Episode 9 Evolution

Shadow Storm POV

When I woke up I was more refreshed than I had ever been I guess that's how anyone human or bot would feel after having a long recharge. Entering the main area I looked around in order to gauge what was going on.

Ratchet was still working on the Synthetic Energon formula and except for my dad, who was flying in the sky somewhere, the rest of the Autobots were at the monitor filing their field reports with Ultra Magnus coming up behind him.

"Beast Hunters, May I ask why you are not currently scouting grid 305 for Predacon bones?"

"Because we just returned from surveying grids 301-304." Arcee replies dryly, Bulkhead then clears his throat before adding

"To log in field reports, per your protocol Commander Magnus, Sir" just as bulk finished Wheeljack came through the main entrance covered in coolant.

"Soldier I don't recall giving you permission to leave the base."

"That's cause you didn't, sir"

"Why are your hands smeared with coolant?"

"I recalibrated your ship's engine calibers, you can expect a ten percent in vector thrust." At that moment my father decides to drop in and everyone is very glad to see him.

"Welcome back Optimus."

"Decepticons activity is at a low, I fear Megatron may have collected the specimens he required to...clone his army." I noticed that my father was no longer looking at us, but behind us so I looked to and found Ultra Magnus still standing where we left him. When my father didn't give any more commands we scattered and did our own thing until we were called for. Smokescreen and I sat down near the empty energon cubes.

"Well, I'm guessing that you got a good night sleep"

"Yeah I really did and it was something that I really needed."

"Optimus, our scanners have detected exposed energon."

"With our reserves at a critical low we cannot afford not to investigate, roll out" everyone transformed and drove out once we made it through the bridge we found Decepticons working on the energon.

"Decepticons! Step away from the energon and surrender." Of course the cons didn't listen and started to shoot at us it didn't take long for all of us to take care of the cons that had gathered. Smokie walks up to one of the energon crates.

"Look at all that sweet fuel."

"Stealth team, transport our cargo back to base, Wreckers, reconnoiter the mine."

"I've always wanted to roll with the wreckers!" Both my father and Ultra Magnus look at him in silence.

"Uhh sir"

"Nice save"

"Very well, Storm you will accompany the wreckers as well."

"Got it, dad" The five of us entered the cave with our weapons drawn.

"No energon signals."

"And no additional security something doesn't smell right." We soon came to a fork in the road and were ordered to separate I wanted to go with my husband, but something was telling me to follow Ultra Magnus and Wheeljack so I quickly kissed Smokie before following my group. It wasn't long until we found a cavern filled with tubes.

"Well this is one whole lot of ugly."

"Yeah, these are no creatures that I want to get into a fight with."

"Megatron's cloning operations seem further along than we anticipated." All of a sudden we start getting shot at and looking at the far end of the cavern I could see Shockwave hiding behind a workstation. We continued to fire at him before he pushes a few buttons on the panel and electrifies all the pods releasing the chemical that's inside and leaving us to deal with the outcome as he escaped into a space bridge. The room soon fills with the sounds of the newly awaken Predacons I look around for anything that might help us and then my optics fell on synthetic energon cubes. Wheeljack had the same idea because he detached a grenade from his side.

"Permission to employ a grenade in a combined space, sir"

"If we three are all that stand between these beasts and the natives of this planet then by all means, blow these beast back to the rust age." Once the grenade was deployed we hightailed it out there. Driving as fast as we could but a ground bridge stopped and from it came a huge Con bigger than Megatron.

"Who's this guy?"

"The very same who has previously allowed you to live, but will not today."

"He's the Predacon" we were shocked, but we didn't have time to gawk as the flames from the explosion were traveling down the tunnel to us. We jumped out of the way just in time to avoid it, but not in time to avoid the anger of the Predacon.

"What have you done to my brethren?" He turned sharply toward us and charged." What have you done?" We shot at him then we were separated in three different directions he attacked each one of us. Wheeljack got in a few hits before he was slammed into the wall and stomped on, but before I could get there, to help him out, Ultra Magnus hammered the con away from Wheeljack. Before he to get a beating.

"Well then let's dance." Wheeljack used his new weapon and attached it to the end of the hammer and clobbered him with it. I was right behind him as the Predacon charged toward us Wheeljack attached his weapon to the end of the hammer tripping up the con. After doing that I slammed him into the ground. Jackie distracted him long enough for us to get into position to do an Autobot version of monkey in the middle. When Wheeljack took the high ground he shot upwards and very soon so did Ultra Magnus and myself did as well releasing a huge rock from the ceiling and allowing it to land right on top of the con. The three of us gathered and before we congratulate each other. The con lifted the entire rock and creamed it into us. After being tossed away I slammed my head into the wall and almost collapsed, but not before I see the con slamming the rock into Wheeljack and then throwing it at me. That was the last thing I remember before everything went black.

Smokescreen POV

After journeying to the caves dead end we headed back outside and just as we stepped back out into the sun a big shake almost toppled me and boulder over.

"Where are the others?"

"There was a split in the path so we paired off."

"Bulkhead return to base, Smokescreen follow me we will figure this out." Dad activated his jetpack and I hanged on we entered a huge cavern. Just as a huge creature was about to bring the hammer down on Megatron. I jumped off and once I landed I looked around I see Wheel jack slumped against a wall and Magnus lying on the ground. And in the corner underneath a destroyed rock I see my wife's hand.

"Gail, Gail" It didn't take long for me to dig her out, she was really injured, but she was only in stasis mode. I ran back to Optimus and grabbed onto him as he blasted away we got into the sky and the con followed us then he transformed into the Predacon and was just about to fire when we made it into the ground bridge.

Once we arrived at the base we placed Wheeljack, Ultra Magnus, and Gail in medical berths allowing Ratchet to check them out as soon as he determines what he needs to do he gets to work. He starts with Gail first as she is the most injured, but as he starts working on her, Her hand that I am holding glows white around the wrist and that color covers her entire form and quickly as it begins it ends. Ratchet moves onto Ultra Magnus and after making sure he's ok he moves on to Wheeljack by that time Gail's optics were beginning to open.

"Gail, wake up"

"Be quiet, Smokie my head is ringing and you're not helping things." The team rushes over to her side all wanting to ask questions, but before anyone can she stops them in their tracks.

"Hold it, question's one at a time and do not scream." Gail laid her head back before cuddling up to me.

"How are you doing my daughter?" Dad was of course the first one to ask a question.

"I'm fine considering I have a splitting headache and how tired I am."

"Then get some rest"

"Dad, how are Magnus and Wheeljack doing?"

"Wheeljack's fine a little sore, but Ultra Magnus lost his right hand in the battle." Gail felt sorry for the two I could see it in her eyes before she closed her optics and powered down. I decided to power down beside her with my hand still holding on to hers