They know it's going to be one of the hardest transfers to date, but they can't postpone it.

Shockwave needs the Energon, and he needs it as soon as possible. A couple of well-staged Autobot attacks and the usual tasks have drained their reserves fast.

So, to assure their success, Megatron orders the Constructicons to start building the Space Bridge at the Victory, so that it's a simple matter of putting the parts together when they arrive at the building site.

And mech, what a building site…

A baseball stadium the day of a game.

As expected, it is teeming with humans.

Fortunately, the Decepticons' plan has been well thought this time. By the time the panicked organics have all ran away, they have the Space Bridge ready and calibrating, while Astrotrain groans and chucks down his own Energon as he curses the 'disgusting flesh-bags living everywhere' and his aching struts and engines.

A downside to their plan. After carrying most of the Space Bridge's parts, the Triple Changer's engines will need to cool down before he can ignite them again. As will Ramjet's and Dirge's, the other two who have brought the remaining parts between them.

Thundercracker and Skywarp aren't so bad off, having had to deal with Scavenger and Scrapper each. But they are so comfortable resting after helping put the machinery together that Megatron doubts anything short of an Autobot gun in their faceplates will get them to react.

Frenzy and Rumble are likewise indisposed, resting in Soundwave's chest compartment, while Laserbeak—

Sends them a message as, from his position flying over the stadium, he sees the Autobots coming through the emergency exit.

And the Space Bridge isn't ready for transport yet.

Slag.

"Okay, Decepticons. It's our turn at bat," Prime calls as they enter the field and transform, and all purple-branded mechs turn to them—

Or hide behind the Space Bridge, like that slagger of Astrotrain.

Though they will need him later. The Autobots have the advantage here, so, after transporting the cubes to Cybertron, Megatron decides that some fireworks as the Space Bridge explodes will do them good.

The Constructions will whine later about the loss of materials, but, right now, they have another priority.

And so, the fighting begins.

Somehow, Megatron finds himself on top of the Space Bridge, shooting to his spark's delight, when Starscream slams into him and sends them both to the ground. And, as if that wasn't enough, he's immediately tackled into the metallic ring by none other than Prime himself.

Not that it would have usually been a problem, but since Optimus has been the one prepared for it, Megatron is hoisted up and thrown over the Space Bridge's walls like a ball of tinfoil before he can make sense of what's going on.

"Strike three, Megatron. You're out!"

Ugh. When I get my servos on you, Prime, I'm going to—

His processor flickers as he finally crashes to the ground, and he turns around with optics speckled with static—

Autobots!

Trying as best as his recalibrating systems allow, Megatron aims at the red scientist and the black forcefield-maker, and shoots.

The resulting explosion of whatever they were fiddling with sends him back to the ground, and his systems finally go through a full reboot.

When he regains consciousness, he quickly climbs to his pedes, scanning his surroundings—

The Space Bridge's door opens, the scorched earth of the formerly green baseball field the only thing remaining inside.

"No, it can't be! My Energon cubes are gone!" he growls, before focusing on more important matters.

The remaining Autobots are regrouping and running away, no sign of Prime with them.

Well, one small victory.

"Soundwave! Where is my Energon?!"

No answer.

Slowly, Scrapper and Scavenger approach, exchanging wary looks, with the Seekers and Astrotrain joining them after a moment.

"Soundwave! Starscream!"

Nothing.

"Uh, they were in the Space Bridge," Skywarp answers meekly, fidgeting nervously.

"With Thrust and Ravage," Dirge adds, stepping back as Megatron's optics land on him.

"And Prime, that yellow scout, and three more," Astrotrain points out, but that does nothing to wipe the threatening snarl off their leader's faceplate.

His Second and Third are gone.

"Where?!" he roars, Scrapper immediately rushing to the blown-up controls – and Megatron refuses to acknowledge the fusion burns on the bent metal.

"I—I don't know, it's completely scrapped and—oh slag, it's going to blow!"

Even as he transforms to get into Skywarp's cockpit, with the Constructicons rushing inside Astrotrain's shuttle mode and the rest of Seekers taking flight as Laserbeak joins them, the Slagmaker doesn't stop cursing his luck, Starscream's luck, the Autobots, and Primus' twisted sense of humor.

"Huh, Sir?" Skywarp's meek voice squeaks through the jet's speakers, and Megatron stops his mental tirade, hoping it is good news.

Annoying as Starscream is, he's useful.

"What is it?"

"I know this isn't the best time to say this, but… I can't feel Screamer through the Trine bond. He's… too far."

Megatron doesn't go back to cursing.

He roars.

"One plan we have completely well thought out, that we all agree with, and it ends like this?!"

UPDATED 26/05/2019: Corrected Grammar.

AN: No, you're not hallucinating. Yes, it's a new story. However, it's finished. Four chapters including the prologue (this one). I'm so proud *tears of joy*

Actually, it's a bit of cheating, since it's supposed to be a rewriting (kinda) of the episode Child's Play from the original cartoon. It was fun to do because of the 'missing scenes' and the fact I'm writing from the characters' point of view (and, ouch, how much did things change then...).

There were some things (besides the animation) that bothered me about this chapter, so I tried to correct them. As usual, my own headcanon influences things, like the fact the Decepticons can't fly, only jets/shuttles can (as seen here). As thus, almost nothing belongs to me, up to but not restricted to, sentences, situations, and characters.

Have fun! (I did XP)