53- Regeneration.
Everyone was inside the Autobot base, even the kids and BB-8.
"You know, I might not be the first human on Cybertron, but I can still be the first human tourist." Han proposed on Bulkhead's shoulder.
"Why didn't you tell us about the Omega Keys before?" Sky asked to his partner sitting on her shoulders. "We could have helped you."
"We know. You probably didn't notice, but things have been kind of intense around here lately. So we have been busy, a lot." Arcee answered.
"So, you guys can really be going home soon, huh?"
"Don't worry, Luke, we'll come visit. Once they get their place set up, we can bunk with them, right?"
"Uh, Han…" Bulkhead started with a disappointed look.
"We can go there to see you, right?" Aris asked.
"Aren't we getting ahead of ourselves here? Not only do we lack any actual method of reaching Cybertron, but Starscream now controls the sole means of our planet's restoration." Ratchet reminded.
"As far as we know." Optimus added.
"You think Starscream has rejoined the Cons?" Smokescreen asked.
"He might have used the Omega Keys to buy back Megatron's favor." Cliffjumper deduced.
Ratchet scoffed. "Without first trying to sell them to the highest bidder, that wouldn't surprise me if he had the nerve to contact us and…"
Suddenly, the computer beeped as the same way like when Starscream sent them his messages.
"Okay, that's weird." Bulkhead said.
"Is it Starscream?" Arcee asked.
"No, it is Dreadwing. And he wants to meet." Ratchet answered.
Polis Massa
The Autobots reached to in middle of a desert wasteland on a huge asteroid floor by ground bridge. They arrived in vehicle form and immediately transformed with their guns ready.
"Drop your weapon!" Bulkhead ordered.
"Hands where we can see them!" Smokescreen followed.
"And don't try any tricks!" Cliff added.
Everyone aimed at Dreadwing, who emerged from behind a rock in front of them.
"I am not here to fight, but to give you this." He said showing them a recognizable object in the floor between them.
"The Forge of Solus Prime?" Arcee recognized surprised.
"It could be rigged to blow." Bulkhead deduced.
Optimus deactivated his battle mask. "Dreadwing, what do you ask in return?"
"Only that you use it wisely."
"And the Omega Keys?" Arcee asked.
"In Megatron's possession. Under heaviest guard."
"Scream did make a deal with the Cons." Cliffjumper realized.
"Why?" Optimus asked deactivating his cannons.
"A shadow of disgrace has been cast upon the Decepticons. It is a cause I no longer wish to be a part of." Dreadwing revealed.
"Then I appeal to you again: join us and help end this conflict once and for all."
"Betraying my kind is not the same as accepting yours."
After all said, Dreadwing turned back with his head down, jumped down an edge and left in vehicle form. After that, the Autobots, back at base and now in possession of the forge, witnessed how Optimus activated it as he held it.
"It's no Star Saber, but I bet it can shatter Megatron's blade, and put some dents into that ugly mug of his." Smokescreen said.
"Is not that kind of hammer." Cliff corrected.
"With the Decepticons in possession of all four Omega Keys, a more appropriate use of the forge would be to use it to replicate our own." Ratchet suggested.
"Even with such power their reconstruction would require a level of expertise I do not possess." Optimus said.
"I guess we better hope Megatron doesn't destroy the keys to prevent anyone from never going home." Arcee said.
"Megatron may be evil, but I believe he will use the keys for their intended purpose."
"Well I say we let him keep them and do all the work for us." Bulkhead suggested, making everyone look at him. "Well I mean, what difference does it make who restores Cybertron?"
"If Megatron revives Cybertron, he will no doubt use it to his political advantage."
"Uh uh…you lost me."
"In all likelihood, the leader of the Decepticons will portray himself as our planet's savior and brand all Autobots as war criminals."
"The grand deception continues." Cliffjumper said.
"Megatron's so called achievement could influence Cybertron for eons to come: poisoning the sparks and minds of its returning citizens. Hardly the ideal way to begin a new age." Ratchet said.
"But there is hope: for while Megatron may have the keys, he has yet to discover the existence of the Omega Lock itself." Optimus continued.
"Omega Lock?" Bulkhead asked surprised.
"Wait, now you lost me." Arcee said.
"That which the four relics were designed to activate. We must locate the device before Megatron does and secure it until we can recover the keys." Optimus explained.
"There are no more Iacon entries to decode. This lock could be on any place of the galaxy." Ratchet pointed.
"Actually…it is on Cybertron."
What?" The whole team asked in disbelief.
"How do you know?" Ratchet asked.
"Alpha Trion revealed its location to me during the message convey by the Star Saber." Optimus revealed as he hoped the forge on his shoulders.
"And you didn't think to tell us?"
"Alpha Trion did not wish it so." Optimus answered as he walked to the ground bridge. "With the Forge of Solus Prime, we now possess the means of reaching Cybertron. I must work quickly, as our tactical advantage over Megatron will not last long."
Meanwhile, Dreadwing was walking through the Nemesis's corridors, until…
"Dreadwing, I have been searching for you." Megatron called him from behind.
Dreadwing's face showed that he was not pleased, but he had to maintain appearances, so he turned at his leader. "I am at your service, Lord Megatron."
"I recognize that Starscream's return to our ranks may be…difficult for you. Given the loss of your twin under his command, but your cooperation is essential: we Decepticons will be best equipped to rule a restored Cybertron only if we are united."
"Understood. And if it pleases you, master, I intend to reach out to our comrade…personally."
Meanwhile, in the med lab, Starscream was lying on an operational berth unconscious.
"Rise and shine." Knock Out called, waking him up. "Your T-Cog transplant was a success. Yes, I am just that good."
"Don't get to special yourself, Knock Out. Now that I witnessed it, I know how to operate it properly too." Thundercracker expressed, revealing that the other Seekers were also present there.
"Well, but I'm still the professional here. I can also share other things, like how I keep my luxurious finish at top. That could serve you well, my dear." Knock Out said to Slipstream. "What if I tell you more detailed later?"
"Not a chance. I have my own ways to shine." She answered crossing her arms.
"Ah, finally. I can't wait to take flight and soar among the stars." Starscream said relieved.
"Also, I can't wait to get my own vehicle mode. We have been unable to achieve a proper ship mode to fly together." Skywarp revealed.
"I can give you a hand with that. I know which kind of ships could suit you well." Knock Out offered.
"Starscream, I regret to inform you that you'll not live to spread your wings…ever again." Dreadwing said from the lab's entrance, pulling out his cannon and charging it. "HYAAAAAH!"
He opened fire, but the shot missed Starscream's head. He ran to a corner, while the Seekers scattered through the room and Knock Out went near the exit.
"Knock Out, help me!" Starscream begged, but the red Decepticon simply ran out of the room.
"Coward! He would avoid any conflict only to protect his chassis." Skywarp said mad.
"But not us." Thundercracker said as they two jumped on Dreadwing's shoulder, trying to stop him.
"Stay out of this! This is between us two." Dreadwing said pushing them back, but suddenly, he felt an electrified hit on his back: it was Slipstream, who pulled out electrified whips from her hands.
"If you mess with one Seeker, you mess with all of us." She said attacking with her whips again.
The whips' hits, and also that Skywarp was using his teleportation ability to hit Dreadwing with surprise attacks, were enough to contain Dreadwing a little. Until he anticipated where Skywarp was supposed to appear and grabbed him and threw him at Slipstream. Next, he dropped his cannon and pulled out his sword, while Starscream picked up a durabyllium drill to try to defend himself.
"Dreadwing, what has gotten into you?" Starscream asked, right before Dreadwing sliced the drill easily. "No, wait! This is about Skyquake, isn't it? I thought we had put that behind us."
"So had I!" Dreadwing said before he took another swing, but Starscream dodged.
Thundercracker tried to hook himself to Dreadwing's back, trying to take him down as Skywarp and Slipstream were still recovering from a little electric effect. But the big Decepticon simply pushed him aside before continuing approaching Starscream.
"Casualties are an unfortunate consequence of war, but I assure you your twin met his end with great honor!" Starscream said, trying to calm him down.
"Which you disgraced, by raising him from the dead!" Dreadwing shouted.
"Oh, you know about that. There must be something I can do! Some form of reparation I can offer to alleviate your anguish!"
"Your spark will suffice!"
"DREADWING!" A voice called from the entrance: it was Megatron. "Stand down!"
"This desecrater must pay for his actions!"
"You call this loyalty, master?!" Slipstream asked.
"I certainly not." Thundercracker opined.
"I said stand down! That is an order." Megatron demanded again.
"One which I cannot follow." Dreadwing answered.
He was about to strike Starscream with his sword, but before he could, at the same time the other three Seekers were about to fire their missiles at him, he felt an agonizing pain in his chest. He looked down to see his spark chamber destroyed, made by Megatron, who fired Dreadwing's cannon. With his spark no more, Dreadwing collapsed to the floor, dead. The Seekers looked at their leader in disbelief.
"I'm okay? I'm okay!" Starscream said cheered, before bowing to Megatron. "Lord Megatron, you have my eternal thanks."
"Do not ever make me regret which one of you I've spared." He warned, in a very threatening tone.
Meanwhile, there was a deep silence in the Autobot base.
"Is it my imagination or has Optimus been acting differently since that message from Alpha Trion?" Cliffjumper asked.
"(I noticed that something was being weird too.)"
"Yeah, he has been keeping things from us." Bulkhead nodded.
"Even Ratchet is out of the loop." Arcee pointed.
"Well give me one good reason Optimus couldn't trust his own teammates. Why he couldn't have told us about the Omega Lock?" Bulkhead demanded.
"Because if he had, Megatron would have pulled it out of my head with his patch." Smokescreen answered wisely.
"He has a point." Cliff supported.
"Like it matters. The Cons are holding all the keys anyway." Bulkhead said.
Meanwhile, in the Nemesis's laboratory, the Seekers and Knock Out, who was holding a scanning device, were trying to figure out what other information the keys contained.
"Tick tock, Knock Out. Tick tock! Megatron's expecting results and given what we just witnessed, I would say that we cannot afford to disappoint our master." Skywarp said.
"We? Unless nagging counts, I haven't seen you lift a finger." Knock Out replied as he held a key to examine it.
"We are the ones who brought him the keys. Do we really need to prove ourselves further by deciphering on how they operate too?" Starscream responded.
"Well, maybe at least Thundercracker. His scientific experience should be the best help on this." Slipstream suggested.
"Only if Knock Out ask it properly, because while we were defending our brother, he decided to shirk." Thundercracker simply said.
"Well, perhaps if my research hadn't been sidelined by someone's cosmetic surgery, I might be further along right now! And I wasn't running away, I was searching for Megatron!" Knock Out defended.
"Oh, just give it here!" Skywarp said grabbing his key. He tried to pull it apart; next he began bashing it on the table.
"Do you really think that's going to work?" Thundercracker asked.
"Oh gee, why didn't I think of that?!" Knock Out joked.
"Then do something!" Skywarp shouted as he slashed Knock Out's chest with the key.
Knock Out saw that he now had a mark, but it was enough to make him growl mad, which made Slipstream laugh of his reaction. He grabbed another key, and tried to clash it with Skywarp's, but when the keys touched, they mended together and glowed a little, leaving the Cons impressed.
"Do you think?" Knock Out asked, suggesting what they suspected.
"Indeed. Starscream, grab that one." Thundercracker instructed as he grabbed the last one. "Ready? Go."
When the four keys mended, they projected a hologram of Cybertron, with some coordinates.
Starscream laughed. "And that is why Dreadwing is pushing up lugnuts."
"And we are not." Skywarp added.
They immediately went to show their leader the results.
"Of course, keys are useless without something to unlock." Megatron said before turning at Soundwave. "Target the space bridge for Cybertron."
Meanwhile, at the Autobot base, everyone was contemplating what Optimus did to the ground bridge.
"Yet another astonishing convergence of magic and science. Courtesy of the ancients." Ratchet said checking the ground bridge control panel.
"And our leader." Smokey added.
"It's hard to believe: a few swings of that hammer and BAM!" Cliff said.
"Our ground bridge is now a space bridge." Arcee concluded.
Then, the computer started to beep loudly.
"Our sensors are detecting a massive energon burst recording deep in the Unknown Regions." Ratchet reported. "A source of that kind can mean only one thing: activation of another space bridge."
"Megatron has discovered that the Omega Lock is on Cybertron." Optimus deduced.
"It appears we have lost our advantage."
"But with Megatron unaware that we now possess the means of exogalactic travel, the element of surprise remains in our favor. We must embark on this mission with every resource at our disposal."
The Autobots went to the vault where all the relics were being held. Bulkhead took the energon harvester, Bumblebee picked up the polarity gauntlet, Arcee took the Apex Armor, Cliffjumper picked up the Immobilizer and the force field generator and Smokescreen grabbed the spark extractor and the Resonance Blaster. At the same time, the Nemesis approached to the already open space bridge. On the top, Megatron walked near the other Decepticons and an entire battalion of air Decepticon soldiers.
"Starscream, assume command in my absence." Megatron instructed.
"Looks like you had your post back, commander." Slipstream congratulated as she and the other Seekers saluted him.
Starscream could not believe what he heard. "I would be honored, master."
Megatron and the Con battalion changed to vehicle form and flew right at the space bridge. The Autobot space bridge was already open. The team was ready for departure when they heard a hammering noise.
"What's he forging now?" Bulkhead asked.
Then, Optimus Prime arrived with a completely restored Star Saber, but now it showed a few red details along with the sword, which it could only be that he added the red energon they had to upgrade the Star Saber.
"I guess now we know what has been of the red energon." Cliff deduced.
"Megatron must be stopped, no matter the cost." Optimus proclaimed as he placed the Star Saber on his back.
The team transformed and went through the portal.
Cybertron
Meanwhile, Megatron was leading the battalion across the ruins of a city on Cybertron. Four soldiers held the Omega Keys.
"According to the landmarks displayed by the keys, the object we seek is located deep within the Sea of Rust." Megatron observed on his scanner.
Meanwhile at base, Ratchet was walking to one side to another, waiting for news. Then, the monitor received a call, so he rushed to the controls.
"Optimus?"
"Uh, no Ratchet, it's me, Luke. Is something wrong? Because we have been here in the park for almost an hour and no one showed to pick us up." Luke reported as he and the others, BB-8 included, were reunited in a park of Theed.
"That is because the entire team is rather…indisposed at the moment. I suggest you obtain an alternative method of transport."
"What he's saying?" Leia asked.
"The Bots are busy." Her brother answered.
"Then tell Ratchet to come get us! It's not like he has anything else to do!" Han suggested.
"Just go home! I will be in touch later!" Ratchet said before hung up.
"Hello? He hung up." Luke said.
"What crawled up his tailpipe and died?" Han joked.
"Did Ratchet tell you what's going on?" Aris asked.
"No. They seem to be keeping us in the dark a lot lately." Luke answered.
Meanwhile on Cybertron, Megatron and his battalion continued following the coordinates across the Sea of Rust. But the back of the battalion did not realize that Smokescreen was slowly phasing from the floor. Once on the floor, he activated the Resonance Blaster and fired it at the Cons, catching them by surprise.
"What? What just happened?" Megatron asked.
Smokey continued firing, at one arm the sonic weapon and his other blaster, as he ran to the left at a wall and disappeared.
"Smokescreen? But that's impossible: the Autobots do not possess the means to…"
But suddenly, they saw a massive pile being levitated high in the air, and then it was dropped on top of some soldiers. Megatron saw Bumblebee was the responsible one, which ran on top of a wall.
"Crush them!"
All the Decepticons fired at Bee, who changed to his vehicle form and drove off. While they were focused on him, a blue beam started to drain the energon of some of the soldiers from the other side of the wall: it was Bulkhead, who fired the energon harvester to extract the energon of the Cons, one by one. At the same time, Cliffjumper fired the Immobilizer from another wall, freezing some of the Cons. Next, the three Autobots jumped down and reunited as Cliff used the force field generator to deflect the lasers. Meanwhile, Arcee was firing from a tower above. Then, she jumped and placed the Apex Armor on her chest, activating it and joining the assault. Smokescreen came out of nowhere and joined them.
"Defend the keys!"
Some of the Decepticons circled around the four that held the keys, while the rest charged against the Autobots. Cliffjumper used the force field generator to block the Decepticons from one side as he fired to the ones to the other side. Once they reached their enemies, Arcee started smashing them with the Apex Armor; Bumblebee fired eliminating them one by one with his guns and jumping above them; Bulkhead engaged them with his wrecking ball and Smokescreen phased again in the ground and phased behind some Decepticons and fired at them. Megatron had enough, so he pulled out his Dark Star Saber and joined the Decepticon soldiers, charging at the Autobots. The Autobots charged too, but this time Optimus joined too, who used the Star Saber to slice the Decepticons and block their shots. He and Megatron ended clashing their swords once again.
"I bested your little blade once and I shall do it again!" Megatron declared.
Megatron swung at Optimus, who blocked it. Then he kicked Optimus and swung his sword again, but Optimus returned with sidekick. After Team Prime eliminated all the scattered foes, Arcee charged at the main Decepticon defense line and crossed. The remaining Decepticons were the ones who had the keys. Cliffjumper quickly froze them with the Immobilizer and covered Bee with the shield while he used the polarity gauntlet to take the keys from them. After Bee attracted them, he, Bulkhead, Arcee and Smokescreen grabbed the keys. Megatron noticed that, but Optimus took advantage and pushed him back before he unleashed an energy wave at him. Megatron did not have time to react, so the wave sent him flying to the top of a tower. The Autobots retired in vehicle form, although some Cons tried to catch them without success. Megatron recovered quickly and looked down at his battalion.
"I will have those keys, OR I WILL HAVE YOUR SPARKS!"
Then, Smokescreen phased through a big piece of metal and walked to the center of the battalion.
"I can help with the last part." He said, revealing what he was carrying.
"The spark extractor!" Megatron said with horror.
Smokey kicked one Con against three others before he passed down the floor, leaving the spark extractor activated. It unleashed a sphere of energy that wiped out every single Decepticon. Even some of them tried to transform and fly away, but the sphere advanced too fast that it caught all of them. Noticing that the sphere was coming closer, Megatron roared as he threw the Dark Star Saber at the spark extractor, destroying it and eliminating the action radius. Next, he went down to recover his blade, but the entire battalion was dead.
"Starscream, the Autobots have ceased the Omega Keys! Send reinforcements, immediately!" Megatron demanded by com-link.
In the Nemesis…
"Actually, Lord Megatron, Soundwave has been briefing me on recent developments, and we might have a more effective solution." Starscream reassured before he turned at Skywarp. "You know what to do."
"I am going to enjoy this."
Back to Cybertron, the Autobots drove deep in the Sea of Rust. They transformed back to robot form once they arrived to their destination.
"Our head start won't last long." Arcee said.
"This is where Alpha Trion said we would find it, right?" Cliff asked.
"These are the coordinates." Bulkhead confirmed.
They arrived to a nondescript object.
"Doesn't look like much." Bulkhead said.
Optimus cleared some dust, showing the symbol of the ancient cybertronians.
"Ratchet, we have located the Omega Lock." Optimus reported by com-link.
Ratchet let out a sigh of relief. "At last."
"According to Alpha Trion, the Omega Lock is a conduit to the very Allspark itself." Optimus said.
"Optimus, an honor like this shouldn't belong to me." Smokescreen said handing him one of the keys.
Suddenly the four keys started to glow simultaneously. Then the lock began to glow too, following the rusted floor. Next the whole area began to transform into a huge ring above them. It generated a mystical energy, revealing that it was a portal to the Allspark. But before they could do anything, they saw Megatron coming in his alt mode, so they got their weapons ready. Megatron transformed and landed in front of them and walked towards them quietly, as the Autobots prepared themselves to fight.
"Autobots, I would suggest that you put a halt to your task and hand over those keys." Megatron advised.
"And why would we do that?" Smokescreen asked.
In that moment, a space bridge opened behind Megatron, and from it emerged the four Seekers, each one of them carrying a pod. But to the Autobots' horror, they saw each pod contained their human friends: Slipstream was carrying Sky, Starscream had Aris, Thundercracker had the Skywalker twins and Skywarp had Han. Almost all of them looked nervous and scared, except Han, who looked more like mad and annoyed.
"So that I might hand over the humans." Megatron replied.
The Autobots started to get scared, fearing for the safety of their friends.
"And if we refuse?" Optimus asked.
Megatron approached Optimus until they were face to face. "Then I will have no choice but to open the pods, exposing your pets to Cybertron's toxic atmosphere. And then, we can all watch them instantly perish, together."
The Seekers took a look to their little prisoners. Although Optimus stood firm, he was the same nervous as the rest of the team by the ultimatum.
