On the Steelhaven
Optimus, Blackarachnia, Ultra Magnus, Sentinel and Jazz were on the bridge listening to a orange mech.
"Ironhide to Ultra Magnus!" "We are under attack by Decepticons! They came out nowhere! They already destroyed one of the space bridges! Requesting immediate backup!" Ironhide said. Then an explosion flashed on the screen then all was static. Ultra Magnus clicked off the communication.
"We're getting reports of Decepticon uprisings like this from all along the rim of the galaxy." Ultra Magnus said.
"Sounds like the Cons are getting wind that their leader isn't as offline as they thought he was." Jazz said.
"Wonder where they got that idea." Sentinel said looking at Optimus and Blackarachnia.
"That doesn't matter the point is that we're needed elsewhere. Optimus Prime prepare your crew for departure in twelve mega-cycles." Ultra Magnus said
"Uh, but sir what about the Decepticons on this planet?" Optimus asked.
"Sentinel Prime informs me there are no Decepticons on this planet." Ultra Magnus said.
"With all due respect—" Optimus said.
"You'll get to tell your side of the story back at a public inquiry at Cybertron Command!" Sentinel interrupted.
"You mean a court marshal." Optimus said.
"More like an opportunity to set the record straight. If word gets out that the AllSpark is gone and Megatron is online it will cause panic amongst the Autobots and embolden the enemy. Also we need to get information about the Decepticons from Blackarachina." Ultra Magnus said
"But the truth is—" Optimus began.
"It's our duty to quash these rumors once and for all! Understood?" Ultra Magnus said.
"Yes, sir…understood…" Optimus said saluting.
A few minutes later
Optimus and Blackarachina had just finished explaining the situation
"First I lose my dad, then my home, and now you guys?" Sari yelled.
"I'm afraid orders are orders." Optimus said.
"Well they're stupid orders!" Sari said.
"Listen up small human Autobots are not organic babysitters. The sooner you bunch of bolts learn that the better." Sentinel said as he walked into the room.
"They aren't bunch of bolts! They're my friends! And I need them!" Sari yelled and ran off with tears in her eyes.
"Sari wait!" Bumblebee called.
"This isn't easy for her Bumblebee. Give her time." Optimus said.
"Unfortunately tim' isn't something you all have. As of now you're all vital components in the war against the Decepticons." Sentinel said.
"Yes sir." They said as they saluted.
"Now that we don't have the AllSpark our space bridges is our one advantage over the Cons. And we need you repair-grunts to keep em up and running." Sentinel said. He moved to Optimus and Blackarachina whispered to them. "And Optimus, Blackarachina? A little friendly advice do what Ultra Magnus wants."
"You mean lie?" Optimus frowned.
"Not likely." Blackarachina said.
"Cut the high-and-mighty routine for once in your life-cycles. Look I have some pull with Cybertron command. If you just keep quiet about Megatron and the AllSpark and take the fall for leading your crew awol, I could get you and Blackarachina a nice seat in the Elite Guard." Sentinel said.
"That sounds a lot like a bribe." Optimus said.
"Call it a favor for not mentioning my little incident with the Headmaster." Sentinel said.
"Yeah, well unlike you Sentinel I don't think that saving myself isn't more important than protecting the truth." Optimus said removing Sentinel's arm then walked away.
"And I am not going to make Scattershot sacrifice be for nothing." Blackarachina said.
"Then you leave me no choice. Optimus Prime and Blackarachina I am placing you under protective custody until our departure from Earth!" Sentinel said. Both Optimus and Blackarachina stopped in their tracks.
"What? You can't be serious." Optimus said.
"I'm not going to have to use the stasis cuffs on both of you am I Optimus?" Sentinel said smiling and holding out a stasis cuff.
After Sentinel had taken Optimus and Blackarachina both Bumblebee and Ratchet went to see how Sari was doing.
"But we're her family we can't just abandon her! Who's going to take care of her when we're gone?" Bumblebee asked.
"We need a human that we can trust." Ratchet said.
moments later they were standing in front of Fanzone's house.
"Absolutely NOT!" Fanzone yelled .
"Come on captain. She's a good kid." Bumblebee pleaded.
"You won't even know she's around." Bulkhead smiled.
"Why me?" Fanzone asked.
"You're tops on the list of humans we know personally." Bumblebee said grinning.
"All though it is a short list." Bulkhead tapped his chin.
"And it does include Prometheus Black and Nanosec." Prowl said.
"Yeah but still! You're number one!" Bumblebee said with thumbs-up.
Meanwhile on the steelhaven
Optimus and Blackarachina were on the bridge with Sentinel standing next to them.
"Face it Optimus this deal is the only way you're ever going to get your career back on track. And rid yourself of the stench of those glitch detail losers you've been commanding." Sentinel said
"What about the stench of the lies you're asking me to tell?" Optimus frowned.
"NO ONE'S ASKING YOU TO LIE!" Sentinel yelled . Ultra Magnus looked at him then turned back to the computer. "Just confirm what our scanners have been telling us all along. There are no Decepticons on Earth."
"If that's what you think then Cybertron is going to be in trouble." Blackarachina said.
"Why have you forgiven him and not me after he left you behind?" Sentinel asked.
"Because Optimus was the one who told us that we should leave and he saved my life more times than I can count." Blackarachina said. Then Ultra Magnus turned around and looked at them.
"Optimus Prime, Blackarachina Sentinel Prime has informed me about your reluctance to cooperate. I strongly urge you to reconsider." Ultra Magnus said
"Commander the ship's scanners are pickin up a major spike in AllSpark energy." Jazz said.
"Probably another one of those fragments I'll go check it out." Sentinel said.
"Negative. Stay here and watch Optimus and Blackarachina Jazz and I will report back with our findings." Ultar Magnus ordered. Jazz nodded then followed him out of the bridge. "Transform and roll out." Then he and Jazz transformed and drove away.
"Jazz get's all the action and I'm stuck here playing nurse maid with an insubordinate washout and a tech-organic freak." Sentinel complained.
Optimus and Blackarachina ignored him and walked up to the computer. Optimus then zoomed the camera on a train which was the source of the AllSpark energy.
"That's odd our sensors didn't pick up any surges in energy the last time an AllSpark turned up. Only Sari's key was able to detect it. It's almost as if someone wants us to find it. Run a thermal scan on that cloud bank." Optimus said. The scan then revealed a red dot flying through the blue clouds. He zoomed on it and recognized the harrier jet. "Starscream! Sentinel you have to stop them! They're walking right into a Decepticon ambush!"
"When are you two get it through your thick processors? There are no Decepticons on this planet. So keep your mouth shut or I'll do it for you," Sentinel said brandishing a stasis cuff. Then Optimus got an idea.
"I'd like to see you try you worthless crack shaft!" Optimus said.
"THAT'S IT!" Sentinel said and charged at him. Optimus grabbed him and flipped him head-over-heels causing Sentinel to scream. He landed with a thud once he got up he went stiff and collapsed. He then realized he was wearing stasis cuffs. "You put me in stasis lock?"
"Well someone's got to stop them from making a deadly mistake." Optimus said then he and Blackarachina transformed and drove off.
"Hey Optimus that was a nice move." Blackarachina smiled.
"I thought so to." Optimus said.
"When I get through with you two THERE WON'T BE ENOUTH LEFT TO SEWAGE FOR PARTS!" Sentinel yelled.
Meanwhile at the park
Both Sari and Fanzone were on some swings talking.
"How do you feel about bed times?" Sari asked.
"What?" Fanzone replied.
"Cuz I'm not real big on em. In fact, I think I should get to stay up as late as I want. I also need my own phone. Oh yeah and we should talk about my allowance cuz I'm going to need a big one." Sari said. Just then Fanzone's swing snapped causing him to hit the ground with a loud thud.
"This is why I hate kids." Fanzone said.
"Autobots! We need to mobilize immediately! The Elite Guard is walking into a Decepticon trap!" Optimus said over the com-link
"Why is this our problem? The Elite Guard have done nothing but been a pain in the skid plate since they got here." Bumblebee asked
"Doing what's right is more important than our personal feelings right now." Optimus said.
"Prime's right. Let's move it!" Ratchet said. The Autobots then transformed and drove away.
"Hey where're they going?" Sari asked.
"No idea but I'm not gonna let them wreck my city again!" Fanzone said as he got up.
The Autobots drove along the highway and meet up with Optimus and Blackarachina.
"The Elite Guard's not responding to any of my emergency calls. We'll have to cut across town and head them off." Optimus said. He then led them off an exit while Fanzone's car followed close behind.
Meanwhile with Ultra Magnus
Both Ultra Magnus and Jazz had managed to catch up with the train.
"That AllSpark fragment is going to overload the vehicle's engine! We must remove it before the entire thing explodes!" Ultra Magnus said. The people on board banged on the window in a panic.
"Stay cool humans! We got it under control!" Jazz said as he transformed and run to keep up with the train. Then he jumped and landed into the train. He then tried to smack the AllSpark fragment with his energy nunchuck but it didn't falter. Ultra Magnus soon jumped onto the train.
"Jazz! Stand back!" Ultra Magnus said. He then raised his hammer and tried to smack the fragment but still to no avail.
"It's no good commander! That SmallSpark doesn't wanna budge!" Jazz said.
Before they could try again the fragment released an energy surge that blew the two off the train. Just then, the earthbound Autobots and Fanzone's car arrived.
"Prowl uncouple the passenger cars and get the humans away from danger." Optimus ordered. Prowl nodded and transformed and sped off. "Bumblebee, Sari try to use the key to pull out that AllSpark fragment!"
"On it!" Sari and Bumblebee said at once. Bumblebee transformed and drove off.
"The rest of us will try to slow the engine down!" Optimus said.
"Hang on!" Bumblebee said as he drove on to the highway.
He drove off the ledge and transformed and then landed on the train. Then Sari ran to the front of the train. She knelt down and held her key above the large fragment which started to shake. Prowl caught up to the front of the train and transformed then jumped onto the train. He pulled out his shuriken then slashed at the train car binds. The passenger cars then split from the leading car.
"Bumblebee! Sari! Get off! The engine's going to blow!" Prowl warned.
"Just a little bit more." Sari said. The fragment shook one more time then floated into Sari's hand. "Got it!"
"BUT WE'RE STILL GONNA CRASH!" Bumblebee said
Sari looked up and saw the upcoming train station which was blocked off. The two screamed and waited for the crash. Bumblebee grabbed Sari and held on tight. They both closed their eyes and waited for their doom. Before they could crash, the train slowed to a stop. They opened their eyes and saw Ratchet's magnetic field held the train in the front while Bulkhead, Blackarachina webbing and Prime's grapplers held the train in the back.
"Don't be so negative," Bulkhead said.
"Now that's what I call teamwork!" Bumblebee smiled as he and Sari jumped off the train.
"Heh and nothing got blown up! Now there's a first." Fanzone said.
Then Ultra Magnus and Jazz arrived they transformed
"Commander the AllSpark fragment has been safely recovered." Optimus said handing Ultra Magnus the fragment.
"What are you doing here Optimus Prime?" Ultra Magnus asked angrily.
"Sir I had reason to believe this was a Decepticon trap and felt like it was my duty to warn you." Optimus said.
"Just one problem with that story WHERE ARE THE DECEPTICONS?" Ultra Magnus yelled. Then Sentinel arrived.
"Optimus Prime you are under arrest for assaulting an Elite guard officer!" Sentinel said as he transformed. "Add that to the other charges against you and you can just kiss your career goodbye. Now what have you got to say for yourself?"
"Incoming!" Optimus said pointing to an object falling from the sky. Starscream crashed into the ground leaving a crater.
"Now that is what I call luck." Blackarachina said.
"What is that thing?" Sentinel asked hidding behind Optimus.
"Oh that's right. You haven't seen one up close. It's called a 'Decepticon." Optimus said.
"Oh no not again!" Starscream said as rose from the crater.
"Everyone stand back!" Ultra Magnus warned. When he turned around he found himself face to face wuth Starscream's null ray. Starscream then shot Ultra Magnus into the train station wall causing him to drop the AllSpark fragment.
"At least this won't be a total loss." Starscream sneered and picked up the fragment then walked away.
Bulkhead charged and launched his wrecking ball. He hit Starscream square on the back of the head knocking him down. Starscream then got up and continued walking. Ratchet and Bumblebee fired an electromagnetic pulse at Starscream causing an explosion. When the smoke cleared Starscream just stood there. He fired at Bulkhead, Bumblebee and Ratchet knocking them down.
"Ultra Magnus is down and the Decepticon's getting away! What's our next move Sentinel?" Jazz asked.
"Er…right. Okay uh," Sentinel blathered.
"Ratchet you and Sari take care of Ultra Magnus. Bumblebee, Prowl, Bulkhead and Fanzone evacuate the humans from the area. Sentinel, Blackarachina and Jazz we'll take down Starscream." Optimus ordered.
"Stand down Optimus! You've got no right to assume command!" Sentinel said staring him in the face.
"Yeah? Well some bot has to!" Optimus staring back.
"Hey! How about we settle the whole head honcho'deal later? Right now we got to stop fighting each other and start fighting the bad guy. Dig?" Jazz said as he tired to push Optimus and Sentinel apart
"Fine!" Optimus and Sentinel said at the same time.
The four Autobots ran to Starscream who heard them coming and fired at them. Sentinel activated his shield and covered them. Jazz leapt from behind it and threw his energy nunchuck which merely bounced off Starscream's shoulder.
"Don't waste my time." Starscream said and shot down Jazz then continued shooting Sentinel's shield.
Then Blackarachina jumped at Starscream and stabbed her stingers in to his chest. But it had no affect then he grabbed her and pointed his null ray at her .
"My Allspark fragment makes me immune to your cyber-venom. Now one wrong move and the spider gets squashed." Starscream said.
Then he got blasted in the back and loosened Blackarachina Optimus saw his chance so he used his grappler and pulled her out of his reach. They looked behind Starscream and saw Scattershot holding his blaster.
"I through you needed a servo." Scattershot said. Then Starscream blasted him. Then Optimus grabbed the stasis cuff off Sentinel.
"Keep him distracted!" Optimus said.
He then transformed and drove away. Then Starscream fired an onslaught of null rays at Sentinel's shield as he walked closer. The blasts were starting to push Sentinel backward. Starscream then changed the blasts into a continuous stream of null energy.
"How long…do you think you can keep this up Autobot?" Starscream sneered.
"Long enough for me to do this!" Optimus said and jumped over Starscream's head and slapped on a pair of stasis cuffs. Starscream went rigid and fell to the ground.
"Yeesh Optimus think you could an drawn that one out any longer?" Sentinel said deactivated his shield
"You're welcome Sentinel." Optimus said.
A few minutes later
The Autobots carried Starscream aboard the Elite Guard's ship with a mouth clamp attached to his jaw.
"Well Optimus Prime it would appear you and Blackarachina right about the Decepticons." Ultra Magnus admitted.
"But sir that doesn't change the fact that they disobeyed a direct order!" Sentinel reminded.
"That may be true. But there are times when following your gut are more important than acting by the book. Wouldn't you agree Optimus Prime?" Ultra Magnus asked. Optimus merely smiled. "Given the recent events I've decided to let you and your crew remain here on earth to collect more AllSpark fragments. And keep them out of the hands of any Decepticons that may still remain on this planet. I think you may need a few more stasis cuffs for the job. Scattershot will be keeping an optic on you and your crew. Blackarachina you have a choice of coming to Cybertron or staying on Earth."
Back at the Autobot base Blackarachina gave Optimus their newest fragment into the AllSpark's container which now held four fragments. Meanwhile the others brought in a box bearing the Elite Guard's colors. They opened it up to see fifteen more stasis cuffs.
The next day the earthbound Autobots, Scattershot, Sari and Fanzone watched the Elite Guard's ship fly away back to Cybertron.
"You guys are staying on Earth? How great is that? Don't worry Captain Fanzone. We can still hang out."Sari said.
"Oh great. I'll clear my calendar." Fanzone said sarcastically.
Meanwhile in a mine outside the city
Megatron looked at Lugnut and Blitzwing and their new tachyon transmitter.
"Send out a message to our double agent on Cybertron. Tell him that communications with our rebel forces has been restored. And the Autobot's space bridge technology is within my grasp. The uprisings on the edge of the galaxy will continue to draw the Autobot forces away from Cybertron. Leaving it virtually defenseless. And once my space bridge is operational I will conquer a weakened Cybertron from within." Megatron said