NOTE: Before you read this second chapter, I would like to point out that yes, I did borrow Discord's line from Bride of Discord and I didn't do any research on the Matrix of Leadership that it can only be earned by someone worthy of being the next Prime that it can't be forcibly taken because it's like Thor's hammer where it can only be wielded by someone worthy. I wanna thank my critics and reviewers for pointing that flaw out and I will try to write some original lines instead of copying lines from other stories, and I will do more research on the Transformers lore. With that said, enjoy this second chapter of Transformers: Prime: Smokescreen's Destiny.


Back in the Autobots base in Jasper, Nevada, Ratchet, Bulkhead, Arcee, Wheeljack, and Bumblebee were now fully concerned about their leader, Optimus Prime, and their new Autobot rookie, Smokescreen. They've figured out that they have been captured by Megatron and his Decepticons, so they decided that they should come up with a plan to rescue them before Megatron would do something horrible to Optimus like killing him and claiming the Matrix of Leadership for himself and interrogating Smokescreen into revealing the location of the Autobots base in Jasper.

"I fear that Optimus and Smokescreen might have been captured last night and I believe that they might be held captive aboard the Nemesis by Megatron and his army." Ratchet said to his Autobot friends. "If we don't come up with a plan to rescue them without being turned to scrap, then Megatron will destroy the lineage of the Primes and all hope will be lost."

"Who knows what Megatron will do with the Matrix of Leadership if he gets his servos on it," said Wheeljack. "He'll probably take it from Optimus by force and then use it for himself," he concluded. "Not necessarily. I doubt that Megatron will ever be capable of using the Matrix to become the next Prime since it can only be earned by one worthy of wielding that power bestowed upon Optimus by Primus himself. Remember when Megatron couldn't get that Star Saber out of that mountain? It didn't accept him that's for sure since his spark is full of hatred, malice, and evil," Ratchet explained.

"Then what about Smokescreen? The Decepticons will probably force him to reveal where our secret base is and I don't want us to lose another one of our team members as much as we don't want to lose Optimus." Arcee pointed out.

"She's right. We got to do something to save Optimus and Smokescreen." Bulkhead said.

Ratchet thought for a moment before he had an idea. Meanwhile, back on the Nemesis hovering in the clouds, Megatron was giving his triumphant speech to his Decepticons about winning the Great War while wearing the Matrix of Leadership on his chained necklace like it's some kind of trophy. While Megatron was monologuing about his evil plans for what to do next now that Optimus Prime is powerless to stop him, Smokescreen was still being held in his bondage with his arms and legs being locked in electro-chains and he lowered his head on his chest in despair. He was feeling hopeless as he said to himself.

"This is all my fault. I'm sorry Optimus...I failed you." Smokescreen said in a sad lowered voice. "Some Autobot I turned out to be." The young mech told himself.

Optimus Prime was still in the torture chamber and the Vehicons were busy on guard duty. Megatron was confident that he and his Decepticons would finally win the war when suddenly, their warship was attacked by missiles that came from an Autobot aircraft. Ratchet had come up with a plan to rescue Optimus Prime and Smokescreen as he told Wheeljack to distract the Decepticons while he and the rest of Team Prime would sneak aboard the Nemesis to find their leader and their rookie.

"Lord Megatron! We're under attack!" Steve the Vehicon yelled.

Megatron realizes that the Autobots have come to the rescue. He barks to his Decepticons, "Capture the Autobots!" He ordered. "Keep them from finding Optimus Prime!"

"You heard the Master! Find out where the Autobots are and destroy them!" Starscream said to the Vehicons.

Wheeljack rides his airship around the Nemesis while firing missals at it, attracting the Decepticons as a few of them stormed out and they transformed into jets to fly out and fire their lasers at the Autobot. Inside the Nemesis, Smokescreen could hear the sounds of explosions and sparks flew across the room until the controls connected to where the young Autobot was being held prisoner was damaged. Once Smokescreen's restraints were removed, he seizes the opportunity to get out of his prison cell, find Optimus Prime and help the Autobots get the Matrix of Leadership back from Megatron.

"I gotta find Optimus!" Smokescreen said to himself before Ratchet com linked the young bot.

"Smokescreen, do you read me?" The Autobot medic called. Smokescreen answered, "Ratchet? What's going on? Where are you?" He asked.

"We're inside the Nemesis while Wheeljack is attacking the warship. We came to rescue you and Optimus." Ratchet told him. "Where is he?" He asked.

"I don't know. But don't worry, I'll find him and we'll meet up with you!" Smokescreen replied. "Smokescreen, be careful!" Ratchet raised his voice through the comlink. Smokescreen didn't answer as he transformed into his vehicle mode and he drove out of the prison room to find out where Megatron has kept Optimus. When Soundwave saw that Smokescreen had escaped from his prison cell, he notified Megatron about it. The dark lord knew that he would have to find the young mech quickly before he finds Optimus and frees him. Dreadwing leads the Vehicons and the Insecticons through the hallway of the Nemesis to kill or capture Ratchet, Bulkhead, Arcee, Bumblebee, and Wheeljack while keeping them from finding their leader.

Meanwhile, Optimus Prime groaned in pain in his cell at the torture chamber for he was badly wounded. When he heard the explosions and the commotion going on in the background, he was unsure what was happening until he saw the surveillance footage of Team Prime fighting against the 'Cons inside the Nemesis. But when he saw footage of Smokescreen running through the hallway to find him, he even saw that Megatron was wearing the Matrix on his chained necklace while he went to find Smokescreen and that made Optimus Prime fear for the young mech's safety. He knew that he would be no match for his arch-nemesis. "Smokescreen!" Optimus Prime exclaimed. He tried to remove the restraints, but he was too badly hurt to free himself as he was feeling the wounds that Megatron gave him before he left.

Smokescreen was now alone inside the dark rooms of the Nemesis as he cried out Optimus' name in the vain hope of finding him. When he stopped by to take a breather, he scoped around and he was surprised that there were no signs of any Decepticons, or Vehicons, or Insecticons. But just as the young mech was about to use the Decepticons computer to hopefully find Optimus Prime and Team Prime inside the Nemesis, he heard a deep, male voice that startled him from behind.

"There is no escape for you, young Autobot! The Matrix belongs to me now and soon this world will be mine." Megatron said to Smokescreen.

"Megatron! Where's Optimus Prime!? What did you do to him!?" Smokescreen yelled at the warlord.

Megatron smirked at Smokescreen, "Oh, him? Well, I believe that Prime is..." He made a throat-cut gesture to indicate that he killed Optimus Prime in the torture chamber.

Smokescreen gasped in horror. "NO! How could you!?" He cried. Megatron didn't seem to care for Prime's well-being nor did he felt ashamed as he coldly replied, "He had it coming you know." Enraged, Smokescreen primes his blaster cannon at Megatron while screaming, "MURDERER! You killed Optimus! You...you MONSTER! I'll tear you apart!" Megatron chuckled evilly at Smokescreen as he didn't seem to be intimidated by the young bot's threatening pose.

"And what can you possibly do to stop me, boy? You are no Prime and you are no match for me!" Megatron said to Smokescreen.

Smokescreen bellowed in anger at the Decepticon warlord. "My name...is SMOKESCREEN!" He ran up towards Megatron and he attacks him.

Megatron and Smokescreen engage in their first epic battle with each other. Smokescreen tries to get the Matrix, but Megatron punches him in the chest before Smokescreen sees that the warlord drew out his sword from his arm. Smokescreen was now terrified as Megatron swings his blade at the young Autobot. Smokescreen avoids his sword attacks and he tries to run away from his adversary.

"You cannot run or hide from me, Autobot! Optimus Prime has you to thank for his demise." Megatron taunted.

"RRRAAAAGH!" Smokescreen yelled angrily and he found a sword-like weapon as he grabs it before he tries to attack Megatron with it only for him to block the sharp and pointy metal with his.

"That's the spirit!" Megatron said. He pushes Smokescreen out of the way before he challenges him to a duel. "Are you ready to face your doom?" he asked.

"Ready as I'll ever be. This is for Optimus!" Smokescreen yelled as he runs over to fight Megatron.

Meanwhile, Ratchet and Bulkhead got rid of two Vehicon soldiers and they found the wounded Optimus Prime in the torture chamber. They removed the restraints and the Autobots were shocked and saddened to see that Megatron did a number on him. They saw that the Matrix of Leadership had been removed from Prime's chest and Optimus coughed up Energon when Bulkhead tried to help him up. "Optimus! You're wounded!... The Matrix...is it?" Ratchet asked. "Megatron...took the Matrix...Smokescreen is in danger." Optimus said weakly. Ratchet tries to commlink Smokescreen. "Smokescreen! Do you read!?" he called.

"Ratchet! I need help!" Smokescreen answered. "Megatron's attacking me! He-AAAGH!" Smokescreen's left arm had been scratched by Megatron's blade. "Smokescreen!" Ratchet yelled. Optimus Prime wanted to run over to find Smokescreen and save him from Megatron, but Bulkhead told him not to increase the pain in his chest. Smokescreen and Megatron continued their sword fight with each other for a bit until Smokescreen jumps on Megatron and he hits him in the head before he manages to get the Matrix of Leadership as he makes a backflip while kicking Megatron in the jaw before he makes a run for it. Megatron rubs his aching head and he sees that the Matrix's been removed from his chained necklace and he growls angrily before he starts to pursue Smokescreen to get it back. Smokescreen runs deeper into the Nemesis and he goes into hiding while holding the sharp metal blade and the Matrix in his servos.

"Give me back the Matrix and face me, Autobot!" Megatron shouted.

Smokescreen felt his spark racing as he began to fear for his life. He knew how powerful Megatron was and what kind of damage he would cause to his enemies. The Autobot rookie kept the Matrix close to his chest and he continued to hide in the shadows. Megatron searched around the room for Smokescreen as he held up his sword while the two of them were alone in the darkness with only a bit of blue and purple light shining from the upper floor of the warship.

"You cannot hide forever, young Autobot...I can sense your fear...and I know you have the Matrix of Leadership somewhere...give it to me!" Megatron said to Smokescreen as he searched the room for him.

Smokescreen shook his head while hiding in the shadows. "No. Never! I will NEVER let you have it for yourself!" he cried.

"Really? Then let me ask you this, boy...Have you ever wondered where you got the name, "Smokescreen"? When I was a gladiator in my younger years, I wasn't always evil you know. I once helped a femme bot deliver her newborn sparkling over to the nursery when her spark was extinguished. I wanted to adopt that sparkling, but I didn't have the budget nor did I have the parenting skills to raise him as my own son. So, I gave him to an Autobot couple and I never saw him again. I had never felt such joy in years until I met this baby the day I delivered him from his carrier when she was in labor before she died of childbirth. I thought that I would never meet him again...until now. You see, that sparkling that I wanted to adopt...was you."

Smokescreen couldn't believe what he was hearing from Megatron as he felt shocked and confused, "W-What?!" he said.

Megatron made a malevolent grin. "Yes, child. It was I who named you, "Smokescreen"." he said.

"Y-You're my...my...my...father?!" Smokescreen exclaimed.

Megatron replied, "No. If I was truly your blood relative, then you would've looked similar to me. Now, I have no knowledge of your real father, but from what your mother told me before she died...he abandoned you both for he wanted nothing to do with becoming a father."

"But why did you abandon me all those stellar cycles ago?! Didn't you want me? And didn't you love me?" Smokescreen asked as he felt more emotionally confused.

"Of course, I loved you! You were so precious to me. You were like the son I never had!" Megatron replied in an emotional tone of voice. "I didn't want to say goodbye to you when you were brought in by the Autobots. But now that we're together again, I would like you to come out of hiding so that I can see you face-to-face."

Smokescreen paused and he shook his head as he believed that Megatron was toying with his emotions, "No...NO! This is all a trick! You're trying to convince me to join your side with such lies and to hand over the Matrix of Leadership to you!" he yelled.

But Megatron wouldn't leave Smokescreen alone as he continued to pressure him with words to make him come out of hiding. "Please, I do not wish to hurt you. Hand over the Matrix and I will give you everything you've always wanted. Power, admiration, respect, and most of all: a family. Come with me, my son. Join me and I will train you to become stronger and better than I am and I'll have you lead the Decepticons towards peace. Only you can help put an end to this war."

The Autobot rookie could feel the growing tension as Megatron walked closer to where he was hiding and Smokescreen felt his spark racing faster as his optics closed tight, waiting for what the warlord will do to him once he'd found him. Suddenly, Megatron stopped to another sound of explosions before Smokescreen had enough and he came out of hiding with the Matrix in his arm as he aims his gun at Megatron while shouting, "I'll never join you! You've picked the wrong Autobot to adopt, old mech! And I would rather die for Optimus than to live with you!"

Megatron was awed by Smokescreen's bravery as he was six feet away from him. "Such determination you have. So be it, then. I'll even give you enough time to think about it before you'll even consider my offer to join me." Megatron said to the young Autobot.