MAIN ROOM - DECEPTICON BASE
Lugnut and Blitzwing enter the lab through main doorway, immediately commanding the attention of Shockwave and Blackarachnia.
SHOCKWAVE
Fools! You will explain your tardiness.
HOTHEAD BLITZWING
Vee don't have to explain squat to you!
Megatron emerges in a cloud of dust through his personal doorway.
MEGATRON
But you will explain your incompetence to me!
The triple-changer's angry persona retreats at the sound of his leader's voice.
ICY BLITZWING
(groveling)
Um…vell, zee truse of the zee matter is…
Lugnut proudly steps forward, opening the hatch to his storage compartment which spills five glowing blue shards of variable sizes onto the floor. This action leaves Shockwave and Blackarachnia awe-struck.
Megatron approaches the scene, and glances back and forth between Lugnut and the shards with disbelief, compelling Lugnut to dutifully fall to one knee.
LUGNUT
Master, it pained me to deceive you but I was afraid to mention our discoveries over the comm, in case the Autobots found a way to listen in.
Megatron squats down next to the spilled treasures, mood lightening as he carefully inspects the shards. He could feel the immense concentration of power within each trinket, igniting is spark with a raw clarity, projecting images in his mind of victories unforeseen and unimagined by even him.
The Decepticon leader's silent state brings an air of puzzlement to the scene.
Starscream enters through the crude hole in the wall, sweeping dust off his arms and cockpit, but freezes upon seeing the shards.
LUGNUT
(slightly worried)
Ma-Master…is everything okay?
Lugnut's voice snaps Megatron back into the room.
MEGATRON
(rising up)
Your findings are impressive but they don't alter the time-sensitive nature of your mission. (motions to operating table) You may very well have jeopardized the usefulness of that human component…
ICY BLIZTWING
Sir, vee had every intention to hastily complete our mission, but zee tracker vouldn't quit.
The triple-changer is overcome with excitement at the retelling of their recent adventure.
RANDOM BLITZWING
It vas a vicious cycle! Vee vould collect a shard, head for home, then zee tracker would scream NO NO NO. So vee'd collect another shard, head for home, then zee tracker vould scream…
Megatron abruptly cuts off the maniacal ramblings.
MEGATRON
(squeezing his temples)
I get the idea! (glancing to the femme) Blackarachnia, you have everything you need to commence with the procedure.
BLACKARACHIA
(snapping to attention)
Yes Sir!
She hustles down from the platform and crouches next to the pile of sparkling treasure, hesitating before gently picking up the largest shard.
STARSCREAM
(standing at the table)
The smallest shard should contain more than enough power to resurrect this Autobot.
SHOCKWAVE
Can you break them into smaller pieces?
STARSCREAM
Not under our current time constraints, but perhaps the additional All Spark power can compensate for the deterioration of the human's brain.
Starscream carefully lifts the jar from the instrument tray and unscrews the lid.
Blackarachnia chooses the smallest shard of the five and brings it to the operating table, flashing Starscream a look of uncertainty. He raises an optic ridge to her but proceeds to lift the brain out of the liquid.
Megatron approaches the table with stern curiosity, but mindfully glances back over his shoulder.
MEGATRON
Lugnut! Pick up the shards and bring them to me.
LUGNUT
At once my liege!
Lugnut scrambles to the floor and collects each shard as carefully as his hulking claw will allow.
Shockwave is suddenly overcome with an epiphany of paranoia and quickly averts his attention from the science project to the mega-computer. He taps away at the console, bringing up multiple views of the island's landscape. One video feed displays the expanse of lake from the viewpoint of the island's shore, and in the lake is an object too large and fast to be the typical indigenous water foul. Shockwave zooms in on the image to reveal a black and white watercraft, carrying an all too familiar cast of invasive characters.
SHOCKWAVE
Megatron, the Autobots!
The video feed commands the attention of the entire room, everyone responding with frustration except for Blackarachnia who feels a sense of relief.
BLACKARACHNIA
What are your orders, Sir? I don't think it wise to risk the Autobots interrupting our procedure.
Megatron rudely snatches the shard from the spiderbot's grasp and shoves her aside.
MEGATRON
I grow impatient of your excuses. (glares at Starscream) Can I depend on your assistance?
STARSCREAM
Yes, Megatron, but she is the experienced one here so I suggest you follow her instructions.
Megatron grumbles then looks upon Blackarachnia with annoyed expectation, forcing her to relent to the inevitable situation at hand.
BLACKARACHNIA
(defeated)
Just…place the shard in his spark chamber and a wait a few kliks before adding the brain.
Lugnut slowly approaches with his claw full of shards and Blitzwing is close behind him. Both of them are fascinated by the long-anticipated event. Even Shockwave has averted his attention from the impending Autobot threat to the actions of his leader.
Megatron hovers his hand over Prowl's chest, then releases the grasp of his fingertips and the powerful gem drops into the lifeless cavity.
LAKE EERIE
The Detroit Police boat glides across the glassy waters of the waking lake with sense of urgency. Its aft deck is barely large enough to house the five Autobots. Sari is inside the enclosed cabin standing impatiently next to Captain Fanzone who proudly mans the helm. She does an about face and flings herself into the cabin's door, letting a rush of cold wind disturb the warm calm of the enclosure.
FANZONE
Do you mind, kid?
Bounding onto the wind whipped deck, Sari joins her friends then slams the cabin door behind her.
SARI
What's our plan?
The Autobots look expectantly to their leader who appears immersed in uncertainty.
OPTIMUS PRIME
I sincerely doubt we'll have the element of surprise, so we'll need to be on constant alert. We know for certain from this morning's news that Megatron and Shockwave are in the picture, and we can almost guarantee Lugnut and Blitzwing are too.
JAZZ
I'm not diggin' the numbers boss…that's six of them, possibly more against five of us…
SARI
(sternly interrupting)
You mean seven of us!
RATCHET
Megatron could predictably send his two goons to deal with us, leaving himself and perhaps another behind to guard Prowl, but I say we'd still be wise to prepare for a full on strike from all of them.
BUMBLEBEE
Maybe they took Prowl simply to lure us into some kind of trap.
OPTIMUS PRIME
(rubbing his forehead)
I'm perplexed that Megatron would reveal himself so quickly after his arrival here on Earth. It's not like to him operate with such carelessness, but then again, if he's backed by the full power of all his earth based Decepticons, then he'll have very little reason to fear our intervention.
BULKHEAD
Why don't we get the Dinobots to help us? That'll tip the scales in our favor.
OPTIMUS PRIME
Normally they prefer to avoid our warfare, but maybe Grimlock's grudge against Blackarachnia will work in our favor. It's certainly worth a try. (into comm.) Grimlock, do you copy?
DINOBOT ISLAND - DECEPTICON BASE
With weapons readied, the Decepticons encircle the operating table, its occupant now vivid with lively shades of black and gold. The remaining blue jolts light up the triangular optic visor of the familiar Autobot ninja, then fade away into the blinding glow of his spark chamber leaving an eerie stillness in the room.
The whirring of the Autobot's ventilators breaks the tense silence, but Megatron moves closer, refusing to be intimidated by such dramatics.
MEGATRON
Welcome back, my friend.
The sinister voices rings all too familiar in the ninja's processor as he frantically sits up and darts his attention across the curious stares that surround him.
PROWL
Decepticons!
He agilely springs from the table toward Lugnut's head, using the cyclops as a launching pad to reach for the rafters above. Grabbing hold of a support beam, he spins around it before landing in crouch on its narrow surface. The animal-like bot peers down at his enemies then frantically searches the room for a means of escape.
MEGATRON
Get him under control at once, WITHOUT harming him!
Icy Blitzwing seizes his cue and fires a blast of cold at Prowl, who effortlessly leaps from the beam to the top of the mega computer.
Despite his bafflingly disadvantageous predicament, the ninja ventilates with an exhilarated thrill. He settles his optics on the glaring intelbot lingering below then flashes a taunting glance through his optic visor.
Shockwave instinctively aims his cannon at the Autobot, but gives no indication that he intends to fire.
SHOCKWAVE
I won't fall for your trickery, Autobot.
Blitzwing unleashes another blast of cold which is easily dodged by the ninja, but not by the computer monitor, which cracks from the assaulting ice.
Megatron abruptly backhands the triple-changer, knocking him to the floor.
MEGATRON
Mind the equipment, you fool! Blackarachnia, could you please put an end to this nonsense.
The awe-struck predacon jolts at the request then springs onto the operating table. She fires barrage of webs at the ceiling, all of which Prowl dodges with ease.
She pauses her attacks, takes a moment to rethink her strategy, studying the decreasing number of safe spots for her target, then fires a tiny web at him quickly followed by a large web at his anticipated destination.
Prowl flails mid-air as his landing spot is covered by the sticky netting which he's helpless to avoid. He falls into the glistening fibers, his weight stretching them out and encouraging their entrapment of him. He slams to the floor, writhing and struggling to free his encumbered limbs, but is unable to avoid Lugnut's lumbering foot which heavily pins his body down.
Megatron approaches the defeated pest with quizzical irritation.
MEGATRON
You obviously recognize us, but do you know who YOU are…Jeffrey Simon?
The name causes Prowl to flinch, rebooting his processor with gouging confusion.
Exactly the reaction Megatron was fishing for.
MEGATRON
(pandering smile)
Lugnut, that is no way to treat our guest. Bring him to his feet. Bestow the renowned Mr. Simon with the dignity he deserves.
Lugnut is unsure of his master's orders, but follows them unquestionably, removing his foot from the captive and pulling him to his feet.
The ninja looks upon his towering captors with a raging horror.
PROWL
(squirming under the webbing)
You call this dignity?
Starscream strides up to Prowl, slides the distinguished Cyber-Ninja helmet of from his head and happily joins the game of deception.
STARSCREAM
Allow me to relieve you of this burden. Such a brilliant mind shouldn't be encumbered by silly symbols of foolish practices.
PROWL
No! Give it back! That belonged to my…um…my master…
MEGATRON
Mr. Simon, how dreadful it must to bear the curse of such useless memories.
PROWL
Why do keep calling me that?! My name is…
Prowl's face washes over with a perplexed fear, his processor obviously working overtime, but without a desired outcome.
PROWL
What have you done to me? Why does my memory fail me?
MEGATRON
Because, dear human, you're trying to access the wrong memories, but it's understandable why you would want to block them out. Your fate was left to that of your fellow humans' justice system, however, we took it upon ourselves to rescue you and give you sanctuary in this new body. A body more powerful than the unfitting flesh you were born with. Sure it has the residue of its former inhabitant, but that's nothing a strong personality such as yourself can't overcome with a little willpower.
Megatron's words leave Prowl flustered and speechless.
Shockwave carefully peels chunks of ice from the screen of the monitor. He soon uncovers the video feed displaying the Autobots.
SHOCKWAVE
Sir, the Auto…(he cuts himself off) Our impending threat is closing in. They're less than ten cycles from reaching the island.
Megatron growls at the annoying turn of events.
BLACKARACHNIA
I'll go topside and divert them once they're on the island.
MEGATRON
No. I don't want them to even reach the shore. Blitzwing! I want you to transport our guest into the city, preferable a well-known public location and make sure the both of you are in plain view to the watercraft's occupants.
ICY BLITZWING
Yes, my Lord.
Blitzwing snatches the baffled ninja and tucks him under one arm
PROWL
You…You're letting me go?
MEGATRON
(resuming his charade)
Of course, Mr. Simon. You belong in the city, amongst your fellow humans, who will no longer see you as a threat but rather a hero.
SHOCKWAVE
Isn't that a rather risky diversion, my Lord?
Shockwave waits until Blitzwing leaves the room with the subject at hand before finishing his thought.
SHOCKWAVE
How do we know the Autobot's memory won't overpower the human's?
MEGATRON
We don't, but he'll provide enough of a distraction while we collect more All Spark fragments. (gestures to Lugnut) We're already up by four which is much farther ahead of schedule than I originally anticipated.
Lugnut straightens his posture with a sense of pride as he hands Megatron the remaining shards. Their glow once again captivates the Decepticon leader and he cracks a scheming smile.
MEGATRON
Starscream! I'm relying on your wily genius to devise a means of extracting energon from these.
STARSCREAM
Already drawing mental blueprints, however, I will need some supplies of both the earthly and Cybertronian sort.
Blackarachnia dispenses a blank stare to each of her colleagues, baffled by their apparent forgetfulness of the events that just took place.
BLACKARACHNIA
Before you all so eagerly move on to brasher endeavors, shouldn't we at least track Blitzwing and Prowl so we have some idea if our plan even works?
Shockwave brings the video feed of the lake to the front of the screen but no one appears interested in it. Lugnut focuses on Megatron, who's lost in the shard's lure again and Shockwave immediately shifts his focus to the science bot, who's caught up in his own scheming.
SHOCKWAVE
I'm sure Chromia could arrange another transport of goods for us, but I caution against stretching her resources too thin. The Elite Guard is no doubt in much higher suspicion of their own these days.
Blackarachnia shakes her head with repugnance as she storms up to the mega-computer and stations herself next to Shockwave, assuming his role of monitoring the unfolding events on the lake.