EPISODE 4: THE GREAT PRETENDERS PART 4

"I feel funny." Said Cloudburst as he slowly got up. His entire physic was

covered by shadows.

"You look different too." Said Landmine, similarly covered by shadows.

"Of course. I have modified your very forms." Cloudburst, Landmine and Wave-

rider looked at the tiny, green, carbon-based life form in front of them.

"Who are you?" asked Waverider.

"Permit me to introduce myself. I am Hi-Q, the top scientist on Nebulos." Said

the Nebulan.

"Is that where we are? Nebulos?" asked Waverider as he stood to his full height.

"Yes. Also, it is imperative that you get to Cybertron. The three of you will

turn the tide of the battle to the favour of the Autobots.

"What are we waiting for? Let's jet!" shouted Cloudburst as the trio ran off.

Explosions erupted on the surface of the metallic planet, Cybertron. The

Decepticon space cruiser, Scorponok hovered over the planet and continued to

fire volley after volley of lasers at the planet.

"Autobots! Get those defenses up as quickly as possible! We need to fight back!"

shouted Ultra Magnus as the Autobots ran to various spots. Gun turrets raised

from the planet surface and began to return fire.

"See, it is only logical that the Autobots would be helpless without a leader

to lead them." Said Shockwave as the lasers struck the giant space cruiser.

"Even so, they are managing to put up a valiant fight." Replied Zarak.

"So, we will destroy them nonetheless. Anything else would be illogical. "

Shockwave then turned to face his troops. "Decepticons! Attack!" with that,

all the Decepticons flew out of Scorponok to confront the Autobots.

"Predaking destroy!" shouted the large combiner.

"Ahhh!" shouted Huffer as Predaking's foot flattened him.

"Huffer!" shouted Bluestreak as he intensified his attack on Predaking. He

had seen so many comrades die throughout the Cybertronium wars. He could bare

the fact that another comrade was gone.

"Get on him, he's sure to fall!" shouted Pipes as he tried to rally the Autobots

together.

"Talk is cheap!" shouted Predaking as he shot a blast, scattering the Autobots.

"He's right you know." Said Smokescreen as he got up from the ground.

"Yeah, but we can't give up." Said Pipes as he renewed his assault on Predaking,

"One of those days, definitely one of those days." Muttered Sideswipe as he

fired away at Predaking with his laser rifle.

"Give up Autobots! Without a leader, it is illogical for you to triumph over

superior forces." Shouted Shockwave.

"Never Shockwave! We Autobots will fight you till our energon run out." Said

Ultra Magnus.

"And who will lead you all? You? I think not. Give up and spare your people

pain." Said Shockwave monotonous tone. He was sure that the Autobots would fall

without a leader.

"Ultra Magnus is a soldier," Shockwave and Ultra Magnus turned to face the

voice, "however, I am a leader. The Autobots are far from defeated Shockwave."

In front of the duo stood a Transformer who had not existed for two terran years,

Rodimus Prime.

"No!" shouted Shockwave as he tried to grasp the fact that his plan had fallen

through.

"Rodimus?" asked Ultra Magnus and then a smile appeared on his face.

"It's time the Autobots fought for peace once more!" shouted Rodimus as he

squeezed a shot off at Shockwave.

The blast shot passed Shockwave and caused an explosion on the Decepticon

fortress behind him. Shockwave immediately retaliated by shooting multiple shots

at the two Autobots in front of him. "Die!"

Ultra Magnus and Rodimus Prime jumped out of the way and, after reaching some

cover, returned fire.

"This is a most interesting development." Said Zarak with a smile.

Meanwhile, the battle on Earth was going bad for the Autobots. Metroplex and

Trypticon were fighting to a standstill but the remaining Autobots' battle with

Predaking was obviously a losing one for the heroic Autobots.

"We've got to hold out!" shouted Pipes as he continued to shoot at Predaking.

"For what? There's no way we can defeat that guy!" shouted Smokescreen as a

reply.

"Maybe we don't have to. Hound!"

The green Autobot cocked his head towards the acting Autobot Earth Commander

and shouted, "Yes?"

"I need you to create a hologram of Defensor! Now!" ordered Pipes.

"Right!" shouted Hound as a blue beam emitted from his hands and created a

hologram of the strongest Autobot combiner, Defensor.

The sudden appearance of the Autobot combiner shocked Predaking and he

immediately tried to find a way to defend himself from this new threat.

"Now!" shouted Pipes as all the, still-active, Autobots fired their weapons

at full-charge at one point of Predaking's body.

The resulting explosion caused Predaking to disengage and five Decepticons

were seen in the place of the giant.

"We've got them now." Said Pipes in a triumphant tone.

Rodimus jumped out of the way to the laser blast discharged by Shockwave.

"You can't shoot to save your diodes!" shouted the Autobot leader.

"I will deactivate your systems!" shocked Shockwave.

Meanwhile, Sixshot had Ultra Magnus pinned to one of the control centers of

Cybertron.

"Prepare to meet your manufacturer." Said Sixshot.

"Not yet!" shouted Ultra Magnus as he shot both his shoulder missiles at Six-

shot. Sixshot immediately jumped to one side and this gave Ultra Magnus the

chance to renew his attack on the Decepticon.

The Decepticon Pretenders were having a field day with the Autobot forces.

Their near-impregnable outer shell gave them an advantage against the Autobot

forces.

"This is too easy." Said Bomb-burst as his Pretender shell knocked Inferno

into a building. Bomb-burst then shot a volley of laser blast at the downed

Autobot.

"Yeah, how I wish for some challenge." Said Skullgrin as he tore Broadside

into two pieces with his bare hands.

"Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it."

"Cloudburst?" said Bomb-burst as he turned his head. In front of him stood

a giant human wearing red and white body armour and a blue helmet.

"Bingo." Said the giant as he punched Bomb-burst in the face. Bomb-burst's

Pretender shell then stopped moving and was knocked down by a few Autobots.

"I'm coming Bomb-burst!" shouted Skull-grin as he ran to help his partner.

Immediately, a human wearing yellow, red and grey armour appeared in front

of him and gave him a good kick. Skullgrin's Pretender shell then stopped moving

too.

Submarauder and his Pretender shell flew into a building thanks to the timely

arrival of a human wearing a black armour and a white helmet.

"Pretenders." Muttered Bomb-burst as he looked up at the three giants.

Shockwave reeled after Rodimus's fist had connected to his head. Immediately,

the Decepticon leader fired multiple shots at the Autobot leader.

"Meet your manufacturer!" shouted the Decepticon in exasperation.

"Never!" shouted Rodimus as he aimed his laser rifle at Shockwave and released

a volley of laser beams at him.

Part of Shockwave's body-armour flaked off under the intense laser fire that

bombarded him. Part of his exoskeleton was revealed.

"You may have won this time Rodimus but I will be back!" shouted Shockwave

as he flew into the air. "Decepticons! Retreat!"

"I'll be waiting Shockwave." Said Rodimus as he ceased fire.

The Autobots cheered as the Decepticons returned to Scorponok in full retreat.

The massive mechanical scorpion flew away from the planet Cybertron as the

Headmaster cruiser continued to shoot at it.

"It's okay Fortress, they've been beaten." Said Rodimus and the cruiser known

as Fortress Maximus ceased its assault.

"It's good to have you back Rodimus Prime." Said Ultra Magnus as he shook the

hand of the new Autobot leader.

"I almost didn't come back. It took a great Autobot to tell me that I was

needed and now, I know." Said Rodimus.

Ultra Magnus nodded and smiled. He then looked up into the space that surrounded

Cybertron and mouthed, "Thank you Optimus, thank you very much."

END OF EPISODE 4