CYBERTRON - ELITE GUARD HEADQUARTERS
Chromia slides out from behind a door marked "Space Bridge Control Room". She looks left down the hallway then nearly jumps out of her chassis when Sentinel, who's on her right side, taps on her shoulder.
SENTINEL
Chromia, what are you doing here? You should be debriefing with the council.
CHROMIA
(processor racing)
I, uh..well I was...
SENTINEL
C'mon, spit it out.
CHROMIA
I...took pity on Optimus Prime and his team and agreed to deliver some supplies down to earth. I know we should be on high alert of any Decepticon activity, but...
She ceases her surprisingly convincing story once Sentinel relaxes intimidating stance. The gullible fool brings his hand up to her shoulder, lightly resting it there.
SENTINEL
(sighs with disappointment)
Look, I'm affected by their loss too, but am I the only level head around here who's trying operate by the book?
His hand gently shifts to her face and he lifts her chin with his fore finger.
SENTINEL
I would hope you, of all bots, would be getting my back right now.
She wants to cringe but forces a sympathetic smile.
CHROMIA
(pandering)
I do...my commander. But even you can't be expected to maintain absolute control over everything that happens during such tumultuous times.
SENTINEL
(offended)
Of course I can, I am acting Magnus!
She coercible grabs his hand with both of hers and begins leading him down the hallway.
CHROMIA
And a fine one at that, but even a Magnus needs to sit back once in a while and put a little faith in his subordinates.
SENTINEL
I did! I trusted Ironhide and Cliffjumper to a task which was obviously too much for them to handle.
He simmers down a notch as his confidence is boosted by the femme's reliable adoration. She slider her right arm under his left, linking them as they walk side by side.
SENTINEL
Is Brawn awake yet? Has he shed anymore light as to what went wrong?
CHROMIA
Unfortunately, no. Thank Primus he's still online, though.
SENTINEL
Thank Primus, YOU'RE online! That's the last time I let you play soldier.
She smiles and gazes up at him, a twinkle glinting from her optics.
CHROMIA
Why don't you rot in the inferno already.
I promise, it won't happen again, sir.
He satisfyingly smiles back down at her, pleased that his companion is willing to acknowledge the traditional role of a femme.
SENTINEL
So, what supplies did you send to Optimus and his team?
CHROMIA
Ohhh, just a stack of energon and other odds and ends.
EARTH - LAKE EERIE SHORE - NIGHT
Four large silhouettes and a stack of cubes materialize onto a secluded beach of Lake Eerie. They are surrounded by tall trees and dense shrubbery. From across the lake, city lights twinkle but their glow is soon overwhelmed by the pink radiation of energon.
MEGATRON
Blitzwing, Lugnut...pack up these cubes.
LUGNUT
(eagerly)
Yes, my Lord.
Lugnut obligingly transforms and opens the hatch to his cargo hold.
ICY BLITZWING
(not so eager)
Vis all due respect, my Lord, vhy must ve continue our operations on zis primitive planet? Zer are ozer sources of energy in zee universe.
LUGNUT
(annoyed)
Stop questioning our leader and load the cubes!
Blitzwing's face swishes to Hothead as he picks up a cube and chucks it through the opening in Lugnut.
MEGATRON
(dismissive of their actions)
This primitive planet is still harboring pieces to the All Spark. Those ninja bots were only able to harness the shards within the city, but several lay in the outskirts, possibly within this very forest.
SHOCKWAVE
(looking across the lake)
I assume that's Detroit.
MEGATRON
Correct. The Autobots will undoubtedly base there again.
SHOCKWAVE
Where do you suggest we station ourselves?
Megatron squats down next to the stack of energon and picks a device up from the ground.
MEGATRON
Ideally, among allies.
He switches the device on, small lights beaming to life which illuminate the sharp features on the Decepticon leader's face. He rises from the undignified squatted position and adjusts some settings on the devices' interface.
SHOCKWAVE
Splendid, she didn't forget to include the energy signature tracker, not that I doubted her...she's quite the remarkable femme.
MEGATRON
Deceiving the Autobots isn't what I consider a glorious achievement, but I am impressed by her perseverance. Only time will measure the extent of her loyalty.
A small dot flashes on the tracker's screen.
MEGATRON
(focused on tracker)
Ahh, there you are.
DINOBOT ISLAND - LABORATORY
Blackarachnia hovers over the seeker's body, delicately grasping the All Spark fragment in one hand and a human brain in the other. She slowly lowers the fragment into Starscream's spark chamber, his faint spark growing brighter as the fragment gets closer. Suddenly, a electric jolt bursts from his spark and wraps around her hand as if it were reaching for the fragment. She releases her grip on the powerful trinket, dropping it into the open chest cavity of her patient. The electricity begins surging throughout the dormant Decepticon's body and his colors slowly fade in through the hues of gray.
BLACKARACHNIA
(in a state of awe)
I guess it's now or never!
She gently places the brain into the blinding glow, then steps back to marvel at her creation.
The fleshy tissues slowly disintegrate as blue jolts continue to race throughout the seeker's body, heavily concentrating on his head. The familiar metallic red features of Megatron's deceitful second are now vibrant.
Starscream pops his optics wide open then cuts loose a shrill screech of agony.
Blackarachnia's eyes widen and she backs up even more, practically tripping over the instrument tray.
BLACKARACHNIA
(worried)
I hope I don't regret this.
He fiercely grips the edges of the table, growling through gritted teeth. The electricity has shifted its full concentration to his head. He painstakingly sits ups, drawing his hands to glowing chaos surrounding his face.
STARSCREAM
(shrieking)
What is happening to my processor circuitry!!??
He shifts his legs off the table turning his back to the techno-organic, still unaware of her presence. He then falls in a heap on the floor, hidden from Blackarachnia's view by the table.
She inches forward, straining to see more than just a blue glow, but afraid to get any closer.
The electric jolts start retreating until they are merely sputtering flashes in the seeker's spark chamber.
Blackarachnia cautiously inches forward.
A black arm slams down on the table, shortly followed by the other and the weakened but fully conscious winged Decepticon pulls himself to his feet. He slams his spark chamber shut and locks his glowing red optics onto the techno-organic.
STARSCREAM
(voice crescendo's from whisper to scream)
Blackarachnia, will you please explain what, in the name of everything holy worth giving a spark for, IS GOING ON!?
Her fear morphs to joy.
BLACKARACHNIA
You...you know my name. But I need to make sure you have more than just your memory. Quickly, uh…what discovery was made by the German scientist, Friedrich Wohler?
STARSCREAM
(without a second thought)
In 1828 he synthesized urea by reacting together ammonium chloride and silver cyanate, therefore unveiling the first conclusive evidence that organic compounds could be produced outside of living systems, but what has that got to do with...(he pauses, confused). Why do I know Earth's history of organic chemistry? (he brings his hands to his cockpit). Why does my spark chamber feel...impure?!!
Blackarachnia springs over to him, grabbing his hands and bouncing up and down like a hyper child.
BLACKARACHNIA
It worked! It actually worked, I can't believe it!!
Starscream stares at her with absolute confusion, then yanks his hands from hers, raising his fists above his head, priming his temper its grand entrance.
STARSCREAM
(shouting full blast)
For the last time will you tell me what is going...
His tantrum is interrupted by a deep voice coming from the femme's comm. link.
MEGATRON
Blackarachnia, are you there?
Starscream freezes a moment, then relaxes.
STARSCREAM
(quietly)
Megatron!? (a grin spreads across his face)
Blackarachnia's excited state is replaced with puzzlement.
BLACKARACHNIA
Megatron, is that you? But I thought you were...
MEGATRON
I was...but now I'm back on Earth and in need of sanctuary. (Starscream leans in curiously) Rumor has it your current residence is more than accommodating for a fractured Decepticon army, in need of rest and reformation.
STARSCREAM
Interesting...
She quickly slaps her hand over the mouth of the strangely calm traitor.
BLACKARACHNIA
(questioning)
Ummm....who told you...
MEGATRON
(agitated)
I have my sources, now are you willing to redeem your vigilante activities or shall I apprehend your facilities by force?
BLACKARACHNIA
(filling with paranoia)
What is your location?
DINOBOT ISLAND
Megatron and his followers hover above a dense jungle. He's still holding the tracking device, which flashes it's green light excitedly like a bloodhound barking at a foxhole.
MEGATRON
(into comm. link)
Hmmm, I assume your hidden underneath all this accursed organic material.
INSIDE LABORATORY
Blackarachnia freaks out.
BLACKARACHNIA
Oh maternal unit of Primus, he's on the island!
STARSCREAM
(rubbing his hands together)
This should be fun.
She darts behind Starscream and attempts to shove him toward the main entry hallway.
BLACKARACHNIA
You need to disappear!
STARSCREAM
(barely budging)
If he's already in the area, then it's very likely he's found your little hideout and will be making his grand entrance any moment now, most predictably emerging from that hallway directly in front of us.
BLACKARACHNIA
Blast, you're right! Quickly then, find someplace to hide.
She frantically dashes to the computer and starts closing windows containing diagrams of seeker blueprints.
Starscream saunters across the lab to a tightly-sealed double doorway. He reaches for the "open" button, but stops when a two sets of green fingers pry through the seam where the doors meet in the middle. The fingers separate the doors with ease and Lugnut appears behind them.
His large circular optic widens at the figure before him and he wastes no time snatching Starscream by the neck and slamming him into the wall in a chokehold.
LUGNUT
Traitor! You shall pay for your defiance!
Blackarachnia pops her head out from behind the massive monitor, gaping at the emergence of Megatron, Blitzwing and Shockwave through the back doors of her lab. Blitzwing and Shockwave are both carrying arm loads of energon cubes.
As Megatron enters he calmly glares at Lugnut's captive, sickened by the all-too-familiar grin.
STARSCREAM
(classic smirk)
Surprised, oh mighty Megatron?
MEGATRON
(wearily)
It takes far more than your predictably invasive and annoyingly eternal presence to surprise me anymore.
Blackarachnia fires a web stream to the ceiling and swings toward the drama, landing between Megatron and Lugnut.
BLACKARACHNIA
(to Megatron, desperately)
Please, you must hear me out before you do anything rash. I can explain everything.
MEGATRON
(empowered by her submissive state)
I have no intention of wasting my reserves on that sniveling snake right now. You can drivel your pathetic excuses at me once we've all fully recharged with a proper helping of energon.
Megatron proceeds into the lab as if it were rightfully his.
MEGATRON
In the meantime, enlighten me to the origins of this place and how you obtained it.
