Disclaimer: Transformers belongs to Hasbro/Michael Bay.
The following morning, Optimus stood outside while Sentinel was in Wheeljack's warehouse. Bumblebee already left with Bailey, and Smokescreen, Prowl and Jazz have already finished renovating a few of the living quarters, including Optimus's. Soon, Wheeljack stepped outside, followed by Sentinel.
"Hey, Optimus," announced Wheeljack, "great news! We finished the AllSpark detector."
"'We?'" paused Sentinel, "you binged on high grade and passed out, leaving me to finish it. Just be glad I'm an engineer and not a polishing drone."
"On the bright side," replied Wheeljack, "we can now search for the AllSpark shards across the planet."
"Indeed," nodded Optimus, "and I would suggest not indulging in high grade for quite some time, lest you should hinder any other task that needs doing."
"Fine," sighed Wheeljack, "so, who's going to begin searching for AllSpark shards?"
No one noticed Elita One approaching from behind, until…
"I could help with searching for the shards," suggested Elita.
"AAAAHHHH, SLAGGIT!" shouted Sentinel, startled, "are you trying to give me a spark attack?"
"Sorry, sir," stammered Elita, "I didn't mean it."
"Apologies accepted, Elita," replied Optimus, "and of course we'll gladly have you help us."
"Thank you," smiled Elita, "do you know if anyone else is willing to join us?"
"Every Autobot here has agreed to help in any way he or she can," reminded Optimus.
"Great!" chirped Wheeljack, "so, when do we try out the detector?"
"Optimus?" asked Sentinel.
"We'll get ready to head out in several kliks," answered Optimus, "Wheeljack, I'll leave it to you to find a hotspot for AllSpark shards."
"You got it," agreed Wheeljack.
While Optimus and Elita wandered through the base to find Smokescreen and Ironhide, Sentinel headed into the hangar to retrieve the Pillars from the vault. Once they gathered outside, Wheeljack emerged from his warehouse with the AllSpark detector.
"So," asked Ironhide, "did you find a hotspot for shards yet?"
"I did," answered Wheeljack, "according to the map, the hotspot I found is in this massive cave in a place called Quang Binh Province, Vietnam."
"So, does that mean we're going spelunking?" commented Smokescreen.
"Yes, we are," nodded Sentinel, "I hope you're not afraid of caves."
After setting up the Pillars, Sentinel transferred the coordinates from the AllSpark detector into the Control Pillar.
"Commencing transport!" announced Sentinel.
Sentinel activated the Control Pillar, which turned on the space bridge. Optimus, Ironhide, Elita, Smokescreen and Sentinel sprinted through the bridge, which took them directly to the Son Doong Cave.
"Wow!" chirped Smokescreen, "this is huge, even for us!"
"While scanning the Internet tower, I heard that this place has recently become a tourist destination," mentioned Elita, "if we're going to retrieve the shards, wouldn't it be best if we don't let the humans see us?"
"How?" objected Sentinel, "I've never heard of anyone finding a bigaft firetruck in a cave."
"Elita does have a point," agreed Optimus, "since we are considered aliens to the humans, Mearing would've wanted for us to keep our presence a secret from the civilians."
"So what do we do?" asked Sentinel, "we are rather brightly colored, Optimus."
"All I could say is that we should avoid being detected by the locals," suggested Optimus.
"Heh, good luck on that one, Prime," smirked Ironhide.
Sentinel, Optimus, Smokescreen, Ironhide and Elita split up and wandered through the cave in search of the AllSpark shards, careful not to make a sound that would catch any human's attention.
Meanwhile, back on the Nemesis, Soundwave carried a screen pad while sauntering through the corridor. He soon reached the door to Megatron's quarters, prompting him to knock on it.
"Who goes there!?" demanded Megatron.
"Lord Megatron…" replied Soundwave.
"Enter, Soundwave," commanded Megatron.
The door opened, prompting Soundwave to enter as he approached the Decepticon leader.
"Sentinel apparently used his space bridge to go after some shards," reported Soundwave, "he's on the other side of the planet. No doubt he's got Optimus and some others with him."
"In that case," ordered Megatron, "tell Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp to get ready to go after Sentinel. This could be our chance to swipe the shards from him."
"Are you sure those idiots can get the job done this time," questioned Soundwave, "my lord?"
"Then maybe," suggested Megatron, "we should send Knockout and Barricade as backup."
"Consider it done," acknowledged Soundwave, "my lord."
Without saying anything further, Soundwave left the room.
Back inside the cave, Optimus, Sentinel, Ironhide, Smokescreen and Elita were lucky that none of the humans have seen them yet, and to add to their luck, they have found several AllSpark shards, yet there are still a few more waiting to be found. At the moment, Smokescreen was waiting near the entrance of the cave, hiding from some tourists. After a while, his com-link beeped, prompting him to answer it.
"Smokescreen here," said Smokescreen in a quiet voice, "what's your status?"
"All of us are finished," sighed Optimus over the com-link, "except for Sentinel. I hope that leg isn't giving him trouble."
"Yeah, I kinda feel bad for the old mech," admitted Smokescreen, "there are still some tourists near the entrance of the cave, and I don't see any chances of leaving the cave without being spotted."
"I hope they aren't near Sentinel," prayed Optimus over the com-link, "he could get hurt trying to hide from them. When you finish your section, will you go check on him?"
"You got it, sir," nodded Smokescreen.
Smokescreen ended the call. Since he has found all the shards near the entrance of the cave, he has to figure out how to search for Sentinel without getting spotted. He carefully crept along the cave without making a sound. Fortunately, he was able to head further into the cave without being detected. Suddenly, he heard the sound of an explosion within a distance inside the cave.
"What the frag?" muttered Smokescreen.
Smokescreen proceeded to investigate and noticed a hole in the cave that was just made from an explosive as Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp flew inside.
"Scrap!" exclaimed Smokescreen.
Smokescreen activated his com-link.
"Smokescreen to Optimus," called Smokescreen, "I have a visual on quite a few Cons headed for Sentinel."
"Protect him at all costs," ordered Optimus over the com-link, "and make sure the Decepticons don't harm the humans, either!"
"Right," nodded Smokescreen.
Smokescreen ended the call and sprinted further into the cave, pursuing the Decepticon Seekers. He arrived just in time to see them gang up on Sentinel, who whipped out his Primax blade and shield.
"Let's make this quick," growled Sentinel, "you deranged dorito chickens are really getting on my nervewires."
"Pfft," scoffed Starscream, "you don't scare us that easily, old geezer! Just hand over the shards and we'll leave you alone."
Smokescreen managed to get in between Sentinel and the seekers.
"Like slag I'll let that happen!" barked Smokescreen.
"Great timing, kid," smirked Sentinel, "hey, Screamybitch! Say it, don't spray it!"
Thundercracker and Skywarp tried hard to not laugh, but it seemed apparent that they're failing.
"It's not funny, you two!" barked Starscream, "take them down!"
"Which do you want, Smoke?" asked Sentinel.
"I'll take on the blue turkey," suggested Smokescreen, "you can have the other two."
Just as Smokescreen spoke, Knockout and Barricade arrived at the scene.
"Aren't you all forgetting someone?" complained Knockout, "like, oh, I don't know, me!?"
"Scrap," groaned Sentinel and Smokescreen.
"Well, you took your sweet time to get here," mocked Starscream, "it looks like Sentinel isn't willing to give up the shards, so we'll just have to take him to Lord Megatron."
Sentinel secretly handed the shards to Smokescreen so the Decepticons can't see.
"Take these to Optimus," whispered Sentinel, "go."
Smokescreen slipped the shards into his subspace component and began to run for it as Starscream, Thundercracker, Skywarp, Knockout and Barricade gang up on Sentinel. Suddenly, Elita showed up and fired her blaster at the Decepticons, startling them.
"Scrap!" exclaimed Thundercracker, "it's the leader of the femmes!"
Not a second later, Optimus and Ironhide showed up.
"Feelin' lucky, punks?" taunted Ironhide.
As the fight ensued, Sentinel tried to make his way out, only to be snatched into the air by two of the Seekers, who immediately shot off with two loud sonic booms, taking the elder Prime with them and forcing him to drop his blade and shield.
"Nasutn'on!" shouted Optimus.
Optimus sprinted after the Seekers, only to notice that the small control for the bridge fell out of Sentinel's subspace compartment, which the younger Prime managed to snatch. Unfortunately, he was unable to catch up with the Seekers. Back in the cave, after a brief brawl, Starscream, Knockout and Barricade slowly backed up.
"What the frag?" warbled Elita.
"Looks like our work is done here," smirked Starscream.
Starscream, Knockout and Barricade made a hasty retreat as Optimus returned with the small control in his hand.
"Optimus!" gasped Elita, "what's that?"
"The control for the space bridge," answered Optimus, lowering his head in sadness, "they took Sentinel."
"Oh, Optimus…" whispered Elita.
"We'll get him back, Prime," assured Ironhide, "somehow."
"At least," added Smokescreen, "they didn't get his shards. Let's get them back to base before the Cons come back."
Aboard the bridge of the Nemesis, Starscream approached Megatron with Thundercracker and Skywarp following him, dragging Sentinel with them.
"Lord Megatron," reported Starscream, gesturing to Sentinel, "we brought you Sentinel Prime."
"Why, thank you, Starscream," praised Megatron.
Thundercracker and Skywarp released Sentinel from their grip and backed away as Megatron approached the elder Prime, who slowly started to get to his feet.
"So, Sentinel," requested Megatron, staring into Sentinel's optics, "why don't you hand over the shards?"
"Why don't you eat my slag?" growled Sentinel.
"Hmph," retorted Megatron, "you are still as stubborn as all the other Primes, aren't you?"
"Yes," nodded Sentinel, optics glaring at the Decepticon leader, "especially dealing with the likes of you."
Enraged, Megatron grabbed Sentinel by the neck and slammed him into the ground. The old mech grunted in pain, but was otherwise silent.
"Don't you talk back to me like that, Prime!" roared Megatron, "now where are the shards!?"
"I'm not telling you," spat Sentinel, "slag face!"
Sentinel hissed in pain as Megatron tightened his grip on the elder Prime's neck.
"You aren't gettin' scrap out of me, Deceptislag," snarled Sentinel.
"I guess it's no use interrogating you," sighed Megatron.
Megatron released his grip on Sentinel and stood to his feet.
"Toss him into the brig," commanded Megatron.
"Yes, Lord Megatron," nodded Thundercracker and Skywarp.
Thundercracker and Skywarp dragged Sentinel out of the bridge as Starscream approached Megatron.
"My lord," suggested Starscream, "we could trade him for whatever shards the Autobots have."
"A ransom, you say?" crooned Megatron, "that does sound like a good idea."
Back at the base, Optimus, Elita, Ironhide and Smokescreen returned via the space bridge while the Autobot weapons specialist carried the Primax blade and shield, only to be greeted by some soldiers, including Lennox and Epps.
"Hey," asked Lennox, "where's Sentinel?"
Optimus felt sick. He couldn't bring himself to answer. Luckily, seeing his old friend's distress, Ironhide began to speak.
"Sentinel was kidnapped by Cons," answered Ironhide.
"Shit," muttered Epps, "that can't be good."
"I'll get Bailey so you can give her the shards," said Lennox, "and tell her what happened."
Just as Lennox spoke, Bumblebee returned to the base. Bailey hopped out of the Camaro, allowing the yellow Autobot to transform. They both eagerly approached the Autobots.
"Hey, Optimus," chirped Bumblebee, "how was your scavenger hunt?"
Again, Optimus didn't say anything, so Ironhide relayed the news once again.
"What?!" warbled Bumblebee.
"No way," exclaimed Bailey, "really?! So that explains why he's not here. Does that also explain why Optimus isn't speaking?"
"Yes," nodded Ironhide, "it's a touchy subject."
"At least we made sure the Decepticons didn't get the shards," replied Elita.
Optimus, Ironhide, Elita and Smokescreen pulled out the shards they found from their subspace compartment and set them down onto the ground.
"You know what to do," reminded Smokescreen, "right?"
Bailey nodded as she approached the pile of shards. The instant her bracer lit up, the shards disintegrated into particles, allowing the wristband to absorb them like a sponge.
"So," asked Bailey, "has anyone come up with a plan to rescue Sentinel yet?"
The Autobots shook their heads.
"We don't even know where they took him," answered Elita.
"Or," added Smokescreen, "if he's still alive."
"Then, do you think we should try to find their hideout?" suggested Bailey, "maybe that's where they could've taken him, but that's just me."
