Author's Note: Well now, I'm beginning on this rather earlier than I normally do... I must be sick... Wait a sec, I was!... *ahem* Either way, hope ya enjoy this chapter!

That day is one I will never, ever forget. It was the day I either saved, or doomed my troops, I'm not sure. I was sent into the past by the Matrix. At first, I was confused by the action. But then, it dawned on me that I could not only save my time, but theirs as well! All seemed to be going well, from what I remember...

                                                                                                    Rodimus Prime

Chapter 3: Questioned Loyalties

Autobot Base, Earth

                      The mysterious Autobot looked around. All around the room, he saw faces of Autobots who died long ago. He shuddered. It felt like he was in a graveyard, but all of the bots in the room were just as alive as he was. His attention turned to Jetfire, and then Optimus. He looked at the Autobot leader, as if he missed him.

"Who are you?" Optimus asked the question everyone wanted to know. The fiery looking Autobot hesitated. Maybe his name shouldn't be revealed until he knows where he is.

"Where am I?" he asked no one in particular.

"You're in the Autobot base." Replied Scavenger from his position by the wall.

"...What date is it?" The Autobot asked. Everyone looked around, confused.

"It's the Earth year 2010. June 11th, Why is that important?" Blurr asked.

The new Autobot quietly whispered. "Armageddon..." He said to himself. He looked back up to Optimus. "You just recovered Ultra Mag- I mean Overload's body, right?" The Autobot asked again.

Optimus, with a surprised look, nodded. "Yes.. How did you know that?"

"Alright... I think it's time for me to tell who I am." The Autobot replied. He looked around at everyone. "My name is Rodimus Prime, the third to lead the Autobot's since the discovery of the Minicons. I come from the year 2027." He said bluntly. The room remained silent.

                    A loud crash was heard. Everyone looked to Jetfire, who was on the ground, holding his sides in laughter.

Rodimus rolled his optics. "Fine, don't believe me, Jetfire." The new Autobot tensed. Jetfire has been dead for three years, and it felt weird talking to him again.

"Wait... how do you know my name?" Jetfire asked, while climbing to his feet.

"I already told you, I'm from the future! Primus, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out how I know your name." Rodimus snapped.

Jetfire stared blankly for a moment. "Why you!" He began moving toward Rodimus, with his hands out like he was going to choke him.

"Stand down, Jetfire!" Optimus said, while getting in between the two. Jetfire did as told, and Optimus turned to Rodimus. "What happens in the future?"

"Optimus!" Jetfire almost whined. "You're not buying his story, are you?"

"That's my call." Optimus replied, while pointing at himself with his thumb. He turned back to Rodimus.

Rodimus sighed. He was hoping to skip this. "Well, in approximately one week, the Autobot faction will be all but wiped out. We'll be turned from a grand army into a mere resistance force."

"What happens to Megatron?" Optimus asked.

Rodimus looked at the current Autobot leader. "He's already dead." All the Autobot's gasped.

"Who killed him?" Hot Shot asked from his section of the room.

"Jhiaxus did... But he isn't the real enemy." Rodimus said.

"You mean the great power Sideways warned us about?" Optimus asked. Rodimus shook his head again.

"No... Uni-... I mean the force is very powerful... but not immortal, unlike our foe." He said. Rodimus continued before any questions could be asked.

"It will overthrow and kill Jhiaxus around ten years from now, and assume command of the Decepticon empire. And we have been fighting it for the past seven years without progress."

"What is this being?" asked Scavenger.

"Scorponok." Rodimus replied.

Decepticon HQ, The Moon

                       Jhiaxus sat in Megatron's old throne. The head of the prior leader was sitting right beside the seat, out of sight. He looked at the kneeling Decepticons before him. There was Skywarp, Starscream, Thrust, Warhawk, Wheeljack, and Demolishor, all in a neat row. Jhiaxus stood up.

"Alright, Decepticons, there are going to be some changes around here... You!" He said, while pointing to Wheeljack. "What is your name?"

"Wheeljack...sir." The ex-Autobot said, with 'sir' being hesitant.

"Alright, Wheeljack. Step forward." Jhiaxus commanded. Wheeljack looked up to him, confused. Jhiaxus frowned, walked over to Wheeljack, and kicked him in his chin, sending him falling onto his back. "Do not make me tell you again, soldier!" Jhiaxus snapped. Gritting his teeth, the mech weakly got to his feet, and nodded. He stepped up to Jhiaxus.

"Now.." Jhiaxus began. "Here's your chance to get back at me... hit me as hard as you can." Wheeljack grinned.

"No problem." He confidently said. Pulling back his right hand, Wheeljack curled it into a tight fist. His arm tensed, as he slammed his fist into Jhiaxus' chest.

Nothing happened, and Jhiaxus sighed. "Just as I thought. Weak. Has Megatron taught you Decepticons nothing?"

"Well... Megatron hasn't taught us anything." Demolishor reluctantly said. Jhiaxus scoffed, while pushing Wheeljack back to his place in the row..

"That's so like him. Work so hard to steal leadership from me, and slack when it comes to training your troops. Well, that's gonna change!" Jhiaxus exclaimed. "When I'm through with you all, you'll be able to tear the Autobots apart without trying!" He said while thrusting a fist into the air. The Decepticons in front of him started grinning, and murmuring to each other.

"When I'm through with you, we will claim Cybertron as our own!" Jhiaxus continued. The murmurs changed to quiet 'yeah!'s. "When I'm through with you, the Decepticons will be feared throughout the entire Universe!" The Decepticons then all exclaimed with him.

"Yeah!" they all cried.

"Who's with me?" Jhiaxus called out.

"Aye!" All the Decepticons yelled out, while thrusting their fists into the air. Demolishor and Starscream were the only reluctant ones. Jhiaxus grinned proudly. Cyclonus and Tidal Wave came in at this moment.

"Mission accomplished!" Cyclonus said, while saluting. Jhiaxus grinned even more.

"Good job, and you're just in time for the training session." The commander said.

"Training?" Tidal Wave repeated.

"Yes, when I'm through, you will all be the best of the best!" Jhiaxus said, while grinning.

"Let the training begin."

Autobot HQ, Earth

"So... Rodimus," Optimus began. "What was that thing that we encountered while getting Overload's body?"

"That was Predacon.. You're lucky to be alive, Optimus." Rodimus said. Optimus raised a non-existing eyebrow.

"What do you mean?" He asked

"Predacon is a killing machine, but sadly, there's no info on him. You can only know who he is if you encounter him... and survive." The new arrival said.

"But there HAS to be information on him!" Optimus replied. "Our computer has the power to search out for anyone in the universe." Rodimus chuckled.

"Go ahead, try." He encouraged. The current Autobot leader turned to Red Alert

"Red Alert, search for any and all information about Predacon."

"Yes sir." Red Alert replied, and began typing into the console.

                        Rodimus crossed his arms, and watched as the medic continued his search. Minutes passed, before a profile page popped up on the main screen. Where the photo of Predacon's face would be, stood a large question mark.

"Name: Predacon. Age: unknown. Weight: unknown. Allegiance, Location of creation: unknown. Residence: unknown. Unknown, unknown, unknown! There's nothing known about him!" Red Alert said. He continued looking at the list. "Sightings..." He looked at the list that showed where Predacon was spotted, but beside each location, written in red letters, said 'Destroyed'. Optimus groaned in frustration.

"So nothing is known about him, and wherever he goes, that planet gets destroyed! What is going on!?" He shouted.

"I told you so." Said Rodimus with a smug look on his face. Red Alert scrolled down the list, and continued finding 'unknown' all over the screen. But something caught his eye.

"This is unusual..." Said Red Alert. Rodimus and Optimus turned to face him.

"What do you mean?" The current leader asked.

"Most profiles don't have 'survivors' on them..." Said the medic, while pointing to the screen. Sure enough, at the bottom of Predacon's profile, was the word 'survivors'.

"See what's in there." Optimus said. Red Alert obeyed his superior, and highlighted the word.

                      A slightly smaller window popped up on the screen, and several headshots of Decepticons and Autobots came up on the screen, with information with each picture. Red Alert highlighted the first one. The picture was of a Transformer, who's face looked like it was covered in scuba gear. Red Alert read the information out loud.

"Name: Snow Cat. Age: Unknown. Weight: Unknown. Allegiance: Decepticon. Location of Creation: Cybertron. Residence: Planet M2."

Optimus gave a 'hmm', before stepping up to the medic. "How far is Planet M2?" He asked. Red Alert typed at the consol.

"Two light-years away, sir." He replied. Optimus looked to be in deep thought, before turning away, and towards the shuttle bay.

"Hot Shot, you're with me. The rest of you stay here."

"Optimus wait!" Jetfire called out. Optimus turned around, and looked at him questioningly. "Where are you going?" The sub-commander asked.

"Hot Shot and I are going to Planet M2. We need to find out all we can about Predacon. And this seems to be the only way we can."

"Aw c'mon, Optimus. I'm sure we can take that guy easy!" Jetfire replied.

"You should never underestimate your opponent." Rodimus said, bumping into the conversation.

"Rodimus is right. We need to know about him before we attack him. For all we know, this could be the great power Sideways was talking about." Optimus said. "You're in charge until we return, Jetfire." He finished. Optimus turned back around, and continued walking to the shuttle bay, followed by Hot Shot. Rodimus eyed the two. Why did their leaving feel so familiar?

Smokescreen looked over to Jetfire. "Well?" He asked.

"Well what?" The sub-commander replied.

"What're we supposed to do now?"

"Erm...." Jetfire looked around. "Red Alert, continue scanning Overload, make sure he's alright. The rest of you... Umm... I'll call when I need you." All the Autobots looked to each other, and shrugged. They all then proceeded to different sections of the base.

Three days later...

Decepticon HQ, The Moon

                        Jhiaxus quickly sidestepped Demolishor's vertical kick. He balled his hand into a fist, and embedded it into the Decepticon's face. Demolishor reeled back, holding his cheek. His commander grinned, which only irritated the Decepticon more. He rushed at Jhiaxus, and leaped into the air. He collided with him, knocking the bigger Decepticon off of his feet, and onto his back. Demolishor pinned Jhiaxus down, and grinned triumphantly. Click. Demolishor suddenly tensed as Jhiaxus pointed his gun at the Decepticon's head.

"You should've killed me when you had the chance... But still, you're getting better, Demolishor." Jhiaxus commented. Demolishor grinned slightly.

"Thank you, sir." Even though Jhiaxus killed Megatron, Demolishor's respect was growing for him. After all, Megatron never trained or complemented him. Jhiaxus put his gun back in his subspace, and pushed Demolishor off of him.

"That's enough training for today." The commander said, and Demolishor climbed to his feet, followed by Jhiaxus. "Dismissed." He said. Demolishor nodded, and walked, with a limp, out of the throne room.

                        Jhiaxus walked over to the throne, and sat in it. Starscream wouldn't be in his training for a few minutes, which gave him some time for a little ego boost. He reached down, and pulled up Megatron's head. Jhiaxus grinned at it.

"Look, Megatron. I'm doing what you never did! I'm making your- no... my soldier's skills better! And soon, I'll do what you were never able to do: kill the Autobots!"

"You really are insane." A voice said from the other side of the room. Jhiaxus looked up, and saw Starscream walking towards him. "Talking to a dead head, that's not exactly a good image for the leader of the Decepticons."

"You better watch your mouth, Starscream, or I'll rip your face apart so badly that you'll need a faceplate for the rest of your existence!" Jhiaxus snapped.

Starscream chuckled. "You haven't changed a bit, Jhiaxus." He said. Jhiaxus growled.

"This is your last warning, Starscream. I wont tolerate back talking like Megatron did, and if you do it again, you'll end up just like him!" to emphasize his point, Jhiaxus held out Megatron's lifeless head. Starscream cringed.

"Y-...Yes sir." Starscream hesitantly said. He looked around, wanting to change the subject. "So uhh... are we gonna do my training or what?" Jhiaxus tapped his chin.

"...No. I have a mission for you, Starscream." Jhiaxus said, while grinning. 'This should prove your loyalty' he thought to himself.

"Alright... What is it?" Starscream asked.

"You are to go to the Autobot base... Tell them that you have defected from us, and wish to join them." Jhiaxus said.

"What will that do?"

"After they let you join them, you are to download any and all information from their main computer. Then, sabotage it, and return here with all the data." Jhiaxus finished.

Starscream thought for a moment, before replying.

"Alright, I'll do it."

Planet M2

                        Optimus and Hot Shot walked through the door, and entered the pub. They landed a few hours ago, and started asking around for information. A Transformer said that Snow Cat always hangs out at this certain bar, so the two Autobots decided to head there. They looked around, and were surprised to see Autobots, Decepticons, and some factions they've never seen all in the same room.

                       A Decepticon looked over at the Autobots who just entered the pub.

His face gave him the appearance of a scuba diver, but the rest of his

body suggested he was designed for the snowy climate outside. His chest was a windshield, showing off the interior of a vehicle inside. He had two large missile launchers on his back, and large, ski-like boards on his shins. Standing

up, the he walked over to Hot Shot and Optimus, who were looking around

the semi crowded room.

"We're looking for Snow Cat!" Optimus spoke out loud enough for

everyone to hear. Half of the heads in the room turned to face 

the Autobots, and the other half's optics drew to the scuba-like

Decepticon.

"So you're looking for me, eh?" Snow Cat spoke. His voice slurred

slightly, due to an overdose of Energon. He sluggishly walked over to the two, and

patted them on the shoulders. "Well look no further, here I am!"

The two Autobots exchanged odd looks, but before both could speak, Snow

Cat grabbed their wrists and pulled them to a table.

"C'mon, buddies, drinks are on me!" Snow Cat spoke, as if the two were

fellow Decepticons, or if he were an Autobot.

"Look, we're not here to drink, we need some questions answered." Hot

Shot spoke, irritated by the fact he has to talk with a Decepticon, and

not shoot at him.

"We hear you survived Predacon." Optimus spoke, and the entire pub went

dead silent.

Snow Cat looked around nervously, and waved to everyone. "Don't worry,

he's just uhh... joking! Yeah, joking! So just go about your business." Slowly but surely,

the pub returned to normal, and Snow Cat spoke lowly to the Autobots.

"We dont say his name out loud... but yeah, I was one of the few

thousand who survived him."

"A few thousand? Doesn't sound like 'a few' to me." Hot Shot spoke.

Snow Cat leaned over the table, and started Hot Shot dead in the optics.

"Trust me, mate, when dealing with Predacon, a few thousand isn't a lot."

Optimus and Hot Shot remained silent for a moment, before the Autobot commander spoke up. "Just what is he?" He asked.

Snow Cat leaned back in his seat, and shook his head. "Something so evil like him could only be created by... him"

"Who's 'him'?" asked Hot Shot.

"Unicron, of course." Snow Cat said, while grabbing a mug from a passing waitress, and drinking from it.

"Yeah right, Unicron's just a legend! Something to scare young bots!" Hot Shot said. Snow Cat stood up, walked over to Hot Shot's seat, and punched him hard across his cheek. Hot Shot fell off of his seat and onto the floor, holding his face.

"Don't you dare accuse me of lying! Because of Unicron, my life is a living hell!" The Decepticon picked Hot Shot up by his chest plate, and lifted him off of the ground. Hot Shot would've sweated if he could.

"Do you know what it's like to stare death in the face, kid? Do you know what it's like to see your three best friends killed right before your very optics?!" Hot Shot remained silent. With the way Snow Cat was acting, you'd think he was plenty sober.

"DO YOU?!" The Decepticon repeated, while pulling Hot Shot closer.

"No..." Hot Shot said quietly. Snow Cat dropped Hot Shot, who in turn, fell on his skidplate. Snow Cat stalked back over to his seat across from the Autobots, and drank from his mug. Optimus and Hot Shot remained silent for what seemed like hours, while watching Snow Cat drink.

"What can you tell us about Predacon?" Optimus hesitantly asked.

"Why do you want to know?" replied Snow Cat.

"Because he's on our planet as we speak." Optimus almost urgently said. Snow Cat softly chuckled, and soon erupted into laughter.

"What's so funny?!" Hot Shot shouted, while slamming his fist onto the table.

Snow Cat's laughter slowly died down, and he looked at the two.

"You're doomed." He directly replied.

Unknown, Earth

                      Starscream soared through the skies in his vehicle mode. He tore through the clouds, leaving his mark on them as he ascended higher above them. The sun began going down, giving the sky and clouds an orange and red tint. Starscream sighed to himself, as he increased his speed. He'd actually have to be sociable around the Autobots, and not blast them to the pit! And that's assuming the plan would actually work!

"This is going to be hard." He said to himself. Looking to his radar, he saw that he was within a mile of the Autobot base.

"Better land." He once again said to himself. He tipped his nosecone down, causing himself to descend towards the ground. He pushed himself further down, until he was almost directly facing the ground. Starscream fell faster and faster as the ground got closer and closer.

                        Before he crashed with the ground, he quickly pulled up, and was flying deathly close to the ground. He continued his speed, kicking up a storm of dust behind him. The Autobot base quickly came into view, and Starscream shifted to robot mode. He slowed himself, and came to a stop directly in front of the doors of the Autobot base. He kept his hands open, and made no sudden movements.

                      Starscream took two slow steps, before a whirring noise stopped him in his tracks. He looked ahead as double barreled gun turrets came out from all around the door.

"Automatic defenses..." Starscream said out loud. His optics looked to each and every one of them.

"Shi-" his sentence was left unfinished, as each and every gun emplacement opened fire on the Decepticon, and he was quickly overpowered. Each blast tore and burned holes in his armor, and Starscream fell onto his back. Just as quickly as it began, it ended, with the Decepticon unable to move.

                        The main door opened up, and Jetfire and Scavenger stepped out. They walked up to the fallen form of Starscream, and looked over him.

"Get him inside for questioning." Jetfire ordered, as Starscream's optics dimmed.

Author's Note: Well now, I do believe I've set a new record!

20th Anniversary Optimus Prime: For what? Shortest sentence ever?

Crab: No, fastest time I've ever written a chapter!

20th Anniversary Optimus Prime: *sarcastically* Ooooh, aaaah

Crab: _ Why do I tolerate you?

20th Anniversary Optimus Prime: Because you spent months looking for me in Walmart.

Crab: *mutters*

20th Anniversary Optimus Prime: What was that?

Crab: I said I would love reviews!

20th Anniversary Optimus Prime: I'll get the truth out of you! *climbs a ladder all the way to the top, and jumps on Crab's head*

Crab: @_@ *collapses on the ground, unconscious*

20th Anniversary Optimus Prime: Yeah! That's five pounds of Autobot bravery on your head! *looks up to the reader* I'm sorry he embarrassed you. But could ya leave a review? Crab works really hard on these, and I'm curious as to how he's doing ^_^;