68- Predacons Rising.
As the sun rose on Cybertron, the Autobots were gathered in Kaon, the Decepticon capital, in a very special ceremony in front of Megatron's statue with the Nemesis above the city in ruins.
"We have endured bitter hardship and countless battles. But a long last, our home planet has been restored. We would not be standing on cybertronian soil were it not for the valiant efforts of both those assembled here and our absent comrades. Ratchet, who remains on Naboo to safeguard our friends of the Republic, and all our fallen comrades, who made the ultimate sacrifice." Optimus proclaimed. "But on this day, at the dawn of a new era, we gather to bestow a special honor. One earned by Bumblebee, through his bravery and devotion to the cause of peace. Long before he rid this universe of the scourge of the Decepticon war monger."
Speaking about Decepticons, the last place their leader, Megatron, was spotted was on Naboo. Now his lifeless body was lying and rusting in the deeps of the ocean. But something strange started to happen, inside him.
"Megatron. Megatron. Megatron!" A voice called.
Megatron woke up in middle of nowhere; trying to see who was calling him, but once he found it he couldn't believe it.
"Unicron?" He asked frightened, seeing the chaos bringer himself in front of him. "I do not understand. Why am I not one with the Allspark? Do I yet live?"
"You do not. Yet you cannot join the Allspark because my lifeblood once flowed through your veins."
"Dark energon."
"It binds you to my Anti-Spark."
"Optimus Prime used the Matrix of Leadership to imprison you within Planet X's core. So how is it that you speak to me now?"
"The foolish Prime rendered only my material form dormant, but my energy form aroused from slumber when I sensed the awakening of an ancient rival across the cosmos."
"Primus. So it would seem that Optimus succeeded in restoring Cybertron, after my demise."
"I now wish to finish what I began eons ago, and for that my Anti-Spark requires a vessel."
"So, I will live again?" Megatron asked with hope.
"Only to serve me." Unicron specified."Your husk will simply be an instrument of my will."
Suddenly, Megatron opened his eyes with purple light and while he raised his body started to change and launched a huge scream. Moments later, he emerged from the ocean in a new vehicle form (some kind of advanced cybertronian starship) and headed to the space. At the same time, in the plains at night, all the children were playing cheerfully with the droids while their families were reunited, like an outdoor meeting. Suddenly, Anakin, Ahsoka and Obi Wan sensed a sudden disturbance in the Force while they looked to the sky.
"Do you sense it, right? Like a feeling of darkness and evil, moving outside the planet." Anakin recognized.
"Indeed. But it seems to be heading outside the galaxy, into unknown space." Ahsoka added.
"I hope that, in case its heading toward where I'm thinking, they will be ready for it." Obi Wan said.
Meanwhile, back on Cybertron…
"In the company of your fellow Autobots, in the presence of our creator Primus, the living core of our planet, and by the authority vested in me by the Matrix of Leadership, Bumblebee…" Optimus said before he tapped Bumblebee's shoulders with the Star Saber as he was knighting him. "…arise, a warrior."
After Bumblebee stood everyone gathered around him to congratulate him.
"Let's get this party started." Wheeljack declared as he pressed a detonator's button.
Then a lot of explosions came from Megatron's statue, destroying it as the Autobots started their victory celebration.
Cliffjumper shoved Bumblebee's shoulder. "Welcome to the club, Bee. Congratulations, you made it."
"Indeed. Warrior today, who knows?! Prime tomorrow?" Smokescreen added.
"Slow down, Smokey. I'm not sure I'd wish a Prime's responsibility on anyone." Bumblebee answered.
"I am sorry to interrupt your celebration." Optimus started.
"Here it comes." Arcee said.
"Primes never party." Bulkhead followed.
"But I must take my leave of you." Optimus said.
"Sir, may I ask why." Ultra Magnus said.
"Though Cybertron is once again able to support life, our planet is currently incapable of generating new lives, not until I retrieve the wellspring from which all life on Cybertron is born, and ultimately returns: the Allspark."
"You mean it isn't here?"
"Nor has it been, Smokescreen, not for millions of years. As the war for Cybertron reached a tipping point and the Decepticon army appeared to be unstoppable I opted to safeguard the Allspark from Megatron by covertly sending it to a distant sector of the universe." Optimus told. "The Matrix of Leadership will enable me to guide us to its present location."
"What are we waiting for? Let's take the warship and bring it back."
"These remain dangerous times, Bumblebee. We cannot leave Cybertron unsecured, not with Starscream, his Seekers and Shockwave unaccounted for." Elita reminded.
"Not to mention our straight Predacon." Ultra Magnus pointed.
"Elita, Ultra Magnus, you will supervise patrols to find and capture the fugitive Decepticons." Optimus instructed.
"Yes, dear." Elita nodded.
"I will be honored." Ultra Magnus added.
"Bulkhead, you will lead the reconstruction effort. Begin by building a landing field to welcome returning refugees. Send a message to deep space telling that Autobots had secured Cybertron, once again restored. That the war is over, and that everyone can finally return home." Optimus instructed before turning at other Autobot. "Wheeljack, I will require your extensive experience navigating deep space."
"When do we leave?" He asked ready.
Meanwhile, the upgraded Megatron continued his way through the space.
"Superluminal space-drive, impressive." Megatron congratulated as he observed his surroundings as he continued.
"One of many upgrades that I made to your limited corporeal form, and wholly necessary to reach Cybertron." Unicron said.
Megatron turned at Unicron. "So, we are to rule together, as one."
Then Unicron shot two purple energy beams from his eyes at Megatron, causing him great pain that he fell to his knees.
"You will rule nothing! I travel to Cybertron for one reason only: to destroy Primus personally."
"But to destroy Primus is to destroy Cybertron." Megatron realized shocked.
"Thus will begin a new age, the age of chaos."
Time later, the construction of the landing field was going well. The structure was not complete, but there were a lot of workers, Decepticon soldiers that managed to survive the last battle now were helping the Autobots to bring back the peace. But as he was supervising their job with a data pad, Bulkhead spotted something troubling.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! How are you going to attach the cladding when the framing structure is incomplete, huh?!"
The two soldiers looked at Bulkhead before they put the cladding down and started walking backwards, but two other soldiers who carried the framework walked toward them, and clashed each other, making a mess. Bulkhead groaned before he heard an engine sound coming from the distance: it was Arcee and Cliffjumper, who came after a recon and changed to robot form.
"Labor issues?" She asked before hearing another crashing noise, which made her laugh. "I guess that's a yes."
"Any news of our fugitives?" Bulkhead asked.
"Just signs of recent scavenging in former Decepticon installations." Cliffjumper reported.
"The Con warship can't detect their life signals?"
"Shockwave must have found a way to shield or disable them." Arcee suggested.
Bulkhead looked at the Nemesis. "I'll feel better when the gruesome five are locked up with the others."
Meanwhile, inside one of the Nemesis's rooms there was a banging sound coming from inside it. It was done by Knock Out, who had his hands chained, the same as a bunk of Vehicon soldiers, who were doing the same.
"Okay, you got my attention. What do you want?" Bumblebee asked through a screen.
"We are prisoners of war, we have rights!" Knock Out started. "When are we going to have access to an oil bath?!"
"Well when are you going to tell me where we can find your pals?"
Knock Out sighed. "I told you before. Shockwave had dozens of secret labs hidden across Cybertron, top secret."
"A shame. Your finish is looking pretty drab." Bee mocked as he held Knock Out's buffer.
That irritated Knock Out a little. "I don't know where they are, I swear!" But then he stopped and looked back at the screen. "But I have an idea where you might try looking."
Meanwhile, Smokescreen and Ultra Magnus were patrolling in search of the Decepticon fugitives.
Smokescreen sighed. "Someone might want to think about renaming the Sea of Rust, just saying. Though I was hoping more of us would be rushing back here to see it. You know, now that it's all bright and shiny."
"Cybertron will populate in time, kid. You have to remember; refugees could be returning from light years away." Ultra Magnus pointed before his scanner detected something. "Movement, two contacts at point 84."
The two Autobots transformed into robot form once they arrived to where the signals came.
"Approach with caution." Magnus instructed as they prepared their blasters.
They approached slowly toward an alleyway and heard something: it was two unidentified cybertronians that immediately noticed their presence.
"My name is Ultra Magnus." He introduced. "Are you Autobot or Decepticon?"
One of the new cybertronians chuckled as they walked out of the shadows, revealing that their optics were yellow, and had a known emblem.
"Neither." One of them answered before they transformed, revealing what they were.
"Predacons." Ultra Magnus realized as they aimed their weapons.
The two Predacons, one blue with silver and brown touches who turned into a feathered dragon, and the second who was silver and light blue that turned into a creature called Ursagryph; charged at the Autobots while they fired at them. The feathered dragon chased Magnus while Smokescreen was tackled by the Ursagryph, as it grabbed him and smashed him against the ground. Magnus took the chance when the Predacon charged against him and grabbed his head and shot him a few times before being pushed away by its tail. After his quick recovery, Magnus pulled out both cannons and fired at the Predacon, which started to take flight. Fortunately, he managed to hook himself to its tail before he did. The Predacon tried to get rip off him by launching fireballs, but the Autobot evaded them. Once he was close enough, Ultra Magnus punched the Predacon hard in its head, making it to smash against a building. He continued punching it during the fall. At the same time, Smokescreen continued firing at the other Predacon, but it tackled him, next it grabbed and threw him against a building. Smokescreen fell to the floor hard and get trapped by some rubble. Then he saw the Predacon looking at him while it prepared to launch fire from its mouth. After gave a hard punch to the other Predacon, Ultra Magnus saw the moment when the Ursagryph Predacon launched fire at Smokescreen, so he tried to shot at it, but the other Predacon grabbed him and smashed him to the ground. Once it was done throwing fire, the Predacon saw what was left of the Autobot, but there was nothing, until Smokescreen emerged from the wall.
"Phase beats flame every time." He said proud.
The feathered dragon threw Magnus against a building's part hard, smashing it into pieces as the Autobot commander remained in the ground.
"Scrap!" Smokescreen cursed.
Seeing the Ursagryph coming at him, Smokescreen disappeared inside the wall again, and emerged in his alt form from below the Predacon, driving toward Magnus with the Predacon running after him.
"Elita, I need an emergency ground bridge! Stat!" Smokescreen asked by com-link.
Ultra Magnus groaned before seeing the feathered dragon in front of him roaring. Smokescreen returned to robot form and turned on the phase shifter before launching himself towards Magnus. Right when the Predacon was about to slash Magnus with its claws, it phased through him thanks to Smokescreen. That made the other Predacon smash with the other.
"Hang tight, chief. I'm getting you out of here." Smokey said as he dragged a wounded Ultra Magnus.
While the Predacons were recovering they saw the Autobots heading to a recent ground bridge. The creatures tried to catch them, but the portal disappeared before they could, so they ended roaring at the sky. Aboard the Nemesis, the Autobots were waiting for someone, because immediately a space bridge portal appeared, and someone came from it, a very recognizable Autobot.
"We're glad you managed to come here, Ratchet." Elita thanked.
"Where's the patient?"
Inside the medical room, Ultra Magnus laid on a medical berth while Ratchet examined him.
"He is suffering from a multitude of internal injuries. Most quite severe." Ratchet reported.
"So anyone care to explain what two more Predacons are doing on Cybertron?" Arcee demanded.
"I thought Optimus said new life was impossible without the Allspark." Bulkhead reminded.
"I'm no authority, but something tells me cloning old bones doesn't constitute new life." Bumblebee deduced.
"Shockwave's been playing in his lab since the war. Why stop now?" Cliffjumper said.
"Doesn't matter where those beasts came from." Smokescreen interrupted. "We've gotta take them down."
"If Shockwave's back in business there could be more of them, a lot more." Bumblebee deduced.
"We need to call Optimus."
"Really Bulk? And interrupt his quest to save the future of our race on Cybertron?"
"Arcee's right. Optimus needs to focus on his own mission, we need to handle this by our own. The first step will be to try to know where these new Predacons came from." Elita supported.
Speaking of Optimus, he was with Wheeljack on Magnus's ship, flying toward a huge concentration of asteroids near a planet.
"Why send the Allspark to Theta Scorpiae?" Wheeljack asked confused. "One of the most hazardous star systems in the known space?"
"Precisely to deter Megatron from searching this region for it." Optimus explained.
"With all the gamma bursts and planetoid collisions out here, how can you be sure it survived?"
"The Allspark itself is comprised of pure energy. In order to contain it and launch it off-world, Alpha Trion forged a vessel, capable of extracting it from the ether. It is this indestructible reliquary we seek."
"I'll try not to scratch the pain on this tub, but no promises." Wheeljack warned as he prepared the controls.
"We cannot risk being stranded if our ship is damaged. It is best that you remain here, Wheeljack."
"You're the boss."
Immediately, Optimus came out of the ship, activated his jet-pack and headed to the asteroid field. Meanwhile on Cybertron, the other Autobots were venturing down into a valley.
"Watch your step." Bumblebee warned before he picked up a piece of metal, examined it and continued walking.
"Who made him leader?" Smokescreen asked.
"Bee did snuff Megatron." Cliffjumper pointed out.
"I'm not leading." Bumblebee answered while he examined a little amount of energon on the floor. "I'm scouting."
"Fair enough. But you do realize we're nowhere near where we found those Predacons, right?" Smokescreen reminded.
"We're not looking for those Predacons. I followed this energon trail which means he was wounded." Bee explained as they continued walking. "And I know we aren't the ones who wounded him."
"Whoa, you mean we've been tracking…" Bulkhead started.
Suddenly a huge shadow appeared over them, followed by a loud screech.
"Predaking?" Bulkhead finished shocked.
The same Predacon king rose in front of them, extending his wings. The Autobots prepared their blasters, so Predaking started charge his fire in his throat.
"Hold fire!" Bumblebee ordered as he walked a few steps toward Predaking and rose the stick. "Recognize this, Predaking?"
Predaking hissed, letting the fire to disappear as he brought his head down to get a better look.
"You served aboard Megatron's warship, surely you're familiar with this little treasure from his vault: the Immobilizer." Bumblebee pronounced.
The other Autobots didn't have a clue about what Bee was doing.
"It causes instant stasis lock, though the victim remains fully conscious. A living death." Bee explained as Predaking hissed, but then he bowed. "But we didn't come here to fight, your highness."
As result, Predaking beat his wings once and returned to robot form.
"Then why have you violated my refuge, Autobot?" Predaking snarled.
The other Autobots retrieved their weapons.
"We need answers." Bee started. "Do you know of any other Predacons currently on Cybertron?"
"Indeed, legions of them. Behold, my subjects." Predaking declared showing them a land covered by millions of Predacon fossils. "A countless multitude, rendered extinct ages ago by the great cataclysm, unearthed by the shifting plates during our planet's restoration."
"Yeah, well me and Ultra Magnus just about got scrapped by two living Predacons. Know anything about them, your highness?" Smokescreen asked.
"Two?" Predaking said hopefully. "Where?"
"We came to ask your help in finding them." Bumblebee said.
"For revenge?"
"No! Optimus Prime would deem it a tragedy to stain Cybertron's fresh soil with any newly spilled energon. So help us prove what Megatron was never willing to: that more than one race can peacefully coexist on our planet."
"You assume that because I turned against Megatron, I can forgive the Autobots their role in the destruction of my brethren on Anaxes? Leave me be, and dare not trespass here again."
With nothing more to say, Bumblebee dropped the stick and left with the other Autobots, leaving Predaking with his thoughts. Meanwhile, in other part of Cybertron, three recognizable ships flew above the ruins of another city until they transformed, revealing to be Starscream, Skywarp and Slipstream, all carrying some objects similar to bones, and entering inside something of lab, with a Predacon inside a stasis chamber.
"We have returned, partners." Slipstream called, revealing that Shockwave and Thundercracker were working with the lab's terminals.
"We trust you haven't strained yourselves tinkering in your lab while we were toiling in the field like common drones." Skywarp complained. "I mean, we seem to supply old bones faster than you grow new clones."
Thundercracker groaned in annoyance at hearing his brother saying that. "Skywarp, you wouldn't complain knowing that you have the easy task."
"Thundercracker's right. Giving our lack of infrastructure and frequent need to relocate in order to avoid detection, it is not logical to expect greater productivity at this point in time." Shockwave explained.
"At least your new clones lack the arrogance of your last effort." Slipstream said.
"Yes, the one who named himself Predaking." Starscream added.
"Still, I'm surprised these ones had become intelligent faster than their supposed king." Thundercracker expressed. "Anyway, you're just in time to see the incorporation of the new member of our Predacon strike team."
Shockwave pressed some buttons. Immediately the stasis chamber started leaking its inside liquid, and moments later it opened, liberating a brand new Predacon. Its beast form was also like Predaking, but with some kind of claw on its tail and a more reptile-like head. It was blue and red with little yellow touches.
"This is Ripclaw. She's the new addition to our team." Thundercracker introduced.
"Wait. Did you just say she?" Slipstream asked.
"Indeed. It's a female, I saw it when I read her CNA. She also has a poisonous bite." Shockwave explained as the new Predacon transformed into robot form.
"Hum, that could be handy." Skywarp said.
"Where I am? Who I am?" Ripclaw asked confused.
"You're safe, in my lab." Shockwave reassured.
"We are your creators, and so your masters. You're only one of the few Predacons that will help us to regain our home world from our enemies." Starscream told.
"There are more like me?" Ripclaw asked hopefully.
"Indeed. You'll recognize them as soon as you see them." Thundercracker nodded.
"Speaking of which, is taken them a while. They should be here by now." Starscream noticed.
Immediately the other two Predacon arrived. Their arrival wasn't too quiet, because they moved a few energon boxes around them.
"Be careful, you clumsy brutes!" Starscream yelled.
"So those are my siblings?" Ripclaw asked.
"Whoa. I didn't know we had a sister." One of the Predacons said surprised.
"Meet Ripclaw, your new comrade." Thundercracker cut off. "Now, where have you been?"
"Gutting Autobots." The first Predacon answered as the other chuckled.
"What? You were ordered to avoid all contact with the enemy!" Slipstream reminded mad as she pulled out her whips and wrapped both Predacons with them and started to electrify them as punishment.
"No! Please." Ripclaw prayed as she went to help her siblings. "There is no need for that."
"I don't hear you laughing now, Darksteel." Skywarp mocked.
"We weren't followed." The other Predacon argued.
"Fools! Now that they know of your existence, we have lost the element of surprise." Thundercracker explained.
Despite of that, Darksteel laughed again. "The Autobots are weak."
"They fled like cowards. We have no need to fear them." The other Predacon said while Ripclaw helped him up.
"Perhaps, Skylynx, but we must not underestimate them either. Their treacherous scout was able to fill the mighty Megatron. Rest his spark." Slipstream said.
"As such, it is paramount that we harvest the CNA necessary to clone more of you. Many, more of you." Shockwave followed.
"So that we may build an army of beasts great enough to eradicate the Autobots and conquer Cybertron. In Lord Megatron's memory and name." Starscream concluded.
In middle of the night, the Autobots were going right into a structure similar to the Decepticon fortress once existed on Naboo.
"What makes you think we'll find Shockwave's cloning lab here?" Arcee asked.
"Yeah. It wasn't Darkmount Megatron's military HQ?" Cliffjumper reminded.
"If the intel I received from Knock Out is accurate…" Bumblebee started as he transformed to robot form. "…we'll find a map of Shockwave's entire lab network in the citadel's databank."
Meanwhile, near the asteroid field, Wheeljack was waiting calmed, but then the ship's alarm sounded. He saw in the terminal what the ship was detecting…
"Not good."
At the same time, Optimus continued his search flying between the asteroids. Then, to the distance in front of him he saw what he was looking for: a medium size, spiky, metallic container with a glowing blue light inside.
"Optimus, plasma storm incoming!" Wheeljack reported him.
Optimus could see a weird purple energy huge clouds approaching from the distance, outside the asteroid field.
"Get out of there! That Allspark container may be indestructible, but you aren't!" Wheeljack advised.
"I am too close to turn back!"
Optimus speeded up at the same time the storm started destroying the asteroids that were on its way. Meanwhile, in top of Darkmount…
"Lord Smokescreen, emperor of destruction." Smokescreen growled and next moved in a funny way, sat on what supposed to be Megatron's throne.
"How can you sit there? That's some bad mojo." Bulkhead chided.
The other Autobots were analyzing the data they supposed to be looking.
"What do you know? Knock Out actually shot straight for once." Cliffjumper admitted.
"What'd you have to do? Buff his finish?" Arcee deduced.
"Close." Bee answered. "Let's download the data and get out of here."
"Hey, something's heading our way." Bulkhead pointed.
There was something coming at them, but they couldn't recognize what was, as it was getting closer and bigger.
"Predaking?" Arcee asked.
"Moving too fast." Bee said.
"Starscream or his siblings?" Bulkhead asked.
"Too big for being them." Cliff realized.
Once it was close enough, Bumblebee zoomed his optics and next his optics wide in shock. When the ship arrived, it transformed and landed in front of everyone, revealing to be the only one they didn't expect to return: Megatron. But there was something different on him: his optics were purple instead of red, and some parts of his body looked modified and purple or a little gold-like touches, with more spikes coming from his back and a few on his head, instead of the Decepticon emblem there was another unknown symbol on his chest, and his hands were bigger. The Autobots were in shock, while Smokescreen moved away from the throne.
"Minions of the Prime! Prepare to be obliterated!" The new Megatron declared before advancing to them.
"Megatron?" Bumblebee whispered.
"You skewered Buckethead with a giant saber and manage to miss his spark?!" Smokescreen asked in disbelief.
"How are you still alive?!" Arcee demanded.
"And where'd you score the upgrade?!" Cliffjumper added.
"Megatron cannot answer you at this moment. Though I can inform you, with utmost authority, that he owes his new lease on life to me: Unicron!" The new Megatron answered, leaving the Autobots in shock. "And I will not be so easy to deliver into oblivion."
Megatron/Unicron started to summon purple energy from both hands, and moments later covered them with two huge things, (some kind of dark energon super cannons), and he fired them. The impacts were huge, forcing the Autobots to jump out of the way. As they got up, they started to fire him back, as they looked for cover. Of course, they were forced to jump out of the way of the dark energon super cannons shots and hid behind the throne. Bumblebee managed to jump above Megatron/Unicron's shoulders and fired at his chest, affecting him a little. That was noticed too inside of him.
"Bothersome pest!" Unicron complained.
"That pest is the very one who robbed me of my spark. And now I possess the power to return the favor." Megatron said cheered.
"You possess nothing! It is I who possess all that you were and ever will be." Unicron corrected.
That made Megatron realize about something he didn't expected. As for his body, it continued firing huge dark energon shots at the Autobots, who managed to hide behind the throne. Despite of that, Megatron/Unicron continued firing at it.
"We need to retreat!" Cliff suggested.
"The only way out is down!" Smokescreen reminded.
"We can't call for a ground bridge until we put some space between Unicron and us." Bulkhead said.
"Behold my infinite might!" Megatron/Unicron proclaimed as he turned one of his super cannons into some kind of spear, and threw it to the throne, piercing through it.
But the spear not only did that, it also started to beep, like a bomb.
"Let's roll." Bumblebee ordered, knowing what was coming next.
The Autobots jumped above the throne and turned to vehicle form, passing below and above Megatron/Unicron. As they jumped out of the room, the Bumblebee changed back to robot form and fired to open the way. Megatron/Unicron roared before he transformed and flew after them. Meanwhile, Optimus was trying to reach for the Allspark's container, getting more inside the asteroid field.
"Come on, chief. We're out of time." Wheeljack murmured.
Optimus speeded up and moved his hand, trying to reach the container as the asteroids in front of him exploded because of the plasma storm. At the same time on Darkmount, the Autobots continued driving down a hall until they passed a door, but Arcee was forced to brake and return back to her robot form.
"Whoa! Stop!" She shouted.
Immediately they saw what forced them to stop.
"A smelting pit?!" Cliffjumper asked in disbelief.
"Cybertron's been dormant for eons, but that's still burning?!" Arcee followed.
"Ratchet, Elita, we need a ground bridge!" Bumblebee contacted by com-link.
Then a shot impacted next to them, sending everyone flying, while Megatron/Unicron chuckled sinisterly. The majority was sent directly to the smelting pit, but Bulkhead managed to grab Arcee's hand, and she hooked Cliff's hand, and he hooked Smokescreen's; Bumblebee was the only one who went to the other side. Meanwhile, back with Wheeljack…
"Optimus, if we don't get out of here right now…" He started as he began to turn the ship around, but no one responded. "Optimus!"
But for her relief, he spotted something coming right toward him. It was Optimus, with the container in hand.
"That's why he's Prime." He said proud before continuing moving the ship.
While Optimus got inside the ship an asteroid hit it from behind.
"Cutting a little close, don't you think?"
"Wheeljack, set a course for Cybertron."
"Hang on to your hubcaps!" He warned as he pressed the speed button.
The ship speeded up and it left the area as the remaining asteroids exploded.
"That's the future of life on Cybertron, huh? I kinda figured it'd be bigger." He confessed.
Back with the other Autobots…
"Hold tight!" Bulkhead yelled as he was trying to get the others up.
Bumblebee was going to help him, but then he saw Megatron/Unicron changing to robot form, landing and summoning more dark energy from his hands, but instead of cannons he created two large scythes. He used them to try to strike Bee, but he dodged them and fired rapidly his guns. They continued like that until Megatron/Unicron stabbed one of the scythes in the ground, causing a huge crack that reached to where Bulkhead was. The ground broke, making everyone to fall towards the smelting pit.
"No!" Bumblebee cried.
Bee went to check his friends, but instead of falling directly to the pit, a ground bridge opened in their way and everyone passed through, so Bee sighed in relief.
"Servant of Prime, you will now join your brethren!" Megatron/Unicron menaced.
"You got that right!" Bumblebee answered, before he fell backwards off the ledge.
Megatron/Unicron saw how Bumblebee fell into the ground bridge before it closed, making him roar in anger.
"I am weak!" Megatron/Unicron said.
Inside of him…
"But our merciless attack drove the Autobots into submission. They fled for their very sparks." Megatron said proud.
"A victory over unworthy opponents, especially one that did not result in their demise is far from an achievement. Clearly our improved state is not enough to accomplish the deep for which I have come, for that I shall require a much greater instrument of destruction." Unicron said.
Meanwhile, the Autobots retuned back to the Nemesis…
"How is this happening? I mean we've put out a call inviting refugees back to Cybertron, and Unicron is the first in line?!" Arcee asked, still in disbelief.
"Not to mention those Predacons. What have we come home to?" Cliffjumper added.
"What are we supposed to call him, huh? Megacron, Unitron?" Smokescreen suggested.
"Nah, neither suits well. It might be something powerful than his previous self, Megatron. That may be…Galvatron."
"Hey, that's a good one, Cliff."
"Really? That's your biggest issue right now?" Arcee asked surprised.
"Right, right. Arg, so what's the game plan?"
"I hate to say it, but it is time for us to inform Optimus about this." Elita decided.
"On it." Bee said as he walked over to one terminal and pulled up the com-link system.
"Meanwhile, we need to know how to combat our new opponent."
"While Unicron may now inhabit a mortal form he is still a god, and thus, cannot be defeated by customary means." Ratchet reminded.
"Optimus, Wheeljack, this is Bumblebee. We have an urgent situation."
The calling reached to their ship.
"Bumblebee, this is Optimus Prime, proceed."
"Optimus, can you hear me?! Come in, please! Wheeljack, do you read?!" Bumblebee repeated, signaling that he may be not received the message.
"That hit we took did some damage. Receiving's operational, but we can't transmit." Wheeljack reasoned.
"Nothing." Bee said.
"You have your voice back, now is not the time to go radio silent." Elita said to him before she started using the com-system. "Optimus, in the event that you can hear us, Unicron has found his way back to Cybertron. Repeat, the Chaos's Bringer is here, on our soil, in possession of Megatron's body."
Optimus heard everything. "Wheeljack, ensure that the light speed drive is still fully operational."
"So what now?" Bulkhead started. "I mean, besides hoping Optimus got the message?"
"We figure out why Unicron's here." Elita answered.
"And what he wants." Bumblebee followed.
Optimus and Wheeljack were trying to deduce that too.
"The big U could have taken the entire galaxy behind our backs. Why come back to Cybertron?"
Optimus already knew. "There would be only one reason, Wheeljack."
"To destroy the spark of his archenemy: Primus." Ratchet realized.
"But that's the core of our planet!" Smokescreen protested.
"It isn't fair! How many more times do we have to save a world?! Have to fight for the survival of our home?!" Arcee cried disappointed and sad.
"Regrettably the struggle between creation and destruction is an eternal one." Ratchet started. "And the battle lines which separate the two run through the very spark of Cybertron. Good and evil, life and death, light and darkness, creation and destruction, order and chaos, the two faces of the Force; the light side and the dark side, one victorious, one vanquished. Each forming the core of their own separate worlds: Cybertron and Planet X."
"And now, the darkness has followed us, all the way home." Elita ended.
In other part of Cybertron, Predaking flew above the place where the Autobots faced the two new Predacons. After a while searching from the air, Predaking descended and changed to robot form before landing. He examined some claw marks on the ground.
"Mm, tracks? The Autobot spoke the truth." Predaking said surprised while he observed his surroundings. "Other Predacons do exist, though it seems they took flight here. Locating my new brethren will be a futile endeavor, unless I allow them to locate me."
Predaking changed back to dragon form and launched a huge fire beam at the sky, lighting up the area. Meanwhile, in the Nemesis's medical lab…
"Vitals are improving. You will be back on your struts in good time." Ratchet said seeing Ultra Magnus situation on the terminal.
"Exactly how long is good time?" A voice asked. It was Bumblebee entering the room with Elita One. "Because with Optimus missing in action, we could really use Ultra Magnus' council besides Elita's."
"Bumblebee, we have each been witness to those among us who have risen above their station time and again, Wreckers, scouts, even field medics. The Chaos Bringer is at our doorstep. And now more than ever before we cannot afford to wait for salvation." Elita proclaimed.
"We'll launch an attack on Darkmount, provided that Unicron is still there."
"Or…first attempt to locate him, in the event he's not." Ratchet suggested.
Meanwhile, Predaking waited in the same place for the chance that the other Predacons saw his signal. Suddenly he spotted something coming toward him from the sky.
"The beacon. It worked." He said hopefully.
But that was no other one than Galvatron.
"Predaking. Alive?" Megatron asked surprised.
"You know this primitive life form?" Unicron asked.
"Yes. A warrior once under my command, though I thought he had perished in battle." Megatron told, and then an idea came to his mind. "How fortunate that I was wrong. For Predaking is a loyal and powerful combatant, who could very well be the greater instrument of destruction which you seek." He said while he smirked, but Unicron didn't notice it.
Once it arrived, Galvatron transformed and landed in front of Predaking.
"Megatron?" He said shocked.
"Warrior, I call upon you to serve your master." Galvatron called.
"In the name of the mighty legions of Predacons who preceded me, I shall never again yield to your charge." Predaking declared. "But I will heed your previous advice, and face my true enemy, as a beast!"
Predaking change to dragon form and fired a huge flame at Galvatron, making it scream in pain.
"You dare to deceive me and have both of us destroyed!" Unicron shouted, discovering Megatron's trick.
"Perhaps not destroyed. Just damaged enough that our shared form will no longer be of use to you and forced you to abandon what remains! For regaining my free will, even over a mangled and inefficient frame, is preferable to enduring awakening life as your slave!" Megatron revealed.
That made Unicron really mad. "For your insolence, I will only make you endure greater suffering!"
Unicron fired two energy beams from his eyes, causing Megatron great pain. Meanwhile, Predaking charged at Galvatron and grabbed him with his mouth. The Chaos Bringer tried to set free punching him, but Predaking simply blasted him out of his mouth like a cannon. Predaking charged again, but Galvatron already recovered and summoned one dark energon super cannon and fired it. Predaking felt the hit really hard that sent him backward a few steps, but that doesn't stop him to continue his attack. He jumped at his opponent, but the super cannon fired again, and this time the impact was too strong that sent Predaking against a wall. While Predaking was lying on the floor, Galvatron summoned in his other hand some kind of giant hammer, made by dark energon. Predaking recovered fast and charged again, but he was stopped by one hit of Galvatron's hammer. He continued striking Predaking with both weapons, until he hit him with the final blow, and after that Predaking didn't get back again. But he was not dead, only beaten.
"Now, let us learn more of these mighty legions of which you spoke." Galvatron started as he opened his hand and a weird image appeared on it.
"By peering directly into your mind."
Once he put the hand on Predaking's head, he saw a lot of images of Predacons in their time of prosperity. Even he saw Predaking's refuge, the land covered by fossils. So Unicron used a mind probe.
"Ah. I know now what I require to tear this world asunder." Galvatron smirked.
"And where I might find them."
Speaking of the place Unicron was referring, there was someone else that was heading there. It was Shockwave, driving right where Starscream and his Seekers were.
"Shockwave, how was your journey?" Skywarp asked.
Shockwave transformed back to robot form, but he didn't look happy. "Long. Explain why you have summoned me to the middle of nowhere."
"Because we have located our army." Slipstream pointed to the land filled with fossils, with the three Predacons checking it.
"The clones sniffed out quite the motherlode, wouldn't you say?" Starscream said.
At the same time, aboard the Nemesis…
"I recommend that we utilize the warship's operating system to search for Megatron's life signal." Ratchet suggested.
"Doc, that remodel that kicked our tail pipes, aka Galvatron, he might have looked and sounded like the old Buckethead but it wasn't him." Bulkhead reminded.
"That much I know. But even if a fraction of Megatron's spark still flickers within his body, the ship's scanners may pick it up."
Back to the Predacon graveyard, the Decepticons and Predacons were starting harvesting fossils: Shockwave was shooting some of the bones in order to make them easy to transport while Starscream and the Seekers were carrying some. The Predacons were also trying to pick up the bones, and that was the reason that Darksteel hit Skylynx on his head with a bone. Skylynx looked back to his partner, who laughed a little.
"So, you find me amusing." Skylynx said annoyed, right before he grabbed the bone Darksteel had and hit him with it, on the head.
"Ow, that hurts!" Darksteel said before they started a fight for the bone.
"Come on, guys. Stop fighting, that was simply an accident. You don't need to get mad by that, it could happen to me too. And I don't like to start a fight for an unimportant matter." Ripclaw calmed down, separating the other Predacons.
"Hm, if that happened, I will support you." Skylynx said.
"So than I. I will undoubtedly fight in your side." Darksteel added.
That made Ripclaw blush a little. "Thank you, guys. Is good to have other fellow Predacons around."
"Why are you standing there without doing nothing?!" Slipstream demanded.
"Oh, it's nothing, mistress. Just solving a little rage issue, nothing serious." Ripclaw clarified.
"You were playing with that bone?" Thundercracker noticed. "That bone could be your comrade someday. Now stop fooling around and return to the task at hand."
"I do find it curious that I am not the only one currently seeking the remains of mighty legions." A voice said coming from the cliff, and for the Decepticons' surprise it was the one they considered lost forever.
"It cannot be." Skywarp said shocked.
"It defies logic." Shockwave added.
"Lord Megatron." Slipstream said.
"But…but how? You were…" Thundercracker started.
"Oh, what does it matter?! Our master is back!" Starscream proclaimed cheerfully.
"And looking far more imposing than ever." Slipstream said admiring Megatron's new form while he advanced at them.
"My liege, rest assured. We have been working tirelessly in your absence to build an army powerful enough to conquer Cybertron." Starscream reported him.
"I do not wish to conquer this world! I wish to eradicate it!" Galvatron said, once he was in front of Starscream.
That confused him. "Apologies, Lord Megatron. I can't say that I'm following."
"Silence fool!" He shouted at the same time he hit Starscream very hard, pushing him right into the graveyard leaving everyone shocked.
"That's not Megatron." Thundercracker realized.
"Your master is under my control. I am the destroyer of worlds, the bringer of chaos and the lord of the undead." He declared as dark energy flowed through his hands.
"Unicron." Shockwave identified.
"What? Here, on Cybertron?" Skywarp asked in disbelief and horrified. "And has possessed Megatron?!"
"I knew there was something wrong about that dark energon from the beginning." Thundercracker said.
"I say we show the lord of the undead what's like to be unliving." Skylynx suggested.
"Rip him to shreds!" Darksteel agreed.
"Come on, brothers. Let's show this being why we should be feared!" Ripclaw exclaimed.
"Predacons, destroy that abomination!" Slipstream commanded.
The Predacons changed to their beast forms and charged against Galvatron. Ripclaw managed to grab Galvatron's hands and tried to hit him with her poisonous bite. But Galvatron managed to evade her strikes before pushing her aside, but Ripclaw recovered immediately and she, Skylynx and Darksteel fired their fire beams at him all at once. While a small fire whirl surrounded where Galvatron was supposed to stay, the Decepticons simply watched as the Predacons circle around. Suddenly, Galvatron appeared in middle of the fire with his dark energon super cannons ready. Darksteel looked surprised, from which Galvatron took advantage to shot him, two shots were enough to take him down. Next, he fired at Ripclaw, who jumped above him, and next he fired to Skylynx, who tried to dodge the shots, but at the end two direct shots were enough to take him down. Because the Decepticons did not try to fight him, Galvatron passed through them and walked toward the cliff. Once he was there, he summoned a storm of purple lightning and made it to flow to the ground, sending waves of energy through the place. That was detected on the Nemesis.
"Megatron's life signal." Ratchet spotted.
"So somewhere inside that new…body armor. He's still alive?" Elita asked surprised.
"He's perished and returned before. A phenomenon no doubt aided by the blood of Unicron which has coursed through his veins."
"The coordinates indicate he's left Darkmount." Bumblebee pointed.
"Triangulating his exact location." Ratchet said, typing on the consol.
Immediately it showed where he was.
"We were there. Earlier today." Cliff recognized.
"Predaking's refuge?" Arcee added.
"Unicron's retracting our steps?" Bulkhead asked.
"Whoa, wait. What in Alpha Trion's beard is that?" Smokescreen noticed as something weird appeared on the screen.
Just as the scanners detected, something strange was happening in the graveyard. Something big, and evil.
"My legion, arise and purge this world with your dragon fire!" Galvatron summoned as he launched more lightning from his hands.
Ripclaw was helping Darksteel back to his feet with Skylynx joining them as they observed, as well the Decepticons did. The ground started to shake as it divided in pieces, from which hundreds of Predacon skeletons started to emerge, all showing signals of dark energon infusion.
"Terrorcons, created from Predacons?" Skywarp asked terrified.
"It defies all science." Shockwave said in disbelief.
"WE'RE DOOMED!" Starscream yelled frightened as he changed to vehicle mode and flew away.
"Every Con for himself!" Skywarp yelled doing the same.
"I agree with you in this, brother!" Thundercracker said joining them.
"Don't stay right there, Shockwave. Run!" Slipstream advised as she left too.
But Shockwave didn't move. He was paralyzed, unable to believe what was happening in front of his eyes. But when the undead Predacons started to get too close, he changed to vehicle form and started to shot at them with his cannon. He managed to eliminate a few, but then one grabbed him from the front and with the help of others they tip him over before agglomerate around him and covering him at the end, marking his very end. Inside the Nemesis…
"Given that we are dealing with Unicron himself, the energy mass can be only one thing: dark energon. But…for what purpose?" Ratchet asked.
"We all saw it. The valley was filled with ancient Predacon bones." Bumblebee reminded.
"Unicron's raising an undead army." Arcee deduced.
"One currently travelling across the Hydrax Plateau, towards…the Well of all Sparks." Elita observed in shock.
"The most direct route to Cybertron's core. And Primus." Ratchet finished.
Just as they detected, Galvatron was advancing alongside his new undead Predacon army right toward Cybertron's core entrance.
He was even riding on one of the monsters to witness his great moment. "The past shall consume the future. The dead shall consume the living. And chaos shall reign supreme!"
Back to the Nemesis…
"Unicron clearly seeks to access our planet's core from the same point of entry that we used to restore it." Ratchet said.
"No doubt with every intention of undoing our efforts." Cliffjumper added.
"So what do we do?" Bulkhead asked.
"I don't know. But one thing is for sure: we cannot allow Unicron to destroy our home world. Because for what do we know, he would not stop there, the galaxy of our friends will be his next target, and then, the rest of the universe. There is no way we can let that happen. Somehow, we have to stop him. On our planet, right here, right now." Elita declared.
"And I know how: we put ourselves between Unicron's army and the well." Bumblebee suggested.
Everyone looked at Bee, who still had eyes of determination.
"You're right, Bumblebee. Our strongest assets are this warship and whatever relics might be stored in its vault." Elita agreed.
"Last time I looked just the polarity gauntlet, the energon harvester, the Resonance Blaster, the force field generator and the Immobilizer." Smokescreen summarized.
"Hopefully the genuine article this time." Arcee said looking at him.
"I'll round up the secret weapons." He said leaving.
"Bulkhead, think you can pilot this ship?" Bumblebee asked.
"Con engineering. User friendly, right?"
"Ratchet, you've given your all to save this world once already." Elita told him.
Ratchet saw how the other Autobots departed with the Nemesis while he observed from a city, with Ultra Magnus still on a medical berth next to him.
"Where are you taking us? We have a right to know!" Knock Out demanded.
Then the room's door opened, but not by the Autobots, surprisingly thanks to Starscream and his Seekers.
"Greetings, fellow Decepticons." Skywarp saluted.
"Starscream, guys, thanks the stars! We can finally escape this dreaded ship." Knock Out said relieved.
"No doctor, we must in fact take the ship by whatever means necessary." Starscream corrected.
Meanwhile in the Nemesis's bridge, the Autobots were checking all the details for the incoming battle.
"Primary cannons, null rays, ion blasters, heavy missile launchers, nucleon shock cannons." Bumblebee counted.
"Everything we need to stand a fighting chance against Unicron's army." Elita nodded before she went to check the others.
"Bee." Arcee started. "In case I never get another chance to say this, you've really proved your metal."
"I'd like to think my actions always spoke louder than my words, Arcee. But it didn't hurt to watch and learn from the best."
"Would be nice if Optimus showed up about now."
"I was referring to a powerful little former two-wheeler I know." Bee clarified, making her smile.
Elita chuckled at hearing that conversation.
"Autobots, surrender this warship!" Starscream demanded, with Skywarp, Thundercracker, Slipstream, Knock Out and the remaining Decepticon soldiers next to him aiming their weapons at them.
Arcee, Elita and Cliffjumper aimed their weapons at them too as Bumblebee advanced toward them.
"Ah, ah, ah." Skywarp warned showing that he was holding the Immobilizer.
Bulkhead joined them, but the special weapon forced everyone to stop.
"Funny how the Immobilizer can freeze Bots in their tracks, before it's activated." Thundercracker admired.
"And in case you're wondering Smokescreen is in no position to come to your rescue right now." Knock Out added showing that he now had the phase shifter on his wrist.
Speaking of Smokey, he was stuck on the wall right in the same ridiculous position Knock Out was before.
"Scrap."
Far from there, Predaking was flying toward his refuge, just when the other Predacons were still.
"Guys, look! One of us."
"Indeed, Darksteel. Most likely our predecessor." Skylynx deduced.
"I never thought we would get to know him." Ripclaw said surprised.
Predaking landed and returned to robot form, but he showed horror on his eyes for what he saw.
"The burial ground, desecrated. Strip-mined of all that remained of our ancestors." Predaking observed in disbelief.
Darksteel laughed. "He should've been here to see them rise and shine."
"They live?" Predaking asked.
"If you call being undead living." Ripclaw corrected.
"Dark magic. Perpetrated by the demon who lives in Megatron's skin." Predaking deduced.
"Just be glad you're alive, so the demon can't pull your strings." Skylynx added.
"Do you not comprehend the scope of this tragedy? We four are proof that our mighty race might once again have flourished. Their remains must be reclaimed, if for no other reason then to be properly laid back to rest." Predaking explained.
"Mm, he is wiser than any of us and his words sounds noble. Maybe we should help him." Ripclaw expressed amazed.
"And who made you boss?" Darksteel asked a little irritated.
"I am not your boss. I am your king!" Predaking corrected, glaring at them preparing his claws.
At the same time…
"Nah, Scream won't use it. They need us if they are gonna stand any chance of surviving Unicron." Bulkhead reassured.
"You misunderstand. I do not intend to use this warship for battle, but for quickly getting as far as possible from this doomed planet." Starscream corrected.
"Naboo would be nice now that Unicron no longer seems to be calling Planet X his home. Or Coruscant, that's also a good option." Knock Out suggested.
"Shut up you!" Skywarp yelled to him.
"No one has asked you for your opinion, Knock Out." Thundercracker told him.
"This is not negotiable, we're leaving. You like it or not, and this time you're not going to stop us." Slipstream clarified.
"Now, move away from the controls, Bulkhead, or get stiff." Starscream threatened as he and his siblings pulled out their blasters.
"There's one thing you overlooked, Scream. That device Skywarp is holding? Not the Immobilizer." Bee lied.
Fortunately, Skywarp believed him. "What?! What do you mean?"
"Now!" Cliffjumper said jumping at Starscream, tackling him.
Bumblebee took advantage and tried to grab the device, so he and Skywarp struggled for it. Meanwhile, the other Autobots fired their weapons at the Vehicon soldiers, eliminating them one by one as Knock Out hunkered down. With only the Seekers left, Elita kicked Slipstream on the head, knocking her out, while Arcee went to help Cliff by punching Starscream hard on the head, turning off his lights, while Bulkhead simply sent Thundercracker flying against a wall with a simple hit of his wrecking balls. Bumblebee was trying his best, but Skywarp was holding the weapon stronger.
"I will silence you forever!" The Seeker groaned.
But then a servo phased through Skywarp's chassis and snatched the device from Bumblebee. And just when Skywarp turned around, Knock Out smashed the device across his face, sending the Seeker to the ground unconscious. But he also shattered the device.
"Now will you believe I'm joining the winning team?" Knock Out asked.
"Knock Out, we needed that!" Bumblebee groaned.
"Wait. It really was the Immobilizer?" He asked nervous.
Back with the Predacons, Skylynx and Darksteel didn't like the idea of Predaking being the one who speaks to them what to do, so they decided to battle him. Ripclaw didn't want to get involved in their fight, but she also didn't want them to fight. Predaking, by his way, accepted their challenge. Darksteel tried to push him back, but Predaking smashed both hands on him before pushing him back. Darksteel was thrown to the ground, but he smirked seeing Skylynx flying at Predaking from behind. Skylynx managed to grab and smash Predaking against the floor until they approached to a rock. Once there, Skylynx left Predaking to smash to the rock, and next he grabbed his arms as Darksteel approached to him in dragon form. But Predaking managed to push Skylynx and slamming him into Darksteel, sending them both flying a few meters. Predaking took the chance and changed to dragon form advancing toward them, they got up but Predaking already rammed into them. Skylynx managed to jump on top of him as Predaking grabbed Darksteel with his jaws and threw him away, next he grabbed Skylynx's tail and threw him down. Both Predacons charged at him, but Predaking pushed them against the ground and roared at them with fire ready to launch from his mouth. As result, both Predacons returned to robot form.
"All hail, Predaking." Darksteel accepted, defeated.
They turned to see Ripclaw clapping. "That was an impressive match, I admit. But now we all are in the same side, so why no using our might where it is most needed?"
Back to the Nemesis, Arcee, Smokescreen, Cliffjumper and Knock Out tossed Starscream and his siblings into the prison block. Skywarp and Thundercracker were still unconscious while Starscream and Slipstream looked at them defeated. Knock Out cleaned his hands before he left with the Autobots and the door closed.
"Traitor." Slipstream groaned.
"Fine! I hope Unicron destroys you first!" Starscream shouted mad.
As they walked back to the bridge…
"Why'd you do it, Knock Out? Why'd you turn against them?" Arcee asked interested.
"Even if I had helped them seize this ship, they would have probably just fired me out of the first airlock. Oh, and Starscream's rude, and Slipstream is a difficult girl."
"Well, welcome to the Autobots." Cliffjumper congratulated.
They finally arrived to the bridge, where the other Autobots were.
"Are we there yet?" Smokescreen asked.
"Right on schedule." Bulkhead answered.
"And so is Unicron." Bumblebee noticed.
"Then let's do it." Elita ordered.
Unicron's undead army was approaching the well when suddenly the Nemesis fired all its weapons. After the impacts disposed of some of the creatures, the ship turned passed above them in order to turn around.
"Resistance." Galvatron groaned.
"From my own warship." Megatron smiled.
"Demon hordes, take flight…"
"…and eviscerate them!" Galvatron ordered.
The undead Predacons ascended right toward the Nemesis, the same as it. The ship started to fire all its weapons, destroying all the Predacons it hit, but soon the horde was able to surround the warship.
"Maybe Starscream's had the right idea." Knock Out said a little nervous, then one of the monsters slammed against the window and roared. "Zombiecon! Zombiecon!" He yelled taking cover as Bumblebee and Smokescreen stood in front of him with their weapons ready.
But before the creature could launch fire, a fire beam took it down. More fire beams destroyed more of the undead army.
"It seems we have backup." Cliffjumper spotted.
"Is it Optimus?" Elita asked.
Once they saw clearly, they saw the four Predacons flying and firing at their undead relatives.
"Predaking." Bulkhead corrected.
Galvatron saw them too as they continued attacking his army.
"More flying pests!" He said.
"Who to root for? The lines have certainly blurred." Megatron said.
Back inside the Nemesis's bridge…
"Predacon allies. You called it Bee. And to think Optimus almost passed down the matrix to me." Smokescreen said.
That left Bumblebee shocked. "Whoa. What?!"
"Yeah, I said it. But right place, right time doesn't mean right Bot. I know that now."
The Predacons continued taking down undead Predacons, but they were too many. They even managed to hit the Nemesis with their own fire shots. That caused a huge explosion that made the ship to descend. The Seekers felt that too inside their room, even it made them felt.
"I know what was missing from this ship: deflecting shields!" Cliffjumper called.
"Yeah, and we needed them behind!" Arcee added.
"Brace for impact! We're going to make an emergency landing, Skywalker style!" Bulkhead warned.
Everyone prepared for the impact. The warship hit the ground and started shaking towards the well. Fortunately, it stopped when it was about to reach the edge.
"Ugh, is everyone okay?" Elita asked as he got up.
"Uf, nothing a little carnauba wax won't fix up." Knock Out said cleaning the dust from his chest as the other Autobots got back on their feet.
The Seekers felt the impact too. But also heard a cracking noise coming from the door, which looked damaged and started falling apart.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Thundercracker asked to Starscream as the other Seekers stood up, and he simply smirked.
From the outside a lot of flames covered the warship. It was official, the Nemesis was finished. Once they exited the ship, the Autobots saw Unicron's army advancing toward them, and the Predacons transformed and landed right behind. Galvatron stood in front of his army.
"My legion, the time is upon us. Destroy Primus with your dragon fire!"
Everyone saw the undead army charging at them.
"We're the last line of defense." Elita said.
"I would recommend leaving that to those more suited for the task." Predaking started. "Skylynx, Darksteel, Ripclaw, allow nothing to enter the well!"
All the Predacons transformed and charged against the army, which merged into a huge purple flying mass. The Predacons launched a few fireballs, stopping the horde advance, but it only worked for a few seconds. One by one, the Predacons fired large beams of fire against the horde, holding them. But at the end there were too many undead to deal with, and ended carrying the Predacons even when it flew inside the well.
"Really? This is how it ends?" Bulkhead asked worried.
"We're not losing our planet. Not without taking Unicron with it." Bumblebee encouraged looking at their opponent.
"If we defeat him first, his army will fall too." Elita instructed.
Suddenly Galvatron froze. "What? A familiar resonance. Pure energy, not unlike Primus."
"One I have not encountered since ancient days."
Then he realized. "The Allspark!"
Then he saw the ship Optimus and Wheeljack took to search for the Allspark, the reason why he felt it. The Autobots also spotted the ship, which made them happy.
"Optimus." Elita recognized.
"I never thought I'd be so happy to see that big rig!" Knock Out confessed.
Inside the ship…
"We must keep the Allspark from Unicron's reach." Optimus instructed.
"I thought the container was indestructible." Wheeljack said.
"Indeed. But if this vessel once trapped the Allspark, I fear that it can also be emptied of it."
The ship's ramp opened, and Optimus was ready to engage Unicron.
"So the Prime returns." Galvatron saw as he summoned another dark energon lance.
Optimus activated his jet-pack and flew right towards the chaos bringer. But he already threw the lance before the Autobot leader reached him, hitting one of the ship's engines. That caused it to crash land.
"Jackie!" Bulkhead shouted worried.
Bulkhead transformed and drove right at the ship to check how Wheeljack was, accompanied by Arcee. The other Autobots stayed, watching Optimus punching Galvatron hard and kicking him backwards.
"Thank you, Prime. For delivering the Allspark, so that I may erase it from existence." Galvatron thanked.
"Not while I stand before you, Unicron."
Both opponents charged against the other and prepared their fists. Optimus received a punch on his face and Galvatron received an uppercut. Optimus recovered first and continue striking his rival.
"Megatron, you and I once united to save the universe from Unicron! We must do so again!" Optimus called as he continued punching him.
"Megatron may hear you." Galvatron revealed while he received another punch. "But he cannot help you!"
Inside Megatron, he continued being tortured by Unicron's energy.
"For he is enduring eternal suffering." Unicron smirked.
Optimus jumped and hit Galvatron hard, but he summoned a giant hammer of dark energon and hit Optimus hard, taking him down.
"Your efforts to protect Cybertron's most sacred relic are futile! My legion is within reach of Primus, your planet's very core. And we both know that the Allspark cannot thrive in a poisoned well." Galvatron said as he prepared his hammer to execute Optimus.
But before he could perform it, Bumblebee sent a magnetic beam with the polarity gauntlet. He was not the only one who decided to engage Unicron: Elita started to fire the energon harvester in an attempt to drain enough dark energon to weak him while Cliffjumper fired the Resonance Blaster at him. Galvatron tried to smash Optimus with the hammer, but the Autobots' effort managed to hold him on the ground, even made some parts of the floor to crack.
"Downside to wearing metal near a polarity gauntlet?" Knock Out asked.
"You're subject to the laws of magnetism." Smokescreen answered.
"Optimus, go!" Elita yelled.
"Save the Allspark!" Bumblebee added as he continued holding the polarity gauntlet.
Optimus activated his jet-pack and flew to the crashed ship, just where Bulkhead and Arcee were helping Wheeljack.
"I've been worse." Wheeljack growled, and then Optimus transformed and landed in front of them. "So how are we gonna get that thing to safety?"
"By the only means available to us, under these most dire of circumstances. The very survival of our species upon this or any world depends upon it." Optimus answered.
The Autobots managed to hold Galvatron for a while, but he finally managed to push Bumblebee hard enough to send him flying forwards and over his helm, and crashing back into the ground. Smokescreen, Elita and Cliffjumper continued firing at Galvatron, but he already summoned one dark energon super cannon. But before he fired, Knock Out pulled out the force field generator and created an energy wall that blocked the shot. Even that they didn't received any damage from the shot, the shock wave was powerful enough to take them down. Next, Galvatron changed to vehicle form and took flight right where Optimus went. Optimus was flying and carrying the Allspark's container, and speeded up once he saw Galvatron following him, but the former Decepticon leader's new vehicle form fired two huge dark energon shots that hit Optimus's jet-pack, forcing him to crash land. Optimus groaned in pain as Galvatron changed to robot form and walked toward him, and managed to take the container from him. The Autobots witnessed in horror how the Chaos Bringer seemed to win.
"I shall devour your Allspark whole!" Galvatron said, but when he opened it had nothing inside. "What?! A trick!"
Suddenly a shock wave of bright blue light washed him and he started to glow purple. The glow around Galvatron suddenly shot upwards and shot into the container while screams sounded, probably Unicron's. Right at the same moment, just when the undead Predacon army was about to reach Primus's spark, they stopped and disintegrated in dust. The Predacons spotted that. Galvatron's body collapsed into the ground. Optimus grabbed the container, which now had what looked like Unicron himself inside screaming in agony.
"As a being comprised of pure energy, Unicron's Anti-Spark was vulnerable to this reliquary of the Primes." Optimus explained as the other Autobots gathered around him.
"But if he's in there, where's…?" Smokescreen started.
"Praise the Allspark!" Starscream shouted as he and the Seekers approached Galvatron in vehicle form before changing form and landing next to him.
"Master, you're alive!" Slipstream exclaimed.
"Indeed." Galvatron answered, now again with his eyes normal, checking that he had returned to normal before getting up.
"Your new battle armor will take things to the next level, our liege." Thundercracker admired.
"Together we will reunite all Decepticons, and once again grind Cybertron under your mighty heel!" Skywarp proclaimed.
"No!" Galvatron surprisingly said.
"What?"
"Why?" Slipstream asked confused.
Galvatron walked a few steps until he looked at Optimus.
"Because I now know the true meaning of oppression. And have thus lost my taste for inflicting it." Galvatron explained, surprisingly with a sad face.
Everyone, even Optimus was surprised of what they were witnessing: Galvatron redeemed himself.
Not believing what he was hearing, Starscream laughed nervously. "You've clearly been traumatized, master. A good power down and a stroll around the smelting pit will put you back in touch with your inner warlord."
Galvatron closed his hand in anger before turning at his former second-in-command. "Enough! The Decepticons are no more. And that is final."
After that, Galvatron changed to vehicle mode and took flight, right outside Cybertron, like if he was going to an exile, even banishing himself. That left Starscream without words.
"So, anything to say about this, Scream?" Cliffjumper called, snapping him out.
"Yes, well. We all have plenty to think about. Don't we? Let's go, guys."
Starscream and his Seekers transformed and flew away from there. They flew back to Darkmount, transformed and landed right at the top of the fortress.
"Oh scrap, this is great! And now what are we gonna do?!" Skywarp asked in disbelief and in fury.
"And you are asking me?!" Thundercracker defended. "I have no idea; I also didn't expect this!"
"Yeah: Lord Megatron, abandoning the Decepticons?! Who would imagine such a thing?!"
"Well, it just happened right in front of us. The correct question is: what are we going to do now that the mighty leader of all Decepticons is gone?" Slipstream specified.
"I don't think that might be a problem."
"You may fill us in, Starscream?" Thundercracker asked.
"This is not quite how I envisioned my rise to the throne, but since Lord Megatron all but surrendered it to me, I will gladly revive the Decepticons in my name." The leader of the Seekers announced looking at the throne.
"Well, you have always had that Decepticon leadership obsession of yours. And under these circumstances, nothing could stop you from achieve that." Thundercracker realized.
"Sure, after all you already have experience in that. It would not be much complicated to perform." Skywarp supported.
"And all Decepticons are going to need a leader anyway. One true to the cause, no matter what have he experienced." Slipstream followed.
"Of course. This is the perfect chance for us Seekers to become the main leaders of the Decepticons. I will reign all of them as supreme leader, Lord Starscream, and with you and all the other surviving members of our original crew besides me as seconds-in-command, there could be nothing to stop us in our way."
"Uh, maybe one big thing." Thundercracker said nervous pointing at behind them.
Then they heard a sound of beating wings behind them. Starscream turned and gasped surprised seen the four Predacons landing in front of them.
"Uh, hello." Skywarp simply said nervous.
"Starscream, what do we do?" Slipstream muttered.
"Perhaps a throne is more…befitting of an actual king." Starscream offered nervous.
Predaking returned to robot form. "I am not here to seize thrones, Starscream." He said as the other Predacons advanced menacingly towards the Seekers. "But to settle scores."
While the other three Seekers were not to be seen, maybe trying to retreat into the fortress, Starscream looked cornered in the throne looking at Skylynx and Darksteel advancing at him with a horrified face while the Predacons roared. Back to the well, as the sun was rising, all the Autobots gathered in front of their leader, who stood above a higher platform.
"In order to both protect the Allspark and secure Unicron's defeat, it was necessary for me to empty the vessel's contents." Optimus said.
"Into where?" Cliffjumper asked.
"The Matrix of Leadership." Optimus answered, looking his chest. "As such, my own spark can no longer be separated from the multitude of others within me."
"Are you telling us…that you are now…one with the Allspark?" Elita asked, fearing the worst.
"That's what you say when someone kicks the…" Smokescreen started, but he stopped when he realized what his leader was meaning.
"To not return the Allspark to the well would be to prevent future generations of new life from existing on Cybertron. My quest must be completed." Optimus said.
"Optimus, I didn't return to save a life only to lose the one I care most about! My best friend!" Ratchet protested affected.
"We have fought so much to end this fight and being able to return home. This shouldn't end like this. Optimus, I don't want it to end like this! I don't know how I would carry my life without you!" Elita protested seriously affected.
"Ratchet's restored planets. He'll find a way to save you!" Bulkhead added.
"We can turn to Vector Sigma, just like we did before!" Arcee suggested.
"Because the matrix must now be relinquished with the Allspark, it cannot be restored, or passed down to another. But while this very well mark the end of the age of Primes, leadership can be earned with or without the matrix. And in my view, you have each acted as a Prime." Optimus said looking at everyone.
"Well, I've never really had the best role models." Knock Out murmured grateful.
"As even Megatron has demonstrated on this day, every sentient being possesses the capacity for change." Optimus said before he prepared his jet-pack. But before his last departure, he gave a last look to his team. "I ask only this of you, fellow Autobots. Keep fighting the noblest of fights."
"You can count on us to keep the peace." Bumblebee assured.
"I know." Optimus said before turning to his sparkmate. "I swear you, Elita, you will not be alone for so long. We will meet again, be sure of that."
"I know. Good journey, Optimus Prime."
"Till all are one."
Optimus smiled at them before he took flight and went inside the well, heading right into the core as everyone saw him depart with sadness. Once he was getting close, he opened his chest to show the Matrix of Leadership.
"Above all, do not lament my absence."
Optimus finally reached to Primus's spark, joining with him.
"For in my spark, I know that this is not the end."
Once he joined with Primus, a lot of new sparks, of all kinds of colors, came out from the well and spread across all Cybertron. The Autobots were amazed by the entire spectacle.
"But merely a new beginning."
Then a spark appeared in front of them. Everyone managed to recognize that as no one else that Optimus Prime's spark.
"Simply put, another transformation."
Sometime later, Cybertron's cities started to rebuild as more Autobot ships returned to Cybertron thanks to the message sent, all them received by Team Prime. All the members of Team Prime were named the Greatest Heroes of Cybertron with statues raised in their honor. About the Predacons, just like Bee declared before, Predaking and his kind left the past behind and accepted live in coexistence with the Autobots. In exchange, the Autobots scientists used Shockwave's cloning technology with the Predacon fossils to bring back to life new members of the species to ensure its survival under the leadership of their new king, and also in order for the Autobots to make up for it when the first Predacon clones were destroyed by them, stablishing their new territory around the area of the Well of all Sparks, as its new guardians. Also, another group of Autobot scientists leaded by Ratchet into the remains of the Nemesis, found a portable databank which successfully contained both the formulas of the complete synthetic energon and the pure cybertronian cybermatter, which they put in good place for some future emergencies, in case that they could need them again if Cybertron's wellbeing become threatened again in the future and avoid it this time with a lot of time for preparing. Sometime later, the presence of the Zombiecons of Airachnid and her Insecticons on one of Cybertron's moons was discovered, and neutralized for good. About Starscream's fate and the seekers, they were never found, mostly sure terminated by the Predacons. Something similar about Galvatron's too, because nothing was known from or about him except his exile made by himself, and there was not a single clue about where he was, and after that…nothing more was known about him, ever again. Bumblebee was named lieutenant and formed his own team to follow the same path his team and Optimus made; Team Bee, formed by both old and new members, and working and supporting Team Prime additionally in keeping peace, becoming a great leader in that way. Unicron and his portable prison were hidden inside a very secret place that only the ones who fought against him and defeated him knew about. As the Autobots observed Iacon, once again restored to its former glory and inhabited, Team Prime and Team Bee saw at the distance where the sun was raising a familiar figure heading at them: Optimus Prime totally restored. When he met with them, he explained what happened: after retrieving the Allspark back to the core, the Ancient Primes rescued his spark and returned him to life in gratitude for his noble actions, that way securing the Primes' linage in the future. The team received him in happiness and joy, specially his sparkmate, Elita One, thanking their leader was back with them again and to lead the cybertronian race to a better future. All Autobots stood looking at the starry sky.
"In all war, there's calm after the storm. After eons of ravaging war on our planet, our darkest chapter in history is finally just an important lesson of the past. And Cybertron has returned to be the home we all remembered, ready for the dawn of a new Golden Age. No one knows what new challenges the future may present to us, but the history about the Autobot-Decepticon War will be our compass to guide us to the right path. But we must not forget the family, friends and allies we made on distant territory: the ones who stood beside us in our darkest hours till the very end. For us, Autobots, freedom fighters of Cybertron, will always be ready to fight any threat, any evil that attempts to disturb any peace on any place of the universe. I am Optimus Prime, the last of the Primes and leader of the Autobots, and I send this message to everyone who is listening in the immensity of the space: make sure that always will be some ones who will watch for all of you. That the light of Cybertron will watch for the future of everything and everyone that lives in the universe. Now and always. Till all are one."
The Great Cybertronian War is over, Cybertron has returned to life and the Autobots are ready to lead their home planet into new prosperous times. But the story not ends here. Three more episodes incoming. Three "extra chapters" are coming soon, which will tell some things that happened between the equivalent parts of season 2 and season 3. Stay tuned.