumble along in a daze, shouting for help. You see a metallic shape coming towards you, but it is not Hot Rod. The giant robot grabs you and carries you into an abandoned mine shaft. You are shoved into a rock-hewn chamber, where Hot Rod and his friend Sparks are tied-up with lengths of steel cables. All three of you have been captured by the Decepticons. Now all three of you are doomed, and this is...

THE END

Page 15

(From page 7 or page 42)

You decide to deliver the brandy first.

In order to easily lift the heavy crate, you grab an anti-gravity pod from the ship’s locker. The device makes the crate weightless, letting you guide it wherever you please with the strength of one finger. You reach the Wolf at the Door nightclub at dusk, finding it deserted. You decide to leave the crate at the cellar steps, but when you walk towards them you are confronted by a blue-grey Nebulan. You are startled by the figure who has just stepped out of the shadows, who tells you to leave. You manage to stutter out a protest, telling the rude Nebulan that you’re supposed to deliver the case of brandy. The Nebulan seems confused at first about the crate’s content, but confirms that he was waiting for the delivery after giving the matter a second thought. You detach the anti-gravity pod from the crate and pocket it. The Nebulan easily lifts the crate in his robotic arms, and tells you to leave now that you’ve completed your task. You get a feeling that there’s something in the cellar that he doesn’t want you to see.

Head back to the ship? page 23

Try to dodge past the Nebulan and sneak a look into the cellar? page 29

Page 23

(From page 15 or page 29)

You head back to your ship.

Once back in the cargo room, you are surprised to see another robot in there. He is painted red and gold, and is much taller than the bullying owner of the nightclub. Thankfully, this new robot is much friendlier. He introduces himself as Hot Rod, and that he is here to pick up the computer discs for Professor Sparks. You remember that a sports car was also due to be delivered to the professor, and tell Hot Rod about it. Hot Rod laughs, and points you to the splintered case that once contained the sports car. Hot Rod WAS the sports car; he tells you that, as an Autobot, he can take on the form of vehicles as disguises. He sent himself by freight post to avoid the high cost of inter-stellar travel. The two of you laugh at Hot Rod’s bizarre methods. Hot Rod invites you to come along with him to visit his friend, Professor Sparks.

Go with Hot Rod? page 56

Explain that you have other deliveries to make? page 49

Page 29

(From page 15)

You try to dodge past the Nebulan...

telling him you’ll help out in putting the crate away. Before he can stop you, you are already heading down the stairs. Halfway down the staircase, a voice calls out, asking if it’s "Monzo" who’s coming down. Monzo, the Nebulan behind you, informs whoever is downstairs that it is a "snooping human brat" coming down before catching up to you. Monzo’s eyes light up as he catches you by the sleeve. He grins evilly, and begins to reach for your throat. Then, the nightclub’s door swings open, half a dozen rowdy Nebulans walk in. The newcomers order five cans of premium oil. Monzo grunts in disappointment; whatever he was planning to do to you, he doesn’t risk it while there are witnesses about. Monzo shoves you away and tells you once more that you should leave, adding this time that you shouldn’t ever return. page 23

Go with Hot Rod? page 56

Explain that you have other deliveries to make? page 49

Featured characters

Notes

• All Transformers' names are printed in CAPITAL LETTERS.
• All Nebulans are robotic rather than fleshy in this book.
• Hot Rod abbreviates "Decepticons" to "Decepts". He also asks Monzo if he's feeling lucky.
• Oddly, Grax is nowhere to be seen.
• The appearance of alcoholic beverages is surprising for a children's book.
• There appears to be some size-shifting taking place in the book if the illustrations are anything to go by. The text explicitly states that the Nebulans are smaller than Hot Rod and the other Cybertronians. But they appear only a few heads shorter than Hot Rod in the illustrations, rather than being tiny in comparison, as would be expected considering they become the heads and guns for full-sized Transformers.

Errors

• Although in-story the desert's sand is explicitly referred to as being pale green, it is depicted as being gray on the book's cover.
• On page 71, Monzo is drawn as being at least as tall as Hot Rod.