Transformers Robots in Disguise (RID): Rise of Devil Z
Created by: ShadowHawk
Written by: Marik7410

Chapter 11

Leader

The jets were in for a surprise. Their leader, Nightfire, remain still and silent. "Hey Nightfire, do you know her?" Sunstorm asked.

Nightfire locked optics with his sister and stayed quiet. "Come on, tell them the truth," Flyby said.

"What truth?" Caliburst wondered. "Is she your girlfriend?"

"No," Nightfire said. "To be honest…I've never seen her before in my life."

Flyby was saddened that her brother disowned her. "Fine," she said to herself.

"Alright, time to bring this chick down slowly," Sunstorm said. The jets lined up and opened fire. Flyby climbed higher in the air as she slipped her battle mask on. Her optics was still fixed on Nightfire. "Don't underestimate me," she said. Flyby replaced her blade with machine guns and aimed it at the jets.

Meanwhile…

Omega Prime was thrown on his back. His left wheel was snapped off his leg. Scrash slowly walk up to Omega Prime with a cold and blank look on his face. "All your efforts are for nothing Prime," he said. "I'm giving you an opportunity to save yourself and your reputation."

"I don't care what you offer, I will never turn my back on Cybertron," Omega Prime said.

"I'm not asking you to turn your back to Cybertron," Scrash corrected. "I'm only asking for your power. Together, we can reshape our home world and make it better for us and the universe."

"I rather join Galvatron than listen to you."

"So be it," Scrash rumbled. Scrash cocked back his arm as a sword appeared. Scrash drove the sword down as Omega Prime's Autobot insignia glowed. The sword went straight through as Optimus and Ultra Magnus rolled away. The brothers got on their feet and faced Scrash. "Maximum fire!" they shouted.

Scrash withstood the brunt of the attack and stood firm. "When will you Autobots learn?" he said.

"Impossible," Magnus said.

"After all of that, nothing," Optimus said.

"No matter how hard you try to resist, it doesn't change a damn thing," Scrash said. "You're nothing to me. Just give in to the truth and accept that we Decepticons are the true rulers of the universe."

"Never," Optimus objected.

"Oh, the word that boils my energon," Scrash rumbled. Three hisses was emitted from Scrash as he vanished, leaving Tidal Wave behind. Scrash appeared in front of Ultra Magnus and landed a blow to the midsection. Magnus keeled over in pain as Scrash rammed his knee to Ultra Magnus' face. Scrash held his arm in the arm as his sword materialized. "Final Strike," Scrash smiled.

"NO!" Optimus shouted. He moved to shield his brother from Scrash's onslaught. Scrash brought down his sword and sliced Optimus' left arm from the elbow. "You're a glutton for punishment Prime," Scrash said.

Scrash drove his elbow on Optimus' back. Scrash reached out and Ultra Magnus by his neck. He threw Magnus high in the air. "Tidal Wave, take aim and fire," Scrash ordered.

"Yes sir," Tidal Wave said. Tidal Wave switched to robot mode and let Ultra Magnus have it. Missiles and bullets pelted Ultra Magnus' body. Scrash charged his sword with energy and sent an energy wave at Ultra Magnus. Scrash turned his back as his wave hit its mark. "Get up Prime!" Scrash demanded. "I'm not the type that kicks a dog while it's down. I want to see the fear and pain it's going through before I put it out of its misery."

Optimus slowly climbed to his feet. "Good," Scrash said. Scrash drew his second sword and started hacking away at Optimus' armor. Scrash end it with a missile to the chest. Optimus crashed into a cliff and limped to the ground, barely online. Scrash swung his sword as he was ready to pierce Optimus' spark. "Explain to Alpha Trion what has happen because today, you failed," Scrash smiled.

Scrash took his aim and cocked back. The fighting stopped as Optimus' life was about to be taken. "Optimus, NO!" Sideburn shouted.

Autobot Base

"I can't watch," T-Ai said as she looked away. Wilson, on the other hand, looked on.

"Are you really going to do it?" Wilson thought to himself.

Talon looked at Wilson and saw that he was too calm and relaxed. "He must have nerves of steel," he thought to himself. "I mean, if it was Flyby, I wouldn't be so silent."

Talon looked around and saw that someone is missing. "Guys, where's Arcee?" Talon asked.

Wilson looked and saw that Arcee was missing. "Yeah, where did she go?" Wilson wondered.

"Did you send her to battle?" Throttle asked.

"No I didn't," T-Ai said.

Desert

Arcee arrived at the scene to witness the death of her leader. "Optimus," she spoke softly. "It can't end like this."

"Look at me!" Scrash said.

Optimus slowly move his head as he looked at Scrash. "Do it," Optimus said. "I can't stop you."

"Very well," Scrash said. "Goodbye Optimus Prime." Scrash charged his sword and drove his sword down.

"OPTIMUS!" Arcee shouted.

Scrash's sword came to a complete stop. The tip of the blade rests just mere inches from Optimus' armor.

Autobot Base

"He stopped," Talon said.

"Why?" Throttle wondered.

"Could it be hearing Arcee's voice stopped him?" T-Ai said.

"Did Arcee save Optimus' life?" Wilson wondered to himself. "And what is this energy I just felt? The nanobytes are acting strange. Did I really find my medium?"

Desert

Scrash turned his optics to Arcee and grinned. Scrash shook his sword and put it away. "Count your blessings Prime," Scrash said. "She just saved your life. Decepticons let us retreat. We've done enough damage for the day. ADA, get us out of here."

"Yes sir," ADA complied. ADA activated the ship's system and beamed everyone and the ship out from the desert.

"They vanished?" Sideburn said.

"Ain't that something," X-Brawn said.

"Never mind them, look at Optimus," Inferno said. Prowl and Towline helped Ultra Magnus to his feet and brought him over to Optimus. Ultra Magnus sighed in disgust. "Man, I thought I'll see the day," he said. "The day the Decepticon nearly won."

"Thanks to Arcee, Optimus is safe," Wedge smiled.

Arcee stood with her mouth open in shock. She was completely speechless. She started walking backwards in nervousness. "What's wrong Arcee?" Hotshot asked.

"I didn't do anything," Arcee answered. "That was sheer luck." Arcee switched to vehicle mode and left. Arcee raced down the road back to base. "I didn't save Optimus," she said to herself.

Arcee started thinking about that moment in her head and replaying it over and over again. She slammed on her brakes and switched to robot mode. She walked up to a cliff and punched a hole on the rock face. "Even if I did somehow save him, why did he stop?" Arcee wondered. "Something made him stop. I saw it. The look on his face when he stopped it was frustration. But it was directed at someone else. It's like, he's being controlled. The question is who is controlling him."

Somewhere in Montana

At the base of Baldy Mountain, a group of hikers were heading to see Baldy Rock up close and personal. The hikers were young adult, recent university graduates looking for adventure before the heavy burden of life dropped on their shoulders. Leading the hike is a cheery and over-perky tour guide and she was perky. "Alright guys, how is everyone loving the hike so far?" she asked.

"It's per…"

"Okay, let's keep moving," she interrupted.

"I swear that bitch is getting on my nerves," Brittany muttered.

"If I hear, 'okay' once more time, I swear I'm going to murder her," Mike grumbled.

"Why did he choose her in the first place?" Carl wondered.

"Remember?" Chrissy reminded.

"Ah, the beauty of nature is compelling," James sighed.

"I know right," the tour guide. "Nature is so mysterious. It's like you want to study it closer to find what makes it tick."

"There 'something' I do like to study," James said. James had an overwhelming attraction towards the tour guide and his friends couldn't believe his taste in women.

"Man, this is boring," Mike groaned. "How about we do something fun?"

The tour guide was confused about what James meant. "Like what?" she wondered.

The girls looked at Mike and smiled. "How about we enjoy nature?" they suggested.

It wasn't long before…

"Ah, I miss this," Mike said as he inhaled the vapor. "What were we doing again?"

"Hey Chrissy, my boobs look odd," Brittany said. "Can I see yours to be sure that this is normal?"

"Now that's an idea," Mike grinned.

"You guys, I can't believe you brought the stash with you," James said. "This is illegal and I don't want my darling Tabitha to be influence by this."

"F- nature," Tabitha laughed. "The only reason I took this stupid tour guide job because I needed the money. Believe me, I rather be at the club getting all f- up."

"Tell it girl," Chrissy said.

"Want to see my tattoo of two girls making out?" Tabitha offered.

"Too late," James whined. "She's baked. My love for you is gone!"

"Quit being a wuss man," Mike said. "So where is this tattoo of yours and are you willing to do that for real?"

The ground shook, interrupting the circle. "Did a bear fall?" Brittany wondered.

"That's some big bear," Mike snickered.

"I think that it's a ship," James said. James got up from the circle and went to investigate. "Finally, the nerd is gone," Tabitha said and ripped one. "Whew, I was holding that one in."

"Damn girl, what died?" Chrissy gagged.

"My life," Tabitha smiled.

"Damn your life stinks," Mike said. "So Britt, can I check your boobs?"

"Sure," Brittany said.

"RUN!" James shouted.

James jumped out from the brush and through the circle. "Robots!" James shouted. "Big killer robots!"

"What's his deal?" Mike wondered.

"Um, Mike, did you get this from the islands because I'm seeing a huge robot?" Brittany asked.

"I'm seeing it too," Chrissy said.

"Dōmo arigatō Mr. Roboto," Tabitha sang.

"Girls, this is the same stuff we use in school," Mike said. "That thing is real. RUN!" Mike and the girls ran from their little circle and out to safety. Another set of metal footsteps approached the robot. "All clear sir," the drone reported.

"Good," Scourge said as he looked around. "This should provide good cover for the time being. Set up the machine."

"Yes sir," the drone saluted.

Scourge turned around and head deep into the forest until he reached a clearing. There was the Hydra Cannon. Scrash was outside, inspecting his ship. He wasn't pleased. "My lord," Scourge said. "The South flank is secured."

"Good," Scrash said. "ADA!"

ADA was on top of the ship when she heard her name. "Coming!" she shouted. ADA leap from the edge and landed on the ground below. She stuck the dismount only to move her left foot slightly. Three drones held up cards with the number 9 on them. "Now is not the time for antics," Scrash said. "Status report."

"Well, let me tell you what's working," ADA said. "We have missiles, reserve power and the teleporter."

"That's it?"

"With main power down, we're lucky that the controls work."

"What's the status on the engines?"

"Both impulse and warp engines are shot," ADA reported. "Whoever did this…"

"You mean, someone deliberately sabotaged the engine?"

"They had to know what they were doing," ADA said.

"I bet its Ultra Magnus," Scourge snarled. "I'll grind his armor to dust."

"It wasn't him," ADA said. "I checked the surveillance. It had to be someone from the outside because sensors and hull plating was re-routed from the entry near the nacelles."

Scrash looked at the entry point and saw that it was too small for anyone on the ship to do it. "Bomb?" Scourge questioned.

"No," ADA said. "Someone cut into the hull, snuck in, trashed the engines and left before anyone noticed."

"Given the fact that someone took the time to re-route the systems on the hull, means that it could've been one of the Autobots."

"It happened after we escaped from the black hole," ADA said. "It was from that moment, we were losing the engines."

Scrash snarled in frustration. "Give me a report of the options we have," Scrash requested. "I hate being stranded on this rock, especially with the Autobots around. With our ship disabled, it will only be a matter of time before they can find us. Set up the cloak. I'll be in my quarters."

Scrash looked at his ship and went inside. "I don't like being stuck here either," Scourge said.

"Same here," ADA agreed. "If we are to take over Cybertron, we have to leave this planet and get there before the Autobots."

"We can still do that," Scourge said.

"Not with the technology the humans have," ADA said. "We'll be lucky if we have warp, let alone escape this star system."

Autobot Base

The Autobots returned from their battle and rushed Optimus into Sick Bay. Ultra Magnus passed out from his injuries and placed in Sick Bay as well. T-Ai immediately started working on their leaders. While they wait on words, the Autobots were talking about a temporary leader for the time being. "I know that having Optimus seriously hurt is affecting everyone," Hotshot said. "But until he's on his feet, I should take the lead."

"No way," Wedge protested. "Remember what happened when you were left in charged. We're not risking another repeat. Since we build the backbone of our operation, I think the Build Team should be in charge."

"Hold on there little one," Railspike said. "We appreciate the time and dedication you made for the team but the trains should lead the team."

"As an officer of the law, we should follow by the book," Prowl said.

"Yeah, I'm next in line," Hotshot interrupted.

"No, I meant, an officer of the law should lead the team," Prowl boasted. The Autobots started arguing and throwing insults at one another. A gun was fired and the shot echoed across the room. "I should be in control," Inferno said.

"What makes you say that?" Wedge asked.

"Out of everyone, I'm the most levelheaded of the group," Inferno said.

"At the same time, if you lose control of your emotions, you turn into a rouge Decepticons," Rapidrun stated.

"I know that," Inferno said. "Optimus and Ultra Magnus are out for the time being. Now I believe we should show them that we can keep our composure in this time of crisis. Now, I want those Decepticons to pay for what they did."

"I agree," a female voice spoke. Inferno looked behind him and saw Arcee. Arcee walked up to Inferno and stood by his side. Inferno was lost for words. "I understand where Inferno is coming from," Arcee said. "We can't fall apart and bicker on who should be leader when we know that Optimus and Ultra Magnus are going to pull through. I don't know about you but I'm placing my life in Inferno's hand. Because I know he won't let me down, aren't you?"

Inferno saw the warm smile on Arcee's face and he went red. "Thanks Arcee," Inferno said.

"I say Inferno should be in charge until either Optimus or Ultra Magnus are back on their feet," Arcee motioned.

"I second it," Towline said.

"All in favor."

The Autobots look among themselves for answers. "Aye," Road Ranger said.

"Aye," Cop-Tur said.

"Aye, Throttle said. "And I believe Rest-Q will be behind you too sir."

"Count us in," Hotshot said.

"Same here," Wedge said.

"He may be young but he's got spark," Railspike said. "He's has our support."

"As long no rules are broken…"

"Prowl," X-Brawn scolded.

"I speak for my brothers and say that Inferno should be in charge," Sideburn said. Inferno turned his attention to Wilson. "Don't look at me," Wilson said. "I'm like Ultra Magnus, I go by my own rules. But as for leadership, why not."

"T-Ai?" Inferno called.

Small footsteps approached Inferno as T-Ai looked up at him. "I can't assure that they will have a speedy recovery," she said. "But Optimus gave me his word that Koji will be rescued. Can you do the same?"

"If I find him, I'll call you," Inferno promised.

"Thanks," T-Ai smiled.

"It's decided," Arcee said. "Inferno is in charge."

"The Decepticons have no idea what's going to hit them," Inferno said.

"But how are we going to find them?" Cop-Tur asked.

"In case none of you noticed but I saw that the Hydra Cannon is severely damaged," Wilson said. "I doubt they can leave the planet in that condition. So I'm willing to bet that they are on this planet, repairing the ship. A ground search is recommended but I doubt the ship will be easy to spot."

"He's right," Inferno said. "Though Scrash backed us into a corner, he's trapped. So be on high alert. The Decepticons are desperate to leave. Stopping them is ideal. Killing them is optionally but I like a live bait to fish them out. I bet that Scrash isn't willing to sacrifice any of them to us. Let the hunt begin."

Hydra Cannon

Shadow Striker was walking down the hall of the ship. Since it was going to be her new home, she figured it was best to scope it out. "It's quite quaint," she said. "It's not like the Decepticon base back on Cybertron but it'll do."

"Why did you tell me to stop?"

Shadow Striker came to a stop when she heard Scrash's voice. "That was Lord Scrash," she said. "But who is he talking to?"

Shadow Striker looked around and found Scrash's quarters. She crept up to the door and gently placed her head to the door. "Tell me why you want Prime to live?" Scrash asked. "I had him."

"Even so, you would've made a fatal mistake by killing him," a dark voice spoke.

"How?"

"With Optimus out of the picture, the Autobots will be looking for revenge. As easily you taken down Prime, your soldiers will take them down as well. Then pretty soon, you'll have an intergalactic war in on your hands. With reinforcements from Cybertron, the battle will destroy this planet thus ruining my plans. You know that the core is here on this planet do you?"

"I've been told but I haven't found it yet," Scrash said. "And besides, with Prime gone, we can easily take on Cybertron."

"Remember that Primus rest in Prime's body and I can't have him kill just yet."

"I understand."

"That voice is dark and cold," Shadow Striker whispered. "I wonder…"

"But now we are trapped on this planet," Scrash continued.

"I understand that. You can use the chance to find the boy."

"According to ADA, we captured Koji Onishi."

"That's not the boy who I speak of. This one doesn't have a past history with the Autobots and he just recently got involved. It is he who possesses the object we need."

"Besides Koji, ADA did say that she encountered two humans who were beyond average."

"Two?" Shadow Striker questioned. "Besides Talon, who else did ADA meet?"

"Then it's one of them who possess the object. Find him and destroy him. I grow weary of being sealed in my prison. Go, so we can be closer to our goal."

"Understood."

"Slag, he's coming," Shadow Striker said. She was panicking. She didn't know how to act causal. "Aw man."

Scrash opened the door and saw Shadow Striker standing at the door. "Shadow Striker?" he said.

"My lord," Shadow Striker smiled. "I was coming to summon you. ADA completed her report and wanted your opinion."

"Is that so?" Scrash said.

"Is something wrong sir?"

"Nothing," Scrash said. Shadow Striker stepped out of the way as Scrash left his quarters. He made his way to ADA's lab for a meeting with her.

"Um, sir?"

"What is it?" Scrash wondered.

"Not too long ago, I've overheard you speaking of two humans ADA met," Shadow Striker said. "I met one of them. His name is Talon."

"Only one?"

"I didn't know there was another. If you want, I can…"

"The only thing I want you to do is to call your boyfriend and have his team meet me on the bridge," Scrash ordered.

"Yes sir," Shadow Striker said.

"And another thing, eavesdropping is highly rude," Scrash stated. "If I catch you doing that again, I'll make sure that will the last conversation you'll ever hear."

"You're going to extinguish my spark?"

"No, just turn off your ears, permanently."

"Understood," Shadow Striker said. She walked down the hall towards the exit. Now terrified, Shadow Striker was smiling. "Fear," she said. "That's the emotion I live to bring. Arcee is next."