At city hall
Sentinel who had been demoted, Optimus who had now rejoin the elite guard and also wearing the Elite Guard emblem on his shoulder and Blackarachnia who was now a member of the Ministry of Science were standing on a podium outside of city hall. Sentinel Prime bent over and picked up the box that had the microphone as camera-bots and camera-men snapped pictures of the stage.
"Organics of Earth, Mr. Mayor, Captain Fanzone, I Sentinel Prime speak to you on the behest of our great commander Ultra Magnus who could not be here today because he has more important matters to attend to than worrying about this small underdeveloped planet. Which not to say that we Cybertronians don't mind helping out you simple organics." Sentinel said The Mayor, Fanzone, and the Mayor's assistant looked at Optimus and Blackarachnia. Optimus and Blackarachnia merely shrugged. "Especially in light of the fact that our scanners have yet to detect any cyber-contaiments on your uh." Sentinel then bent over to Optimus "What was it called again?"
"Skin!" Optimus said.
"Sorry Mr. Mayor. I thought this was supposed to be a friendly photo-op." Mayor's assistantwhispered to the Mayor.
"Prime! Prime!" a newsbot called.
"Yes?" Optimus and Sentinel asked at once. They looked at each other and then said at the same time."Me or him?"
"Optimus Prime. Is it true that all Cybertronians have no regard for human lives and view Earth as nothing more than a battleground for the upcoming and never-ending robot wars?"
"Why you little!" Sentinel threatened. Optimus snatched away the microphone.
"First let me say what a great honour it is to us be such welcomed guests here on your planet. We are also truly sorry for what you have been through with the recent Decepticon attacks. We understand with the threat of Megatron still looming out their, fears can run a little—" Optimus was saying.
"Enough!" Sentinel said snatching the microphone away. "You bots will direct your questions directly to me!" Sentinel turned to Optimus. "Don't ever presume you can speak to me Optimus. The last thing we need is a lucky glorified repair bot or a techno-organic freak speaking about matters that they don't understand!" Sentinel turned back to the audience waved at the flashing cameras, then back to Optimus. "A scrub like you should just stand there look pretty, and stay out of the way." Sentinel turned back to the audience. "Now…um…what am I supposed to do now?"
"Well according to Earth customs, you have to shake hands with the mayor." Optimus answered with secret satisfaction. The Mayor held out his hand. Sentinel stared in horror at the mayor's hand.
"T-touch an organic?" Sentinel gasped in disgust.
"I'm going to enjoy this." Blackarachnia said with a smile.
"Unless you what to pass of such a great diplomatic opportunity to such a luck repair bot or atechno-organic freak." Optimus said. Sentinel growled at Optimus. He took another look at the hand of doom. He pulled out a finger, gave one shake, and yanked his hand away. He pulled out an anti-bacterial spray and showered his hand furiously while mumbling to himself. "Same old Sentinel." Optimus sighed.
"Hasn't changed much has he." Blackarachnia sighed.
Back at the Autobot base
"Thanks for taking me in guys." Sari muttered sadly before walking into the Autobot base.
"You will be sleeping with Blackarachnia but I'm sure you two will get along." Bulkhead said.
"This is going to be great! It'll be one nonstop party!" Bumblebee cheered.
"Yeah…party…" Sari said handing her suitcases to Bulkhead. "I bet Masterson's throwing himself one big party right now.
"How could they hire that nutjob body snatcher to work for your father's company anyway?" Bulkhead asked.
"It goes against everything my father stood for! My father…"
"Hey don't you worry about anything roomy. You're living with us now. And it's going to rock!" Bumblebee assured. Sari didn't answer and merely sat down on the couch. "We need to do something to make her feel happy and at home."
"How do we feel happy and at home?" Bulkhead asked. Bumblebee smirked.
"Isn't this great?" Bumblebee shouted over the blaring music that was blowing Sari deep into the beanbag chair and the flashing lights on the TV screen blinded her.
"If it's alright with you guys I'd like to just relax in my room a little!" Sari said andgot up and walked to the hallway.
"Good idea! You're going to love your new room! We fixed it up just for you!" Bumblebee said.
When Sari walked into her room, she found an even bigger TV screen with even brighter flashing lights and a stereo system with even louder music which shook the entire room. Sari sighed.
Meanwhile at city hall
Captain Fanzone had just got a call on his phone.
"Hello? Captain Fanzone, I'd like to report a Decepticon sighting. Yes, it's down in Old Detroit. Yeah I was so scared! Please do something please!" Women said in a fried voice.
"Don't worry ma'am we're on it." Fanzone replied then hung up.
"Attention all units, we have a Decepticon sighting in Old Detroit." Fanzone alerted.
"A Decepticon sighting,. Sentinel laughed. "These organics wouldn't know a Decepticon from a trash-bot!" He nudged Optimus who didn't seem the least bit amused with his elbow then turned to a bot. "Tell your Captain that we're going to investigate."
"Um, Sentinel? That's a trash bot." Optimus said blankly.
"Well of course it's a trash-bot! I didn't just arrive on this planet yesterday you know." Sentinel said.
"Actually…" Optimus was about so say.
"Never mind. Let's just go." Sentinel said quickly.
Then he transformed tore through town, street signs and cars while Optimus and Blackarachnia followed him.
"Sentinel! Red means stop!" Optimus shouted as Sentinel drove through three different red lights and causing two different pileups.
"For organic maybe but I in a hurry!" Sentinel responded. After ten minutes of demolition derby, they finally arrived in Old Detroit. They transformed Sentinel then pulled out a stop sign that was jammed in his snowplow. "They really got to stop putting these things on every corner." Sentinel sighed then tossed away the sign. Just then Fanzone and his men arrived. Sentinel put out his finger and knocked on Fanzone's car. "Uh you humans would probably just get in the way. Best to just hang back and let a real Autobot held it." Fanzone's face twitched to a frown. "And don't worry organic Fanzone I've got a former Maintenance bot along to clean up anything that might get messy. Mhmhmhm." Sentinel chuckled to himself as he, Optimus and Blackarachnia left to explore the remains of Old Detroit.
"This is why I hate machines," Fanzone growled. "Especially arrogant, full-of-themselves machines!"
"Let's split up and get this over with as soon as possible." Sentinel suggested as he put on his battle mask.
"Sentinel we should scramble our comlinks in case the Decepticons are listening in." Optimus said.
"What you should do is do what AllSpark knows you were created to do. If I need a trashcan emptied or a floor mopped, I'll just call my buddy's Optimus Prime or Blackarachnia. Or should I say Maintenance Prime and techno freak? Mehuhuhuhuhu." Sentinel said and then walked away giddily. Optimus and Blackarachnia walked in the opposite direction.
"'Maintenance Prime'…then I'll just call you 'Pompous Jerk-Face Prime'. Yeah…that's what I shoulder said." Optimus mumbled.
"When will he get through his thick processors that you are not a Maintenance bot." Blackarachnia mumbled
Both Optimus and Blackarachnia where still looking for the Decepticon. "Uh, Optimus, Blackarachnia, tell the organic Fanzone that he can send his forces home," Sentinel told Optimus and Blackarachnia "It's a false alarm."
"How do you know?" Optimus asked.
"I just know okay? Now, I need you two to come to my position. Alone and promise me one more thing."
"What?" They both asked.
"That you won't laugh." Optimus looked at Blackarachnia she shrugged and they followed Sentinel's signal to the source. They looked for Sentinel but found no one.
"Sentinel Where are you?" Optimus called.
"Look down…" Sentinel's voice whispered. They looked down to see the disembodied head of none other than Sentinel Prime.
"Bahahahaa!" they both laughed.
"You promised you wouldn't laugh!" Sentinel yelled.
"Aha. Sorry." They both said.
"I can't let anyone see me like this! Especially Ultra Magnus! Expertly after he demoted me." Sentinel said.
"Oh, but it doesn't matter if we see you because we matter so little?" Optimus said.
"That's not how I would put it. I just need you to cover for me." Sentinel said.
"Like how you covered for me all those Stellar-cycle?" Optimus said.
"And the fact you treat me like a freak." Blackarachnia said.
"Let's not drag the past into this. I know some lesser bot's might take advantage of a situation like this, but you two—Optimus and Blackarachnia You're a—." Sentinel was saying
"I believe the phrase you're looking for is." Optimus said as he picked up Sentinel. "Sucker!"
"I all was said that you lose your head one of these days." Blackarachnia said.
"Very funny." Sentinel said.
"Yo boss-bot got a heads up for you and Blackarachnia," Bumblebee said on the com-link. "Powell just rehired that whackjob Headmaster."
"We had a feeling he was back in action." Optimus said.
"Really? How?" Bumblebee asked.
"Ahem! Mhm hm mm hm hm mm!" Sentinel panicked.
"Call it a hunch," Optimus smiled.
A few minutes later
Optimus was in his vehicle form with Blackarachnia on his back and Sentinel in his cab.
"Are we there yet? I can't see a thing from here. Where are you taking me anyway?" Sentinel complained.
"To see if Powell knows the whereabouts of his new employee Mr. Masterson and you're…body." Optimus answered.
At a red light, Optimus stopped at a traffic light sending Sentinel out of his seat, despite the seatbelt around his chin, and into the window. He slid down the window, off the dashboard bounced off the chair and under the dashboard.
"And that is how you stop at a red light," Blackarachnia smiled ever so smugly.
"Okay, now…I really can't see," Sentinel groaned.
Meanwhile back at the plant
Sari was no the coach looking at the food Bumblebee and Bulkhead had brought.
"We didn't have any human food so we pulled to giver stuff you might like to eat," Bulkhead smiled. He dropped a platter of acorns, some oil can's, a fish that they pulled out of a trash can and a live rabbit. Sari sighed and walked away.
"Are you going to drink that oil?" Bulkhead asked as the rabbit jumped of the table.
"Guess she wasn't hungry," Bumblebee shrugged.
Meanwhile back at sumdac tower
Optimus who was carrying Sentinel's head and Blackarachnia entered the building. Then Optimus set Sentinel down on next to an indoor decorative tree.
"Don't go running off Sentinel." Optimus said.
"Oh haha, very funny." Sentinel said with extreme sarcasm. Optimus and Blackarachnia walked toward Powell.
"That's far enough Optimus Prime and you to Blackarachnia. Gone are the days when you Autobots could just waltz in and out of this tower. I'm in charge now." Powell said
"We are looking for Mr. Henry Masterson." Optimus said.
"Well, I can be completely honest when I say that Mr. Masterson is not here." Powell said.
"So you wouldn't mind if we just took a look around?" Optimus said and they walked to look around the building, but Powell stopped them.
"I mind very much. This is private property. Please leave." Powell said.
"You know some people would say that you're hiding something." Blackarachnia said.
"Maybe I am but it's none of your business." Powell said. They frowned and then walked back to Sentinel. Optimus picked him up and then they left. Powell dialed a number on his phone. "Optimus Prime and Blackarachnia were just here. Looking for you."
"Suh-weet Did you already tell them I already got a big dumb robot body?" Masterson replied
"This is serious Masterson. We have a very public image that must be maintained." Powell said.
"—that must be maintained." Optimus clicked off his comlink. They'd intercepted enough.
"Powell's lying I'm tempted to call Fanzone and have him go in with a search warrant." Optimus said
"No! We, ahem, don't want anyone else involved in this." Sentinel protested
"Lucky for you we don't need to. I'm tracing Powell's phone call." Optimus said. When they got to the docks they transformed "The signal's coming from that ship." Optimus said,
"Then hurry up already! They're casting off!" Sentinel rushed.
Before Optimus and Blackarachnia could go much further a crate started to wildly shake. The crate burst open and Sparkplug and Tudor-bot, both wearing headmasters jumped out.
"Looks like we've got a welcoming committee." Optimus said.
"Oh please. What can they do?" Sentinel said. Just then Tudor-bot's face screen glowed purple and fired out lasers while Sparkplug fired blasts out of his mouth. The two bombarded the them with laser fire.
"You had to ask don't you." Blackarachnia said.
"We need to take cover!" Optimus shouted.
He ran towards some crates, but Tudor-bot jumped up and kicked Sentinel out of his arms. Optimus pulled out his axe and swung at Tudor-bot who dodged easily then Blackarachnia tried to kick to but it dodged again. Meanwhile, Sentinel bounced around to dodge Sparkplug's lasers.
"Will you two hurry it up?" Sentinel shouted. Optimus grabbed him with his grappler then held onto him then they took some cover. "Need I remind you two that that ship—and my body—are getting away?"
"Would you prefer I use your head as a shield? Actually that's not a bad idea." Optimus said.
"Now, now, Optimus let's not lose our—well, you know what I mean." Sentinel said. Just then Tudor-bot blasted apart their cover.
"Time to move!" Optimus said and transformed and drove right through the two bots and off the dock then Blackarachnia ran after them.
"We're not going to make it!" Sentinel cried. Optimus shot themselves through the air with his axe's rocket then jammed the axe into the boat's side and climbed up. "Told you we'd make it." Then Blackarachnia shot some webbing and transformed in to her beast mode.
Meanwhile back at the plant
"Just because you don't have a Tudor-bot anymore doesn't mean you have to stop learning," Bumblebee adjusted the small mortarboard cap that just barely fit on the top of his head.
"Right. We can teach you." Bulkhead adjusted his glasses.
"So, class, today's lesson is…um…well, stuff and how it works. Any questions?" Bumblebee asked.
"Yeah. Why is there no record of my existence?" Sari glumly asked.
"Okay…a little bit…outside the lesson plan. Professor Bulkhead your thoughts?" Bumblebee asked.
"…Maybe she came here from another planet in some kinda egg and crashed on Sumdac's doorstep." Bulkhead suggested.
"Mhm. Or…a portal! Could have opened…and she fell through from another dimension." Bumblebee said.
"Or maybe she's really a robot!" Bulkhead said.
"Or Sumdac found her in a cabbage patch." Bumblebee said.
"Or that stork thing." Bulkhead said.
"Stop it! Stop it! I can't. It's just. Please. Just leave me alone!" Sari cried and ran off to her room and slammed the door shut. Bumblebee and Bulkhead looked at each other.
Meanwhile back on the ship
Optimus carved a hole into the roof then looked inside.
"My body's not here! We're too late!" Sentinel despaired. Just then, Optimus and Blackarachnia were kicked in the head and fell into the boat's storage chamber. They both looked up to see Sentinel's body wearing a headmaster unit. "Oh there it is."
"Prepare to be schooled lamers!" Headmaster jumped down, activated Sentinel's shield, which was now edged with spikes, and slapped Optimus away and into a pile of crates.
"Woah, I don't remember my shield ever being that powerful." Sentinel said.
"When was the last time you got hit by it?" Blackarachnia asked.
"Well ya know me I can't resist the upgrades. Nhmhmhm." Masterson said.
"And you know me Masterson. I can't resist kicking your skid plate!" Optimus said banging his axe against the shield.
"Oh tough talk, fire truck. Well guess what? You and your girlfriend are about to get flayed!" Masterson said.
"I'm not his girlfriend!" Blackarachnia shouted.
"She's not my girlfriend!" Optimus shouted at the same time.
Then Masterson pulled out Sentinel's spear, which seemed to have grown in length, and slashed at Optimus and Blackarachnia who dodged it. Optimus returned the slash with his axe but Masterson blocked and countered, knocking the axe out of his hand and through the roof's hole.
"Yes! I am so leet!" Masterson cheered.
"Yeah? Well I have no idea what that means!" Optimus said.
Then he rammed his shoulder into Masterson and wrapped his arms around his waist and then ran him into a wall. He then started punching Masterson relentlessly. Then Blackarachnia borrowed Sentinel powers and stared slashing with her borrowed lance.
"Ow! Oh! Gah! Doh! You two are enjoying this aren't you?" Sentinel accused.
Both Optimus and Blackarachnia merely smiled. Masterson took advantage of this distraction to knock both of them away then pin them down with the shield. Optimus did all he could to keep the spikes from slashing their faces. Optimus grabbed Masterson's elbow and forearm, and then kicked him causing him to rip his arm off.
"You…you ripped my arm off…" Sentinel gasped.
"It was trying to jam shield spikes into are face's!" Optimus defended. He used Sentinels arm as a weapon.
"Yo angry dude! Chill! Please?" Masterson pleaded. Optimus continuously slapped and slashed Masterson with the shield. Then the headmaster unit was slashed off then it transformed. "Later noobs! The Headmaster's gotta bounce!" Masterson then started to run away. Optimus looked at Sentinel and kicked him into Masterson.
"You kicked me! On purpose!" Sentinel barked.
"You're not bouncing anywhere Masterson. Except back to prison." Optimus said.
"Blackarachnia are you all right?" Optimus asked running to her.
"Don't worry I'm fine." She said. They just looked it to each other's optic. Then there face plates got closer and their lips about to touched.
"Hey when you two love birds are finished can you put my head back on my body?" Sentinel shouted.
They then quickly pulled away from each other.
A few minutes later
"Yo two things law-dog first I do not sound like a ma'am and second: if you think you're laying down the rules you'd best conversant with my boss. Him." Masterson said to Fanzone and pointed at Powell's limo that had just rolled onto the docks. Powell then stepped out.
"Captain Fanzone, I suggest you release my employee." Powell said.
"I don't think so Mr. Powell." Fanzone replied.
"And you're holding him on what charges? Destruction of property? The ship belongs to Sumdac systems. Assault? Since when do aliens have rights? Plus didn't the alleged incident occur on multinational waters between the US and Canada? A little out of your jurisdiction wouldn't you agree captain? So why don't you just work it out with the Mounties and let me know?" Powell started to walk away.
"Well how about that phony call? I don't see any Decepticons. And I don't think Masterson saw any neither." Fanzone crossed his arms, "Plus the jerk in blue may not be legal but Optimus and Blackarachnia had their papers pushed."
"Isn't it possible that he'd seen a Decepticon in Old Detroit and then the Decepticon just decided to lay low? And let's not forget Optimus and Blackarachnia had broken onto my ship and Masterson was merely defending himself against an intruder. Now the handcuffs?" Powell smirked smugly. Fanzone growled and mumbled to himself while he unlocked Masterson's cuffs. Then Masterson and Powell drove away in the limo.
"Thanks for trying Captain," Blackarachnia said.
"Eh don't mention it. Ever." Fanzone replied.
Meanwhile back at the plant
Bumblebee and Bulkhead were about to knock on Sari's door when Prowl stopped them.
"Haven't you two done enough damage already?" Prowl asked.
"All we wanted to do is make her happy," Bulkhead explained.
"But all we did is make things worse," Bumblebee sighed.
"Then be silent. She will tell you what she needs if you simply listen," Prowl said before walking away. Bumblebee and Bulkhead nodded slowly opened the door and walked inside. Sari was lying on her tire-bed staring at the ceiling.
"What do you guys want?" she muttered then sat up.
"Nothing," Bumblebee said.
"We just wanna know if you're okay," Bulkhead weakly smiled.
"Okay?" she repeated, "If I'm…okay? My dad is missing. I lost control of his company! That Powell guy is gonna ruin everything he good he worked for! I've been kicked out the only home I've ever known! AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF I EXIST! AND YOU THINK I'M OKAY?" She then broke into tears and sobs. Bumblebee picked her up.
"Her eyes are leaking." Bulkhead said.
"You leak as much as you need to. We're here. And you're safe." Bumblebee consoled. "So whatever it is, you can always talk to us. We'll listen." Sari stopped crying.
"Thank you." she breathed.
On the Steelhaven
Optimus, Blackarachnia and Sentinel were standing in front of Ultra Magnus.
"I want to know Sentinel Prime. What are these rumors about you losing your head?" Ultra Magnus said. Sentinel Prime stood there shaking like gelatin.
"If I may sir. Sentinel Prime bravely used himself as bait to draw out the Headmaster so we could capture him and destroy his secret lab." Optimus said as Sentinel nodded furiously.
"And it wasn't easy I can tell you." Blackarachnia said.
"Good work all of you. Now if you'll excuse me I must confer with Cybertron Command on a matter of great importance." Ultra Magnus said and walked away. Optimus, Blackarachnia and Sentinel walked down a hallway.
"Sorry again if I presumed to speak for you again Sentinel." Optimus said.
"Uh Optimus, Blackarachnia there's something I need to say thank you." Sentinel choked.
"Wow. That must've hurt." Optimus said.
"More than you'll know." Sentinel, Blackarachnia and Optimus put their hands to giver. "It just nice to have the old team togetherr." Then he looked at Blackarachnia. "Even if one of us has changed."