Author's Note: In this chapter the young Prime returns to Earth to make his first appearance since his rebirth. Read to find out what happens. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed this story. I love you all!

Disclaimer: You get the idea.

Years of Darkness

Chapter 7: Return to Earth

As the shuttle descended through Earth's atmosphere, Magnus joined his young bondmate at the viewport. Both looked down at the blue and green planet. For a long moment, there was silence. Then Magnus spoke up.

"The humans are used to big bots, but not to bots of your size who aren't gestalts. So their reactions should be interesting."

Ultra Rodimus chuckled. "Yes. I'm definitely not a gestalt, or a Guardian robot. And my humanoid appearance should draw some interesting looks."

The mental images he was sending sent Magnus into gales of laughter. When he finally got himself back under control, he changed the subject. "What does the president want to speak to you about, anyway?"

"Apparently some of Earth's scout ships have been ambushed just outside the solar system. Some are destroyed outright, but others are left intact."

"Define 'intact'."

"The hulls are unmarked, not even a blast mark. But there isn't a single body left on board. Ghost ships."

"What do you make of that?"

"The Decepticons aren't subtle enough to pull off something like this. The other races in this region of space are allied with us. All but one."

"Which race is that?" Magnus didn't think he'd like the answer.

"Quintessons." Ultra Rodimus spat the word as if it left a bad taste in his mouth. "This is something we'll probably find them in up to their tentacles. The latest reports hint that they've begun experimenting with sentient life, using sentient creatures as lab rats and guinea pigs. A recently-discovered Quintesson lab yielded notes that confirm our suspicions that the Quints are dissecting sentients while they're still alive."

Magnus shuddered. "My last encounter with the Quints was bad enough."

"I was on Quintessa with Kup, remember. I saw innocent bots being thrown into a pit full of Sharkticons while the Quints laughed. They tried to do the same to us. The Quints have the technology to pull off raids like this."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'll have some of the more restless bots set up a sensor base on Pluto. That should detect any Quintesson within six solar systems of Earth. The base staff will have orders to run the Quints out of the area by any means necessary."

"You really don't like the Quints, do you?"

The response wasn't verbal. Ultra Rodimus sent his memories down the lifebond to Magnus, letting his mate see what he had seen on Quintessa. Magnus shuddered again at the things the Quints had done. He also read the files taken from the Quint lab.

"Point taken."

Metroplex came into view, with a massive crowd of humans framing the landing pads. They were waiting for their first look at the new Prime.

"Metroplex Spaceport to shuttle, Topspin speaking," the comm unit announced. "You are cleared for landing on pad A. Welcome back."

"Acknowledged, Metroplex. We're on final approach. Keep the crowds back."

"Will do, but it's easier said than done. You know how insistent crowds can be. Especially crowds of humans."

"We know very well. We've worked with humans before, remember."

The only answer to that was a sigh. Then Topspin cut the link.

"Take us in," Ultra Rodimus told the pilot.

"Will do, Prime."

The pilots guided the shuttle in for a smooth landing. The engines powered down, and the boarding ramp extended. Then the entrance slid open.

Magnus looked at Ultra Rodimus. "Showtime."

Ultra Rodimus laughed.

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Jack Ramsey was a cameraman for one of the major TV news stations in the nearby city. He glanced at the shuttle as the roar of its engines faded and died away. The news reporter standing in front of him signaled for him to turn on the camera.

"We are live at Metroplex's spaceport, awaiting the arrival of the Autobot Prime," the reporter, Jonas Thompson, announced. "The shuttle has landed, and the passengers should be disembarking soon."

The Dinobots trooped down the ramp in dino mode, heading for their football field. Behind them came Sideswipe and Sunstreaker. Smokescreen followed. Hound appeared next. Then came Ultra Magnus.

The gathered humans began to mutter to each other. None of the Autobots who had already emerged from the shuttle was the Prime. They wondered where he was.

Magnus paused at the bottom of the ramp, turning to look at the humans. He shot them a grin and deliberately stepped aside, looking toward the shuttle. The humans followed his gaze. They saw movement inside. Then a strange Autobot stepped forward.

There was silence from the humans.

Jack pointed his camera at the Prime, ignoring Jonas, who couldn't get out a single word. He was too stunned. None of the other news reporters could speak either. The Prime didn't look like a Transformer at all.

He looked like a human in build, tall and slender. His body was encased in armor, light smoke-grey in color, handsomely patterned with red and blue tiger stripes down his back and limbs. Wisps of silver-white hair hung out from beneath his helmet, waving in the light breeze. He brushed then away with one hand, his emerald-green eyes scanning the suddenly silent crowd.

"The new Prime has finally emerged," Jonas managed to blurt out in response to the urging coming through his earpiece. "This bot is not one we've ever seen before. I hadn't thought that Transformers could look human at all."

"Maybe he's not a Transformer," one of the news anchors commented.

The Dinobot leader, Grimlock, lumbered into view. The robotic T-rex stomped toward the new Prime, snapping at him.

"I think the Dinobot leader has a bone to pick with the Prime," Jonas babbled.

Grimlock roared, then lunged at the Prime as fast as he could go.

Ultra Rodimus caught the flicker of movement in time to dodge Grimlock's jaws. He used the brief moments between his escape and Grimlock's next attack to transform into his own dino-mode.

"Apparently he is a Transformer," Jack commented, loud enough for the news anchors to hear.

Grimlock's T-rex mode was based on the assumption that dinosaurs were slow and heavy, so he held his body upright, tail almost dragging on the ground. He could move fast for short sprints, but not for any length of time.

The new Prime, on the other hand, had a much more modern dinosaur mode. His was based on the real shapes of the dinosaurs. He body was horizontal, balanced on long legs, with a higher center of gravity and a lot more maneuverability. He easily dodged Grimlock's second lunge and snapped at the Dinobot's neck. Grimlock recoiled with a surprised bellow, then attacked again.

Ultra Rodimus ducked the snapping jaws, bringing his own head up hard against the underside of Grimlock's chin. Grimlock staggered backward, off balance. Ultra Rodimus pushed, nearly shoving him over onto his back. Grimlock lurched sideways, trying to get his feet under him again. Ultra Rodimus spun on his heel to slam his long tail into Grimlock's midsection. Grimlock fell over, but quickly rolled over so that he was balanced on his feet and his short arms. But before he could get up, powerful jaws clamped shut on the back of his neck. Ultra Rodimus flexed the powerful muscle cables in his legs and neck, lifting Grimlock off the ground and forward, then slammed him down on his stomach, legs stretched out behind him. Grimlock got his short arms underneath him and tried to push himself up. He'd just gotten his head up off the ground when Ultra Rodimus's clawed foot came down on his nose, pressing his chin into the dirt. A dangerous growl rumbled in Grimlock's ear, and sharp claws curled down so that the sharp lower curves dug into the side of Grimlock's snout.

"Don't try it again," Ultra Rodimus snarled at him. Then he pushed down hard to get the message across and let go.

Grimlock pushed himself to his feet and slunk away.

Ultra Rodimus transformed back to his robot mode, tossing his long braid over his shoulder. "He might have gotten away with that with Optimus, but not with me."

"He'll get the hint eventually," Magnus commented.

"Eventually," Ultra Rodimus agreed. "Can you handle the humans? I have work I have to do."

Magnus nodded. He glanced over at the humans. Most of them were staring bug-eyed at Ultra Rodimus. The news reporters were only just beginning to regain their ability to speak. "I can handle them. You go see what the president wants."

Ultra Rodimus nodded and entered the city. Magnus grinned at his retreating back, and Ultra Rodimus sent him thought images of what he would do if Magnus didn't get his thoughts back on track. Magnus sent him a mental chuckle and walked toward the humans.

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Charr:

"The Autobots have beaten us at every turn!" Galvatron raged.

The other Decepticons got out of his way, trying to disappear. They watched him nervously. None of them wanted to cross him when he was in that mood. The last unfortunate who'd crossed his path had been torn into his component pieces. Triage, the Decepticon chief medic, was still trying to put him back together.

"What will we do?" Cyclonus asked.

"We will strike at Metroplex!" There was a mad light in Galvatron's eyes. He was even more insane than he usually was. What he'd ordered was a death sentence. "Summon all our warriors! Board the shuttles! We attack at once!"

To be continued...

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