The outer rim of the raider flight deck was too steep to ramp over. Wheeljack transformed, clambered up onto the deck and then transformed back, using his tow cable to pull Arcee aboard.

"I can't believe Brawl didn't spot us," Arcee said. "Gear-for-brains juggernaut…"

Gi, Ma-Ti and Wheeler climbed out and Arcee transformed. Wheeler said, "Let's just be glad and get moving before anybody notices us."

With trepidation, Gi pointed to the elevator platform, "This way."

Gi, Wheeler, Ma-Ti and Arcee moved onto the platform while Wheeljack hacked the control column.

The elevator descended slowly. Gi was trembling, and Wheeler grimaced. "Hang in there, Gi. We'll take them."

"I don't want payback, Wheeler. I just want to stop the fight before Hope Island is ruined. If I hadn't lost my ring this wouldn't be happening."

"Hey, just be grateful you got the word out and didn't end up a pile of dust." Arcee chided her. "More powerful Autobots than any of us haven't done so well as you as Decepticon prisoners."

The lift descended past the room full of energon cubes, which elicited an intrigued noise from Wheeljack. Ma-Ti scanned the rooms beyond with his power, and found nothing. Then they arrived back in the bay where Gi and Clash had been held prisoner.

"This is where they took my ring," she said. The space seemed even bigger than before now that MAL's new body was no longer present. The stairway in the far wall had been repaired.

"You see it?" Arcee asked.

Gi scanned the room, "No, I don't. Ma-Ti?"

"It isn't in this room, but it is nearby," Ma-Ti said, grimacing with concentration.

"The next room," Arcee said, "Come on!"

The elevator had doors on both sides. Wheeljack was still on the platform. "Hang, on…okay, I got it."

And instant later, Wheeljack cried out, there was a clanging and metallic commotion, and he cried, "Watch out!" A moment later Swindle stalked into the bay, rifle in hand.

Arcee raised her weapon, "Take cover!"

There really was nowhere to take cover, but the three Planeteers retreated as Arcee moved between them and the Decepticon.

"Sorry, Autobot," Swindle gloated, "Starscream's not the only one with a null ray!"

The strobe light discharge sent Arcee reeling and she crashed, half-paralyzed against a wall.

"That's two Autobots dealt with. Now for the flesh creatures!"

"Run!" Gi yelled, and the trio sprinted past Swindle, Wheeler punched the air to his left. "Fire!"

An expanding beam blazed across the side of Swindle's face and arm. Wheeler kept it on him as they moved. Swindle staggered, raising his arms defensively. As it hit his chest, what would have been his windscreen in jeep form bubbled and cracked. Wheeler tripped and toppled over, but managed to keep the beam on Swindle's legs without setting his own jeans on fire. He final had to disengage the beam and roll to avoid a blast from Swindle's weapon. But he'd made it count: Swindle's armour on his chest, arms and lower legs was glowing orange.

Gi grabbed Wheeler and half-dragged him into the lift. Beyond, a bars had slammed down on the far door, and Wheeljack was stuck on the other side of them.

Gi pushed Wheeler and Ma-Ti against the bars. "Wheeler, hit Swindle again!"

The glowing Decepticon came in view and Wheeler obliged. Swindle covered his face, heating his forearm armour. Gi reached for the elevator controls.

"Gi!" Wheeljack shouted, "Here!"

Gi turned. Wheeljack had his hand open just beyond the bars. Gi's ring lay on his palm.

"This it?"

"Yes," Gi snatched it up through the bars, "Keep it up, Wheeler."

"Whatever you're going to do," Wheeler said through gritted teeth, "do it fast."

The radiant heat from Swindle was beginning to make them perspire. "Protect your eyes," Gi shouted, "Water!'

She thrust her fist up toward the sky at the top of the shaft. There was a brief moment where nothing happened, then a cascade of seawater filled the space, pouring down like a water fall.

Ma-Ti could feel spray on his arms, but before the water hit them, Gi bent it out at Swindle. They all looked away before a hot, stinging wave of steam rolled over them. Ma-Ti felt his skin blistering and yelled.

The water stopped and settled, sloshing around the floor. The air felt like a sauna. As the steam cleared, they all looked up, wincing as their scalded arms objected.

Swindle was lying on his back on the floor near the far wall. His armour was making clicking sounds as it cooled. His boxy outer structure, going instantly from hot to cool, had warped so much that he couldn't move! He twitched and groaned but couldn't get up.

Water beading on her outer structure, Arcee came into the lift. "Smartly done," she said, sounding dazed.

"Are you alright, Arcee?" Ma-Ti asked.

"Yeah," she said, "that rifle must be a prototype. Wears off pretty fast. Wheeljack?"

"Still in one piece. Get back up on deck and go help the others!"

"We're not leaving you down here!" Wheeler said.

"These bars are locked. I'd need a Decepticon override code. I'm good, but not that good!"

No sooner had he said it, then the bars began to rise!

"There," said a voice, "now go."

The Planeteers and Arcee turned around. Zarm was standing just outside the lift. He looked sour-faced. "You should probably hurry. The battle is not going well for you."

The Planeteers were dumbstruck. "Why," Gi gasped.

"I intend someday to defeat you, Planeteers. But I don't intend to win only to have my trophies claimed by Megatron. You'll live to fight another day. And if you'll excuse me…"

He walked forward and the Planeteers parted to admit him. He walked past Wheeljack and into the opposite bay, which, they could now see, contained the geodesic sphere which was his spaceship.

Wheeljack activated the controls and the elevator rose again.