2- Group Reunited.
The Nemesis descended above a huge hole in top of a mountain on Izabe Island in Hoenn. It opened its bottom hangar and some kind of elevator descended to the inside, in which was a lot of Decepticon miners working with a lot of energon crystals, so the elevator was used to transport the energon into the ship.
"Of the energon deposits we have located while you were away, lord Galvatron, this one is by far the most significant. The drones have been mining without pause during your absence, and have amass quite a stockpile. You there, fetch me a sample!" Darkscream asked once he finished reporting.
"Darkscream." Galvatron called, coming out from the shadows. "Now that I have returned, I will issue the commands."
"I…understand, lord Galvatron."
"Where are the others?"
"The rest decided to go and search for the rest of our comrades scattered all across the universe, in order to reunite them and bring them here under your will. Meanwhile, Soundblaster and I decided to stay here to assume command of the stationed and arriving troops."
"I see."
"Then as your humble servant, shall I ready the space bridge to bring forth the Decepticon army you have surely gathered during your long time in space?"
"My army will come. But my time away has yielded a more intriguing means of materializing them." Galvatron said as he showed a strange crystal, similar to energon, but purple and glowing with a sinister aura. "The solidified form of the matter the ancient texts refer to…as the Blood of Unicron."
"Unicron the Destroyer? But it is said that his blood is the Anti-Spark." Darkscream added observing the shard. "Wait, isn't that the same substance you used to upgrade yourself long ago before your departure?"
"Indeed, Darkscream. But you see, that first piece I used simply fused itself with my body's systems, causing the radical upgrade that forged my new superior form. But that's not the reason I wanted it in the first place, so I went to explore the space in order to find it again. Plucked from cosmic shores. Gaze upon dark energon."
"Legend tells that it holds the power to revive the dead."
"We require only a cadaver to be certain. Are you willing to make the ultimate sacrifice?" Galvatron asked to Darkscream, looking at him sinisterly.
Darkscream chuckled nervously. "That may not be necessary. If I may, lord Galvatron."
Two Vehicons brought the dead body of what looked like an Autobot soldier, probably perished long ago.
"Consider it a welcome home present." Darkscream introduced, making Galvatron smirk.
At the same time, in the Autobot base…
"And since you now know of our existence, I fear that as of this morning, the Decepticons know of yours." Optimus told to Misty.
"That's the reason we decided to bring the group back together." Elita added.
"So, exactly what's going to happen to us from now?"
"Fear nothing, Misty. The Autobots protected us from the Decepticons the last time we were together." Dawn reassured.
"If someone with whom we are more secure is with them." Ritchie supported.
"So, what's going to come?" Ash asked.
"Yeah. Are we going to help you in the fight like we did before?" Bonnie asked.
"That option has not been…considered yet, giving that things are now completely different. It is best that all of you stay here under our watch, at least until we can determine our enemies' intentions." Optimus finished.
"Optimus, with all due respect, this is not like the previous time or like when Ash and his friends used to travel around the world." Ratchet intervened.
"They know about that too?" Misty asked.
"What's wrong, Ratchet? You are not glad that we're back?" Clemont asked.
"No, it's not about that. It's just…despite the pleasure of their company, being here means stay on the same ground we stand. If they get underfoot, they will go…squish." Ratchet warned before he took a step to prove his point.
"In that case, Ratchet, we must watch where we step." Elita reassured.
"I'm sure that would not be a problem if we all do our part." Moonracer reassured.
In that moment, a green light started flashing at the same time as an alarm was triggered.
"What's that?" Ritchie asked with concern.
"(Fear nothing. That's the proximity sensor, which tell us when someone is on top of our base.)"
"Proximity sensor. Someone's on top." Max translated.
"How did you…? Oh right, you can understand Bee. I totally forgot." May apologized.
Ratchet went to the terminal to check who was. The screen showed a woman wearing a special uniform, with a Plusle on her shoulder walking to an elevator door in the mountain.
"It's Ranger Solana." Ratchet recognized.
"Solana?" Ash, Max, May and Dawn asked in disbelief.
"Is that a pokémon ranger?" Tracey asked.
"I thought we were the only humans who knew about you guys." Misty said.
"Thanks to the efforts of champion Cynthia, the pokémon rangers are our designated liaison to the outside world, as they tend to visit only when there are issues. It would be best that you do not meet them at this time." Optimus explained before the group went to hide.
The elevator descended to the control room, and the very known pokémon ranger and her little pokémon companion entered the room, but she didn't look happy.
"This has come to our ears: a strange siting in the sky referring to some kind of massive UFO, strange noises like-shots coming from the Viridian Forest and a report of four speeding sport cars and a military tank entering the forest without giving explanation." Solana said looking at Hot Rod, Bumblebee and Warpath. "There is something you haven't told, Prime?"
"We have the situation under control, Ranger Solana."
"Is them. They're finally here, right?"
"If you are referring to the Decepticons, I had doubts that they ever left. Your planet is much too valuable."
"Then it's time to alert all teams."
"Hear us, Ranger Solana, we are your best, possibly your only defense against the Decepticon threat." Elita reassured.
"What makes you think my unit and I can't deal with them?"
"Hey girl, did anyone get Boom on that place?" Warpath interrupted as he ripped off a mechanical arm from the instrument table. "Team Prime knows when to use force and how much to use." He squeezed it until he broke it.
"Oh oh, here comes again." Sideswipe whispered to the others.
"Warpath, I needed that!" Ratchet complained. The kids tried their best to not laugh, even Plusle laughed, making Ratchet groan.
"Enough!" Optimus demanded before turning at Solana. "Special forces involvement will only result in catastrophe."
"Perhaps you can condone widespread human and pokémon casualties, Ranger Solana. We, however, cannot." Elita added.
"We neither. So please, handle this under the radar." She answered before heading back to the elevator. "Or we will."
And they left the base.
"Pretty big bearings, for a human."
"Ranger Solana is concerned for her world, Wheeljack. As she should be." Optimus responded.
Meanwhile, at the Decepticon mine…
"Let us see if power born of darkness can reignite the spark." Galvatron declared, before he put the dark energon shard in the Autobot's spark chamber.
Instantly, the dark matter flowed into the corpse as the body started to shake. Moments later, the Autobot's eyes opened and roared. Even he managed to release himself from his restrains. Once free the reanimated Autobot tackled the closest Decepticon and started hitting him. He tried to fight back, but the undead cybertronian started to slice him in pieces, while Galvatron watched interested. As he started to crush the Decepticon's head, the other Decepticon opened fire at the Autobot, but immediately he tackled him too and repeated the process.
"That's your plan? Bring Autobots back from the death to attack us?!" Darkscream asked, horrified.
"That's no longer an Autobot. Just a mindless beast. It's only instinct to destroy anything in its path." Galvatron theorized.
Once he finished with the guards, the undead Autobot turned his attention at Galvatron and charged. But Galvatron had already his sword ready and simply waited for the Autobot to get close enough for strike. And once he did, Galvatron spliced his body in two, making it fall in the edge of the platform.
"There, Darkscream, rise the indestructible seed of my army: Terrorcons. The ultimate weapon."
The upper part of the undead managed to grab his hand to the edge, but Galvatron kicked him down, sending him to a lower level.
"Once I learn to control it."
Just in that moment, the Autobot's life signal was detected in the Autobot base.
"Blasted Earth tech. An Autobot signal has been detected." Ratchet reported seeing the screen.
"I don't get it. That's supposed to be good, right?" Ash questioned.
"How is that possible?" Elita asked.
"It isn't. Another bug. The system is chalk full of them." Ratchet theorized.
"But if there is truly one of us out there, it might be in assist. And may be alone against the Cons if they locate that signal too."
"Hot Rod is right. We need to find that Autobot." Arcee supported.
"Ratchet, prepare sickbay, we might need it." Optimus instructed as he prepared his battle mask.
"Optimus, what can we do?" Bonnie asked.
"Do you want us to send some of our pokémon with you?" Serena added.
"No. Remain here with Ratchet." Optimus responded.
Max and Bonnie looked disappointed, and Ratchet maybe a little. Next a tunnel lighted up and a green portal appeared at the end of it.
"Autobots, roll out!" Optimus called.
The Autobots changed to their vehicle forms and drove at the portal, disappearing.
"Whoa. Did you see that?" Ritchie asked in disbelief.
"They were there just a moment and then they vanished." Misty nodded.
"What just happened?" Ash asked.
"I transported them to the designated coordinates by the ground bridge." Ratchet answered.
"What's a ground bridge?" Tracey asked.
"A scale down version of space bridge technology. Since we don't currently possess the means or the energon required for intergalactic travel…"
"You're still stuck here on Earth." Max ended.
"Exactly. But Blaster and I constructed the ground bridge to enable travel from here to anywhere on your planet."
"So it's like some kind of teleportation invention?" Clemont asked in disbelief.
"More or less."
"Whoa, science is so amazing." Ash expressed.
"I never thought I would live to see one of those!"
"Whoa, take it easy, big brother." Bonnie asked.
"You need to teach me everything about this ground bridge. Please Ratchet, please."
"Okay, okay, take it easy, Clemont. I think I could show you it's schematics if I have some free time." Ratchet answered.
"He always reacts like that?" Misty asked.
"Not always. Only when it comes to scientific advances." Serena explained.
"Does it work for humans and pokémon?" Tracey asked.
"Naturally. Blaster took all precautions so it may work for all pokémon types before he left." Ratchet responded.
"You mean me and Max can just go and be at our home in Petalburg City?" May asked.
"Within moments. In fact, allow me to test it a little by sending some of you and your little pokémon."
"Piplup." The little pokémon chirped angrily at him.
That made Dawn laugh. "Watch it, Ratchet. Piplup takes his size very serious."
The ground bridge took the Autobots inside a cave, with energon crystals everywhere. Immediately, they changed back to robot form and readied their weapons.
"An energon mine." Warpath observed.
"And judging by its scale the Decepticons have been tunneling here for quite some time." Elita added.
"And they still do it." Hot Rod pointed.
The Autobots hid as they observed the miners using their lasers to cut the energon crystals into more little pieces.
"Let's find that Autobot." Optimus ordered.
The Autobots came out from their hiding spot and advanced toward the Decepticons. As reaction, the miners left the area as the guards aimed their weapons at the newcomers, as well as the Autobots. And the fight started. Some miners even used the giant drills to charge against the Autobots. Warpath smashed the closest drill with his close combat weapon, some kind of big hammers, the same as Wheeljack, who used his swords, while the other Autobots charged firing. Arcee kicked the closest Con and grabbed with her feet the head of the next one before Moonracer teared it apart. Hot Rod engaged a few big Decepticons engineers, which had tanks of energy on their backs which could turn into cement transport trucks, and simply slide around them as he turned his hands into blades and sliced their tanks, causing them to explode. Bumblebee jumped high and fired at the Con he had in front, and dodged in time a drill that was coming at him. Sideswipe took the chance and jumped on top of the drill and disposed of the driver with his swords, and next he took control of the drill and moved it toward some Decepticon heavy soldiers, forcing them to retreat before returning with the team. Another drill which was chasing him was grabbed by Optimus that fired it at its side before Elita fired at it as she pushed it back. Warpath fired his chest cannon at one Decepticon before changing his course and smashing one engineer with his feet. At the same time, back at base…
"All this equipment is yours?" Bonnie asked.
"More or less, but it's broken. Don't touch it." Ratchet simply answered without even looking, but she was about to touch it anyway.
"Bonnie, you heard Ratchet. What if you cause an explosion?"
"Like when it happens with your inventions, big brother?"
That made Ratchet chuckle. "It still happening to you?"
"Is there anything in here we can touch?" Ritchie asked while most of the group was exploring the room.
Before Ratchet could answer, the computer's screen showed a window which said Access Denied, which frustrated him.
"How come you guys are using human computers?" Tracey asked.
"It certainly isn't by choice. It was handed down thanks to champion Cynthia from the previous talents when we inherited this former research facility, stationed here to study the moon stones. I made modifications as I see fit." Ratchet answered as he tried to solve the problem, but more windows appeared with the same message, making Ratchet groan.
"Leave it to me, Ratchet. I'll fix that." Clemont offered.
"Really? I know you're good at science, Clemont, but this is complex technology. I mean it isn't one of your inventions." Ratchet reminded.
Clemont inserted his backpack's Aipom arm into the base network entry as he typed some buttons on the terminal. "Try now."
Immediately all windows disappeared and were replaced by allowed signals, Ratchet looked at Clemont with astonishment.
"Whoa, you fixed it." Bonnie witnessed.
"Of course. You should remember that Clemont is the best here when it comes to technology." May added.
"Well, you know: the future is now thanks to science." Clemont proclaimed.
Ratchet chuckled. "How I managed to forget that motto of yours?"
Back to the energon mine, Wheeljack kicked another drill away, sending the driver flying before being shot down by Optimus and Elita. The Autobots continued advancing as another wave of enemies approached.
"Maximum overdrive!" Optimus ordered as he and the other Autobots changed to vehicle form.
That allowed them to evade the Decepticons' shots and run over them, except Warpath who fired his cannon in vehicle form. After that, they reached to the mine's main room.
"Quite an operation." Wheeljack observed.
But immediately the Cons fired at them from everywhere, so they fired back. Meanwhile, inside the Nemesis, Galvatron was in a chamber which stored all the dark energon that he found inside a force field.
"Blood of Unicron, how might I fathom the depths of your mysteries? Become worthy of wielding your astonishing power?" Galvatron said, viewing the substance.
"Lord Galvatron, intruders have been detected in the mines." Darkscream reported through a comm-terminal.
"Optimus?"
"Indeed."
"I need more time to prepare an appropriate reception for my old friend. Ready the ship for departure."
"But the energon I've mined, the Autobots will seize it!"
"Then blow the mines."
The Autobots continued returning fire, until Moonracer spotted something in one of the upper levels.
"There he is. I have a visual." She announced.
"We'll cover you. Go!" Optimus ordered.
Moonracer advanced toward the ramp that leaded to the upper levels and changed to her vehicle form.
"Metal to the pedal, pal!" Arcee encouraged from the bottom.
Moonracer passed above the Decepticons that she found on her way up. She even used her acrobatics to finally reach the destinated level. She was horrified at seeing the Autobot with only one half of the body. But the things got worse when the Decepticons fired at the floor where she and the Autobot were, making it to start collapsing.
"Hold on!" She yelled.
She managed to grab the Autobot's hand during the fall, and the team terminated with the last Cons.
"Don't worry, soldier. We'll get you home."
But when the Autobot showed his monstrous face, Moonracer screamed in horror as she lost grip of his hand, making him fall to his true death. The next they heard was a familiar manically laugh, which came from the upper level.
"Prime! I'd stick around but I'm squeamish." Darkscream said before dropping a little device that made a repeating sound.
After that, Darkscream jumped in the air and changed to his jet form, flying back to the Nemesis. The Autobots knew the nature of the device.
"It's a bomb!" Warpath recognized.
"And the timer it's almost out!" Wheeljack pointed out.
"The joint's gonna blow!" Sideswipe added.
"Autobots, retreat!" Elita ordered.
The Autobots changed to vehicle form to get away as fast as they could from the incoming explosion going through the same tunnel from which they came. When the bomb exploded, it created a huge blue explosion which not reached to the Nemesis, but was coming right behind the Autobots.
"Ratchet, bridge us back! Use the arrival coordinates, now!" Optimus called through the com-link.
The team passed through the portal, and the explosion seemed to followed them too. But Ratchet closed the bridge just in time.
"Whoa." The children expressed amazed.
"Cutting it a bit close. How about the new recruit?" Ratchet asked.
But the Autobots' expression was more than enough to say that he didn't make it.
"So, how did everything go there?" Serena asked.
"I don't know. Moon was the one who saw what happened." Arcee answered.
"Moonracer, what did you see?" Elita asked.
"It wasn't one of us. At least, not anymore." She said affected. "The poor Autobot was mutated, butchered like something from those Con experiments during the war." Suddenly she started trembling to her knees.
"Moonracer!" Warpath yelled alarmed.
"(Are you okay?)" Bee asked as he was going to help her.
"I'm fine, just dizzy." She reassured.
"Robots who get dizzy?" Misty asked in disbelief.
"Not only that. Robots with feelings." May told her.
"Robots…who can die." Tracey added.
"That's why they look much like us." Ash followed.
Ratchet started scanning Moonracer with a blue scanner from his arm. Then he got a red reading when the scanner reached her hand.
"Hum. What is this?" Ratchet asked, seeing a purple stain on her hand.
"Don't know. But that Autobot was covered in it. Leaking it." Moonracer answered.
Ratchet scrapped it off with a lab tool. "Go take a decontamination bath. Now."
Bumblebee and Sideswipe helped Moonracer to go to the sickbay.
"Optimus, I hate to interrupt but my phone is not working." Ash reported showing his phone.
"A security precaution: the base's walls isolate all radio waves." Optimus explained.
"But if I don't call my mom, she will no doubt call the authorities to look for me."
"Have you gotten in some trouble?" Elita asked.
"No. When Hot Rod picked me, Misty and Tracey up, I told my mom that I would return home before sundown."
"Yeah, that goes for us too. I told our parents we were going to be outside only for a while." May added.
"And us too. Our dad would get worried sick if we are not home soon." Bonnie pointed out.
"Earth customs, I hadn't considered it. But the issue of your safety remains. Warpath, Bumblebee, accompany May and Max home." Elita commanded.
"If our parents see them, they're going to freak." May pointed out.
"And maintain covert surveillance in vehicle form." Optimus instructed.
"Curbside duty. Got it." Warpath nodded.
"Wheeljack, you will watch over Dawn."
"Got it, boss." The Wrecker nodded.
"Sideswipe, you'll accompany Ritchie." Optimus continued. "Ratchet…"
"Busy." Ratchet answered immediately.
"Wait. Would you mind if I stay here with you a little longer, Ratchet? You know, in order to learn a few things from you." Clemont offered.
"No. You can stay, but don't touch anything without my supervision."
"But what if dad ask about you?" Bonnie reminded.
"Tell him that I'm in my lab with my inventions or in the gym fixing Clembot, that I will spend the night there so he doesn't have to worry." Clemont told her.
"Alright. Then Moonracer, you will take Bonnie back home and take care of when she or she and her brother needs transport." Elita decided.
"No problem." Moon nodded, just after she ended the decontamination bath. "I just hope to be all cleaned from that stuff."
"You're fine. Says your physician." Ratchet reassured.
"Ready to go?"
"When you're ready." Bonnie nodded.
"Just make sure that she holds on properly." Clemont asked before they left.
"Serena, make sure to show Arcee where do you live so she can take you." Elita continued.
"I hope your mother doesn't suspect in the moment she sees you riding a motorcycle."
"Don't worry, Arcee. I'll tell her you're a friend who was taking me a lift." Serena reassured her.
"Hot Rod, you will take both Ash and Tracey back to Pallet Town." Optimus instructed.
"Got it."
"Misty, since we don't have any other Autobot present to watch over you, we'll have to take times for our teammates to take you to your home."
"Actually Optimus, Misty lives in Cerulean City, near to Pallet Town. Hot Rod can also take her back to the Cerulean gym." Ash proposed.
"She's the gym leader." Max added.
"Are you alright with that?" Elita asked.
"Well, I would appreciate if you can get me home." Misty answered.
"Very well then. Hot Rod, after taking both Tracey and Ash to Pallet Town, you will take Misty to Cerulean City." Optimus decided.
"Well, it doesn't bother me to make another trip." The young Autobot agreed.
And just as Optimus commanded, each Autobot took their respectful partner back home. Hot Rod was taking Ash and Pikachu to their house on Pallet Town.
"Well, what a weird day to be reunited." Ash started as he and Pikachu exited Hot Rod.
"Yeah. You may get used to this stuff, because I think this is how things are going to be from now on."
"Then it means that we're still be able to be with you and everyone since now?" Ash asked excited.
Hot Rod changed to robot form. "You can be sure about that, buddy. We'll have more than enough time to share all what you lived on Alola. If we are not too busy saving the world."
In that moment, the house's main light turned on and they saw a figure heading for the door.
Ash got nervous knowing who that person was. "Oh no, is my mom. Hot Rod, quick, hide!"
The Autobot returned to vehicle form and moved to a side, pretending to be parked. Just in time before Ash's mother came out from the house.
"Ash, is that you?" She asked.
"Yes mom. Sorry to be late. I just encountered a few old friends along the ride and time passed flying."
"Pikachu." Pikachu nodded.
"Well, try to warn me next time. I was starting to get worried seeing that you didn't call me yet. By the way, what's with that car? It's a present from one of your friends of Alola?"
"What car?" Ash asked, until her mother pointed at Hot Rod. "Oh, this one. Honestly, I don't know how it came here and what's doing here. But it seems to be one of those rare vehicles that seemed to navigate themselves. There was a note on the window saying it was for me, but it didn't say from who. I have already proved it, and it's fine."
"You have driven, without an adult's supervision?" Delia asked, a little alarmed. "Ash, I know you're growing up, but I don't think you're ready for this kind of responsibility. Handing a vehicle is a very serious matter."
"Mom, I've already told you that is automatic, it's safe. Don't worry, I promise to be careful with it, and only use it in case of real necessity."
Delia was not relieved at all, but at the end she sighed, thinking that her son may be right. "All right Ash. I will trust you, but you can only use this car for long distance travels, not for personal entertainment. And I want it here parked every time when you return. And not a single complain from police telling that it passes the speed limit and that your excuse it's because it navigates itself. Learn how to control that thing, because if you don't, it could become dangerous."
"I know, mom."
After all said, Delia gave her son a kiss on his forehead before they both headed back to the house. "Oh, and once you manage to handle it, do you think you can take me for a drive at least one time?"
"We'll see. It's a very special car." Ash concluded as he followed her mother, leaving Hot Rod outside the house.
"Well, that's was a nice first meeting." The Autobot said sarcastically to himself. "Well, time to get Miss gym leader back to her aquarium."
And making sure he didn't make much noise, Hot Rod departed to take Misty to her home. In the next morning, Hot Rod was outside Ash's house, making some noise. After a while, Ash opened his room's window, still a little asleep.
"Shh, Hot Rod. You'll wake up my mom."
"That's why you need to get ready, we're going to base."
"So soon?" Ash groaned while Pikachu yawned.
"Relax, you and Pikachu can still sleep in our way as we pick up Tracey and Misty."
"Oh, okay." He grumbled before he and Pikachu went to get their stuff ready.
"And leave a note for your mom, she worries!"
Meanwhile, inside the Nemesis, which was in middle of space, in the chamber which contained the dark energon…
"I don't think you need to worry about further Autobot interference, master. Not with Optimus gone." Darkscream said.
"And what evidence do you possess of this fact?" Galvatron asked.
"I destroyed the mines, as you instructed."
"Optimus is not so easily destroyed. We have eons of battles behind us to prove it."
"Maybe you should take a break, my lord. I'm worried that too much contact with the dark energon might allow its properties to adversely affect you."
"Or perhaps, Darkscream, I have not permitted myself contact enough." Galvatron suggested as he ripped off a piece of dark energon.
Darkscream started to get nervous, knowing what Galvatron was thinking to do. "Wait, lord Galvatron. No! Not your spark chamber! You do not know what it will do!"
But Galvatron didn't listen to him and did it. In the moment he inserted the dark energon piece in his spark chamber he started to feel how the substance expanded through all his body. Meanwhile, Ratchet was examining the same substance.
"So, you got something, Ratchet?" Clemont asked as he was helping Ratchet with the base's equipment.
"Hum, the base elements of this goo are like nothing I ever encountered. Must been extremely concentrated to affect Moonracer so rapidly." Ratchet analyzed as he used tongs to pick up the glass that contained the sample. "Unfortunately, complete results are slow coming without the use of proper diagnostic tools. Thank you very much, Warpath."
What he didn't realize is that a drop of the sample fell onto the mechanical arm that Warpath broke. Then the piece absorbed the substance and started to change, until it turned into some kind of small spider-like droid with one purple eye that started to crawl around like a living being.
To be continued…