Chapter 3:
"How did Metal Wrecker manage to do all that?" Torch asked aloud, looking at the fallen Autobots that were scattered across the scrapyard.
"Didn't you hear?" Thrasher answered, "She trained with Storm Shadow."
"That doesn't explain the giant suit of armor," Torch said.
"Yeah… no idea on that one," Thrasher said.
"Miko, why do you need the Energon?" Bumblebee, the last Autobot still on his feet asked.
"For our mutual friend," Metal Wrecker/Miko said.
"Wait, what happened?" Bumblebee said.
"After everything went to hell, Section E was cut off from our usual supplies of Energon, much less able to refine it for his use," Miko said.
"How bad is he?"
"Bad."
"Take four cubes. That should be enough, and still leave my team with enough to keep going until we can find some more," Bumblebee decided.
"Thanks, Bee," Miko said.
"So we're not taking it all now?" Ripper asked.
"No, Ripper, we reached a compromise," Miko said.
Drift groaned as he got up, and retrieved his apologetic Minicons.
"I can tell your training has been going well," Bumblebee said.
"Yeah, they all said I was a gifted, if annoying student," Miko answered.
"What happened to the Apex Armor's helmet?" Bumblebee asked, "Your head shouldn't be exposed like this."
"I got in over my head during the Fall of the Pentagon. The Armor took some damage."
"After surviving billions of years of Cybertronian conflicts, you mean to say you damaged the legendary Apex Armor in battle against humans?" Drift said.
"Not exactly against humans, dude," Miko said. "Told you, the world's gone to hell in a handbasket."
"What do you mean, what's happened?" Bumblebee asked.
"Remember what happened in Jasper?"
"Yeah… when we covered the evacuation of the human survivors. Not a good time."
"World wide."
"What?"
"Started out as a few small attacks here and there, but before we knew it, we had an epidemic on our hands. Not many holdouts like this one left anymore," Miko said.
"But we haven't detected any Dark Energon."
"That was only present in the first generation of the Z Virus. We are way past that point now," Miko said.
"Do you know what they are talking about?" Denny asked his son.
"No idea what this Dark Energon is," Rusty said.
"Glad it wasn't just me," Denny said.
"And all this time," Bumblebee said, "we have been avoiding the city to escape human detection, and we needn't of bothered. Why didn't you tell us, Denny?"
"I thought you knew," Denny said, "Why else go to so much trouble to avoid the city? I was just glad you didn't lead any zombies back here."
"There were a couple of hold out colonies in Crown city, but I think one of them has fallen now too," Miko said.
"Which one!?" Rusty demanded, "Mom?"
"Sorry, kiddo," Denny said in a somber tone, "she knew it was coming, that's why she sent you here."
"Tough break, Kid," Buzzer offered words of comfort.
"I'll call Jack," Miko said. "When he gets here, he can give you an updated idea of the world view, and he will be able to get the Energon Cubes back faster."
"Miko…" Bumblebee began, with a hint of hesitation in his voice, "what about…?"
"Later, Bee," Miko said. "After all, you still haven't told me how Bulk has been doing."
