Hey, guess what guys? I'm still here. Well, I guess it has only been like three months and there have been larger time gaps between earlier chapters but to me it feels like forever since the last chapter. (A lot of stuff happened.) Anyway, this chapter covers basically most of the last five episodes of season 2. So without further ado... enjoy.
Knock Out and Breakdown ducked out of sight when they saw the Autobots' ground bridge appear. They left the relic container open and visible on top of a large boulder, the key still in it.
"Are we gonna go get 'em, doc?" asked Breakdown, glancing at his partner.
"You stay here. I want to try out this." Knock Out held up the resonance blaster that he borrowed from Soundwave. He attached it to his forearm plating. "You can lend me a hand if it looks like trouble."
Breakdown shot him a skeptical look. "Are you sure, Knock Out?"
"Absolutely. I have more confidence knowing you are here." And winked.
This was Knock Out's usual way of flirting but Breakdown still blushed slightly.
Knock Out sauntered out of hiding without waiting for a reply. "Well, well, look who it is," he said to the Autobots.
"I'll handle the mad doctor," Arcee told Bumblebee as she brought out her blasters. "You grab the key."
Bumblebee activated his blasters as well. "You got it."
"I'm glad you're here," Knock Out continued nonchalantly. "I didn't think I was going to get to play with this." He fired the resonance blaster at Arcee, knocking her back.
Bumblebee stopped in surprise. Then he was suddenly slammed against the rocks by a sonic blast. The constant assault kept him pinned. Knock Out moved closer, intensifying the attack. Bumblebee's chest plates started to crack and buckle under the pressure.
"Who knew that sound waves could be such a," he turned suddenly as Arcee came running up behind him and blasted her, "knockout!"
Arcee cried out when she was slammed against the rocks.
"What's that, dear?" Knock Out called cheerily over the sound of the blaster. "I can't hear you."
"Bee, the relic," Arcee cried.
Knock Out stopped when he realized Bumblebee was still able to move. "Scrap!"
{Need my help yet, doc?} Breakdown commed as the two Autobots limped toward the relic and his hiding place.
"First, let me see how low this can go." Knock Out pointed the resonance blaster at the ground directly under his peds and fired. The resulting sound waves radiated out, slamming into the Autobots and raising a lot of dust.
Breakdown stepped out as the dust cleared. Both Arcee and Bumblebee, having been sent flying, were unconscious and the scout was mostly buried under a pile of rocks.
"Why don't we kill them?" Breakdown suggested while Knock Out retrieved the relic. "It would be two less Autobots to worry about."
"Because, Breakdown, we're being watched. And I don't think they would let us." Knock Out nodded up toward the cliff above them.
Romeo stood there, both blasters out but down at his sides. The others were more hidden but Breakdown still spotted the two SUVs. And they all had an unfriendly air about them.
"Don't worry. We're leaving," Knock Out called loudly before requesting a ground bridge.
After they were gone, Romeo and Hirry immediately went down to make sure that Bumblebee and Arcee weren't badly hurt while Zulu kept watch.
"They're ok. Just a little banged up," said Romeo. "Let's go before they come back online."
"Hm, it appears identical to the one taken from me by Optimus Prime," Megatron mused after examining the relic that Knock Out and Breakdown brought him. "Ahhh. Perhaps it is decoy the Autobots allowed you to seize as a means of sabotage."
"Unlikely, my liege. They battled too desperately for it," insisted Knock Out.
"Then pieces of a larger puzzle perhaps."
The computer that Soundwave was working at beeped. Megatron glanced over his shoulder at the monitor.
"Excellent, Soundwave. With any luck, these new coordinates will shed some light on the subject."
"Soundwave's on fire," commented Knock Out. "And so am I!" He turned to leave.
"Keep your vanity in check, doctor." Megatron's voice stopped him short.
Knock Out whirled back around. "Haven't I proven myself?"
"Your scientific expertise remains of greater use to me analyzing our latest acquisition. I must know what this relic is and what it can do." Megatron handed the key back to Knock Out and turned away. "Breakdown can go with Dreadwing to locate the next relic."
Knock Out started. "Actually, lord Megatron, I need Breakdown's help analyzing this. I'm sure Dreadwing will manage just fine by himself."
Megatron looked over his shoulder at him. "Hm. Very well."
"Thank you, my lord. Come along, Breakdown."
After they left the bridge, Breakdown glanced at Knock Out.
"You don't really need my help. What's the matter, doc?"
"The last time you went on a mission with Dreadwing, you almost didn't come back."
"Yeah but that was Airachnid's fault. Not Dreadwing's."
"I don't care. I'm not letting you out of my sight like that again."
When Arcee and Bumblebee returned to base, Ratchet pulled them over to the medbay. Arcee sat on a med berth while Ratchet scanned Bumblebee and initiated repairs.
"I'm sorry, Optimus," Arcee apologized when the Prime came over. "Knock Out was there, waiting for us. Seems the Cons are improving their decoding skills."
"And it seems with two keys already separated," added Ratchet, "no one currently possesses the means to revive Cybertron."
"While our quest to restore our planet may have reached a stalemate, securing the remaining keys is still the most prudent course of action," replied Optimus.
"Man, it must've been crazy with Knock Out going all sonic," said Smokescreen. "Oh, I wish I'd been there. I would've-"
"Would've what?" snapped Arcee. "Recovered the key, like you did the first one?"
"Maybe. Who knows?" Smokescreen shrugged. "I just want us to be firing on all cylinders. You know, now that the Star Saber's gone."
"You say that, Smokescreen," interrupted Pepper, "but from my perspective, you are the one who is off sync and out of alignment."
Smokescreen turned to look at him. "Huh? Me? What makes you say that?"
"You're the newbie, the rookie. You lack experience. You might have a good helm on your shoulders but you have a bad habit of getting ahead of yourself too. One of these times you're going to get in too deep and you're not going to be able to handle the repercussions. You need to slow down. To listen. To be a team player. You may have a lot to offer but you also need to let them," Pepper gestured to the other Autobots, "help you. They have been doing this for a long time and they know what they're doing. Maybe things would have gone differently if you were there, maybe not. But your yammering is getting on Arcee's nerves and if I were her, I would have decked you by now."
"Pepper!" Optimus admonished.
"And that's why I'm not an Autobot. Oh, and from what I heard, Knock Out wasn't the only Con there."
"Huh? Breakdown was also…?" asked Arcee, shocked. "But we never saw him."
"Who did you hear that from anyway?" Ratchet wanted to know.
"Romeo. He was there with Hirry and Zulu. It was because of them that Knock Out declined Breakdown's suggestion to kill the two of you."
"If they were there, why didn't they take the key?" questioned Ratchet.
"I don't know. I wasn't informed of their orders."
"If Liliy isn't going to let you guys help, why bother sending you?"
"To keep you all alive, obviously. Or in your case, Ratchet, make sure you don't be an idiot."
"Wha-?!" sputtered Ratchet.
Pepper laughed nervously. "Sorry. The Synth'N incident just came to mind."
Bulkhead and Smokescreen unfortunately came back empty-handed after being sent to retrieve the third key.
"Smokescreen was sucker-punched," Bulkhead explained, laying a servo on Smokescreen's shoulder. "Could've happened to any of us."
"But it didn't," Smokescreen retorted, shrugging off Bulkhead's servo. "Because I was the one who dropped his guard. I was the one who blew it."
"Blew it?" Pepper came down to the main floor. "Smokescreen, guard up."
Smokescreen whirled on him. "What?"
"I'm going to attack you." Pepper's mask snapped down and the visor turned red. "Put your guard up."
Smokescreen did but he never saw Pepper come at him. He just found himself flat on his back, staring at the ceiling. And Pepper was standing where he had been before.
"What happened, Smoke?" Pepper asked. "I thought you put your guard up."
Smokescreen sat up. "I did. What…" He rubbed the back of his helm in confusion. "What happened?"
"I laid you out on the floor," Pepper responded. "Gently, of course. Just to prove that you probably didn't let your guard down, your attacker was just moving too fast for you to notice."
"That's all fine but who besides the CRC uses red energon?" questioned Ratchet, almost accusingly.
Pepper glanced over at him. "Starscream."
"Oh, yeah. He did get away with a chunk of it, didn't he," Bulkhead remembered.
"That still doesn't change the fact that I was the one who lost the relic," grumbled Smokescreen. "Some great warrior I'm turning out to be."
"You still don't get it, do you?" Arcee suddenly snapped. She was fed up with Smokescreen's little pity party. "A few victories aren't going to make you a legend. And not every mission results in success. Not for me, not for Bee, not even for Optimus. We've gained victories and we've lost some. We've also lost friends. We've even lost a world. But this is one time we get a do over. We have a chance to bring back Cybertron and everyone in this room needs to be in sync. This isn't about you or your destiny."
"Arcee, you have made your point," Optimus said.
"Yeah. At least I was gentle," added Pepper. He turned to Smokescreen again. "I think what Arcee is trying to say is similar to what I said earlier about being a team player."
"There's nothing I wouldn't do for this team," Smokescreen declared.
"Then stop trying to be a hero and start being an Autobot," Arcee shot back.
"You know what... Maybe I'm just not good enough." And just like that, Smokescreen transformed and sped out of the base.
"Next time Optimus advises you to stop, perhaps you should listen," huffed Ratchet.
"I'll bring him back," offered Bulkhead.
Optimus put out his servo to stop him. "Smokescreen is young, Bulkhead, and has much to learn. But right now he needs to clear his thoughts." He turned to Pepper. "And we need to finish decoding the final Iacon entry."
"Are you sure it's ok to leave Smokescreen like that?" Pepper asked quietly.
"Perhaps if he could talk to someone else," replied Optimus. "A neutral party?"
"I'll ask the Madam."
Smokescreen was so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't notice the other vehicle pull up alongside him until they spoke.
"Hey there."
Smokescreen slammed on his brakes and came to a screeching halt in the middle of the road. The other vehicle did a u-turn and came up to him.
"You're Smokescreen, right?" they inquired in a femme's voice.
"That's me. What do you want?" Smokescreen drew back warily. He couldn't see an insignia anywhere on her yellow frame.
"Heard you were in an argument. You wanna talk about it?"
"Not really."
"Alright then. How 'bout a race? To take your mind off it."
Smokescreen looked over her large, bulky frame again. "Are you sure you can keep up?"
"I may not be able to accelerate as quickly as you," she circled around so she was lined up next to Smokescreen, "but once I'm up to speed, you better watch out."
"In that case…"
"Ah. The final entry has been decoded," Optimus said as he turned to the others.
"Has it?" Pepper asked when a map did not show up.
As Optimus turned back to the monitor, the coordinates turned into a highly pixelated image. "Hm. Perhaps it's a layer of secondary encryption."
"Maybe it's a picture of the relic," suggested Bulkhead as the image slowly became clearer.
"Of what possible use could that be to us without knowing its location," Ratchet shot back.
"I trust that Alpha Trion had his reasons," Optimus put in.
When the image finally became clear, they were all very surprised to see that it was a picture of someone they knew.
"Smokescreen?" asked Bulkhead.
"Is this that hot shot's idea of a joke?" snapped Arcee.
Bumblebee beeped in disbelief.
"Maybe he knows where the key is," suggested Bulkhead.
Arcee raised an optic ridge at him. "And never bothered to mention it?"
"A more likely possibility is that Smokescreen himself somehow is the key without knowing it," Ratchet ventured.
"Or simply its container," guessed Pepper.
"Whatever the case, he could be in grave danger." Optimus opened his comm. "Smokescreen, return to base immediately."
No answer.
Ratchet frowned. "He may have deactivated his commlink."
Optimus turned to Pepper.
Pepper touched his comm. "Hirry, are you with Smokescreen?"
His only answer was a burst of static.
"Hirry?" Pepper repeated with some concern.
More static and then {...R-radio Tower.}
"Frag!" Pepper swore as he hurried to the ground bridge controls.
"What's wrong, Pepper?" asked Optimus.
Pepper had the coordinates locked in and was activating the ground bridge. "Soundwave is already there!"
They ran through the ground bridge, Pepper in the lead, but, by the time they came out, Soundwave already had Smokescreen and was disappearing through his own ground bridge. Pepper went to Hirry, who was lying unconscious not far away.
"She's hurt," he said after checking her over. "I'm going to take her home." And disappeared with her through a second ground bridge without waiting for a reply.
Smokescreen escaped from Knock Out and managed to make it up to the flight deck after stealing the two keys that were on the Nemesis. Megatron and a squad of eradicons arrived on the flight deck as well.
"The keys!" Megatron demanded as the eradicons aimed their blasters at him.
Smokescreen backed away, glancing behind him at the edge of the flight deck and the ground very far below it.
"A pity you aren't capable of flight," Megatron sneered.
"Yeah. Like I'm gonna let that stop me." Smokescreen turned and then jerked to a stop when the gulf twins suddenly landed on their peds in front of him.
"Autobot, don't tell me you were just thinking of doing something stupid just now," chided Golf.
"I didn't have any better options until you showed up," countered Smokescreen. He looked up at the both of them. "You are here to help me, right?"
"Of course. Pepper begged the Madam and here we are," answered Indy.
"We're very sorry, Megatron," Golf addressed the warlord.
"But we'll be taking the relics this time," finished Indy.
They turned, grabbing Smokescreen by the arms, and took a running leap off the back of the Nemesis just as the Autobot had intended to do before. Only now there was a ground bridge portal waiting for them as they cleared the ship's engines. The twins dropped Smokescreen into it, transforming a split second later to blast off into the clouds.
Smokescreen came out just feet above a forest. He dropped into the trees, the branches snapping under his weight but effectively slowing his fall. He still hit the ground with a heavy thud. Groaning, he rolled over and climbed to his peds.
"Smokescreen!" Pepper was coming toward him. "Sorry about the rough landing, but it was better than you splattering yourself."
"I would've figured something out," Smokesceen argued. "But thanks for the assist anyway."
"You're welcome. Come on." Pepper turned and waved for him to follow. "Let's get you back to base."
When they reached the nearest clearing, Optimus and Bulkhead were waiting for them.
"Well, this ends my part," Pepper remarked. "It was fun working with you guys."
"You're not coming back with us?" asked Smokescreen.
"There is nothing left for me to help translate. And the Madam said I had to come back."
"But Megatron only had one other key besides mine. Plus ours, that only makes three."
"I told you. Starscream has it. But be wary of him."
"Of course. Thank you, Pepper," Optimus said. "Your help was much appreciated. We will take care of things from here."
Pepper nodded. "Be careful. And, Smokescreen."
The mech looked up at him. "Hm?"
"You did well." And smiled.
He returned the smile. "Thanks."
After receiving a message from Dreadwing, Optimus and the others went to meet him. They came out of their ground bridge with blasters ready.
"I am not here to fight," insisted the flyer when they spotted him. "But to give you this." He gestured to the large, golden hammer that was laying on the ground in front of him.
"The Forge of Solus Prime," said Arcee.
"Could be rigged to blow," Bulkhead warned.
Optimus retracted his battle mask. "Dreadwing, what do you ask in return?"
"Only that you use it wisely," he replied.
"And? The Omega Keys?" questioned Arcee.
"In Megatron's possession. Under heaviest guard."
"Scream did make a deal with the Cons," growled Bulkhead.
Optimus put away his blasters and asked the one question that was bothering him. "Why?"
"A shadow of disgrace has been cast upon the Decepticons." Dreadwing looked down. "It is a cause I no longer wish to be part of."
Optimus stepped forward. "Then I appeal to you again, join us and help end this conflict once and for all."
Dreadwing looked up at him. "Betraying my kind is not the same as accepting yours." He started to turn and then paused before facing them again. "There is one more thing I would like to ask for."
"What is it?" asked Optimus.
"That human from before, the one that mentioned my brother. I would like to speak to her again."
Optimus blinked, surprised, but answered, "She is no longer in our care but I will ask her if she is willing to come here. If that is what you want?"
"Yes."
Optimus accessed his commlink and dialed Liliy.
{What can I do for you, Optimus?}
"Dreadwing would like to speak with you. We are with him now."
{Very well. I shall be right there.} And she hung up.
To Dreadwing, "She is coming."
A few moments later, a ground bridge opened and Liliy appeared by herself and in her human form. She locked eyes with Optimus and nodded before turning to Dreadwing.
"What did you want to talk to me about?" she asked.
Dreadwing went down on one knee to be closer to her level, but he still kept a wary optic on the Autobots as they were still aiming their blasters at him.
"You knew," he stated simply.
Liliy raised an eyebrow at him. "You talked to Starscream?"
Dreadwing looked away. "I… overheard him tell lord Megatron."
"I see." She crossed her arm in front of her. "But there is another part that even he doesn't know. Your twin no longer wanders the ShadowZone."
Dreadwing stared at her. "Is this true?!"
"Yes. I took him down myself and had his corpse retrieved shortly after. We put him to rest under our base if you would like to see him."
"Can I?"
"Yes."
Her ground bridge opened again. She nodded at Optimus again before gesturing for Dreadwing to follow her. Glancing briefly at the Autobots, he got up and went after her.
"M-madam?" Victor asked hesitantly upon seeing Dreadwing.
Liliy waved him off. "It's ok, Victor. He just here to see his brother."
The mech bowed slightly. "Yes, ma'am."
Out in the main hall, "What is he doing here?"
It was Wheeljack. He and X-ray were heading for the rec room. The wrecker was glaring at the Con. Dreadwing shifted behind Liliy.
"He is my guest, just as you are, Wheeljack. I suggest you mind your manners," Liliy replied, her tone commanding. She turned and headed for a hallway that branched off to the left. "This way, Dreadwing."
"You are the leader here?" he asked once they were alone again.
She glanced up at him. "Does that surprise you?"
They turned down another hallway that descended to the second level of the base. Unlike the main level, the hallway was barely lit. The lights only coming on as they walked.
"Yes, it does," he admitted. "Are you really a human?"
She stopped under a light that had just come on and turned to him. "No. I'm a Laserblade." And transformed.
He stared. "I see," he said finally, quietly. "So one survived."
"Hmh. Indeed." She turned again and continued a bit farther down the hall. Stopping next to a door, "Here we are."
The door opened and they entered. The room was small, barely long enough to accommodate the offline but sealed stasis pod that lay on supports to keep it from rolling around. But it was still wide enough to house at least one more pod.
Liliy remained by the door while Dreadwing went over to the pod.
"Unfortunately, I had to cut off his helm to stop his undead wandering," she explained, "but I made sure they collected all his parts and put him back together before we put him to rest permanently. I hope you are satisfied with that."
"That's fine." He laid his servo on the glass. "But Starscream will pay."
"I won't stop you from getting revenge. I still haven't forgiven him for what he did to us either. But I will ask you. If you should fail, would you like to be buried here, next to your twin?"
He looked down at her. "You would do that?"
"Yes. If you want it."
His gaze returned to his brother. "I would be fine with it. If I fail."
"I understand. Dreadwing, you remember ZZ-05, don't you?" Liliy gestured to the eradicon that appeared in the doorway.
At Dreadwing's vaguely confused expression, Ucon spoke, "I was the eradicon who greeted you when you and commander Breakdown returned after your last mission with Airachnid."
"Hm. Yes, I remember." His optic ridges drew together. "But what are you doing here?"
"I was actually a spy on the Nemesis for the Madam, until I was seriously injured by the Autobots and had to return here."
Dreadwing actually seemed surprised. "Did Soundwave know?"
"He only just started to suspect after I asked the CRC to protect Breakdown."
"So that was your doing… I guess I should thank you. Breakdown, while not the brightest, is still a good commander."
Ucon smiled. "Yes, he is."
"So, why is he here now?" Dreadwing asked Liliy.
"I asked him and his partner to escort you back to the Nemesis," she answered. "And, you should fail, they will bring back your corpse for burial."
Dreadwing raised an optic ridge. "His partner?"
Whiskey materialized behind Ucon.
"Oh."
"They are very good at traversing the Nemesis unnoticed," Liliy said. Her tone suddenly turned cold. "But if, for any reason, they come to harm due to your actions, it would be best if you did fail, otherwise I will drag you back here and cut you to pieces myself."
Dreadwing bowed his head, knowing her threat was genuine. "I understand."
"What are you standing around for?" demanded Knock Out of the lone eradicon who was standing outside the medbay. He gestured toward Dreadwing's corpse that Megatron had left. "Clean this mess up!"
"Yes, sir." The eradicon quickly entered the medbay.
While Knock Out and Starscream started arguing about Knock Out running away after Dreadwing started attacking, Breakdown watched the eradicon. There was something strangely familiar about him.
"Do you need any help?" he asked.
"That's alright, commander," the eradicon replied. "We have it covered."
There it was. That voice. Breakdown knew it. And knew it well.
"...Five?"
The eradicon paused after hefting Dreadwing's blaster and sword onto his shoulder. "Ah, that's right. I heard you asked about my real name." He pushed his mask up as his paint job faded to matte black. "My name is Ucon. And it was a pleasure working with you, Breakdown." He offered his servo.
Breakdown clasped it and smiled. "I'm glad to see that you survived, Ucon."
"Wait." Starscream took notice of their conversation. "Don't tell me, you're one of the CRC's-!"
Ucon brought his blaster and shot Starscream with an electro-charge. The seeker dropped to the floor, shaking as excess energy plagued his systems.
"That was so satisfying," Ucon hummed. "I've been wanting to do that for a while now."
A ground bridge opened near Dreadwing's body. The corpse was lifted off the floor by a barely visible silhouette.
"Time to go, Ucon," the invisible mech ordered.
Ucon turned. "On my way, dear spark."
"Wait, Five, er, Ucon." Breakdown reached out a servo to stop him. "You're bonded?"
"Yes."
"Since when?"
"Since before the Nemesis came to Earth." Ucon smirked at their startled expressions. "It made me the perfect spy. With a partner that could turn invisible and approach the Nemesis undetected, I could communicate through the bond instead of using the comms and risk getting caught by Soundwave."
Whiskey pulsed urgency over their bond. [Code Red.]
Ucon glanced up and caught sight of a shadow approaching the medbay. "Speaking of…" His mask snapped shut and the visor turned red as Breakdown and Knock Out turned to see Soundwave appear in the doorway.
They looked back at the sound of the portal closing, both the eradicon and Dreadwing's body were gone.
"Madam, most of Team Prime has left Earth," Echo informed Liliy.
"And the Decepticons?" she asked.
"Megatron and several squads of eradicons have also gone."
"So it's begun."
"What should we do?"
"Nothing. Unless Earth is in danger, we will not interfere."
"Yes, ma'am."
The kids called up Liliy after Ratchet hung up on them. She rushed over right away and they decided to hang out in town.
"Do you know where the Autobots are right now?" asked Jack.
They were sitting at a table in a secluded corner of the park.
"They're all on Cybertron right now," Liliy answered. "Except Ratchet of course."
"They… They left without telling us?" cried Miko.
Liliy pulled her into a hug. "They had to. Megatron was already headed there with the Omega Keys so they had to go and stop him. Don't worry. I'm sure they'll be back."
"Hey, Liliy. If they succeed in reviving Cybertron, will you be leaving too?" Raf inquired.
Liliy frowned. "I hadn't really thought about it. I might go and help with the reconstruction if they need it but there really isn't anything left for me there anymore. And I've become quite fond of Earth, to be honest."
A large shadow suddenly blocked out the sun. They all looked up at the faceless Con looming over them.
"Scrap!" four voices hissed in unison.
The Autobots took a defensive stance as Megatron landed at the edge of the Omega Lock.
"Autobots, I would suggest that you put a halt to your task and hand over those keys," he informed them.
"And why would we do that?" Smokescreen asked.
A bridge opened behind Megatron and Starscream appeared, followed closely by Soundwave, Knock Out, and Breakdown. All four of them each carried a large, glass pod. And each pod contained a human.
"So that I may hand over the humans," Megatron answered, gesturing to the pods.
"And if we refuse?" Optimus asked carefully.
"Allow me to show you." Megatron turned to Soundwave who was holding Raf. "Open the pod!"
"NO!" Liliy shouted before Soundwave even moved. "If you have to kill one of us as a demonstration, let it be me. They are just children."
Megatron considered her for a moment. "Hm. Very well." To Breakdown who was carrying her, "Open her pod."
"But-" Breakdown started.
"It's alright," Liliy said, looking up at Optimus. "I'm ready."
Breakdown reluctantly opened the pod and Liliy dropped out. She fell to her knees, mimicking how a human would choke on the poisonous atmosphere. After a few heavy, choking gasps, her eyes rolled into the back of her head and her body flopped over, lifeless. The children for their part were very good actors. They yelled and cried and pounded on the glass. The Autobots were also highly disturbed by her performance.
"There now." Megatron sounded supremely satisfied. "If you refuse, that will happen to the children as well."
"Hm, hm. Would you like to join your friend, Jack?" asked Starscream, running his claws down Jack's pod.
Jack grimaced at the screeching sound, but he turned to the seeker. "Go ahead. The Autobots were prepared to sacrifice themselves for my planet. I'll do the same for theirs."
"Me too! Creepy!" Miko snapped at Knock Out.
Raf gulped nervously. "Mhm."
Megatron smirked at Optimus, knowing that he had won this. "Perhaps we should oblige them."
"If my decision dooms the future of the Autobot cause on Cybertron, so be it. But I will not let another of our human allies die here." Optimus stabbed the Star Saber into the ground and stepped back to stand with the rest of the Autobots.
Arcee growled but deactivated the Apex armor she was wearing and tossed it over to the Star Saber. The rest of the Autobots reluctantly tossed over their relics as well, save for the keys.
"Now, if you please. The Omega keys." Megatron reacted out with his mismatched servo. "One at a time."
Knock Out stepped up with Miko and beckoned to Bulkhead. "You first, big boy."
Bulkhead hesitated and looked to Optimus one last time for confirmation. The Prime looked back at him and nodded. Bulkhead slowly crossed the space.
"If I don't get the girl, I'll make you eat this key." Bulkhead slapped the key into Knock Out's open servo.
"You're welcome." Knock Out handed Miko over.
"Get scrapped!" Miko yelled at Knock Out as Bulkhead carried her away.
Bumblebee was next, approaching as Bulkhead went back. Soundwave silently held out Raf and his empty servo. Bumblebee handed the key over with an angry beep and took Raf.
"If this human was important enough to entrust with the key to Vector Sigma," Megatron gestured to Jack, "he's worth-"
"No," Prime suddenly interrupted.
Megatron smirked. "What's this, Optimus? Suddenly changing your mind?"
"No," he said again as he took the Omega key from Smokescreen. He crossed the space himself and surprised everyone by approaching Breakdown. Optimus held out the key to him. Breakdown took it with a look of deep suspicion. Then Optimus knelt and gently picked up Liliy's limp form. He cradled her to his chassis as he moved back to the others.
Megatron frowned. "I see. Four keys for four humans. Even if the one is lifeless."
Arcee sighed, understanding. She crossed the space and held out the last key to a bewildered Starscream. He took it silently and handed over Jack. As soon as she had him though, a bridge appeared and eradicons came pouring out. They surrounded the Autobots, their blasters ready.
The Decepticons took the keys and moved over the center of the Lock.
"Now bear witness as a new era dawns on Cybertron," Megatron boasted as he inserted the key he took from Breakdown.
The others inserted their keys as well and the Omega Lock powered up.
"Behold! The Age of the Decepticons!" roared Megatron as energy surged to the top of the Lock.
Megatron pressed a button on the controls that appeared before him and activated the Lock. A beam shot from the pool of cybermatter at the top of the Lock and hit a ruined building in the distance. The beam persisted until the building was completely restored.
"By the Allspark," Optimus swore softly.
"Wow," beeped Bumblebee.
"Whoa," breathed the children.
"Instant home makeover," added Miko.
"Shiny!" Knock Out exclaimed.
"You have what you want, Megatron," said Optimus. "This conflict is between Autobots and Decepticons. Allow me to return the humans to Earth."
"Oh, I wouldn't recommend it," replied Megatron. "They'll be far safer here." To Starscream, "Is the space bridge locked on target?"
Starscream bowed. "Per your instructions, Lord Megatron."
"Excellent. Why rule only one world, when I can rule two."
A space bridge opened above the Lock. Megatron activated the Lock once more and a pillar of energy shot into the bridge. The bridge in earth's orbit opened and the pillar descended toward Nevada. But unbeknownst to the Cons, another bridge between the two planets opened before the energy could touch the surface.
"If the Omega Lock can restore Cybertron, it'll do the same to Earth, right?" asked Miko.
"No," answered Optimus. "It will cyberform your planet in favor of its new matrix, destroying all indigenous life in the process."
"Such raw power," mused Megatron. "What should I call my new domain? New Kaon? Or perhaps, Gilded Earth?"
Optimus clenched his free servo into a fist.
The limp form he still held to his chassis suddenly shifted and a small hand pressed against his plating.
{Optimus, wait. Not yet.} Liliy's voice filtered through his private comms.
[But Earth is in danger!] he replied.
{No it's not. Not yet.}
[What?] He glanced down at her. Aside from the hand on his plating, she still appeared as lifeless as when he picked her up.
{Just give another minute. The other bridge is not going to hold. But we need to get as much energy across as possible.}
The children's cries stopped him from asking what she meant.
"No!"
"Stop it!"
"Leave our planet alone!"
Megatron just laughed.
[Liliy, I cannot wait much longer.]
{You don't have to. The bridge just collapsed. Earth is now being affected.}
Optimus didn't hesitate. Depositing Liliy on his shoulder, he transformed his servo into a blade and took out the nearest eradicon. Then he ran for the Star Saber.
Liliy took that chance to transform and drop into the gap between the layers of armor on Optimus' back. There, she settled in and hung on for what she knew was going to be a bumpy ride.
Grabbing the Star Saber, Optimus twisted and took out the three eradicons that had followed him. Roaring, Megatron took the dark Star Saber from his back and rushed at Optimus. Optimus ran forward to meet him. The sabers clashed, energy rippling around the two mechs. As they pulled apart to attack again, Optimus recovered faster. With a burst of speed that was fueled by his need to protect, he brought the saber down with both servos, severing Megatron's mismatched arm at the elbow. Optimus moved forward, pushing Megatron aside as the dark Star Saber stuck into the ground several feet away, the stolen servo still holding the hilt.
Prime rushed for the Lock. The four Decepticon officers tried to defend it. Soundwave, Knock Out, and Breakdown with their blasters while Starscream stepped forward and fired a missile at him. Optimus blocked the blasts with his saber and then twisted to avoid the missile. He leapt and used Starscream's face as a springboard to increase the height of his jump before he brought the Star Saber down on the Lock.
It exploded.
"Well done, Optimus," Liliy said as the smoke started to clear.
"Yes. But now I have doomed our planet," Optimus replied, somewhat regretful.
"Hmm. Perhaps."
Optimus was again interrupted before he could question Liliy. This time it was his comm.
{Optimus, can you read?}
"Ratchet... Please open a space bridge."
Liliy dropped off Prime's back as he joined the other Autobots and they entered the portal that Ratchet sent for them, leaving her there.
She spotted Starscream moving around. And there was Knock Out and Breakdown.
"I guess we should cancel the welcome home party," said Knock Out.
Starscream smacked him hard, sending him stumbling back into Breakdown.
"Attend to our master," Starscream ordered. "He requires medical attention."
Knock Out quickly ran over to Megatron with Breakdown following. Starscream turned to glare at the disappearing space bridge.
"Prime! He will pay for dooming Cybertron to remain a lifeless husk!" he shouted.
He looked back when Megatron started laughing. Knock Out and Breakdown backed away as the warlord got to his peds, his evil laugh rising in volume.
"They can run," Megatron exclaimed. "But they can never again run home."
Liliy realized then that someone was missing. Where was Soundwave? She spread her spark detection as far as it would go. He was behind-?! Before she could even turn, something slammed into her and her world went black.
To be continued...