Mystery
Strange occurrences on Misslemax have the Zapbots on the high alert as they try to decrypt a mystery.
Epilogue - Next--->
Synopsis
The story opens on Gearatron during the annual Minicars baseball game. Anthony and his HeadMaster friend Jeremy watch as Speedy struggles at bat, striking out and leaving the stadium dejected. Timetravel follows his brother to console him, but Speedy confesses that he feels like a failure, limited by his abilities. Timetravel reminds him that he was designed with the most advanced visual optics of any Zapbot, even if that strength is not always obvious.
Later, Anthony relaxes in his quarters, once again losing a chess match to Jeremy, before Fortress Misslemax sets course for Tockmak 3. Anthony visits his parents, sensing unresolved tension between them. The visit is awkward and brief, and before departing he quietly checks in with their personal security guard U-Turn to ensure their safety. Back aboard Missilemax, Anthony speaks via video call with his romantic partner Mike Quartz, who asks whether others have been informed of their relationship. Anthony admits he has not yet revealed this, overwhelmed by the complexity of his responsibilities.
Elsewhere in the universe, Skyscream berates Secretish for failing to unlock the combined power of the two Matrixes. Secretish explains that the current holder of the Matrix of Leadership must be destroyed before its power can be claimed, revealing that his plan is already underway.
Returning to his quarters, Speedy notices strange flashes of light beyond normal visual spectrums. Moments later, an explosion devastates Anthony’s living quarters. Anthony awakens in sickbay to learn that a bomb caused severe damage. He orders an investigation by the Tech Team, a decision that deeply troubles Scan due to past experiences. Vebox attempts to calm Scan as tensions rise.
As the investigation continues, Speedy’s reports of strange lights persist. When the Tech Team arrives, a second explosion strikes the engine room. The crew discovers the ship’s shields were inexplicably offline—an action that normally requires a security code, though none is found. Concern grows that the systems of Fortress Misslemax may be actively compromised.
For safety, Anthony temporarily stays in Jeremy’s quarters. There, a piano vibrates ominously but does not explode. Soon after, Speedy reports seeing another flash of light, matching the timing of previous incidents.
The Tech Team eventually uncover numerous octagonal devices planted throughout the ship, identified as the cause of the explosions. During their analysis, they mock Speedy’s testimony, deeply hurting him. Speedy requests that Shortstop alter his optical implants, but Shortstop insists they remain unchanged until the investigation concludes, firmly reprimanding the Tech Team for their behavior.
Further analysis traces the devices back to archived logs belonging to Shortwing, the deceased brother of Speedy and Timetravel, who had taken his own life. The design similarities explain why Speedy’s optics allowed him to detect the devices before detonation. Suddenly, another explosion erupts within the Master Computer. Pliers and Repairs struggle to contain the damage. To prevent total destruction, Shortstop orders a full evacuation to Tockmak 3. During an emergency core ejection, one device fragment jams the mechanism. Shortstop, Botimus, and Twirl attempt to remove it manually. As a last resort, Shortstop destroys the fragment, ejecting the core safely into space.
As the crew regroups, they witness the apparition of a ghostly Shortwing hovering above them. Shortwing accuses the Zapbots of abandoning him and threatens destruction. At that moment, a Nonocons ship arrives, now under the control of Secretish, who reveals he has resurrected Shortwing to destabilize the crew.
The Tech Team deploys into space to combat an Eaton robot while Secretish challenges Shortstop to a one-on-one duel on a nearby moon. Boaty realizes Secretish’s true aim is to capture him, as the two Matrixes cannot be combined without his presence. Shortstop accepts the challenge.
On the moon, Shortstop persuades Secretish to fight without using the Black Matrix. Both Matrixes are set aside, and the duel begins honorably. Meanwhile, the Tech Team combines into Circuitbreaker to battle the Eaton robot, but Circuitbreaker is initially overwhelmed.
During the duel, Secretish seizes the Black Matrix as Shortstop reclaims the Matrix of Leadership, restoring balance between them. As Circuitbreaker separates and recombines, it escapes the Eaton robot’s grasp, damages it, and forces both the robot and the Nonocons ship to retreat.
Back on the moon, Shortstop gains the upper hand, fueled by his human willpower. He defeats Secretish and uses the Matrix of Leadership to banish him permanently to his dark universe.
With the threat ended, the Zapbots remove all remaining devices left behind by Shortwing. Using the Matrix of Leadership, Shortstop allows Timetravel and Speedy one final farewell with their brother before releasing his spark forever.
In the aftermath, Anthony spends time with Jeremy, reflecting on how his human connections sustain him during repeated trials. He later returns to Tockmak 3 to visit his father, sharing a rare moment of understanding and reconciliation.
In the epilogue, Anthony is briefly seen in another Reality, purchasing a Chevy Cobalt—an act that inexplicably gives him a sense of comfort and protection.
Featured characters
| Zapbots | Humans | Nonocons | Planets |
|---|---|---|---|
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Quotes
“Data. Hit from opposition robot. Data. Damage acquired. Conclusion: Return fire!”
- Circuitbreaker to himself
Notes
Versions
- First Version: 1993?
- Second Version: 2020
- Third Version: 2021
Production notes
- First appearance of Spin-Cycle, U-Turn, Smokey and Shortwing.
- I honestly don't know where Spin-Cycle came from as I wrote him in the story but never created a sketch for him. Guess I'll have to draw him now.
- The additional battle with Secretish came with this revision and was one of those 'Oh yeah that's a great idea' moments.
- In the original draft I never resolved the Shortwing issue. Decided to do so here to give peace to the whole story.
