At the battle area
Detroit lay in pieces for the most part. Several structures were damaged in the battle against a rebuilt Megatron. It was at one of these structures that Optimus labored, thinking back on what happened directly afterward.
After Ratchet had scanned Blackarachnia he looked at the test showed.
"Well your processor is back to what it was before you got mutated by those spiders. But there is a little bit of damage so you will still have a bitter side to deal with." Ratchet said.
"Some basely I good but I'm still a bad girl." Blackarachnia said.
"That is one way to put it yes." Ratchet said.
"But at last I feel like I could finally forgive you Optimus." She said as she looked at Optimus. "But that doesn't mean I'm going to make life easier for you."
"I won't have it another way." Optimus said as he hugged her.
Honking brought him out of his thoughts as he concentrated at the source. Disengaging himself from the trailer he was currently using, he hurried forward to remove some rubble. The second he did, there was a squeal of tires as several vehicles drove off.
"Those humans were afraid of me."Optimus said sadly.
"Can you blame them? We did after all, trash half their city." Ratchet grumbled.
"Actually it was the Decepticons who did most of the damage." Prowl remained.
"I liked it better when we were heroes." Bulkhead sighed as he sat down on a boulder.
Then Optimus found himself traveling skyward suspended by his right servo from a line of webbing.
"Don't worry Optimus you will always be a hero to me." Blackarachnia said smiling sticking to a wall and enjoying the sight of Optimus hanging upside-down. "Besides you're too proud to be scary."
"Um, I think I'll take that as a complement." Optimus said nervously Blackarachnia maybe an Autobot but that didn't stop for getting payback for Archa Seven. "Do you mind letting me go now?"
"As you wish." Blackarachnia said. Optimus realized his mistake when she simply broke the webbing and let him plummet to the ground head first. Before he landed in the trailer another line of web caught him and gently dropped him in the trailer. "What you thought I was going to let him crash?" She asked.
"Why don't you stop playing around and start helping us!" Bulkhead yelled. Blackarachnia transformed and landed on the ground she now only had two optics and they were now blue.
"What I can't play and help at the same time?" Blackarachnia asked.
"Speaking of helping where's Bumblebee Shouldn't he be helping?" Ratchet asked.
"He's helping Sari at Sumdac Tower for a while." Blackarachnia answered helping Optimus out of the trailer.
"Thanks how is Sari?" Optimus asked.
"Faring much like us." Blackarachniasaid as ahe absolving Bulkhead's strengths to smack larger piece of rubble into more manageable fragments. She could now absolving powers of her allies through her arms. She could still use her stingers but she save those for her enemies "Overworked and unappreciated. Powell keeps trying to convince her to stop looking for her father but she's adamant about finding him."
Further conversation was stilled as they all heard a rumbling sound. Looking up, they could see something burning as it entered the atmosphere.
"What is that?" Bulkhead asked out loud. The flaming object continued in, hovering over the city before touching down in the park.
"No explosion that has to be a ship." Blackarachnia remarked.
"Prime! Did you see that?" Bumblebee running up to them with Sari running next to him.
"Kinda hard to miss." Ratchet said.
"Let's go check it out. Autobots transform and Roll Move Out!" Optimus said.
By the time they reached the blue and silver craft Fanzone was giving orders to his men.
"Maybe you should let us handle this." Optimus said.
"And let you guys wreck the other half of Detroit? Not a chance." Fanzone laughed. Optimus winced opening his mouth to say something but Blackarachnia beat him to it.
"Better listen to him, Captain Fanzone. That's the Autobot flagship, the Steelhaven. Either Optimus is about to get a medal or he's about to end up on the wrong end of Ultra Magnus' hammer." Blackarachnia said.
The main hatch opened and then three robots stood in the hatchway they were Ultra Magnus, Sentinel Prime, and Jazz.
"Why does it always have to be machines? I hate machines." Fanzone complained.
Optimus and his crew stepped forward but Blackarachnia was no were to be seen they lined up and saluting.
"Ultra Magnus sir welcome to Earth" Optimus said.
"Jazz set up a force field to protect us from these organics." Ultra Magnus ordered almost disregarding Optimus' statement.
"Are you sure about that I'd like to get a closer look?" Jazz asked.
"You won't be saying that after they cover you in slime Nothing good ever comes out of dealing with organics." Sentinel Prime said.
"You sound so sure of yourself. Any particular reason why?" A voice said.
All heads turned towards the voice. There was Blackarachnia who was in her beast mode.
"An organic." Sentinel yelled activating his energy lance and shield. He lunged forward only to fall forward as Blackarachnia simply leaped over him and transformed.
"Cool your fumes big shot. I'm an Autobot." Blackarachnia said calmly.
"There were only four Autobots that Optimus Prime commanded so who are you?" Ultra Magnus said.
"Blackarachnia, former chief scientist to the Decepticons. Optimus saved me from a virus that had been ravaged my systems for stellar-cycles. As such I'm indebted to him so I became an Autobot." Blackarachnia said explained.
"Until you decide to stab him in the back. I still can't believe that Opitmus let a tech-organic freak become an Autobot. "Sentinel said as he got up.
"And you'd know about stabbing others in the back wouldn't you" Blackarachnia growled walking up to Sentinel and glared at him. "Optimus has earned my trust but I still think like a Decepticon and I could tell stories about you that you have forgotten. So if you want to get on his back about having me around just remember that I reserve the right to make you fall low than you been before."
"Enough! Sentinel Prime, take Optimus Prime and his crew to be decontaminated. Jazz,put the shield up and don't let any organics through until I've spoken to Optimus. Blackarachnia I would speak with you alone." Ultra Magnus ordered.
He stepped down the ramp heading around the front of the ship towards Blackarachnia she nodded. As Ultra Magnus led her around the ship Optimus looked at her worried about her welfare until Sentinel oushed him into the ship.
"All right you Junkicons! On the ship on the double! Move it! Move it! Move it!" Sentinel baked. Even though Ultra Magnus and Blackarachnia were far enough away by that time to talk without being overheard, she still bristled as she heard Sentinel yelling.
"He reminds me way too much of Starscream on a bad day." Blackarachnia muttered.
"He's not who I wanted to talk about. The one I wish to talk about is you, Elita-1." Ultra Magnus said Blackarachnia froze and stared at him.
"How did you…" Blackarachnia asked.
"I recognized your speech pattern." Ultra Magnus said. Then he turned around and looked up into the sky. "For a long time I've believed that the full truth behind the incident at Archa Seven was never revealed to the council. Sentinel blamed the whole incident on Optimus who accepted full responsibility without offering any defence forcing me to expell him and bar him from the Elite Guard in spite of my better judgement. I'd like to hear your side of the story."
In the bridge of the Steelhaven
Ultra Magnus was sitting in his command chair with Blackarachnia standing next to him.
"Before we talk to Sentinel about you I would like to hear Optimus side of the story about the Allspark and the Decepticons." Ultra Magnus said.
"As you wish commander." Blackarachnia said. Just then all the other Autobots entered the room.
"I cleaned them up as best I could sir, but you know how it is with these grease grunts." Sentinel snorted.
"That will be enough Sentinel. We've already wasted enough time and resources tracking down these stragglers. So if it's all the same to you we'll just retrieve the AllSpark and be on our way." Ultra Magnus said.
"Yeah, about that funny story. It kinda…uh—"" Bumblebee said rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably.
"Blew up." Bulkhead finished.
"The AllSpark was destroyed?" Ultra Magnus asked.
"Not exactly destroyed more like its energy was 'dispersed.' At least that's what I think." Optimus corrected.
"Wow you have made some pretty bad blunders in your time. But this! Haha! Has to top them all!" Sentinel laughed.
"He's a slagging hero for keeping it from Megatron and the Decepticons! And we lost a friend in that fight." Ratchet barked.
"Stand down rust bucket. Your boss is a lot of things but hero ain't one of them. We did a full sweep of the entire planet and haven't found a single trace of any Decepticons." Sentinel said.
"That's because we kicked their sorry cans!" Bumblebee injected.
"You expect us to believe that a bunch of worthless repair flunkies could beat Megatron?" Sentinel snarled. Optimus then started to explain what had happen while being on Earth. After he was finished Sentinel didn't looked convinced. "Hmph, I'll give you points for creativity on your bogus story Optimus, but where's your proof? Show me one shred of evidence that the AllSpark wasn't completely destroyed on your watch." Sentinel said crossing his arms.
"You have my word." Optimus said.
"Ha! And we all know what that's worth? Don't we?" Sentinel said.
"Like we can trust you after all it was your idea to go to Archa Seven." Blackarachnia said. Sentinel smile faded and stared at Blackarachnia.
"How did you know that it was my idea?" Sentinel asked nervously.
"I know because I was there I know because I watched it happen I know because I am Elita-1." Blackarachnia said in anger as she walked up to him.
"No I don't believe you." Sentinel said backing away from her.
"When we were at boot camp you always slept with a night light, Kup never liked you and always said that Optimus would beat you in every way." Blackarachnia said.
"Okay it is you. But Optimus was the one how left you behind." Sentinel said.
"For once in your life cycle don't blame everything on another bot." Blackarachnia said shacking her head.
"Stand down! All of you!" Ultra Magnus said as he slammed his hammer down on the ground. The room became quiet. "These are serious charges and they will be investigated. Optimus Prime and Blackarachnia show us where the Decepticon battle took place. Your crew will stay with jazz until this matter is settled."
"As you know I scanned some earth vehicles so we wouldn't a track attention ourselves." Sentinel said.
"Good work Sentinel Prime transform." Ultra Magnus said.
They transformed Magnus transformed in to an 8-wheeled Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck. Sentinel transformed in to a snow plow.
"Oh yeah no one's going to notice that." Bumblebee said.
Outside the shield dissipated. The hatch opened up on the ship and Optimus and Blackarachnia stepped out.
"Look! Prime and Blackarachnia are okay!" Sari exclaimed.
"It's alright! They're on our side!" Optimus said.
They then transformed and Blackarachnia jumped on him. Then Ultra Magnus and Sentinel drove off the hatch they drove towards Fanzone's perimeter. Most of the officers had to jump out of the way of them as they smashed through two police cars and Fanzone's car.
"That's good. I was worried they might you know. Destroy something!" Fanzone frowned.
They continued to drive down the street.
"Why are you carrying that tech-organic freak on your back?" Sentinel asked.
"Would you prefer that I rode on your back?" Blackarachnia asked.
"Never mind." Sentinel said quickly.
"Uh Commander here on earth we drive on the right side of the road." Optimus exclaimed.
"Ultra Magnus is not interested in the opinions of a scrub!" Sentinel snapped. He made a sharp turn onto a highway exit.
"Sentinel wait!" Optimus said.
"What's down there Optimus Prime?" Ultra Magnus asked.
"Any unfinished highway." Blackarachnia said smiling or at least a spider equivalent of a smile.
Sentinel drove off the unfinished highway. He crashed into a concrete pillar, bounced off and landed sideways on the ground. Optimus, Blackarachnia and Ultra Magnus drove up to him and looked down at him.
"Next time Sentinel Prime you may want to listen to Optimus." Ultra Magnus suggested.
Meanwhile back at the ship
Jazz was watching Optimus's crew but then the alarms went off. Jazz then ran to the terminals and looked at the scanners.
"Organic contamination alert!" Jazz' said. Then he closed the Blast doors and ran down the hall Jazz then saw Sarir in front of him. "Contamination located."
"Who are you calling a contamination?" Sari said put her hands on her hips.
"Stay cool and roll back off the ship nice and easy like. And don't even thinka spewing any of ya slime at me." Jazz said.
"Slime What are you-? Oh you're afraid of me aren't you?" Sari said and jumped up and waved her hands wildly. "Booga booga booga!"
"Ah!" Jazz yelled and jumped up on one leg and shielded himself with his arms and other leg from the anticipated slime that never came.
"What's going on here?" Ratchet said running into the hallway followed by Prowl, Bumblebee, and Bulkhead.
"Guys!" Sari said and ran to Bumblebee and hugged him as Jazz quickly tip toed out of the way.
"Stay back! You don't wanna be slimed!" Jazz warned.
"Relax it's just Sari. She's perfectly safe." Bulkhead assured.
"But Sentinel—" Jazz was saying.
"Is a glitch head All due respect." Bumblebee said.
"Crazy. These organics. They got their own look. They own style." Jazz said poking Sari's head.
"Guys! I need your help. Something's wrong at one of my dad's assembly plants. Come on!"Sari said tugging on Bumblebee's leg.
"No can do. I got orders from the Ultra Magnus to stick with ya." Jazz said.
"Yeah but he didn't say where." Bumblebee said with a smile.
"Well I have been itching to give my new wheels a spin." Jazz said then he transformed in to a Sports car. "Besides any species that can come up a sweet ride like this can't be all bad."
Meanwhile at Dinobot island
Optimus and Blackarachnia were taking Sentinel and Ultar Magnus to their ship.
"Our ship is right up ahead but try to keep quiet." Optimus said pointing to the caldera.
"Ooo afraid there might be some big bad Decepticons lurking in the bushes?" Sentinel mocked.
"Not Decepticons. Dinobots." Optimus said then the Dinobots jumped out of the trees and blocked their path. "They'll leave you alone, as long as you don't provoke them."
"I don't need some Elite Guard washout telling me how to handle a bunch of primitive technology." Sentinel said pushing Optimus out of the way.
"That technology isn't as primitive as its look." Optimus said.
"Sentinel Prime I already told you to listen to Optimus." Ultra Magnus said.
"I think I can handle some primitive technology." Sentinel said as he stepped towards the Dinobots. "Go on! Shoo!" Then they transformed into their robot mode.
"DINOBOTS! DESTROY!" Grimlock said.
Then he pulled out his sword and ignited. Sentinel put up his shield but Grimlock slashed and knocked him down. The rest of the Dinobots then pulled out their weapons and ignited them. They approached Sentinel. Ultra Magnus lifted up his hammer and slammed it into the ground. Lightning bolts fell from the sky and struck the surrounding area. The Dinobots backed away into the forest and disappeared.
"What kind of screw loose planet is this?" Sentinel asked.
Meanwhile at the docks
Bumblebee, Bulkhead, Ratchet, Prowl and Jazz just arrived at the plant.
"Man that was some funky blinking color lightshow! What you call those things again?" Jazz asked.
"Traffic lights?" Bulkhead responded.
"Traffic lights. Solid." Jazz said.
They stopped and transformed at the plant. Sari stepped out of Bumblebee then he transformed to. Then Sari's key glowed hot and shot a beam of light towards the plant.
"That can't be good." Sari squeaked.
"Everyone get down!" Prowl shouted.
The Autobots took cover behind some crates. The wall blew apart sending shrapnel through the air and shredding some of the surrounding area. An army of police drones rolled out of the factory and onto the docks. They all started firing at the Autobots.
"I've changed my mind! I don't want to run my dad's company anymore!" Sari yelled. Bulkhead then swung at the drones with his wrecking ball arm.
"It's no good! These things are rolling off the assembly line faster than I can smash them!" Bulkhead shouted
"Is it always like this on this crazy planet?" Jazz shouted.
"Pretty much," Prowl replied.
"Prime! We've got trouble at the Sumdac Systems robot plant! And we're going to need backup!" Ratchet alerted over the comlink.
"Copy that Ratchet! I'm on my way!" Optimus responded.
Ratchet clicked off the comlink and activated his magnetizers. He then crushed two drones in a magnetic field. Then he was gunned down by a drone which was then smashed by Bulkhead. Bumblebee sped through the drones and shot them with his stingers. Prowl jumped over Bulkhead and slashed two drones to pieces in a spinning maneuver.
"Oh the classic Metallikato Five Servos of Doom attack. But have you seen this one?" Jazz said and pulled out two energy nunchacku from the slots in his legs. He spun them and slashed through drones in a fantastic acrobatic display.
"Impressive," Prowl smirked.
"Guess you never got that far in you cyber ninja training." Jazz said.
Jazz then repeated the move and took out several more drones. Two drones came on either of Prowl's sides. He jumped out of the way just as they fired and blasted each other. But then, one more drone shot Prowl in the back. Prowl fell to the ground and was surrounded by drones. They charged their guns. Prowl waited for his imminent doom. But it never came. An ion axe slashed through the surrounding drones like a boomerang.
"Mind if I cut in?" Optimus said as he caught his axe then helped Prowl up. A drone was about to fire at Opitmus but Blackarachnia jumped behind it and used her cyber venom on it then blow up.
"Optimus Prime! Behind you!" Ultra Magnus said as he drove over and smashed the two drones.
"Thanks Commander." Optimus said. Then both Ultra Magnus and Sentinel transformed.
"We should return to the ship sir!" Sentinel suggested as Sari ran to him and away from the drones that were chasing her. Sentinel surrounded himself and Magnus in an energy field. "Every moment we're out here we risk organic contamination'!" Sari ran to his shield and banged on it then ran off.
"It's no use! No matter how many we destroy they just keep coming!" Ratchet exclaimed.
"Then we need to shut down that assembly line!" Optimus shouted.
"I'll do it with my key!" Sari said runnig up to Optimus who shielded her from a blast. "As long as this company's name is Sumdac it's my responsibility.
"Okay, Bulkhead, Blackarachnia, Ratchet, Bumblebee! You keep the drones busy out here! Prowl and I will sneak Sari onto the loading dock!" Optimus ordered. They transformed and sari climbed into Optimus.
"Mind if I join ya?" Jazz said as he transformed and followed Optimus, Prowl and Sari into the facility.
The three ran through the hallways and eventually came to the assembly line. Then they were surrounded by drones.
"Go! We'll hold em off!" Jazz said and he used his energy nunchucks to deflect the blaster bolts. Prowl used his shuriken to slice down several drones.
"Use your key! Hurry!" Optimus ordered. Sari nodded and ran to the control panel. She pushed her key into the panel. The assembly line powered down to a stop.
"And that is why the company name is Sumdac!" Sari cheered.
Outside the Autobots were holding off the droids as best they could. Then Ultra Magnus raised his hammer.
"Autobots! Disengage and retreat!" Ultra Magnus ordered and slammed his hammer down on the ground in a thunderous boom. Lightning bolts struck the surrounding area and destroyed each and every police droid.
"Woah. Now I get why the call you Ultra Magnus." Bumblebee said staring at the charred remains of the droids.
"Ungh! Hey! My key's stuck! I can't get it out!" Sari said as she tugged at her key with all her might but to no avail.
"That panel's going to overload!" Optimus said and tried to help Sari pull.
"I think you've done enough Optimus!" Sentinel Prime said shoving Optimus out of the way. "I'll make sure you're tried for high treason destroying the AllSpark! Now come with me." Sentinel grabbed Optimus's wrist.
"No!" Optimus said.
"That wasn't a request! That was a direct order Optimus!" Sentinel said.
"It's Optimus Prime! I may be an 'Elite Guard washout and a glitch detail flunky but the last time I checked, you and I still have equal rank! So Sentinel Prime, take your order and you condescending attitude and stick it in your hard drive! You're on my turf now!" Optimus said and shoved Sentinel away and pulled out his axe. He slashed the control panel to pieces. Sari fell backwards and landed on her butt.
"A little warning next time?" Sari said rubbing her bottom. She looked to her right. A glowing blue shard lay next to her.
"What is that?" Sentinel asked staring at the AllSpark fragment. Optimus picked it up and looked at it closely.
"Your proof." Optimus said.
A few moments later they were all outside and Ultra Magnus was studying the fragment.
"Definitely a fragment of the AllSpark." Ultra Magnus said looknig at the AllSpark shard in his hand. "Apparently your story of dispersing the AllSpark might not be so farfetched after all."
"But sir! You can't possibly believe him! He's a lying insubordinate crankshaft!" Sentinel cried.
"He may be a little rough around the edges. But in the heat of battle Optimus Prime exhibited the qualities of a true leader: strategic thinking, determination, and above all loyalty. Something you could stand to learn about Sentinel Prime. And we are still going to be talking about what happened at Archa Seven" Ultra Magnus said then he walked away. Sentinel displayed a very taken aback expression then followed him.
"How am I supposed to explain this to Powell?" Sari said putting her head in her hands after seeing the remains of the police droids.
At Sumdac tower
Sari typed her ID number into the door panel but was denied.
"Hey! Why's my office locked?" Sari said as she banged on the door.
"Ms. Sumdac. I regret to inform you that your services will no longer be required. The board has unanimously elected me to take over as CEO of Sumdac Systems." Powell said as his face appeared on the panel's screen.
"You can't do that! It's still my family's company!" Sari snapped.
"Is it? I took the liberty of doing some research into your claim. It might interest you to know that there is no will, no birth certificate, no adoption papers, social security number or any kind of record whatsoever for a Sari Sumdac." Powell said.
"Are you saying I can't prove I'm Isaac Sumdac's daughter?" Sari stared
"I'm saying you can't even prove you exist. Enjoy that bit of info." Powell sneered and the screen went black.
A cold shiver ran down Sari's spine. Suddenly, the world made no sense. Everything had turned upside-down.
