After Quintessa's defeat. Unicron began floating away from Earth's atmosphere and into deep space, the military arrived to Stonehenge and all they saw were the Autobots and the Knights looking up at the sky.
"The military is here!" Wheeljack said.
"That can't be good!" Ratchet replied.
"They are going to blame us for the invasion, Autobots…fall back!" Sideswipe said as he along with the other Autobots and the knights transformed into their alternate modes and retreated from the military.
Scotland:
"Wake up scumbag!" Bonecrusher said hitting the unconscious Optimus on the face until he woke up.
"He's awake master!" Bonecrusher reported to Megatron.
"Aww Optimus, so great to see you again!" Megatron said walking towards the badly damaged and confused Autobot leader.
"Megatron?"
"In the flesh Prime!" Megatron replied.
"Where am I? Where are my AUTOBOTS?" Optimus yelled out loud.
"Relax Autobot, they're still alive and are currently in London!" Nitro said.
"Saddest part is I didn't get to kill Drift and Crosshairs!" Onslaught told Nitro.
"You'll have a shot at it one day Onslaught!" Soundwave said.
"You sure about that Soundwave?" Onslaught asked.
"I am never wrong!" Soundwave replied to Onslaught.
"Anyways, tell us where the staff is!" Blackout said.
"YEAH!" Brawl got involved acting like the dim-witted Decepticon he usually is.
"Both you shut it! Where is the staff and all of the other ancient artifacts?" Megatron asked demanding the location of every ancient artifact on this planet.
"How would I know? I barely even remember my own past!" Optimus exclaimed and Megatron replied by pressing his head between a boulder and his hand.
"Then you may start by telling me the location of Merlin's staff!" Megatron said continuing to crush Optimus Prime's head.
"I-Don't-Know! The last thing I remember was Lockdown taking the staff away from me and then dropping me into the Atlantic Ocean!" Optimus explained.
"Well since Unicron is gone that would mean that the staff has been retrieved!" Megatron said mentioning Unicron's sudden disappearance.
"And that would mean that the Autobots have the staff!" Megatron figured out the location of the staff.
"Decepticons-Go locate the staff IMMEDIATELY!" Megatron ordered the Decepticons to go look for the Autobots and the staff.
England:
The Autobots were driving away from the military with the Knights following them, whilst driving Sideswipe began having flashbacks of Sunstreaker's horrific death. This causes Sideswipe to get distracted and flip over in vehicle form.
"SIDESWIPE!" Dino yelled as he and Ratchet transformed into their robot modes and ran to check on Sideswipe.
"Doc what's wrong with him?" Dino asked.
"No internal or external injuries hmm…..But I am picking signs of stress and anxiety!" Ratchet said scanning Sideswipe's body and mind.
"Sideswipe, are….you thinking about Sunstreaker again?" Dino asked.
"Ugh I'm fine Dino it's just this war is getting too me showing me by far the worst memory I ever had!" Sideswipe said getting up and then transforming back to his vehicle mode and continued driving.
"SIDESWIPE!" Bumblebee yelled.
"What is it?" Sideswipe stopped driving and replied back.
"I think we should start a campfire, we've been traveling for too long!" Bumblebee said.
"Very well!" Sideswipe replied driving backwards to his Autobot comrades. A few hours later the sun has set and the Autobots have set up their campgrounds. Wheeljack and Hot Rod collected some wood to start a bonfire while Dragonstorm and Grimlock breathed fire on the wood engulfing them in flames.
"Hey guys! Do you think we will able to find Optimus in time?" Hot Rod asked.
"We will young knight that I promise!" Dragonicus said having faith that Optimus can be rescued.
"I hope so Dragonicus!" Sideswipe replied leaning his head down.
"Ay Sideswipe, what happened to this Sunstreaker guy? Who was he?" Cade asked.
"Cade, I wouldn't recommend….."
"Its fine Dino, I knew I couldn't hold that memory back for long and that eventually more of my allies old and new would find out!" Sideswipe said interrupting Dino who was trying to defend Cade.
"Anyways, Sunstreaker was my brother—my older brother! He was a patriotic Autobot and enjoyed fighting for Optimus Prime and for Cybertron, he was so reckless in battle that he would often nearly get himself killed but it never happened. He was too much for the Decepticons to handle (The Autobots began laughing each having their own good memories of Sunstreaker.) But then Megatron had a new second in command named Starscream. One day Optimus sent the scouts to take out the security systems at Tyger Pax and to take out the guards, he believed that if we could liberate Tyger Pax we could annihilate all the Decepticons but as Sunstreaker and I prepared to attack the city….Starscream ambushed us from behind and he….!" Sideswipe stopped mid-sentence unable to continue explaining the fate of his brother.
"He did what?" Cogman asked getting curious as well but Sideswipe was too emotional about it that he couldn't carry on with the story.
"Starscream impaled Sunstreaker through his spark chamber and began taunting Sideswipe by making watch as his brother slowly dies before throwing into a smelting pit!" Ratchet said explaining how Sunstreaker died.
"I just stood there and watched when I should've attacked Starscream from the moment he attacked Sunstreaker!" Sideswipe yelled out loud.
"It's okay Sideswipe, it's okay!" Dino tried to calm Sideswipe down.
"He was always there for me and the one moment he needed my help I did nothing!" Sideswipe continued mourning Sunstreaker.
"He never even had the proper funeral he deserved he just melted instantly in that pit!" Sideswipe yelled upsetting everybody around him.
"Your brother died a warrior, a hero. He might not have had the burial he truly deserved but he will be remembered by those close to him!" Steelbane said.
"We might've never met this Sunstreaker but we honor him for his commitment to fighting for peace and freedom!" Steelbane continued talking telling Sideswipe that the knights will honor Sunstreaker for his bravery and courage.
"Thank you, all of you!" Sideswipe thanked his comrades.
"We should rest now, we need someone to stay guard during the night!" Dragonicus said.
"Crosshairs and I will guard this camp!" Drift said.
"Oh what!" Crosshairs replied.
"Crosshairs buddy (Hound began polishing his gun) don't start whining!" Hound said.
"Ugh fine!" Crosshairs replied as the rest of the Autobots along with the knights and Dinobots powered down and Cade went to sleep.
Scotland:
"So explain to me where we are going again!" Two police officers were driving to a crime scene in order to investigate.
"How many times do I have to tell you laddie there have been murders around here recently, we are heading to the closest crime scene near us!" The other police officer said.
"Hold on we're here!" The police officer said stopping the car in front of a few corpses. They turn on their flashlights and look at the corpses only to be disgusted by what they're seeing.
"JESUS CHRIST!" The police officer yelled seeing the corpses.
"What the hell happened to you?" he said looking at the corpses, they were all intact except for the fact that their skin has been removed and the remainder of their bodies were left to rot. All muscles, tissue and a few bones exposed.
"Ay chief what's the matter?" The other police officer said walking towards the crime scene.
"Oh my god!" The other police officer said turning around and kneeling down to the ground trying not to throw up.
"This is the worst type of murder I've ever seen!" One of the police officers said. Suddenly they hear an engine roar.
"Who's there?" The police officer yelled and pointed his flashlight towards a black Chevrolet Suburban parked in front of him.
"Ay laddie you see that?" The police officer asked hoping he wasn't the only one seeing the car.
"Yeah I do!"
"Well that's a relief!"
"You think that's the killer's car?"
"Well it looks f*cked up so it must be!"
"Let's investigate!" The two police officers walked closer to the car to inspect it, they found numerous blood stains both fresh and dry and on one of the doors there was a graffiti sign that said "I'LL SUCK OUT YOUR VEINS".
"Hey Chief you think this car belongs to a vampire?"
"Why you ask laddie?" The police officers started laughing and before their very eyes the car transformed in front of them and lunged towards them. During the day time, Megatron, Onslaught, Hooligan, Nitro, Mohawk, Starscream and Barricade stayed behind to guard Optimus while Soundwave, Blackout, Brawl and Bonecrusher went to search for the Autobots and the staff.
"Hey who's that?" Nitro asked aiming his gun at the blood-stained Chevrolet Suburban that drove close to them.
"Identify yourself IMMEDIATELY!" Megatron ordered the Suburban to reveal itself. The vehicle began transforming and Barricade immediately knew who it was.
"BERSERKER!" Barricade ran towards his fellow Enforcer to greet him.
"Oh Berserker it's great to see you old friend (Barricade noticed Berserker choking and punching himself on the chest.) Ber….Berserker are…..you alright?" Barricade asked as Berserker regurgitated the two flayed corpses belonging to the police officers that found him while also throwing up some of his energon.
"Sorry, I've been eating humans for a while these two had a lot of fat in them!" Berserker said after he stopped barfing.
"Why are you eating humans?" Hooligan asked.
"You guys should know very well I consume fluids and substances from Cybertronians and other aliens alike!" Berserker said startling Hooligan and Mohawk who hid behind Onslaught.
"So Berserker care to explain what you are doing here, other than satisfying your own hunger?" Megatron demanded to know the reasoning behind Berserker reuniting with them.
"Oh yeah, Shockwave sent me to Earth to locate you and inform you of our recent attack from the Autobots on Nucleon!" Berserker said.
"Attack? What did they do to be more specific?" Megatron asked.
"Three
Autobots infiltrated Nucleon to free their remaining brothers and sisters whom we kept as slaves. During the attack they destroyed the entire base and our last space bridge!" Berserker said.
"WHAT?!" Megatron yelled.
"Yeah our only mode of quick transportation has been destroyed but Shockwave did send me to Earth through a space pod and more Decepticons came with me!" Berserker said.
"Shockwave never ceases to amaze me, he always knows how to think ahead unlike my other warriors!" Megatron said.
"Since you're on Earth and you are one of my most loyal Decepticons, you're welcome to join my crew!" Megatron said welcoming Berserker to his Decepticon crew.
"So what other Decepticons came with you?" Starscream asked.
"Oh you know, our finest warriors!" Berserker said confusing everybody.
"Of course you are confused I am in fact talking about the Stunticons and the Constructicons!" Berserker mentioned the Decepticon teams.
"Great to hear now how long must wait for them to arrive?" Megatron asked.
"A few stellar-cycles from now why?" Berserker asked.
"We need them to go the Middle East, more specifically Israel!" Megatron said.
"Okay I'm new on this planet and I'm enjoying mainly due to the decent snacks I've been having lately but why that area?" Berserker asked.
"Yes Megatron…..why?" the weak Optimus asked.
"Uh….Is that Optimus?" Berserker asked.
"Because we need to collect all the known artifacts that were hidden here, first we get the staff then in Israel we will capture a powerful weapon hidden on Earth by the Seven Primes!" Megatron explained.
"What for?" Optimus asked.
"That is none of your concern Optimus!" Nitro yelled.
"Nitro please!"
"We need them for a few obvious purposes. The staff is to absorb the Earth's energy and use it to heal Cybertron and the other artifact will be used to create larger warriors out of 6 components for each!" Megatron asked.
"And there is one more artifact that I require!" Megatron said
"Your Matrix of Leadership!" Megatron says as he shoves his hand through Optimus Prime's chest and begins digging through his circuitry until he finds the Matrix and aggressively pries it out of Prime's chest.
"NO!" Optimus said in pain trying to reach for the Matrix while leaking energon from his body.
"I've lived for this, I've lived to kill a planet and I will never let Quintessa destroy the Earth for me!" Megatron said staring at the Matrix in his hand.
"You're usefulness is not finished Prime, you will lay here slowly dying and when the Autobots come for you, we will pry the staff from their very hands!" Megatron slightly kicking Optimus to injure him further.
"Starscream follow those who left in search of the Autobots, make sure they get the job done!" Megatron said as Starscream transformed into his jet form and flew away from Megatron.
TO BE CONTINUED….
And that was Chapter 22 hope you guys enjoyed it I know it wasn't special but let me tell you I almost cried writing that Sunstreaker flashback that usually never happens when I write in a death scene but Sunstreaker's death hit me right where it hurts. Also I don't know if all of you know this but Chester Bennington the lead singer for Linkin Park has passed away today. Linkin Park has written songs for the first 3 Transformers films so I thought it would be right to dedicate this chapter to Chester Bennington. We will miss you Chester, till all are one.