"It's a good thing we found this specimen before the blizzard blew in," Sumdac thanked his luck, "Otherwise it may have been lost underneath the snow. Or worse, become frostbitten." Sumdac began to dissect the corpse of the barnacle creature.

"You know, a thought just occurred. What if this is the famous big foot? I could probably get a reward," Sumdac chuckled.

"Yes, I suppose so," Megatron said halfheartedly. Before Sumdac's dissection could go much further than a cut, the lights began to flicker. "What's happening? Is there some kind of malfunction?"

"Until the power comes back on, the entire tower is being run on the backup generators. Apparently it can't take the overload."

"Then shut down the rest of the facility! Nothing is more important than my recreation! Do you hear me Earthling?! Nothing!"

"But…I—"

"I apologize. It's just that I've been here for so long. I've gotten stir crazy. And I only mean that any day now, the Decepticons could attack. And I must be ready to battle alongside my… Autobot… brothers."

"Uhh, hey dad," Sari appeared on a vid-chat, "I tried to use my key to help restore the tower," the receptionist-bot's head exploded in the background, "but I think I made things worse…"

"I'll be right there," Sumdac sighed, "I'm sure I can find a way to the nonessential areas." Sumdac then walked outside the lab.

"Will these infernal setbacks never end? The child's key contains the power I need to make my triumphant return. But how am I to obtain it when I'm trapped in this lab? Surrounded by enemies." Megatron then just made a realization. "Unless Lugnut is still alive…"

*******************************************************************

"Ungh! Almost…got it!" Blitzwing finished scotch-taping down the purple shoulder piece onto his shoulder. The weight of it caused him to fall and collapse, but he still didn't lose his grin. "There! Good as new!" Lugnut then loomed over him.

"Fool! That was mine!" Lugnut barked.

"Yes, but I doubt it'll do you much good at zis point." Lugnut bent down and pulled on the shoulder piece, but Blitzwing held it down on his shoulder.

"Give it back! Or I will pulverize you!" Blitzwing scowled, grabbed Lugnut by the head and waist, and flipped him over in a toss. His scowl became a grin. Blitzwing ripped the shoulder piece off, leaving some scotch-tape on his suit, and threw it at Lugnut while cackling wildly.

"Are you two DONE YET?!" Starscream stood strongly before them, "The only reason you yammering buffoons are still alive is because of me! The surpreme leader you have chosen to crush the Autobots! And lead the Decepticons to victory!"

"You were not chosen!" Lugnut reminded. He finished plucking off the scotch-tape and slid the shoulder piece onto his shoulder.

"True," Blitzwing raised a brow, "You did threaten us."

"Silence!" Starscream retorted, "My point is that we stand on the very precipice of destiny! The AllSpark is almost within our grasp, and its power will be mine!"

"Lugnut! My loyal servant," Megatron greeted, "Your leader needs you."

"Master…" Lugnut sighed happily and knelt down.

"Ah, that's more like it," Starscream smiled.

"Please, forgive me for failing you. My liege."

"Um, okay? Just, don't let it happen again."

"The past is of no consequence. There is a much more pressing matter at hand. That key the Autobots possess."

"Ah yes, the one that contains the charge of the AllSpark. I remember it well."

"Bring it to me at once. And with its limitless power, I will make my triumphant return."

"And the universe will REJOICE! ALL HAIL YOUR GRAND AND GLORIOUS RETURN!"

"Okaaay, what's up with him?" Starscream asked Blitzwing.

"Temporary insanity. It happens," Blitzwing said. His grin formed. "A lot actually! Ahahaha!"

"I am not insane!" Lugnut insisted, "It is Megatron. And he demands for us to deliver him the key!"

"Megatron?" Starscream gasped, "Did you just say Megatron?! Did he just say Megatron?! THERE IS NO MEGATRON! MEGATRON IS GONE! DEAD! TERMINATED! I DID IT MY—saw it myself."

"Lies! Lies! Megatron lives! We must obey! Our supreme leader has spoken."

"Aren't you forgetting something? I AM YOUR SUPREME LEADER!"

"Decepticons, Decepticons," Blitzwing interrupted, "Can't we all just get along? OR SHOULD I CRUSH YOU ALL?!"

"SILENCE!" Starscream aimed his null-ray blaster. Blitzwing took a long step back. A small beam travelled from the blaster traveled over Lugnut's body. "My scanners indicate Lugnut is picking up a communication signal from somewhere."

"Yes! It is our leader Megatron! You must believe!"

"I believe that someone is trying to deceive poor Lugnut here and undermine my authority! And for that, they must be punished." Starscream stopped the scan. "Lugnut! Blitzwing! For now, we shall listen to our mystery caller. Track the energy signature and find that key! Meanwhile, I will locate the source of the transmission."

"And locate our glorious leader!"

"Yes, fine whatever."

"And protect his life at all costs!"

"Of course. What else would I do?" Lugnut and Blitzwing flew off. If Lugnut had been paying just a bit more attention, he would've heard the plotting tone in Starscream's voice. He also would've noticed the sinister smile on his lips…

*****************************************************************

"Security sensors are picking up increased Decepticon signals. Activity levels are higher than we've ever seen on Earth," Prowl reported.

"Could mean they're preparing for an invasion," Optimus concluded. Two drones zoomed down at them.

"Incoming!" Ratchet activated his magnetizers and destroyed one of the drones. The second one landed nearby on the ground.

"Hey! You made me lose the dog fight!" Bumblebee accused.

"What was that for?" Sari asked.

"Sorry, we're all just a little on edge. The Decepticons are mobilizing for an invasion," Optimus said.

"And we're supposed to defend ourselves how?" Bumblebee asked, "I mean, I hate to be a downer here, but five of us against all of them? The odds aren't exactly in our favor."

"Uh, hello? I make six," Sari reminded.

"Hey! Maybe the Dinobots can help!" Bulkhead suggested.

"The Dinobots went missing. No one knows where they are," Optimus said, "Right?"

"You told me you'd tell him," Bulkhead said to Prowl, "He told me he was gonna tell you."

"Tell me what?"

"Go on. It's Prime. He'll understand." Bulkhead then backed away. Far away.

****************************************************************

"YOU STOLE THE DINOBOTS AND TOOK THEM TO AN ISLAND?!" Optimus roared.

"Uh, technically I rescued the Dinobots," Prowl replied, "Those Dinobots were alive, and we protect life not destroy it."

"The fate of the Earth and Cybertron hang in the balance, and all I've got to command is a bunch of undisciplined, insubordinate idiots!"

"Prime, maybe you should take it easy on the kids," Ratchet softly suggested.

"Maybe it's not a bad thing! What Prowl did," Bulkhead suggested, "We could use it to our advantage. I mean they kinda owe us."

"Bulkhead and I could go to the Dinobots Island and ask them to help us fight against the Decepticons," Prowl said.

"Fine! But I'm coming with you. To make sure the job's done right this time," Optimus said, "Mistakes are something we can't afford. Too much hangs in the balance, and we need tighter security on every level. Starting with the key."

"What?" Sari gasped.

"It's not safe in Sari's care anymore, and Sari's not safe either. So we're going to guard it from here on out. After all, it's not a toy."

"That's not fair! The AllSpark chose me to take care of it, and I've done a pretty good job of taking care of it so far!" Sari pulled her key out of the toy air plane. The plane flew out of her hand and hit Ratchet in the head. "Oops, my bad."

"I think that proves my point. Sari, the situation is getting too dangerous. Besides, it's not about you. It's about our future." Optimus reached for the key.

"No! I'm in charge of the key! It's my job, not yours." Sari hid it behind her back.

"Take it," Optimus sighed to Ratchet.

"Prime, maybe we should just—"

"That's an order!"

"Yes sir," Ratchet sighed sadly. He activated his magnetizers. The key floated out of Sari's hand, but she grabbed it again and held her grip. The magnetic force proved stronger than her and yanked the key out of her hand.

"Why don't you trust me?" Sari sobbed, "I trusted you!" Sari turned and ran away.

"Sari!" Bumblebee called, "What's your problem Prime?! Sari's been with us since the day we met! She's a part of this team!"

"Well considering on your past mistakes Bumblebee, I wouldn't call you a great character witness," Optimus attacked.

"Is that right? Well let me tell you something Boss Man! Considering that we're stuck here on this planet, outnumbered, with no idea how we're going to fight a bunch of Decepticons ready to slag us at any second, I wouldn't exactly call you a great leader! I'm gonna go find Sari." Bumblebee walked away.

"Bumblebee! Get back here!" Bumblebee ignored him, activated his heel-wheels and sped off.

*****************************************************************

"Stupid jerks. Think they're so much better. Think they're smarter. Well who needs em?!" Sari kept running down the street. She didn't know where she was going or how long she was going to run. All she knew now was that she was going to run, and that Autobots are jerks. Before she could reach the corner, a rope of webbing wrapped around her and pulled her up to a building top.

"Tell me about it sister," Blackarachnia smiled.