[This story chapter does take into account an epilogue that has not yet been posted anywhere.]

The Minicon Fixit crossed the scrapyard over to the Dreadnaught Metal Wrecker… known to Bumblebee and his friends as Miko.

"Is this what you wanted?" Fixit presented her with the item he had just finished making. It was a football with metal spikes mounted around it at the end of a stick.

"Wait," Denny started to protest, "isn't that my autographed—"

"Perfect!" Miko exclaimed, "If this isn't a football mace, I don't know what is. Should certainly get Fridge to shut up about a wanting a signature weapon."

"I got most of the metal tubes that you want," Denny said.

"You have aircraft carrier compatible piping?" Miko asked.

"Aircraft carrier… rollercoaster… the size specifications are the same, so… it should work."

"Can't be too picky, I guess."

"Will have to make a run into town for some of this stuff. Those spices could be hard to come by for example."

"Zartan and the gang will help."

"We will?" Zartan said.

"Yes… because it is on the way to our next stop. We have to see what remains of the holdouts in Crown City."

"You've come along way, Miko," Bumblebee said, "Bulkhead will be proud."

"Thanks, Bee," she replied, "You're doing well too, having your own team and all."

"Well…"

"Chopper" Rusty shouted from the control center.

"Well, he didn't waste any time," Miko said.

A large transport helicopter flew overhead, and circled the scrap yard before landing within it's walls.

Two soldiers climbed out and started unloading something from the back, while Jack exited the front and approached Miko at a jog.

Miko met him halfway, throwing her arms around him and greeting him with a passionate kiss.

"Oh, uh… that's different," Bumblebee said. He then joined Zartan, Denny and the rest of the humans in looking at anything that was not Jack and Miko kissing.

"What is the purpose of this interaction?" Strong Arm asked.

Grimlock and Sideswipe looked like they were watching the scrambled channels that Rusty tried to watch some nights. "You know," Sideswipe said, "this reminds me of a little place I know on Cybertron where the serving droids walk around without their torso plates, if you know what I mean."

"I have no idea!" Grimlock said.

Breaking apart, the pair realized they were the center of attention. "Hey! It's a zombie apocalypse, people!" Miko shouted. "You take what you can get, when you can get it!"

"I thought it would be easier to just bring Ratchet with me," Jack said. "Good to see you, Bumblebee."

"And you Jack," Bumblebee answered. "Are you in charge now?"

Jack almost laughed. "No, but people do seem to listen to me."

"He's almost in charge," Miko said, "or at least it seems like it."

"A lot has happened since you left," Jack said.

"I can imagine. I hope you can fill me in," Bumblebee said.

"Sure, and Ill give you a lay of the land, although Zartan may have a better idea on that."

"And how is your mom doing?"

"She completed basic training and is in the military now," Jack said. "I understand there was some excitement during her training, but she doesn't talk about it. News of Prime's death hit her hard… and then something happened while she was out on a mission, and she started insisting he wasn't really dead."

"Ah… well, he's not… anymore," Bumblebee said. "It's difficult to explain. About Zartan… I thought he was working for Cobra… the people who developed the Zombie compound."

"As he said," Zartan interrupted, "a lot has happened in the last few years. Perhaps we should move on to updating the map?"

"Sure," Bumblebee and Jack both agreed.

"A group called the Red Shadows started down in Mexico, and has been spreading northward, retaking each town they come across, and radicalizing them. The old Truman studio is an independent colony. We expected Springfield to be Cobra controlled, but—"

"It's zombie town," Miko interrupted Zartan.

"Right. Parts of New York are under the protection of either mutants or aliens. Griffin Rock is Cobra Controlled, as well as Cobra Island and parts of Scotland. London, England is under the protection of the last member of the royal family. We're still looking for the main Cobra base. Did I leave anything out?"

Miko thought for a moment. "China is gone, and not much is left of North Korea. There are scattered remnants of civilization all over."

"Back up a second," Bumblebee said, "Griffin Rock is under Cobra control? What happened to the Rescue Bots?"

"Missing in action," Jack said.