AS THE RENEGADES, LED BY THE SCHEMING GIGATRON, CONTINUE THEIR HUNT TO TRACK DOWN AND MIND CONTROL GIANT KAIJU THE AUTOBOTS TEAM UP WITH THE SECRET ORGANIZATION MONARCH IN A BID TO PREVENT THESE ATTACKS.
BUT FOLLOWING A BATTLE WITH MEGATRON AND THE DECEPTICONS THE KING OF THE MONSTERS GODZILLA HAS AWAKENED AND BEGUN MOVING ACROSS THE WORLD AS AN ENTIRELY UNPREDICTABLE PIECE ON THE BOARD. WELCOME NOW DEAR READER TO ONE OF THREE ARCS WITHIN THIS STORY. WELCOME TO 'THE SKULL ARC'
AFTER A SKIRMISH IN AUSTRALIA THE AUTOBOTS MEET A MYSTERIOUS CYBERTRONIAN BY THE NAME OF DRIFT WHO OFFERS HIS HELP. AT THE SAME TIME A PAIR OF TINY INDIVIDUALS NAMED THE SHOBIJIN MAKE THEIR PRESENCE KNOWN AND REQUEST THE AID OF THE AUTOBOTS IN TRACKING DOWN MOTHRA, AN ANCIENT KAIJU GUARDIAN OF EARTH WHO SLUMBERS WITHIN HER EGG ON SKULL ISLAND, HOME TO A MIGHTY KAIJU NAMED KONG WHOSE LEGACY DATES BACK TO A WAR BETWEEN SUB-ATLANTICA AND ATLANTIS. DETERMINED TO HELP ANYWAY HE CAN THE YOUNG AUTOBOT HOT ROD IS JOINED BY CHROMIA, PROWL, BUMBLEBEE, SPIKE, CARLY AND MONARCH'S OWN KIRIKO TSUJIMORI ONBOARD THE VESSEL YAHATA MARU ON A SECRET MISSION TO SKULL ISLAND FOLLOWING THE DISCOVERY OF A MESSAGE BEING SENT BY A LONG BELIEVE DEAD MONARCH OPERATIVE WHO KNEW ITS LEADER SILAS.
MEANWHILE MEGATRON HAS DISPATCHED THE DECEPTICON DEADLOCK TO TRACK HOT ROD'S TEAM WHILE STARSCREAM, WHO IS IN LEAGUE WITH THE RENEGADE BUGBITE AND IN CONTROL OF THE MONSTER BATTRA, ALSO FOLLOWS ALONG WITH RENEGADE KNOCK-OUT AND A SQUADRON OF AUTOTROOP DRONES.
WE NOW JOIN THE YAHATA MARU CREW ON A VICIOUS AND STORMY NIGHT AS THEY CONTINUE TO SKULL ISLAND, THE AUTOBOTS HAVE BEEN SUMMONED TO THE CARGO BAY AS MEMBERS OF THE CREW SUSPECT FOUL PLAY WITH SOME OF THE SUPPLIES
"It just doesn't make sense" said the crewman who called Hot Rod, Prowl and Kiriko down to the Cargo Bay as he led them to two particular shipping containers. "Most of the supplies we could fit in standard size crates but these two were also loaded onboard the ships name badly written on in paint"
"Have you informed the captain?" asked Kiriko.
"Sent one of my buddies to let him know, figured you'd wanna take a look. You guy are technically running this show" said the Crewman.
"Technically its his show" said Prowl as he looked at Hot Rod.
"Don't be like that Prowl, you know you're enjoying the adventure too" chuckled Hot Rod as he approached the containers and tapped the door of one of them. Before he could even speak it burst open, whatever it was carrying was big and loud as it fell out of the containers.
"That hurt" Grimlock groaned as he picked himself up, the second container opened shortly after as Sludge and Swoop stepped out whilst Slag and Snarl exited the one Grimlock was in.
"What in the name of Maccadam's are you guys doing here?" asked Prowl.
"We here to help, know you being sneaky around Optimus Prime" explained Swoop.
"So we be sneaky too, Slag see you all leave Ark, so we follow" Sludge added.
"But why put yourselves in containers? Wait are you guys the reason I heard the Operators say the Cranes nearly snapped?" asked Kiriko.
"Me Grimlock think you all say no to Dinobots help, so me suggest we hide and write ship name on containers" Grimlock explained.
"How did this plan actually work?" asked Prowl in disbelief.
"From what I gathered these guys are super lucky" said Hot Rod.
"Plus we want to help Friend Hot Rod, Aerialbots vouch for you and we like Aerialbots" said Snarl.
"Plus you save Little Girl, that make you brave hero, Brave like Dinobot" Grimlock chuckled as he extended his hand, Hot Rod smiled as he shook it while Prowl and Kiriko looked at each other with faces of defeat, The Dinobots were along for the ride.
The next day the rest of the crew were informed and as the ship continued its voyage. Everyone took time to enjoy the Cool Air on a very sunny day. Spike and Carly were enjoying a moments peace as they rest up and got a tan, Prowl and Kiriko were below deck going through the supplies, Chromia was watching over the Shobijin as they seemed to be humming some kind of song. Bumblebee sat down at the front of the ship as he looked out at the view.
"Mind if I join you?" Drift asked as he stood behind Bumblebee.
"Go Ahead" Bee said with a smile as Drift sat next to him. After a few minutes the small Autobot looked at Drift's short swords and then the Great Sword on his back, he noticed the symbols on it first.
"Your Sword, its in ancient Cybertronian?" he asked. Drift nodded as he drew the blade and rested in his hands for Bumblebee to get a better look.
"Have you always chosen swords over blasters?" Bee asked.
"Ever since I left Cybertron, you see I once was a Decepticon long ago. But an incident in my past made me reflect on the future, I wandered the Galaxy until I came across a Colony of Cybertronians who left the Planet Millions of Years ago and adopted a way of the Blade. With them I found a calling and spent many years under their training. I cast aside my old name and I became Drift" Drift explained.
"How did you end up on Earth?" asked Spike, he and Carly had overheard the talk and came to listen.
"I was actually tracking down The Renegades, I had no idea they were on one of Cybertron's Moons, but activity on Earth led me to sneak through one of their space bridge portals. Sadly I could not pin point their bases location due to their tech causing heavy scrambling" Drift told them.
"Well former Decepticon you may be, but you've been alright in my books so far Drift" said Bumblebee, Drift smiled and nodded.
THE OCEAN FLOOR: ONBOARD AN OLD CYBERTRONIAN CARGO VESSEL MODIFIED FOR UNDERSEA USAGE
"Can't this 3rd Rate excuse for a Submarine go any faster?" Starscream asked in frustration as he sat in the middle of the bridge in a captains chair. The small vessel was manned by twenty Auto-Troopers and a very annoyed Knock-Out.
"Could have Break-Out here too but no he gets ordered by Gigatron to go to Cybertron" the Red Renegade Muttered.
"I asked you a question Knock-Out!" Starscream shouted.
"And I told you Starscream that if we increase the vessels speed there is a very high chance that either the Autobots or Deadlock's ship will pick us up. Though it surprises me they didn't hear us already with you unable to speak at normal volume" Knock-Out snapped back as he approached the Seeker, both giving the other death glares.
"Be careful who are talking too, Gigatron would be displeased with our lack of co-operation" Starscream said sternly, as far as others in the Renegades were concerned the treacherous partnership of Starscream and Bugbite was still a secret as such Knock-Out believed he was under orders from Gigatron.
"Yes Starscream but these Troopers respond only to my orders" said Knock-Out with a grin, Starscream did the same as he merely motioned to the back of the ship, referring to how it was being followed by Battra.
"Lets not get into an argument Knock-Out, it could end badly for all of us" Starscream said threateningly as he wiped his finger down Knock-Out's chest leaving a mark. Knock-Out was horrified as his hand converted into a buffer as he began cleaning the stain. Starscream chuckled as he sat back as the ship continued following the path of the Yahata Maru.
Two Days passed as the Yahata continued on course and for the time it was peaceful. However early in the morning everyone was woken up by one of the crew as they alerted everyone to something in front of them. Before them was nothing but a giant wall of black clouds and lightning which rumbled with great ferocity. Kiriko at once unrolled a map and placed it down on the ground. It was a satellite shot of Skull Island which lived up to its namesake due to its Skull like appearance.
"The Island is protected by this very storm" explained the Shobijin, "it has raged for countless years, never stopping"
"So its like a first line of defense then" Prowl suggested.
"According to this information we should be to the South of the Island" explained Spike. "Now its a question of getting through the storm"
"This Giant Bucket could handle it, lets head on in" Hot Rod said with great confidence.
"That's like suggesting going for a swim in the Sea of Rust" Bumblebee pointed out.
"Plus this ship is our key way back to our allies" Drift added, "we'd be better off going as a small team"
"Humans maybe, not sure about your guys though" said Carly.
"That no problem" said Grimlock, "we Dinobots could take you"
"He's right" said Prowl.
"What do you mean?" asked Chromia.
"The Dinobots have flight capabilities in robot mode, and enough strength to get a small team flown across" Prowl explained.
"Its crazy, but could work" said Bumblebee.
"Swoop, could you in Dino Mode transport supplies as well?" asked Spike.
"Sounds Easy enough, just don't ask me to carry whole ship" Swoop joked.
Within the hour the ships crew had necessary supplies loaded into a heavy duty box and was strapped to Swoop's Back in alt form. He at once took flight to ensure he could hold the weight. Luckily he could. As Kiriko gave instructions to the crew remaining on ship Spike double checked his backpack and hand blaster as Carly walked over to him.
"You know as you've gotten older there's something I'm starting to notice" she said.
"Whats that?" asked Spike.
"This, Bad Boy, Action Hero like side of you. Like Last Year when the Decepticons tried to steal the plans for Autobot City and you ended up one on one with Rumble" Carly explained.
"I owed that Tin Faced Tape a few after the first time we met, getting that shot at his kneecap was lucky" chuckled Spike when Carly kissed his cheek.
"I like this side of you Mister Witwicky, makes me love you even more than I already do" she said with a wink and a smile. Spike watched her walk away to check on the Shobijin as he went a little red.
"She's a keeper" said Bumblebee.
"What do you know Romance?" asked Spike.
"I have a weakness for Chick Flicks when I'm on Base Duty, sue me" Bee laughed.
As Hot Rod got ready to go he looked a little annoyed, Chromia noticed this and giggled.
"You're still in charge of this Rod, just sometimes your idea isn't the best" she said.
"Great pep talk" Hot Rod said sarcastically, Chromia nudged him with a smile.
"I know why you want this to succeed" she said, "you want a big heroic story to tell her when she comes to Earth"
Hot Rod fell silent as he moved away to talk to Drift.
"Whose Her?" Kiriko asked as she walked over to Chromia.
"Arcee, one of our top Troops, she and Hot Rod have been friends since they first ever met. And he made some dumb promises before he came to Earth about 'telling her of his greatest achievements'" Chromia explained.
"Showboating, got it" Kiriko chuckled.
Before long the Team was ready to depart with the non fliers on the backs of the Dinobots. Hot Rod was in front with Grimlock, Prowl and Kiriko were on Slag, Drift was on Sludge, Chromia, Spike and Carly on Snarl whilst Bumblebee had a box strapped to his back housing the Shobijin and he was being held by Swoop's claws.
"The crew are to wait for word of us within 5 days. After that they are to return home and reports what happened" explained Kiriko.
"Pretty much now or never" said Spike.
"Okay Dinobots, take us in" ordered Hot Rod as the group took flight and before long vanished into the storm clouds. Above the Yahata Maru cloaked from view a Decepticon ship watched events unfold, Deadlock smiled as he moved his ship into the clouds.
"Now the game is on Hot Rod" he chuckled.
The storm was as strong as it looked as the Dinobots moved to avoid incoming lightning and hold their course as the strong winds had passengers holding on for dear life.
"How long do you think we have to fly through this?!" Kiriko shouted over the storm.
"If we keep on course just a few more minutes!" Prowl replied when from behind them came the flapping of wings. Everyone slowly turned as something was right on their tails and letting out a mighty cry.
"It's Rodan!" Spike shouted as the giant bird closed in on the group, its mouth open wide to catch them. Prowl, Hot Rod and Chromia began to open fire to distract the monster as it turned its gaze on them. Swoop took this moment to fly upward and fired his mouth beam at Rodan's eye, partly blinding it for a few moments. But a burst of wind from its wings sent everyone veering in different directions as The Dinobots tried to regroup. Swoop however lost his balance and let go of Bumblebee. As he and the Shobijin began to tumble to the ocean below.
"This isn't good!" the Autobot shouted when suddenly his front hit something with a metallic thud. He seemed to have crashed onto nothing and was floating in the air.
"You ladies alright?" Bumblebee asked as he looked at the box.
"We are unharmed" the Shobijin replied as Grimlock and Hot Rod flew in while Rodan chased Swoop allowing everyone else to regroup. As the pair got closer what Bee had landed on revealed itself as a Decepticon stealth fighter and at once Hot Rod saw in the window its pilot.
"Deadlock" he growled as Grimlock flew down and grabbed Bumblebee only for Hot Rod to leap off him onto the ship.
"Go! I'll catch up!" he shouted back as Grimlock flew away from the ship as it moved to the side.
"Hot Rod!" Bumblebee shouted as Hot Rod turned as Deadlock set the ship to autopilot and jumped out, firing a pair of Blaster Pistols as Hot Rod countered with his own arm guns as he ran in and tackled into Deadlock who countered with a punch to the face. The pair began to grapple unaware their skirmish had attracted the attention of Rodan who was chasing the fighter. As it followed they passed through the clouds into the clear sunlight where Grimlock rejoined the others.
"Where's Hot Rod?" asked Prowl.
"He's fighting the pilot of that thing, said the name was Deadlock" Bumblebee reported.
"Oh no" Chromia gasped as they watched Rodan continue to chase the ship towards the giant cliff sides of an Island, namely Skull Island. The Mighty bird opened its jaw to bite down on the fighter, only to get one of its wings causing it to begin to plummet towards the island below. Both Hot Rod and Deadlock were thrown off by this as they too free fell onto the island. Rodan then let out a frustrated cry and flew away.
As the others stared in shock Kiriko's radio suddenly buzzed into life.
"Its a Monarch Transmission" she explained as she patched into it.
"Lieutenant Kiriko, this is Commander Packard of Monarch Base Skull. Make for the nearby shore and we'll pick up you and your comrades" the voice instructed.
"That's a relief at least" said Spike, "we have back up on this trip"
"That's the problem" said Kiriko, "there have been no records of Monarch presence here since Randa's vanished in 1973"
NEXT CHAPTER: THEIR PRESENCE ON SKULL ISLAND THE AUTOBOTS AND THEIR ALLIES MEET WITH A MONARCH TEAM TO LEARN OF EVENTS ON THE ISLAND AS THEY BEGIN THEIR SEARCH FOR MOTHA. STARSCREAM AND KNOCK-OUT BEGIN THEIR PLANS TO FURTHER THE RENEGADE'S GOALS USING THE TERRIFYING BATTRA. AND HOT ROD FINDS HIMSELF HUNTED BY NOT ONLY DEADLOCK BUT SKULL ISLAND'S MANY CREATURES BUT ALSO DISCOVERS MANY SECRETS, STAY TUNED.