Hi, guys! I'm back with the next chapter! We've got three left after this one to get through, so we're almost to the end - and right as the school year comes to a close, too!

That feels...kinda like a weird thought, actually.

Shadescribe - Yeah. Meh. *shrugs* As for the plot from the movie...it's similar enough that they don't throw it off the rails completely - just throw in some "extra sprinkles." You'll see what I mean in this chapter.

SabaraOne - Magnus does seem to be an injury magnet, doesn't he? As for Shockwave, I don't really have anything planned for the guy (yet). Maria doesn't get to run into him because of where she's placed in the Predacons Rising plot, so we're not going to catch much so much as a glimpse of him. I'll have to think about what could happen later on, though...Yeesh, that's quite the comparison! I don't think I'd want to run into either Shockwave or EV-9D9!

Anyway, here's the next chapter!

Chapter 44

Maria's POV

It turned out that Knock Out was not trying to send us on a wild goose chase, and was actually deciding to play nice for once.

So, Bumblebee, Smokescreen, Shape-Change, Wildfire, Arcee, and I ended up making the trip to what used to be Megatron's side of the planet.

"What makes you think we're going to find Shockwave's cloning lab here?" Arcee asked.

"...yeah, wasn't Darkmount Megatron's military HQ?" Smokescreen asked.

"It wasn't just that," Shape-Change replied. "After most of us left the planet, Shockwave apparently turned it into a lab of his own so that he could experiment with those who were left behind. I have reason to believe that there might be some Cybertronians who are still trapped inside."

"How do you know?" I asked, my head poking out the open window of Wildfire's passenger side.

"I could hear shouting coming from inside the tower." Shape-Change paused. "Maria, I'd like you and Wildfire to come with me and free what prisoners we can. Some of the yells that came from below sounded familiar."

I blinked at that. "Uh...sure, I guess?"

"And if what Knock Out said is accurate," Bumblebee added, "I'll be able to find a map of Shockwave's lab network in the citadel's database."

We quickly came to a stop in front of Darkmount's entrance, and the Autobots transformed into their bi-pedal modes while I jumped onto my hoverboard.

"Okay, so SC said she wanted me and Wildfire to go with her to look around the lower floors," I said. "So, who's going to check the database?"

"Me, Smokescreen, and Arcee," Bumblebee said, nodding to the other two. "We'll meet up back here when we're done unless something happens."

"You mean, like us running into Shockwave," Wildfire suggested. When Bumblebee nodded, she gave him a thumbs-up. "Got it. Okay, you two; let's go check this place out."

We instantly ran into Darkmount and split up; Bumblebee, Smokescreen, and Arcee started heading up, while SC led Wildfire and me over to a panel that looked like it had been torn off the wall, revealing a stairwell - SC's work, no doubt.

As we reached the stairs, I stopped short. "Wildfire..."

"Yeah, I can hear them, too." Wildfire frowned at the sound of banging metal and shouts that were coming from below. "SC, you might be onto something."

I frowned, trying to figure out what the shouts were saying. "That sounds an awful lot like Cybertronian..."

"Because it is," SC replied. She paused, cocking her head to one side for a moment. "You should be getting a translation packet in three, two-"

I blinked when a file suddenly appeared in a corner of my vision, and I closed an eye as I started to go through it.

Instantly, the shouting below us started to become a bit more coherent, but not quite.

"Okay." I nodded. "So, we're going down there?"

"We're going down there," Wildfire confirmed, grinning. She nodded to SC, who started down ahead of us. Wildfire followed after her, with me right on her heels.

It didn't take us too long to find the source of all the yelling. As soon as we reached the base of the stairs, we found what looked like a group of six Cybertronians, two of whom were yelling at each other at the tops of their lungs. And, oddly enough...three of the six actually looked a little familiar.

"I'll have you know that you idiots really got us into a mess!" snapped a green Cybertronian with helicopter blades on his back. "First we manage to finally get rid of the pest problem, and now our entire underground city has been flooded by Energon! And now we're trapped here, waiting for our afts to get picked off when Shockwave comes back from who-knows-where!"

"Do you really think that was our fault?" snapped a green femme in reply. "Something happened to the planet, Springer; it wasn't voodoo."

"I'll believe it when Optimus Prime flies!" Springer snapped in reply.

I burst out laughing at that. "I guess you haven't seen him and his jetpack recently!"

The squabbling stopped at my exclamation, and everyone in the room turned and stared at me, Wildfire, and Shape-Change. A lot of optics widened as I reigned in my laughter, turning it into snickers for a few seconds.

"Wildfire?" the green femme asked, blinking in surprise. "Shape-Change?"

"Hey, Chronica," Wildfire replied. "It's been a while." Her voice sounded a little stiff.

"Springer." Shape-Change gave Springer a nod as she walked down, joining the group. "It's good to see you all alive and well."

"Us?" Springer snorted. "What about you? We thought you were dead! And who's the Mini-Con?"

"Reploid!" I corrected.

"She's a little ally of mine, that's all," Wildfire replied smugly. "And don't let her size fool you; she can melt the best of you." She walked forward, looking around at all the Cybertronians as I followed after her, looking at all the Cybertronians curiously. "What are you all doing down here? You said something about a flooded underground city?"

Chronica nodded. "Yeah. We've been living underground in order to avoid Shockwave and his experiments ever since Ultra Magnus left. Things have been a little too quiet lately, though, so everyone in the city split up so that we wouldn't get caught."

"It's probably been 'too quiet' because Shockwave's on the run," Wildfire replied, grinning.

Seeing Springer's frown, SC explained, "We have been fighting against Megatron directly on a planet called Earth a great distance from here. The reason your city was flooded is because we woke up the planet."

"You did?" Springer looked between us. "Then, that means...the war's over?"

"One Silent Stinger got his voice back and stabbed Megatron through with the Star Saber," I explained. "You could say that it was Bumblebee who won the war for us."

"Bumblebee?" Chronica repeated. "That scout?"

"Warrior, now," Wildfire replied smugly. "We're hunting for Shockwave right now; he's getting the information about his hideouts from the data in this place, and then we're going to head out and storm Shockwave's bases. We could appreciate the help."

I nodded in agreement and was about to add to it when I suddenly got a minor headache, causing me to flinch and close one eye.

-Purple-pain-shots fired-UNICRON-

I let out a gasp. "Oh, Primus above and below..."

Wildfire turned sharply to look at me. "What?"

Then our comms rang. ::Wildfire, SC, Maria! We've got to get out of here NOW!::

"Bumblebee, what's going on?" Shape-Change asked.

::It's Megatron!:: Smokescreen replied. ::He's back! And he's possessed by Unicron!::

I suddenly felt queasy. "Megatron's possessed by who?!"

"What's going on here?" Chronica asked, frowning.

"We need to get out of here now," Wildfire hissed. "It seems like Megatron's been resurrected from the dead by the Chaos Bringer himself."

"Unicron? Seriously?" Springer frowned. "That's an old femme's tale, isn't it?"

Chronica sent him a glare.

I got another headache - a worse one this time - and I closed my eyes and gripped my head while at the same time yelping, "Mirage Break!"

Instantly, what was playing in my head was playing in the air in front of me, too.

"Behold, my infinite might!" the possessed Megatron - now looking bigger, more spiky, and more dangerous - declared. He summoned a spear of glowing purple crystal, and it dropped into his servo before he threw it into the throne that Bumblebee, Arcee, and Smokescreen were hiding behind.

Then it started beeping.

"Let's roll," Bumblebee said. He led them out from behind the throne, transforming into vehicle mode and driving off the edge of Darkmount. He shot a hole into the roof of the next building over, revealing a tunnel that the Autobots dove into.

Unicron followed them, roaring, and transformed into a flying mode and dove after them just as the purple crystal in the throne exploded.

I opened my eyes with a gasp as the mirage faded, and looked up at the other Cybertronians, who were staring at me, wide-eyed.

"...okay, so the Chaos Bringer might be real," Springer said uneasily.

"We have to get out of here now," Chronica said. She turned and looked at a blocky red mech and a blue femme. "Ironhide, Beta - get Alpha Trion and Elita into the tunnels that we can still use." She looked at Springer for a moment, then looked over at us. "You're coming with us, too."

I blinked at that while Wildfire and Shape-Change exchanged looks.

"We need to get to the surface so that Ratchet can Ground Bridge us onto the Nemesis," Wildfire said. "It's probably the safest place right now."

"Agreed," spoke up the one of the other two mechs in the group - an older guy with a long mustache and beard, making me wonder if it as even possibly for Cybertronians to grow facial hair.

Then I remembered Rodimus from that alternate Cybertron we had visited.

"I know one that leads up in front of the Kaon outskirts," the blue femme volunteered. "Come on!" She turned and ran into what looked like a cell, only to pry off a part of the back wall, then disappear into it.

"Let's roll!" Chronica exclaimed. She transformed into a rather alien-looking two-wheeled form and took off after the femme.

The red, blocky-looking mech gained a wolfish grin and gave a whoop as he transformed into what I guessed was a van and rolled after her.

"We had better not stand around and be left behind," said the old mech with a twinkle in his optics. He almost reminded me of Gandalf.

"You got that right." Springer then transformed into a car instead of a helicopter and took off after the rest. The pink femme transformed into a form that was similar to Chronica's and followed after her.

Wildfire walked over to the bearded mech and looked him up and down. "You're a real mystery, you know that, Alpha Trion? We found a Maximal named Rhinox who said that he knew you."

"Rhinox?" The bearded mech's optic ridges rose. "It's been too long since I last heard that name! And you found him on Earth?"

Wildfire nodded, then looked over at me. "Come on; I'll be able to explain everything later."

I ducked my head. "Of course you know I've got questions about our new friends."

Time Break

It took us a little bit to get Ratchet to bridge us from Kaon's outskirts, and by the time we all got up there, we had filled in our new-found allies about what it was that was going on - both with the war, and what we could gather about Megatron.

"Okay, where's the Commander?" Springer demanded as we entered the Nemesis.

"Springer?!" Bulkhead exclaimed. "Wh-what are you going here?" His optics widened when he saw the rest of the group. "Wildfire, where did you find these guys?"

"They've been hiding under the planet's surface," Wildfire explained as the rest of the group followed through.

The red mech - Ironhide, also known as "the Doberman" - looked around as we walked on and snorted. "So, this is the Con warship, huh? I didn't think that we'd be using it as a base."

"Much has changed since Optimus left Cybertron," Alpha Trion said thoughtfully. "I believe we will be seeing many unexpected things in the future."

"So, where's the Commander?" Springer stood nose-to-nose with Bulkhead.

"H-he's in the medbay," Bulkhead replied. "We're going to be meeting there now to talk about what happened."

Wildfire gained an uneasy looking grin. "Oh, man, you guys are in for a real surprise."

Chronica gave her an odd look. "What do you mean?"

"You'll see when we get there," SC replied quickly. "Come on."

When we got to the medbay, the others were already talking about what was going on.

"How is this happening?" Arcee was demanding. "I mean, we put out a call for refugees to come back to Cybertron, and Unicron's the first in line?!"

"Oh, dear," Alpha Trion murmured worriedly behind us.

"Not to mention those Predacons," First Aid added, her optic ridges coming together worriedly. "What are we calling them home to?"

"And what are we supposed to call him?" Smokescreen asked. "Megicron? Unitron?"

"Really?" Wildfire demanded as we walked in. "That's your biggest issue right now? His name?"

"Just call him Unicron and be done with it!" I added shortly.

Smokescreen ducked his head. "Right, right...sorry." He looked up. "So, what's the game plan?"

"I'm wondering that, too," Ironhide spoke up, getting the others to look over at him.

I have to say, their reactions were hilarious.

Bumblebee's jaw dropped. "Whoa...Where did you find these guys?"

"Under Darkmount," Wildfire replied.

"Alpha Trion!" Smokescreen yelped. "You're okay!"

Alpha Trion chuckled good-naturedly. "Of course I am, Smokescreen. I have quite the entourage guarding me, you know." He motioned to Beta, Elita, Ironhide, Chronica, and Springer, the last of who was making a beeline for where Magnus was lying on a berth.

Smokescreen sighed with relief. "That's good."

Chronica's jaw dropped. "First Aid? But you - you're supposed to be dead!"

First Aid shrugged helplessly. "Vector Prime decided to intervene." She gave a slight smile.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Alpha Trion get a weird look on his face for a moment, but it was gone before I could figure out what it was.

"Chronica? Elita?" Arcee's optics were wide.

"Arcee!" Elita practically barreled into Arcee and gave her a hug. "It's been ages!"

"Been giving the Cons enough trouble?" Chonica asked as she came over, smirking.

"More than enough of it," Arcee replied.

"Hello? We need a plan?" Ironhide spoke up grumpily.

Bumblebee gave a nod, then turned and walked over to one of the computers nearby and started typing.

"While Unicron may now inhabit a mortal form," Ratchet said, "he is still a god, and thus, cannot be defeated by customary means."

"Optimus? Wheeljack?" Bumblebee said. "This is Bumblebee. We have an urgent situation." He paused for a moment, and when there was no answer, he said, "Optimus, can you hear me? Come in, please! Wheeljack, do you read!"

I flinched, and heard a voice echo in my head - Wheeljack's.

"That hit we took did some damage. The receiver's operational, but we can't transmit."

"Bee, they can hear you loud and clear," I spoke loudly. "They just can't talk back. I think they got hit with something that knocked their ship around and damaged something."

Bumblebee looked at me in surprise, then gained a determined expression and looked back at the computer. "Optimus, Unicron's back, and he's possessing Megatron's body. We need you to get back here as soon as possible!" He terminated the connection.

"So, what now?" Bulkhead asked.

"You mean, besides the fact that your Reploid somehow knows what's going on in places she isn't?" Ironhide asked, motioning to me.

"Hey!" I barked. "I'll have you know, Doberman, that I have a name - Maria Carlsdale. And, I'm a World Jumper. Getting visions kinda comes with the territory!"

That got a number of stares from the three mechs and three femmes we had brought in.

"Maria?" Elita repeated in surprise. "You don't mean...that sweet little human girl who thought I was a mermaid?"

I rubbed the back of my head at that, only remembering then that Elita's name used to be Arial. "Uh...heh heh...yeah?"

"Interesting," Alpha Trion noted. "I did not think that we would be graced with the presence of a World Jumper, much less someone who had been here before."

"Two, actually," Jolt called from where he was standing in a corner. He pointed at Joshua, who was standing on his shoulder. "Joshua here is kinda one, too."

Joshua gave a nod. "If Unicron is here, rather than in Earth's core where he was supposed to be sealed, then we need to figure out why it is that he's here and what it is that he wants."

"There could only be one reason," Ratchet replied. He looked over at Alpha Trion. "Correct me if I am wrong, but Unicron would want to destroy the Spark of his archenemy, Primus, correct?"

Alpha Trion gave a grim nod. "According to our ancient texts, Primus has always stood in Unicron's way; it would make sense that the Chaos Bringer would come here, when Primus and we least expect it, in order to destroy is counterpart once and for all, so that none may stand in in his way as he brings destruction to the universe."

"It isn't fair!" Arcee declared. "How many more times do we have to save a world? Have to fight for the survival for our home?"

"I'd welcome a fight any day of the week!" Chronica declared. Ironhide gave the femme a wide grin in agreement.

"Unfortunately, the struggle between creation and destruction is an eternal one," Alpha Trion said grimly. Ratchet nodded knowingly in agreement. "And the battle lines that separate the two run through the very Spark of Cybertron. Good, and evil. Order, and chaos."

"One victorious," Ratchet said. "One vanquished. Each forming the core of their own respective worlds. Cybertron...and Earth."

Springer did a double-take. "Whoa! You're saying that the planet you were on while fighting against Megatron-"

"Has Unicron at its core," I finished grimly. "And, it's my home. All of humanity's home."

"And now, that darkness has followed us," Ratchet said. "All the way to our home."

"So, we've got to find him and put the kabosh on him," I said, slamming my fist into an open palm. "Before he not only destroys Cybertron, but Earth, too."

"Which means that we will have to come up with a strategy," Joshua spoke up.

Bumblebee looked over at where Magnus was lying on the berth, then over at Ratchet. "Ratchet, is there a chance that Magnus will be able to give us some help? With Optimus still out in space, we could use his council."

Ratchet shook his helm. "It will take some time before he will be up on his struts again." He paused, and smiled. "Besides, during our time fighting against the Decepticons, we have seen many rise above their station - scouts, field medics. Perhaps another one of our number will surprise you."

Bumblebee perked up at Ratchet's words, his doorwings straightening a little. "Right. We can launch an attack on Darkmount - provided Unicron's still there."

"What makes you think he's going to be hanging around that old dump?" Chronica scoffed. "There isn't anything left there that even we could put to use."

"Then, how are we going to know where he is now?" First Aid asked.

"We're going to need to track him," Wildfire said.

Ratchet's optics widened at that, and he gained a look of realization. "I believe I may know of a way. I recommend that we use the warship's operating system to search for Megatron's Spark signal."

Bulkhead gave Ratchet a disbelieving look. "Doc, that remodeled Buckethead may have looked and sounded like Megatron, but it wasn't him!"

"Well, if he's possessing Megatron's body, there's got to be something that links the two," Joshua pointed out.

"Dark Energon," Arcee realized. "Megatron practically lived on the stuff!"

"And there was probably enough running in his veins to allow Unicron to take over Megatron at just the right point in time," Shape-Change added.

"Unicron probably has Megatron's Spark on life support," Jolt said, He winced. "Which means Megatron has to share his head with the Chaos Bringer..."

I shuddered at the very idea.

"Come!" Ratchet motioned for us to follow him. "Let's get to the bridge and find him before Unicron does something more than he already has!"

Change in POV - Wildfire

As the group started out of the medbay and headed towards the bridge, Wildfire was grabbed by Alpha Trion, causing the two to fall behind the others.

"Wildfire, I would like to ask something of you," Alpha Trion said as Wildfire turned to look at him.

Wildfire folded her arms across her chest, raising an optic ridge. "And what exactly is that, old timer?"

"I would like to know what you think of Maria and her family, after having spent twelve years with them."

Wildfire stared at the old archivist, then her optics narrowed. "How did you know about that?"

There was an odd twinkle in Alpha Trion's optics, vaguely reminding Wildfire of the mysterious old wizard that had appeared in those three-hour-long movies that the Carlsdales likes so much - Lord of the Rings or something like that. "I have my ways, Wildfire."

The femme gave a huffing noise. "I'm not going to get any answers out of you, am I?" When the expression on Alpha Trion's face didn't change, she sighed irritably. "They're all right. Eccentric, definitely, but all right. And extremely protective, each and every one of them. They're pretty close-knit with their friends, too, which is something that I happen to appreciate."

"I should think so," Alpha Trion replied, chuckling. "And...Maria?"

"Reckless and a terrible trouble magnet," Wildfire replied, deadpan. "The kid knows she's a World Jumper, and she practically throws herself into every single dangerous situation. Sometimes, I wish she'd think with her head instead of her Spark - or soul, as the humans call it."

"And you aren't reckless?" Alpha Trion jabbed. "I know for a fact that you weren't thinking when you came to me after escaping from Kaon."

Wildfire's optics narrowed as she tried to think of a retort, but nothing came to mind, so she remained silent.

The Head Archivist chuckled. "Oh, don't look at me like that! You know that I am speaking the truth." He gained a more serious expression. "Keep an eye on her."

Wildfire blinked at the sudden change in Alpha Trion's attitude.

"I believe that, while Maria may be enjoying herself now with what she has done, there is a chance that she will soon be facing things that will change her outlook on life. Let her know that she will have you and others at her back always, even when the stars fall and her life seems to have fallen apart."

With that, Alpha Trion walked past Wildfire and into the bridge without a word, leaving the femme staring after him with a confused expression.

Hmmm...it seems that Alpha Trion knows something about what's coming...

Well, I know too, obviously, but I'm not gonna say what I've got planned for my OC. You guys'll find out about it eventually.

I'll be back next week with the next chapter! See ya then!