Episode 5 Project Predacon

Shadow Storm POV

Almost everything had gotten back to normal and since my dad, Smokie, and I returned to the ranks. Even our grouchy doc seemed to be in better spirits though with his normal demeanor you could hardly tell.

My dad, Smokie, and I are in a hangar waiting on Agent Fowler to bring our new vehicle modes it took a while before he got here. When he arrived he had two other vehicles with him and considering my new form I decided to transform into a non-descriptive racing car keeping my same paint scheme. Smokie chose another vehicle with racing stripes, but because of his bigger build it had to be an eighteen wheeler which was nice to see since my father no longer could become it I thought it was a fine look for him.

"Prime, what we got here is an experimental, all-terrain, expeditionary fighting vehicle...Designed by our finest engineers in the United States MASK division. Storm I thought this one would fit you nicely it's not as big as your father's, but it should be fine it's an racecar, but not covered with any descriptive stickers besides the racing stripes. Smokescreen, I found a race car for you as well this one has more than just racing stripes."

"Thank you, Agent Fowler. This will most certainly do."

"Yeah, this is great."

"Certainly, this is awesome."

While we transformed, Wheeljack and Ultra Magnus were at our previous base trying to search for anything useful. Smokie and I returned to base and not long after they left they request a ground bridge back to base.

"Return trajectory fluctuations have been stabilized."

"Ultra Magnus, we are ready to receive you." Ultra Magnus drives through the portal with a single energon cube on his back. Bumblebee removed the cube allowing Ultra Magnus to transform.

"We didn't find much else in the rubble of the former base." Wheeljack follows Ultra Magnus holding a lob ball that Bulk made "You call this not much else." He throws the ball toward Bulk who unfortunately doesn't catch it. Instead it bounces off his chest and goes toward Miko. Who fortunately, was pulled out of the way by Jack

"Wheeljack! You could have caused serious damage!"

"To me!" Then the muffled voice of Agent Fowler from behind the ball. Oddly enough the ball was blocking his office doorway.

"A little help here!"

"What were you thinking soldier?"

"I was thinking Bulk could catch that lob."

"Allow me to make myself clear, as Optimus Primes second in command I have no intention of tolerating wrecker behavior."

"Some things never change."

"Jackie"

"Need I remind you that it was Optimus Prime himself who assigned me to command your wreckers back on Cybertron and get you loose cannons under control. An effective combat unit begins with discipline. If you won't accept that, feel free to choose the path of least resistance...as you did before."

"If my ship weren't a twisted wreck at present, I'd do that sir."

"Hold it Magnus, I know that you are my father's second into command, but you've been here only a few days while Team Prime has been on this rock far longer than you have. We have functioned without strict military protocol during that whole time it's not what we've needed"

"Stand down, soldier"

"I will not this is not a military operation, we have become much more than a bunch of soldier's we've become a family and a family is loyal to its members. We might have a few fights, but we make up quickly. That's what we are and I don't care what you say otherwise." Ultra Magnus walked away from me and I was glad for it that guy really grinded my gears.

"Hey, are you ok?"

"I will be once Ultra Magnus learns that Team Prime isn't a team that requires military protocol to be effective."

"Well, he's been that way since the beginning of the war so it won't be easy for him to change what he's been doing overnight."

"Ok" I didn't like Ultra Magnus, but I knew that Team Prime is always needed a new member of the team.

"Any word from Optimus?"

"He's investigating recent Decepticon activity. Hopefully an energon mine." The entire base went silent until Miko spoke up.

"How rad would be if you all had jet packs like Optimus."

"Quite rad Miko. But the Forge has been depleted of its power to do that."

"Now, it's only good for pounding out dents." My dad voice soon comes over the communications channel requesting a ground bridge. When he comes through he's carrying something that isn't energon.

"Optimus, did you find energon?"

"No, but I did uncover this." he set the find out in the light for all to see.

"It cannot be."

"Be what?"

"The ancient remains of a Predacon."

"Though it remains unclear why such a skull would be found on your planet, its presence reveals all too much about the Predacon which Megatron recently sent in pursuit of us."

"You mean that Dragon bot we put on ice."

"Except that the Predacons have been extinct since, well…"'

"Since before most life began on Cybertron."

"There like Earth's dinosaurs."

"Which means for you guys, running onto one would be like us meeting a T-Rex."

"So, then what were Dinobots?"

"Completely different"

"With Megatron's seeming new interest in the excavation of prehistoric skeletons and a certain scientist back among the Decepticon ranks…"

"It would stand to reason that Shockwave cloned the beast from one such find."

"And now Megatron's looking to clone another."

"What makes you think Bucket head would stop at just one?"

"We could have beast wars on our hands."

"And if Shockwave only requires a single strand of CNA from which to clone a beast…"

"He already possesses what he needs to engender this one...Autobots, we must become beast hunters."

"One thing still doesn't follow, Predacon went extinct on Cybertron so what would their bones be doing here."

"Maybe these fossils are not from original Predacons, but clones that Megatron sent here long ago."

"That is an excellent assumption my daughter. Ratchet please finds out what you can." Ratchet started working on it immediately very soon pictures of different creatures appear on the screen.

"From our historical texts."

"But those are metal versions of creatures from our Greek mythology and medieval literature."

"Not dinosaurs."

"It would stand to reason that Predacon did in fact walk upon this Earth in ancient times. As they seem too been a basis for much if human kind's folklore. Illustrating that once again that the pasts of Earth and Cybertron are inextricably linked." The team separated after that and the kids soon went to sleep.

"Prime, satellite surveillance has picked up two signs of Decepticon activity. One near an oil field outside of El Paso and the other near the Hiberties Bluffs in Scotland. So don't forget to pack your kilts."

"We must divide our resources, Ultra Magnus; lead the wreckers to the bluffs."

"Understood Optimus." He walks up to my dad and asks a peculiarly question. "Um, what's a kilt?" Dad leans toward his second in command and whispers.

"Agent Fowler can at times be oblique, I find it best to simply nod and mobilize."

"Bulkhead, Wheeljack; let's roll." Wheeljack was none too happy about the predicament either as he groaned at the thought. As the three of them walk toward the exit Ultra Magnus stops in front of the Forge.

"Optimus, I know there are many emotions tied to the forge…"

"This is no time to stand on ceremony." Magnus picks up the Forge and tests the weight.

"I would be honored to put this to some practical use." He continues to the entrance with Bulkhead and Wheeljack follow as the rest of us turn around and await my father's next command no one sees Wheeljack stop or Miko get into his cab. All we were focused on was who was going to the oil rig