Disclaimer:Transformers belongs to Hasbro, Takara, etc . The only thing in this that belongs to me is Arcee's sister.
"Prime! What in blazes are your people doing out here?! We had an agreement! No collateral damage!" Fowler said on the Cybertronian Computer System as he called Optimus.
"I am sorry, Agent Fowler. But all Autobots are present and accounted for," Optimus said as he answered the call.
"Then explain why I'm receiving reports of two Jumbo-sized 'Bots mixing it up 20 miles outside Omaha!" Fowler retorted.
"Decepticons?" Ratchet guessed.
"There has been plenty of infighting lately," Arcee pointed out.
"Megatron can't seem to keep his ranks in line," Chromette said, agreeing with her sister.
"Well, I'm just arriving on the scene. Have a look," Fowler said.
The screen changed from Fowler's face to the footage of the ongoing fight. The first Cybertronian was one they hadn't seen either before or in a while. This one was blue with tinges of yellow and red all over his armor.
I don't know. Paint job aside, it can't be Skyquake. You, Chromette and Optimus pounded him into the ground," Bulkhead objected.
"Before Starscream yanked him back out as some kind of dead terrorcon," Arcee added, "the question still stands. Who's the dance partner?"
Fowler was able to do a closeup on the unidentified Cybertronian's dance partner. It wasn't hard the miss the white paint job with red and green stripes, katanas and a battle mask.
"By the AllSpark!" Ratchet gasped, "It is one of ours!"
"Wheeljack. Ha ha! Jackie's back!" Bulkhead cackled as he saw Wheeljack on the screen and slapped Bumblebee, Arcee, Chromette and Ratchet in their backs at the same time, causing them to lunge forward.
"I don't care if Abraham Lincoln's back!" Fowler remarked sarcastically, "We have to contain the situation, before we all wind up on the 11 o'clock news!"
Wheeljack found himself in boiling water as he hid himself behind his spaceship to shield himself from the shots coming from the blaster of the unidentified Decepticon. Occasionally, Wheeljack would pop out, shooting at him.
"You got nowhere left to run, Con," Wheeljack said as he fired his blaster at the Decepticon and ran towards him, while Fowler monitored them from his F-35 Lightning II.
"This is Special Agent William Fowler of the-!" Fowler started as he monitored the two cybertronians who were fighting but was interrupted as Wheeljack saw him and fired multiple shots at Fowler,but avoided the shots, "Whoa! Stand down, hothead. I'm on your side!"
After the Decepticon took down Wheeljack, he began shooting at Fowler's plane. Managing to avoid the shots, Fowler fired some of his own. They caused minimal damage as Wheeljack managed to get away.
"I had a feeling the gang might show," Wheeljack remarked as he saw the Ground Bridge open with Optimus, Arcee, Chromette, Bulkhead and Bumblebee coming through the portal.
The Decepticon focused his firepower on Optimus and Bulkhead as they ran across the field. Managing to distract him, Bulkhead ran towards his friend.
"Jackie!" Bulkhead cried as he knelt beside him.
With Optimus, Bulkhead and Wheeljack out of the way, the Decepticon focused his firepower on Arcee, Chromette and Bumblebee. However, when the shots began to hurt him, he began running away. Looking up, he saw Fowler's plane again. Remembering that he needed a vehicle mode, he decided on Fowler's plane.
"That will do," he decreed as he scanned the plane into his processors.
"Oh, not this again!" Fowler moaned as the Decepticon scanned the airplane.
"Oh no you don't!" Wheeljack snarled when the Decepticon went to make a hasty getaway.
"Wheeljack!" Optimus warned.
"Jackie! No!" Bulkhead cried as Wheeljack fired at the retreating Decepticon.
However, his shots hit the nearby gas station, causing it to explode. The explosion was powerful enough to cause Bumblebee and Arcee to shield themselves. The explosion wasn't powerful enough to kill the Decepticon, who simply just transformed into his vehicle mode and flew away from the scene, despite Fowler's best attempts to stop him.
"Dreadwing rigged the place to blow," Wheeljack snarled as he told them who the Decepticon was.
"Dreadwing?" Bulkhead asked.
"Actually that was your handiwork, sparky," Arcee corrected Wheeljack as she, Chromette and Bumblebee stepped forward.
"It's called a gas station. Kinda like an Energon depo. Doesn't mix well with blaster fire," Bulkhead explained.
"Huh. Well, our 'Con's getting away," Wheeljack said as he went to chase after him…only to be stopped by Optimus.
"Wheeljack, there are other considerations. While upon this world, you would do well to follow my lead," Optimus advised.
After getting back to base, Ratchet was repairing Wheeljack's arm by melding the wound on his arm together, But Wheeljack had trouble staying still as Ratchet did so.
"Ow! Take it easy, doc! I need that arm!" Wheeljack said as Ratchet accidentally caused pain in his arm as he attempts to repair it.
"Hold still and maybe, you'll keep it," Ratchet retorted as he resumed his work.
"Look, Commander, Apologies for the fireworks. Won't happen again. But I tracked Dreadwing across 100 lightyears of space," Wheeljack said.
"I thought you were roaming the galaxy, you know, looking for Autobot refugees," Bulkhead said with confusion.
"I was until I found one, a Wrecker," Wheeljack corrected.
"Who?" Bulkhead asked.
"Seaspray," Wheeljack answered.
"How is old barnacle butt?" Bulkhead asked after he laughed for a second.
"Not so good, Bulk. Blown to bits, actually," Wheeljack announced sadly.
"What?! No!" Bulkhead cried in horror.
"Dreadwing," Optimus said, dangerously.
"My flier, the Jackhammer, picked up Seaspray's signal a couple of light-years from Madeira. We made contact and arranged a rendezvous in the Dromedon system. But Dreadwing must have intercepted the transmission, 'cause he got to Seaspray first. Proximity bomb was suppose to take us both out. Guess I should be glad that the Jackhammer can take a punch. I picked up Dreadwing ion trail and tracked it through a dozen solar systems before catching up with him. And he led me back to this marble," Wheeljack told his story, "Some coincidence, huh?"
"Who's Dreadwing?" Chromette asked.
"I know of this Dreadwing. He was captain of a seeker armada, and as such, like his twin, Skyquake, fiercely loyal to the Decepticon cause. Dreadwing has no doubt traveled to Earth to pay allegiance to his one true Master," Optimus answered.
"Hope he's enjoyed the visit," Wheeljack remarked as he stood up, "It's gonna be his last!"
"Wheeljack, this planet is heavily inhabited. Any strike we make against the Decepticons must be carefully measured as a team, lest we risk endangering the human population," Optimus intervened.
"Are you suggesting that we sit back and do nothing?" Wheeljack asked with disbelief.
"You! Loose cannon! Your cowboy antics almost blew our cover," Fowler said as he stormed in on the catwalk.
"Cover?" Wheeljack repeated in confusion.
"We're robots in disguise, Jackie. You need an Earth-based vehicle mode outside of here," Bulkhead explained.
"That spaceship, you shot down, not Earth based! I had to jump through some big hoops to get it hauled out of plain sight," Fowler told them, clearly angry, "You need to keep a tighter leash on your people, Prime."
"A tighter leash? Let me clarify, tiny," Wheeljack said, clearly offended as he approached Fowler.
"Jackie," Bulkhead warned.
"I'm not one of Optimus Prime's people," Wheeljack said dangerously as he leaned in towards him before leaving the room.
"I'll talk to him," Bulkhead said, "With your permission."
"Of course," Optimus nodded as Bulkhead left.
"So, the new guy has a little problem with authority," Fowler stated, dryly.
"Wheeljack and Bulkhead served together in the Wreckers, a combat unit that operated outside the normal chain of command," Optimus explained.
"Hmm. Black ops," Fowler said.
"They accepted missions no one else would, and many of them did not come back," Optimus added.
Dreadwing was holding up this device that shot a red light into the cloudy skies. Almost instantly, recognizing the signal, the Nemesis appeared. Transforming into his vehicle mode, he jumped up and flew towards the Decepticon warship. Not long afterwards, he found himself kneeling in front of Megatron himself.
"Lord Megatron, I live to serve," Dreadwing said as he bowed towards his master.
"Rise, Dreadwing. Loyalty such as yours is such a rare commodity," Megatron stated as Dreadwing rose to his feet.
"Mine runs deep and true. Yet, it is not loyalty alone that brought me here," Dreadwing confessed to Megatron.
"Oh?" Megatron hummed, clearly curious.
"I seek confirmation of the demise of one I whom considered a brother," Dreadwing requested, causing Megatron to figure out that he was indeed talking about Skyquake.
"How did you learn of his passing?" Megatron wanted to know.
"My twin and I shared a split spark. Much like that of the two female Autobots under Optimus command. Like them, we're metal, but of the same life force. Even across the galaxy, I sensed when he emerged from stasis on this planet and when his spark was no more," Dreadwing explained.
"It is true. Skyquake perished at the hands of the Autobots, though not, in fact, under my watch," Megatron said as Soundwave played a footage of Skyquake's demise on his visor.
"Then by the Pit, every last Autobot on this accursed world will pay," Dreadwing vowed as he was angry at the Autobots for his twin's demise.
"The Autobots will be punished for their crime, and many others, how and when I see fit," Megatron told Dreadwing.
"But Master-" Dreadwing started objecting.
"Conflicting agendas will only result in chaos and failure. You would be wise to remember that, Dreadwing. You are under my command now, and, as such, you must follow my lead," Megatron said after cutting Dreadwing off.
"Jackie. Look. Even if it weren't for the humans, we couldn't take on the 'Cons right now," Bulkhead told Wheeljack as he found him standing by the Jackhammer, "We're outnumbered."
"Roadbuster, Pyro, Impactor, Rotostorm, Seaspray; all dust," Wheeljack snarled.
"That's what I'm talking about. Wrecker's are Autobots. There's just not that many of us left. If we get behind Optimus, we have a chance to end this once and for all," Bulkhead decreed.
"Guys like Optimus; they talk a good game. But when you're in the scrap, they don't wanna get their hands dirty," Wheeljack growled.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. You don't know Optimus like I do. Being a Wrecker meant everything to me. But I left all that behind," Bulkhead said.
"Because Prime was the real thing, blah, blah, blah," Wheeljack finished in annoyance, having heard it multiple times before.
"Wheeljack!" They suddenly heard Dreadwing's voice from the Jackhammer's radio, "I know you're out there listening. I have a proposition for you."
"Is that...?" Bulkhead began asking.
"Dreading," Wheeljack growled.
"Meet me at these coordinates, if you have the spark," Dreadwing went on as coordinates appeared on the ship's map that was on the dashboard.
"I'll see you there, 'Con...just to watch you fry," Wheeljack vowed as he sat behind the wheel.
"Jackie, it's a trap," Bulkhead warned.
"I know. But when has that ever stopped me?" Wheeljack retorted as he fired up his engines, "You coming with?"
"At least let me call for backup," Bulkhead pleaded as he sat next to Wheeljack.
"You know Wreckers don't call for backup," Wheeljack started.
"They call for cleanup!" They finished together as they high-fived each other.
Dreadwing heard footsteps approaching him from behind as he stood in the forest. When he saw Wheeljack…well, needless to say, he was surprised.
"I wasn't certain you'd come," Dreadwing confessed.
"I don't like unfinished business," Wheeljack shrugged.
Let the battle begin.
First, it was the battle of the bombs. Dreadwing threw his signature proximity bomb. Wheeljack threw his signature hand grenade. Upon collision, they exploded. So Wheeljack unsheathed his katanas and jumped with a warrior yell. Dreadwing moved out of the way, causing Wheeljack to stab his katanas into the ground. Shaking with anger, he slid his battle mask over his face and chased the retreating Dreadwing into the forest.
He followed the Decepticon into the canyon. Smirking, Dreadwing pressed a button. He had planted a series of proximity bombs all over the place. One exploded right next to Wheeljack. However, that wasn't enough to stop him.
"That all you've got?" Wheeljack challenged.
His response was Dreadwing detonating another bomb right next to him. However, Dreadwing turned the corner and found himself facing a dead end. Turning around, he saw Wheeljack blocking his pathway armed and dangerous. Of course, there was another way out.
"If you're thinking about flying out of here," Wheeljack began.
"Think again," Bulkhead finished from his position at the ledge of the canyon.
Dreadwing's smirk was the only response he gave the former Wreckers. Confused, Wheeljack looked up at the rock wall where Bulkhead was standing. To his horror, he saw that Dreadwing had planted another proximity bomb. Immediately, Wheeljack knew what was going to happen next.
"Bulkhead!" Wheeljack cried.
Suddenly the proximity bomb went off and explodes causing the rocks from the cliff face, Bulkhead is on to fall down.
With a yell, Bulkhead fell with the crumbling rocks into the canyon below. Wheeljack shielded his face as the rocks came crumbling down on top of him. When the dust was clear, a pile of rocks stood where Wheeljack once did…
And Dreadwing was gone.
Back at the Autobot base, Bulkhead's signal was appearing on the Cybertronian Computer system, showing that he was in or near the U.S. state of wyoming.
"What's going on?" Chromette asked as she walked in.
"Bulkhead's signal over 1,000 miles away from here," Ratchet answered, "And I would have to imagine that Wheeljack is with him."
"Have you attempted contact?" Optimus asked Ratchet.
"No, response," Ratchet answered.
"I'm going with," Chromette said to Optimus,"And there's nothing you can do to stop me."
Wheeljack grunted as he struggled to free himself from the giant pile of rocks. However, the task was easier said and done…until a rock was lifted away. Wheeljack sighed in relief at the prospect of freedom.
"What took you so long, Bulk? Don't tell me that you're riding with Prime has made you-," Wheeljack cut his remark short when he saw Optimus and Chromette standing over him, "Soft?"
"If you will not take orders from me, that is one thing. But when you place one of my Autobots in danger," Optimus started.
"With all due respect, Sir, Bulkhead knew the risks. Every Wrecker does," Wheeljack defended his actions as he turned away from them, "Now, I'm sure he's just somewhere in this rubble."
"Yeah, I'll believe that when I see it," Chromette said, not believing him.
"I don't need that attitude from you, Femme!" Wheeljack shot back, "Even if you are cute."
Chromette was about to respond when Ratchet contacted them. "Optimus, Chromette, Bulkhead's signal has moved from your current position!"
"You two coming with?" Wheeljack asked casually as he walked away.
This was how Optimus found himself placed in an awkward situation as he had to crouch within the ship as compared to the ship, he was a giant. Wheeljack insisted that Cromette should be in her alternate mode, while on the Jackhammer as it only has room for two but she should be inside the ship if she's in her alternate mode.
"You and Bulkhead share quite a history," Optimus stated, trying to make conversation with the former Wrecker, "and yet you prefer to work alone."
"I wonder why you work alone as well," Chromette said.
"The Wreckers scattered a long time ago. And alone's usually a lot less complicated," Wheeljack shrugged, "Besides if I ever want to settle down I probably would do it with you."
Chromette sighed, "Let's just focus on the task at hand."
"Yes, Ma'am," was all Wheeljack said and the conversation ended.
Eventually, they had arrived where Ratchet had picked up Bulkhead's signal. A shipping depo. Immediately, they exited the ship, Chromete transformed as she exited the ship before stretching for a second, Wheeljack took out his scanner as she did so before they began tracking. Optimus and Chromette were hot on the heels of the experienced former Wrecker. Both of them were armed, They had their servos transformed into their blasters.
"We are close to population," Optimus warned Wheeljack.
"Remember," Chromette began.
"Blaster and fuel pumps don't mix," Wheeljack finished, "Our boy's just up ahead."
When they rounded the bend, the three Autobots froze in pure horror. Before them, they saw Bulkhead was strapped by the Energon cuffs on his wrists to the wall of freight containers behind him. However, that wasn't even the worst of it. The worst of it was that there was a bomb strapped to his chest.
"Hey, guys," Bulkhead greeted weakly.
"Scrap," Wheeljack mumbled.
Bulkhead groaned as Wheeljack ran towards him.
"You've really got yourself in a heap of scrap this time, partner," Wheeljack joked.
"Stay back, Jackie," Bulkhead pleaded.
"Better get to work," Wheeljack remarked as he began analyzing the ticking bomb.
"Have you defused one of these before?" Optimus asked worriedly.
However, when Wheeljack pressed the button that opened the components, his answer wasn't one that made Optimus and Chromette happy, "Fail safes, dummy leads, booby traps; it's a work of art."
"Dreadwing, where are you?" Megatron said, contacting Dreadwing on his comlink.
"Merely pursuing my destiny, Lord Megatron," Dreadwing answered casually.
"Did I not order you to stand down?!" Megatron growled.
"Forgive me, one true Master. But it is my hope that vanquishing Optimus Prime will earn your respect," Dreadwing explained
"Optimus is not so easily disposed of, as I keep trying to explain to all of those who foolishly attempt it," Megatron went on.
"Jackie, if you don't abort, we're both gonna need cleanup," Bulkhead warned.
"Trying to focus here, Bulk," Wheeljack shushed his former partner.
"Where's Optimus and Chromette?" Bulkhead asked, noticing the absence of Optimus and Chromette.
"Like I told you, when the scrap hits the fan blades, the generals are the first to bail," Wheeljack scoffed "And as for Chromette, I bet she followed his commands to retreat."
"No, not Optimus," Bulkhead objected.
"I assure you, Master, in but a few moments, Optimus and three others will be blown to atoms," Dreadwing vowed.
"I will allow it, Dreadwing, in memory of your departed twin, but only this once," Megatron said before turning off the comlink and turned to Soundwave, "I will be quite surprised if we ever set eyes upon Dreadwing again."
"Where is the Prime and the femme?" Dreadwing asked himself as he looked at the area where Wheeljack and Bulkhead was and noticed that Optimus and Chromette were missing.
"Dreadwing, If you are anything like Skyquake, I know that you value loyalty and honor," Optimus said, and Dreadwing turned around looking to see where the voice came from.
"Is there a point to your bluster, Prime?" Dreadwing asked.
"Me and Optimus both know that only Megatron knows nothing of those principles, Dreadwing," Chromette called back.
"He lives solely for destruction and conquest, but there is another path! Deactivate the bomb!" Optimus pleaded.
Realizing where Optimus and the femme were possibly hiding, Dreadwing fired multiple shots at the series of freight boxes standing nearby. He ran towards them. However, to his horror, Optimus and Chromette were gone by the time he arrived.
"Get out of here already!" Bulkhead begged.
"I didn't leave you on Sandokan and I'm not leaving you here!" Wheeljack retorted.
"Face it. There's only one bot that can defuse this mess and his name's Dreadwing!" Bulkhead stated.
"Blaster fire's getting closer," Wheeljack observed, ignoring his partner, "As if the commander and Chromette's..."
Wheeljack was cut off by Bulkhead freeing his hand and punching him in the jaw. Using his strength, Bulkhead ripped his remaining wrist free from the binds. Wheeljack wasn't going to listen to reason and leave him to die and save himself. He knew that this was the only way he was going to get Wheeljack to leave him.
"Sorry, Jackie. It's 'cause I love ya," Bulkhead said to Wheeljack before running away.
Optimus and Chromette kept on running through the shipping depot firing shots. Optimus and Chromette hid behind another set of freight boxes to shield themselves from Dreadwing, as he fired shots at them with his cannon. He charged towards them, only to get shot at from above, he looked up and saw that Optimus and Chromette were standing on two separate freight containers that were situated next to each other, shooting at him. They jumped onto another freight container which was lined up against other freight containers and shot at him as they ran from Dreadwing. They jumped of a container and shot back at him as he stood above them on the container.
The two Autobots went left passing freight containers, evading Dreadwing's shots, Dreadwing looked around as he lost them before going forward, not the same path Optimus and Chromette went.
Bulkhead glanced around looking for an escape. He needed to get as far away from civilization as he possibly could. The proximity bomb had a wide radius. The further he pushed his loved ones away from danger, the better it would be. As he turned, he saw the open bay with choppy waters waiting to swallow him. Perfect. No boats around. Everyone would be safe from the bomb.
"I'm Sorry, fishes!" Bulkhead whimpered.
"Bulkhead, wait!" Wheeljack begged as he jumped in front of him.
"Out of my way!" Bulkhead said
Bulkhead tried to push past him to jump into the bay and save everyone else. Wheeljack placed his hands on his chassis as he tried to force him to stop. Eventually, Bulkhead did stop, realizing that he wasn't going to win that easy. Well…he did when Wheeljack almost fell into the bay with him.
"Will you listen to me, Bulk?! You were right! Dreadwing's the only one who can diffuse it! And both Optimus and Chromette know it too!" Wheeljack told him.
They watched as Chromette got into position under the shipping crane and Optimus climbed on top of it. Optimus had a plan going on in his head. It was a dangerous one. He explained it to Chromette, she went with it in order to save one of her friends.
"Hey Dreadwing!" Chromette called as she backed away while Dreadwing came closer, "You want to have the honor of killing one of the three Autobots who killed your brother?!"
"Now, Optimus!" Chromette called as Dreadwing walked closer to her as he took his cannon out and she ran away.
With a cry, Optimus came down with the shipping crane. Dreadwing only realized the situation when it was too late. Hopping off of it, Optimus looked down and saw that Dreadwing was pinned by the crane with no way out. Bulkhead and Wheeljack eventually came over and joined Optimus and Chromette. Wheeljack couldn't help but admit that trapping Dreadwing like that was pretty genius of Optimus.
"Dreadwing, diffuse the bomb or fall victim to your own device," Optimus threatened.
"I will gladly sacrifice myself to avenge my brother," Dreadwing spat.
"I would advise you to rethink your statement," Chromette said as she deployed her arm blades and put them near his neck.
"I still won't change my mind," Dreadwing said.
"Then we will, in turn, gladly join the Allspark with our brother," Optimus decreed.
"And with you. You'll never shake us," Wheeljack added as he crossed his arms.
"That means we'll be with you for eternity," Chromette added.
A few moments later, Dreadwing relented. He would have the chance to avenge his brother another day. Today was not that day.
"Very well," Dreadwing sighed.
Optimus and Wheeljack removed the shipping crane that had him trapped. Staying true to his word, Dreadwing stood up and approached the scared Autobot. Just as the bomb was about to blow, he reached in and pulled a wire. Upon the dismantling of the blue wire, the beeping immediately stopped. Dreadwing had defused the bomb and saved the lives of himself, Optimus, Wheeljack, Bulkhead and Chromette. Bulkhead breathed a sigh of relief.
"I had it narrowed down to the blue or the yellow…or the red," Wheeljack shrugged.
"Seriously?" Chromette said with disbelief at Wheeljack.
Dreadwing had a smirk of his own. Grabbing his remote, he pressed a single button. Bombs were detonating all over the shipping depot, causing Dreadwing to make a run for it. Luckily for the Autobots, they were all safe.
"So, who do we call for cleanup?" Wheeljack asked Optimus, Bulkhead and Chromette as he surveyed the damage Dreadwing caused.
"Optimus Prime still lives. As do you, Dreadwing. And that is a victory however small," Megatron relented, "As Skyquake so tragically discovered."
"Speak to me not of my twin, Lord Megatron," Dreadwing pleaded, "For I am here on Earth to obey your will and yours alone."
"Listen, Commander, I just wanted to say it was an honor watching you and Chromette work," Wheeljack said as he approached Optimus, "I, uh, think maybe I had the wrong idea about you."
"And it would seem that you place a greater value on community than you otherwise let on," Optimus said as he let out his servo for Wheeljack to shake.
"Whoa, let's not jump the gun here," Wheeljack said as he backed away.
"Come on, Jackie," Bulkhead said as he slapped Wheeljack in the back playfully, "If you leave, you'll probably just wind up coming right back again."
"All that wasted fuel, and energon is in short supply," Arcee added.
Bumblebee buzzed.
"Then again, we do have limited space," Ratchet said.
"You could scout out and search for Energon mines for us," Chromette added.
"Not sure if I'm ready to give up my freedom just yet, I might do what you said Chromette, as well as do some exploring, see if this rock suits me," Wheeljack said.
"No offense to the Jackhammer, but you need an Earth-based vehicle mode," Bulkhead said.
Bulkhead watched as Wheeljack ran through the desert and jumped into the air, transforming into his new vehicle form a white, green and red sports car that resembled a Lancia Fenomenon Stratos. Bulkhead waved goodbye to Wheeljack as he disappeared in a cloud of desert sand. He may be saying goodbye to his friend. But one thing was for certain. He'll always come back.
Next is Crossfire
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