Author's Note: Well, I suddenly felt like writing in this, so here I am... writing in this O.o Hope ya enjoy this chapter, 'cause I'll definitely enjoy writing it!

Thinking back, if Terrorsaur got the Energon Saber instead of Optimus, the war on Unicron would've ended that day. But the war still grew more and more bleak for us, especially when Jhiaxus took over the Decepticons. Not to mention Predacon's ambush showed us what we were REALLY up against. I still wonder how I survived that war...

                                                                                                        Untill next time,

                                                                                                                 Rodimus Prime

Chapter 2: Dawn of a New Day

Autobot HQ, Earth

                       Optimus walked back into the control room, followed by Cluster, Scattor, and Wreckage. Finishing the tour of their base, Optimus turned around to the three Minicons.

"Any questions?" The Autobot commander asked.

"Nothin' here." Said Scattor

"Nope." Said Wreckage

"Actually, I have a question." Said Cluster. "Where are the other Minicons? I'd like to meet them." He said.

"They're scattered all around the base, so I cant really say where they are specifically." Optimus said while looking down to the three Minicons.

"So," began Wreckage, clapping his hands together. "who are we gonna be teamed up with?" the golden Minicon inquired.

Optimus looked around at the Autobots in the room. "I'm not really sure at the moment, but you'll be assigned to someone shortly."

"Man, I wanna see some action!" Scattor said, following a sigh.

"Calm down, Scattor." Said Wreckage. "Well see our fair share soon."

"Not soon enough." Muttered Scattor.

                         Before Optimus could speak, the alarm blazed. But it wasn't the Minicon siren. Optimus looked over to the main console, which Red Alert was already typing furiously at. The Autobot commander walked up to the medic.

"What is it, Red Alert?" Optimus asked. The rest of the Autobots came pouring into the control room, and looked to Optimus.

"I don't get it... I have a signal that an Autobot has landed on Earth... but the scanners are showing that he or she is inactive. As if they died. What's weirder, there's no signs of a space ship, or a space pod, for that matter!" Red Alert said, sounding obviously confused.

Optimus gave a 'hmm', and looked at the medic again. "Can you bring it on screen?" he asked.

"Sure thing, Optimus, sir." Red Alert replied, and he began typing on a second set of keys. Soon after, a picture of the Grand Canyon appeared on the main screen. Zooming the screen in several times, each Autobot could see the fallen form of a red and black Autobot.

"Overload.." Jetfire spoke in a whisper.

"Huh?" Optimus asked, turning to Jetfire.

Jetfire turned to his leader. "Overload... we lost him in space when we came here. I didn't know if he survived or not."

"Is Rollout with him?" asked the commander.

"No, I remember they got separated just before they entered the atmosphere." Spoke the sub-commander. Optimus almost immediately began walking to the warp gate.

"Optimus, sir? Where are you going?" Scavenger asked, and Optimus turned to him.

"I'm going to retrieve Overload's body. It's far too powerful to fall into Decepticon hands. Hot Shot, Smokescreen, Blurr, you're with me. Red Alert, enter the co-ordinates to Overload's body, and hurry! We need to get there fast!" Optimus urgently spoke, receiving a nod from Red Alert, who immediately began typing in the warp code.

                       The location of Overload's unmoving body was shown, and the four Autobots warped to their fallen comrade. However, during all this, Red Alert failed to notice the unknown energy signature in the same area as Overload.

Decepticon HQ, The Moon

                       Megatron sat in his throne, slouching slightly. Starscream and Tidal Wave were out on patrol. And he, Warhawk, and Wheeljack had been repaired from their battle with Terrorsaur, but the commander had a little something to remind him of the lost battle. The scar across his face. Because of Terrorsaur, he received a replacement optic, which made everything look half different, and had a scar of welded metal from his lower left jaw to his right temple. Groaning, and sitting up straight, Megatron tried to forget his defeat, and the relief that provided such came in the form of an intruder alarm.

                      "What's going on?!" demanded Megatron, looking over to Demolishor on a lone console.

"Megatron, sir. We have an intruder landing in Bay 4-E!" exclaimed Demolishor.

"Then go find them and bring them to me! And search their ship! Primus knows what they have inside of it." Megatron spoke.

"Yes sir!" Demolishor exclaimed, while saluting to his leader. He then turned around and ran out of the throne room. Megatron looked at the newly repaired Cyclonus and Thrust.

"You two assist him in the search, and do not come back without the intruder." The commander said.

"Yes, mighty Megatron." Thrust respectfully said, while briefly bowing, and running out of the room with Cyclonus.

                         Many tense hours passed, and nothing from Demolishor, Thrust, or Cyclonus. Megatron started to grow slightly nervous. Were they alright? Were they killed? Taken hostage? Still searching the ship? So many questions ran through his mind, but no answers, or reasonable guesses came.

Loud gunshots filled the air, followed by Thrust's screech of pain, and finished with a 'thud' sound. Megatron's head snapped up, and saw Cyclonus walk in, followed by Demolishor, carrying Thrust, who was in stasis lock.

"What happened?!" Megatron ordered, standing up.

"Calm yourself, Megatron." A calm, cool voice stated. Two yellow hands emerged from the shadows, both with guns pointed at Cyclonus and Demolishor's heads.

"Who are you?" asked Megatron, now sounding more forcefully eased.

                        The two hands came further out of the shadows, followed by white, powerful looking arms. A sleek, angular version of the Decepticon emblem was embedded onto his left shoulder. A yellow chest, with white sidings, came out next, Green, bat-like wings were attached to his back. White legs with yellow shins and feet stepped out. Finally, the figure's head emerged from the shadows. It was red, almost blocky, with tubes running from the sides to his chin. His yellow face had a smirk plastered on it, and his pure white optics glowed ominously. "Don't you remember?" The Decepticon asked, earning a gasp from Megatron.

"Jhiaxus!" he exclaimed.

"Why so surprised to see me? You should've known I would come back." Jhiaxus eerily spoke. Megatron stuttered. Of all intruders he expected, Jhiaxus wasn't even on the list. In a poor attempt to hide his nervousness, the Decepticon commander forcefully chuckled.

"Well, I must admit, I thought you died long ago, Jhiaxus." Megatron said, trying to stay calm.

"You of all people should know I don't die hard, Megatron." Jhiaxus said. "After all, how could I die, and not have what is mine?"

Megatron growled. "You know I earned it, so why do you say its yours?". The commander earned an even louder growl from Jhiaxus.

"You stole it from me, Megatron! I want it back!"

"Uhhh... want what back?" asked Demolishor, butting into the soon-to-be argument.

"Leadership of the Decepticons." Jhaixus said bluntly.

"Hey! Now that's a downright lie!" exclaimed Demolishor. "Megatron earned the Decepticon leadership!". Jhiaxus scoffed not one second later.

"So you've heard... But you don't know what really happened... do you, soldier?"

"That's Demolishor to you." The Decepticon spoke, but suddenly, Jhiaxus's gun was practically rammed down Demolishor's throat.

"You will learn to control your tongue, soldier, before I cut it off!" the newcomer said, while cocking his gun. A nod came from Demolishor, and Jhiaxus turned back to Megatron.

"Alright men, its story time." Jhiaxus said. He shoved Demolishor and Cyclonus over to Megatron, and they turned to face the new Decepticon, who kept his weapons aimed at the Decepticons.

"Several million years ago, Megatron and I were high ranking Decepticon generals in the army. We were both under the direct command of our leader, Zarak. It stayed like that for a while, until Zarak was fatally wounded in a battle. He left me in control of the Decepticons before he went to the Pit, but as you can imagine," he said, while eyeing Megatron.

"Your current leader wasn't pleased with that. Everything stayed the same for a little while. But then, during a crucial mission, Megatron purposely made a serious error in the plan, and made it look like it was my fault!" Jhiaxus sneered. "The Decepticons declared me insane, and unfit to lead. Megatron then started a rebellion against me, and EVERY Decepticon was for it! I had no choice but to run and hide. And Megatron obviously took the throne in my absence." Jhiaxus looked to all the Decepticons, who each had a shocked expression on their face. He grinned, and pointed to the newer version of the Decepticon icon on his shoulder.

"I refuse to bear the same symbol as the one I loathe the absolute most, so I made my own icon, and soon, every Decepticon in the universe will wear this!"

"Oh shut up!" Megatron snapped. "You're not the leader of the Decepticons and you will never be! You didn't have what it takes!" he shouted, while his gun turret swung around, aiming at Jhiaxus. "It's time to finish you off!" he seethed, earning a grin from Jhiaxus.

"Wow, I'm surprised... because I couldn't agree with you more, Megatron." Jhiaxus said, almost eagerly. He jumped into the air just as the torrent of energy erupted from Megatron's cannon. Flipping in the air, Jhiaxus embedded his knee into Megatron's cheek, sending him flying off of the throne and onto the ground. The newcomer landed on his knees, and Megatron landed on his back, groaning. Jhiaxus got up, and turned to Megatron with a sadistic grin planted on his face.

"Sluffing off as usual, Megatron. I'm surprised you weren't prepared for me." He coolly spoke, while Megatron quickly got up to his feet.

"You don't know what I can really do, Jhiaxus!" Megatron said, while firing his still-aimed cannon at Jhiaxus, engulfing the newcomer in smoke. Megatron grinned, and continued firing, with the cloud of smoke growing larger and larger.

"That should reduce him to pieces." Megatron said, while stopping his onslaught. He stared at the slowly settling dust, waiting for it to clear. But before he could see through it, many small lasers erupted from the cloud, all aimed at Megatron. Getting hit in several places, and earning several burn marks, Megatron shielded his face with his arm. When the blasts stopped, and the Decepticon lowered his arm, he saw Jhiaxus, and his gun aimed at him, with his weapon still smoking.

"Awww, are you ok, Megatron?" Jhiaxus taunted, and he received a growl from Megatron.

"Never better, you scum!" the commander snapped.

Jhiaxus grinned. "I'll soon remedy that." He tossed his gun to Megatron. Baffled by this action, Megatron caught the gun, and looked at it briefly. When he looked back up, the distance between him and Jhiaxus was closed, and the newcomer gave Megatron an uppercut he would never forget. Flying into the air slightly, Megatron landed hard on his back, and looked to Jhiaxus from his position on the ground. He had his gun back, and was chuckling. He was chuckling! No one dares to laugh at Megatron!

                       Megatron slowly climbed to his feet, and glared hard at his new rival. Mech fluids oozed down from several places on his mouth, and dripped off of his chin. He stumbled forward a step, almost losing his balance. Looking back up at Jhiaxus, he found him running at Megatron, and embedded his fist into the commander's abdomen. Earning a choked cry of pain, Jhiaxus grinned, and pushes his fist harder into Megatron's stomache, lifting him off the ground slightly. The commander hunched over Jhiaxus's shoulder, unable to keep straight. Jhiaxus grinned more, and ran to the nearest wall, and ran his shoulder, carrying Megatron, right into the wall, creating a rather large dent in it.

                        Megatron gasped, coughed up mech fluids, and grinded his teeth, trying to hold back his groans. But his lips escaped his minds power, and his pain became known to Jhiaxus, who in turn, grinned more. He leaned over to Megatron, still pinning him against the wall, and almost whispered.

"What's wrong, Megatron? Cant handle a little payback?" Jhiaxus then received a slap across the face from Megatron's left hand, and instantly dropped the Decepticon commander. He stepped back, holding his face, and found a small cut on it. He looked back to the scowling Megatron, who had a small blade stretching out from his palm.

"That's quite a trick you got there." Said Jhiaxus, ignoring the slight sting feeling on his face.

"I can do a lot more than that!" Megatron shouted, while climbing to his feet, and rushing at Jhiaxus. He pulled his bladed hand back, and thrashed it forward, hoping to penetrate his new rival's abdomen. Jhiaxus only grinned, and stepped to the side, causing Megatron to hit the space the newcomer once occupied. But before he could counter, Megatron quickly clenched his non-bladed hand, and slammed it into Jhiaxus's cheek. He stumbled backwards, holding his face, and Megatron, now with a boost of confidence, ran up to him, kicking his opponent in his stomach. Jhiaxus almost doubled over, and Megatron grinned.

"Had enough, Jhiaxus?" Megatron confidently said, while balling his fist again.

"Is that all you got?" Jhiaxus said, while returning to his standing position. Megatron growled. "Because if it is, you're a long ways away from winning." He spoke, while grinning once again. Megatron yelled out, and thrust his fist at Jhiauxs.

                         Jhiaxus roughly grabbed Megatron's wrist, and looked at the horned Decepticon. "Tell me how much this hurts." He excitedly said, as he thrust his knee into Megatron's elbow, and a sickening crack was heard. Megatron's optics went wide as a burning sensation quickly spread throughout his arm. He screamed in pain, while dropping to his knees, and clinging to his limp arm, trying to free it from Jhiaxus' mighty grip. The newcomer grinned more, and almost gently placed his foot on Megatron's chest. Suddenly, he gripped the Decepticon's wrist, and pushes hard on his chest. Megatron screamed more, and felt his arm give. Megatron fell onto his back, while Jhiaxus kept a firm grip on Megatron's bladed, detached arm.

                          The other Decepticons cringed and winced everytime a blow was dealt to their leader. Demolishor looked worriedly at Cyclonus, who kept his optics on the battle. Before Demolishor could look back to his leader's losing battle, a somewhat loud conversation emanated from the hall behind him. Out came Skywarp, Warhawk, Tidal Wave, and Wheeljack, all talking amongst themselves.

"You guys suck at Poker!" exclaimed Skywarp to the other three.

"What can I say? I'm just a natural born gambler. But I know when to quit, unlike a certain someone I know." Warhawk said, while nudging Tidal Wave's leg.

"I had good hand." Tidal Wave bluntly said.

"Not good enough, apparently." Joked Wheeljack. It was then the four realized what was going on in the throne room. Jhiaxus looked over to the four new arrivals, and grinned.

"Look Megatron, all the little soldiers come out to see you die. You must be so loved!" Jhiaxus said sarcastically. The four Decepticons walked to Cyclonus and Demolishor.

"Umm... what's going on?" asked Skywarp to Cyclonus.

"Megatron's getting his butt whooped!" the battle-hungry Decepticon replied. The others remained silent, and looked to the battle, which was getting uglier and uglier by the minute. Jhiaxus turned from the Decepticons, and turned to Megatron, who has gotten to his feet.

"I think it's time to end this game, Megatron." Jhiaxus said, while balling his hands into fists.

"I... couldn't agree more!" Megatron weakly said. He thrust his hand into the air, as the Star Saber Minicon team came from his subspace, and formed the Star Saber in mid-air. Grasping the handle, Megatron sneered at Jhiaxus, who just chuckled.

"Using Minicons, by Primus, Megatron, you are weak." The newcomer taunted, earning a snarl from Megatron. The horned Decepticon rushed at Jhiaxus, and swung the sword at his neck, hoping to disconnect his head. Jhiaxus ducked down, and when the saber safely finished swinging, Jhiaxus shot back up, and smashes his fist into Megatron's chin, sending him flying into the air, and the Star Saber to fall from his hand.

                         Jhiaxus grinned, and faster than anyone saw, he grabbed the Star Saber, ran around behind Megatron, and ran the sword through Megatron's right thigh before he even landed. His leg fell off from the rest of his body, and fell onto his back again from lack of balance. Jhiaxus came to an abrupt stop in front of Megatron, and the dust trailing him stopped with him as well. Jhiaxus looked to Megatron with a sick grin planted on his face. He stood up, and calmly walked to the fallen Decepticon leader. Megatron cringed, and did the one thing he never thought he would do:

"HELP! Someone help me! Please!" Megatron painfully cried out. Jhiaxus turned to the other Decepticons. Finding none of them moving, he grinned, and turned back to Megatron.

"It looks like your soldiers aren't so loyal after-" Jhiaxus was interrupted by a yell. He turned back around, and found Demolishor running at him. Sighing, Jhiaxus pulled out his gun from subspace, and aimed at Demolishor's chest. Pulling the trigger, many, machine gun-like blasts erupted from the barrel of his gun, and struck Demolishor in the chest, sending him flying back to the crowd with a smoking chest.

"Any other stupid attempts?" Jhiaxus asked the Decepticons, earning six heads shaking 'no.' "Good." He finished, turning back to Megatron. "Now...where were we?" he said calmly.

"Please... leave me alone." Megatron weakly said, while weakly crawling backwards as well as he can. For the first time in his life, Megatron was scared, and didn't hide it. Jhiaxus only grinned.

"Now now, Megatron, you brought this on yourself!" Jhiaxus exclaimed. Gripping the Star Saber, which he still had, he brought it down on Megatron's left hip joint, severing it from the rest of his body. Megatron shut his optics tightly, and screamed out. Jhiaxus grinned more, and in one, swift motion, brought the sword up, and severed Megatron's entire right arm, earning another cry of pain.

                      Megatron's world was going dark. Warning lights spread across his optics.

"Danger: spark fading. Stasis lock: commencing." The computer inside Megatron said. Jhiaxus grinned more, and rested the tip of the Star Saber on Megatron's throat.

"This is your last sight. You are looking upon your commander, soldier." Jhiaxus said to the now ex-commander of the Decepticons. "End game, Megatron." Jhiaxus calmly said, while thrusting the Star Saber through his opponent's neck. The other Decepticons stared in shock and horror as their commander's head was dismembered from the body, and fell to the ground. Megatron's crimson optics dimmed, and slowly submitted to the darkness.

"Me-..Me-..M-Megatron..." Demolishor stuttered.

"No way..." Wheeljack whispered.

"Did... that just happen?" Skywarp asked. Tidal Wave, Cyclonus, and Warhawk remained silent. Jhiaxus turned from the small pool of mech fluid to the other Decepticons.

"Alright soldiers, from this moment on, I am the commander of the Decepticons. Who here will question that?" He asked, and in turn, all the Decepticons took a single step backwards. "Excellent." Jhiaxus finished.

                        Distant footsteps sounded. All optics looked to the entrance to the throne as Starscream came in.

"Megatron, I'm back from patro-" Starscream's sentence was cut off by the sight before him. There, on one side of the room was all his comrades. But on the other side, a new arrival was standing over the heavily decapitated body of Megatron. "..... What happened here?!" Starscream all but shouted.

"We're uhh... under new supervision." Warhawk said, keeping his optics on Starscream.

"We are, huh?..." The seeker looked over to Jhiaxus. "...So, Jhiaxus, you're still alive?"

"Yes I am, Starscream. You should be grateful that I'll be giving you a second chance." Jhiaxus replied.

"Woah wait! Hold on, since when did you two know each other?" asked Wheeljack. Jhiaxus answered.

"Back when Zarak was in control of the Decepticons, Starscream was placed directly under my command. Of course," He spoke, while looking to Starscream. "You were always so rebellious, I hope that trait still isn't within your core." Starscream frowned.

"Does it matter to you?" the seeker asked. Jhiaxus turned around, and walked up to Megatron's throne.

"I suppose not, but it better not come back and bite me in the ass. Now, my first order is thus: The big one and the loud mouth will take the remains of Megatron, and spread them all across the planet Earth." He said while pointing to Tidal Wave and Cyclonus. "I do not want him coming back, ever."

"Y-yes sir.." Cyclonus hesitantly said, while walking over to what was left of Megatron.

"Wait!" Jhiaxus said, while holding out his hand. Cyclonus looked over to him. "Bring me the head."

                     Cyclonus nodded, and walked over to the carcass. Shuddering slightly when stepping into the now cold mech fluid, Cyclonus picked up Megatron's head by the horns. He quickly hopped away from the body parts, and walked over to Jhiaxus. Holding out the dismembered head, Cyclonus almost presented it to his new leader. Jhiaus took it, and grinned. He turned it around, with it facing everyone.

"Let this be a constant reminder to those who cross me." He spoke, while sitting down in his new throne. Jhiaxus looked to Cyclonus. "Soldier, what is your name?"

"Cyclonus, sir." The Decepticon slowly replied.

"Good. Now Cyclonus, you and the big one have your orders. Spread Megatron's body parts all across the Earth. I don't care where, or how, just make sure each piece is thousands of miles away from the next. Got it?" Jhiaxus said. Cyclonus nodded.

"Yes sir!" He said, while hesitantly saluting, and walking back over to the body parts. Trying to ignore the bloody footprints he just noticed he made, he stopped at his ex-leader's body parts. After a moment, he looked over to Tidal Wave.

"Hey, a little help?!" He snapped. Boy, as crazy as he was, this was downright insane, hauling his dead leader's body parts across a planet, I mean.

"Of course." Tidal Wave replied, while practically stepping over his comrades, and walking to Cyclonus. The ground shook slightly with each step the giant took. He kneeled by the deceased Decepticon, and opened up a panel in his right bicep, revealing a storage compartment.

"We can put them in here." Tidal Wave spoke, while lifting up Megatron's main body, and almost gently placing it inside. Cyclonus followed suit with the other limbs, and before they knew it, they were on Earth, doing as told.

Grand Canyon, USA, Earth

                        The four Autobots seemingly stretched into view as they exited the warp gate. Blurr looked around as information covered his visor.

"My scanners are showing that Overload's body is here, but there's also a large energy source nearby." He said, while looking to Optimus.

"We'll worry about the energy later, right now we need to get Overload out of here. We'll split up, we can cover more ground that way. Report anything unusual you see." The commander replied. The four Autobots then walked off in different directions, each looking for their fallen companion.

                     Smokescreen looked around. They didn't name it the Grand Canyon for no reason, that's for sure! His optics kept wandering, visually checking every nook and cranny. After all, Overload was huge, he wouldn't be too hard to spot, right? Some rocks falling from the top of the canyon landed to Smokescreen's left. His head snapped over. Nothing there. He let loose his held breath, and continued on his search. As he walked, he suddenly felt cool, as if a shadow was over him. He looked up.

'Not a cloud in the sky' He thought to himself. He then looked to the ground, and spotted a very large shadow overcastting him. It had arms, legs, very large shoulders, a head, and a tail-like weapon in its hand. Smokescreen turned around to look at what was causing the shadow.

And screamed.

                   His scream echoed through out the canyon, alerting all the Autobots of the danger he was in. All head's snapped in Smokescreen's direction.

"Smokescreen!" Optimus called out. Immediately transforming, Optimus sped off to his soldier's position. As he drove, he was quickly joined by Hot Shot, soon followed by Blurr. The three wordlessly speeded faster through the seemingly endless canyon. When they came to Smokescreen's position, all three transformed, and gawked.

                  There was Smokescreen, dangling helplessly by his neck, in the grip of the omnipotent Predacon. The behemoth grinned, showing off his shark-like teeth.

"I see more guests have arrived to the party!" Predacon exclaimed. He gripped Smokescreen tighter, earning a pained gag from the Autobot. Blurr gasped.

"That's the power source I was detecting earlier! Whatever he is, he's strong!" Blurr said, but Optimus ignored him.

"Let Smokescreen go!" yelled out Optimus. Predacon only shook his head.

"I think not, Optimus Prime. After all, where's the fun in that?" The giant said, while raising his weapon to Smokescreen's left arm.

"What're you doing?!" Hot Shot demanded, while pulling out his weapon.

Predacon's grin grew further. "I'm only doing what I love." He said, while clamping the end of his weapon on Smokescreen's arm.

                   He tightened the grip as Smokescreen cried out in pain. Predacon then slowly, but firmly twisted his weapon, causing the Autobot's arm to groan as the frame got more and more twisted. Mech fluids started seeping out of Smokescreen's arm, and Predacon lifted him up higher. He grinned, and almost seductively licked the oozing blood off of the Autobot's arm. All four Autobot's shuddered, but especially Smokescreen.

"That's disgusting!" Optimus exclaimed.

"I find your existence disgusting!" Predacon snapped, while tossing Smokescreen to the three. The instant he hit the ground, the Autobots crowded around their comrade. Smokescreen was either trembling, or shivering, no one was sure.

"S-s-soo... c-cold..." Smokescreen whispered.

"Don't worry, buddy, we'll get you out of here." Hot Shot said, while pulling Smokescreen into his arms. Optimus looked up at Predacon, and it was then that he spotted what they were looking for... behind Predacon.

'Overload!' Optimus thought. After muttering a few profanities under his breath, the Autobot commander looked to Blurr and Hot Shot.

"Either one of you have a flare gun or a stun gun? I have an idea." Optimus asked. Blurr held out his gun to his commander.

"This isn't a flare gun, but it has a stun setting. Would that work?"

"It'll have to." Optimus said, while taking the gun, and standing up. "Ok, I want you two to take Smokescreen back to the base, and get him in the med bay. I'll get Overload."

"Yes sir." Blurr said reluctantly. He and Hot Shot then proceeded to pick up Smokescreen, and warp back to the base.

Optimus turned around, and faced Predacon, who was still grinning. "So, the legendary Optimus Prime decides to meet his death to save his soldiers. How sickeningly heroic!" Predacon said.

"Whoever you are, I know I cant beat you... You've already proven that." Optimus said.

"I do believe I owe you an introduction, Optimus Prime." Predacon said, while grinning. "I am Predacon, the bastard creation of Unicron! And I am your worst nightmare!"

"Whenever I have nightmares..." Optimus began, while gripping Blurr's gun. "I wake myself up!" He finished, while quickly aiming, and firing on Predacon's face.

                     Predacon's optics snapped open from surprise, and before he knew it, the blast had hit him in the face, effectively forcing him backwards. Optimus didn't waste a single second, and darted past Predacon before he even tipped over.

THUD!

                       Optimus looked behind him, and found Predacon on his back, coughing up smoke from the attack. He turned back around, and rushed for the fallen form of Overload. Optimus sighed. Great, it was buried under some rubble. The groaning noise from Predacon instantly made Optimus bend over, and grab Overload's ankle. He gripped it tightly, and pulled as hard as he could. It didn't budge. The sound of dirt rustling caused the Autobot to turn around. Lovely, Predacon was in a kneeling position, and dusting the soot off of his face. Optimus did the one thing he could think of. He once again gripped Overload's ankle, but didn't tug at it. He opened up the warp gate.

                        Predacon looked up at Optimus, and growled. Picking up his weapon, he aimed at Optimus, and charged up a blast. Optimus looked at Predacon, half scared, half hopeful. The Autobot's warp gate kicked in the instant Predacon's blast left his weapon. Optimus gripped Overload's ankle just a bit tighter, and the two Autobots warped back to the base, just milliseconds from missing Predacon's blast.

"Ah slag!" Predacon swore out loud. His blast tore a large hole in the Grand Canyon, but that went unnoticed as Predacon opened a mental link to Unicron.

"Master... I failed you." Predacon hesitantly spoke.

"Do not worry, Predacon. They were meant to get away. Your mission was just to shake them up a little, that is all. Report back here at once." Unicron replied.

"Yes, Master." Predacon said, while warping out of sight.

Autobot HQ, Earth

                       Several hours have passed. Smokescreen has been repaired, and Overload's body was being scanned. Optimus was in the control center, with one hand holding the tip of his chin, and the other holding his other arm up. Red Alert was controlling the scanner in front of Optimus, and Hot Shot was beside their leader. The other Autobots were scattered across the room.

"What was that thing?" Blurr asked, in reference to Predacon.

"I wish I knew." Replied Red Alert, still typing at the consol.

"We'll worry about Predacon, as he calls himself, later. Right now I want to make sure Overload's body is okay." Optimus said, while maintaining the position of his arms.

"As soon as we find Rollout, we'll have another Autobot here, right?" asked Hot Shot.

"That's ri-..!?" Optimus' reply was cut short as a burst of light appeared in the center of the room.

                      The light was light blue, and it had a bright aurora around it. It pulsated as it turned to a fiery red, and the aurora turned to flames, dancing around it. A figure slowly came into view. He was mostly burgundy, with silver and orange detailing. His shins were made of the front of a semi, with the grill forming guards for his knees. His shoulders stretched beyond his arms, and were covered with two wheels on the front. His chest had a flame design on it, and on the center of that, laid an Autobot insignia. On his right thigh rested a large, orange, cannon-like blaster. But most confusing of all, with both hands on it, the Autobot held...

"The Matrix?!" Shouted all the Autobots at once.

"The hell..." Scavenger said, unfolding his arms.

Jetfire looked at the new arrival. "We have a thief among us!" he said, while pointing to the unknown Autobot. Optimus slowly looked down to his chest, and rested his hand on it.

"The Matrix is still within me." Optimus said. "I can feel its presence there." He said, while keeping his hand over his chest.

"Then what's that?" Blurr said, while pointing to the Matrix the new Autobot was holding.

"...I wish I knew..." Optimus solemnly said.

The new arrival looked around. 'There's something familiar about this place...' he thought to himself. He was separated from his comrades, in a location that was seemingly familiar, and utterly confused. He muttered the one thing that could come to his mind.

"Crap."

Author's Ending Note: Well now, I must be on a roll, for it took A LOT less time to write this than some of my other fics.... ERP! *suddenly falls on the floor, clutching his chest*

20th Anniversary Optimus Prime: Crab?! Crab are you ok!? *pokes him*

Crab: Need.... feedback... must... have it... to liiiive.... *reaching for the sky*

20th Anniversary Optimus Prime: _ If you want feedback, just ask the people to review, its not that hard to do.

Crab: But... pride... wont allow... it... need... feedback.. *clutches 20th Anniversary Optimus Prime by the sides of his head* You must... get me feedback!

20th Anniversary Optimus Prime: Ok, ok, fine! *looks to the reader* Would ya mind giving a review? *eyes Crab from the corner of his optic* Please... for the sake of my sanity... review?

Crab: *gets up as if nothing's wrong* Woo! *crosses his fingers* Let's hope!

20th Anniversary Optimus Prime: _ You're pathetic

(Note that 20th Anniversary Optimus Prime is an action figure)