Both Sari and Bumblebee have made their way to Blackwater Prison, a very advanced maximum-security prison for criminals. They were there to see one criminal in particular.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Bumblebee asked Sari as they walked down the hallway of the maximum-security prison.
"Erm… no." Sari answered back, "But as long as we've come this far, we might as well talk to him."
The two continued forward while the security gates closed behind them; Bumblebee and Sari walked towards the giant cube placed at the end of the cellblock. Standing in front of the door made from the same transparent materials as the rest of the cube, Sari knocked on it, causing the cell's occupant to stir and rise from his slumber.
"Sari Sumdac. How nice of you to come. I get so few visitors these days," said Meltdown as he stood up and approached his guests.
"You might get more if you didn't try to turn people like me into mutated freaks," Sari retorted.
"Water under the bridge," said Meltdown, waving aside the memories of their last run in. "To what do I owe the honour of your presence?"
"That two-faced rat, Porter C. Powell, stole her father's company!" Bumblebee spoke up, cutting to the chase.
"My heart melts for you, my dear," Meltdown simply replied.
"He did the same thing to you, didn't he?" Sari asked.
"Yeah, don't you have something she could use against him?" Bumblebee added.
"Powell's a double-dealing slimeball," Meltdown replied, "but he's also a shrewd businessman. I doubt you'll catch him doing anything criminal. However…" he continued, moving back to his bunk and sitting down on it. "…if you find a way to spring me out of here, all of your problems could just melt away." Acid began to ooze out of their protective gloves, melting his bunk to help carry Meltdown's point across to his two visitors.
"Whoa, I didn't mean anything like that!" Sari said, aghast at what the villain was proposing. "Forget it!"
She then grabbed Bumblebee's hand, and the two of them made their way to the exit.
"If you change your mind, you know where to find me!" Meltdown called after them, standing up as his bunk melted completely, turning to sludge beneath his feet. "I lose more furniture that way."
No one was aware that Powell had been spying on their conversation through the security cameras.
"That brat and her Autobot buddies are getting to be a real pain," he said. "I'll have to keep a closer eye on them."
It was now night at Blackwater prison when suddenly there was a huge explosion.
Meltdown was in his seven could hear the explosion, and it seemed to be getting nearer.
"So had a change of heart?" Meltdown asked, assuming it was the Autobot.
However, he could have been more wrong, as bursting into the prison were none other than the Dinobots.
"You?" Meltdown stared terrified.
Grimlock approached his cell. "He what you. You come with us."
"I'm not going anywhere; this cell is impenetrable!" Meltdown pointed out. "Just like that thick skull of yours. No one can break in or out."
"Dinobots, not break box," said Grimlock. "Dinobots take box."
Meltdown could only watch in fear as Grimlock tore his prison cell from the wall.
The Dinobots then took him all the way to Dinobot Island.
"What are you doing, you mechanical miscreants?!" Meltdown roared as they carried him to a ravine. "But me down!"
Grimlock then rolled the cell of his back, and Meltdown screamed as he was not against its walls until he was plastered against one of them.
"Not like that," he groaned.
The Dinobots then began chanting in a tribal sort of way, and then emerging from the bushes were Tarantulas.
"Well done, fellas, you followed your orders to a T," he said smiling and then jumped down into the ravine. "I'll be sure to give you all a good word for my sister once we're done."
The Dinobots transformed to robot mode, and Grimlock marched up to him.
"Me Grimlock demands you tell spider lady how Dinobots feel," he growled.
Tarantulas turned his eyes to the other Dinobots. "And do you all feel the same?"
"Me Swoop with leader Grimlock," said Swoop.
"Me Snarl, what spider lady!" Snarl growled.
The triceratops and brontosaurus bot nodded.
"In that case…" said Tarantulas, then plunged his stingers into Grimlock and knocked him out cold. He then turned to the other Dinobots. "It would seem you boys need a reminder of our deal."
He then breathed fire at them, forcing them to run away.
"They have a little crush on my sister; it's adorable, really," said Tarantulas looking at Meltdown. "Though it does get tiresome as I have to keep reminding them who's in charge around here."
"Would you care to explain why those primitive halfwits brought me here?" Meltdown demanded.
"Because I asked them to," said Tarantulas. "Remember how Megatron got his gear stripped by the Autobots?" He then laughed. "Of course not; you are rotting in prison, weren't you? Anyway, after that battle, I washed ashore here. The Dinobots found me and were kind enough to give me a home, your home.
"Then, one day, I discovered your notes; I have to admit that I was deeply fascinated by your research on genetic modification. It was the answer I had been looking for. With your help, I can finally purge my sister of her cursive organic contamination."
"Your sister?" Meltdown frowned. "I didn't even realise you machines had siblings?"
"Not in the way your thinking, but I didn't bring you here to discuss the life-cycle us Cybertronains. I brought you here to help cure my sister."
"And she would be?"
"Let me give you a hint," said Tarantulas and then transformed into his beast mode and then talked a chunk of the cell with his pincers.
"Gualala, I think I start to see the family resemblance," said Meltdown as he stepped out of his cell. "But why would I help your sister, considering that she assisted in my arrest?"
Tarantulas leaning towards him. "Because I promised the Dinobots that once Elita is cured, I'd tell her how they helped her." He then transformed back into robot mode. "And you wouldn't want to get between them and their crush and make them unhappy."
"Unhappy," Grimlock growled.
Fanzone was currently at Blackwater Prison investigating the breakout, ignoring the number of reporters demanding questions. Powell then pushed through the crowd and approached Fanezone.
"Captain Fanzone, I know who is responsible for this!" he yelled. "It's Sumdac's daughter and her pet robots."
Fanzone gave him a sceptical look. "How do you figure that, Mr Powell."
"Just look at this," said Powell and pulled out a recording of their meeting with Meltdown.
"…if you find a way to spring me out of here, all of your problems could just melt away," said Meltdown.
"I don't suppose you want to tell me how you came in possession of that recording?" Fanzone asked.
"What does it matter where I got it!" Powell snapped. "I'm not on trial here, Captain. My life could be in danger; I deserve protection."
"Ya want protection? Get a schnauzer," he said, walking away.
Back at base, the Autobots were looking at the news report about the jailbreak.
"Meltdown's Escaped? No way!" Bumblebee gasped.
"We were just talking to him. Why'd he break out?" Sari wondered aloud as she looked at the TV screen.
"Maybe Meltdown wants to go after your dad again," Bumblebee suggested. "Or turn a bunch of more innocent humans into bat-shark-crab-squid thingies."
"Hey!" Sari said, giving Bumblebee a kick to his foot.
"What? I didn't mean you, specifically," Bumblebee continued. "Although you got to admit, the guy has a thing for your family."
Pressing a button on the TV remote to pause the image on the screen, Prowl turned to Bumblebee and said, "Bumblebee, for once, can't you keep quiet?"
"What do you mean? I can keep quiet any time, any place."
"Really? I'll bet you a case of axle grease that you can't keep quiet for ten cycles."
"Oh, you're on! I am so going to win that axle grease." Bumblebee said, leaning over to Bulkhead.
"Ahem." Prowl coughed, getting Bumblebee's attention.
"What? We're starting now? Okay, this time, not a word, zippo, nada. The mute button is on."
Prowl shook his head at Bumblebee's poor attempt to stay quiet and, with another press of the remote, increasing the resolution of the recording of the breakout.
"Look at this," he said, pointing at the screen. "There's some kind of reflection. If I increase the resolution, we might be able to… There!" he said as the reflection on the Meltdown's cell cleared enough to be identified as the Dinobots.
"What? Dinobots?" Optimus stared in disbelief. "But they despise Meltdown. What could have possibly possessed them to spring him?"
"To get an out of jail free card? Bumblebee blurted out. Optimus raised an optic ridge.
"Not even half a cycle," said Prowl.
Bumblebee realised his mistake and looked at Prowl pleadingly. "Wait, give me another chance!"
"We need to look into this," said Optimus and turned to Prowl. "Prowl, you know Dinobot Island like the back of your servos. You, Moonracer, Elita and Bumblebee come with me."
Prowl nodded.
"Transform and roll out!" Optimus ordered.
They then transformed to vehicle mode and drove away.
Arriving at Dinobot Island and once they got to the forest, they transformed into robot mode.
"All right, be quiet, and keep your sensors alert for any sign of the Dinobots," Optimus whispered
"I'm already being quiet. Didn't you notice?" Bumblebee spoke up,
"All right, that was six and a half cycles, tops!" Prowl said irritably.
Bumblebee flinched. "Let me start over."
"It'll be best if we split up to search the island," Optimus continued. But be careful."
"You bet I'll be careful. Awww, man, not again," Bumblebee groaned at his apparent inability to keep quiet as he went off in one direction, while Prowl smirked and went off in another direction.
"You think that this better theirs is wise given the situation?" Elita asked.
"I very much doubt that it's going to have any negative effects on the mission, given the fact that Bumblebee is incapable of remaining silent," said Moonracer.
With that, the two femms made their way into the forest, and Optimus did the same.
Elita began making her way through the forest, keeping her optics open for anything unusual. It wasn't long until she found something when she bent down to examine it. It was webbing, but it wasn't hers.
"Webbing?" she frowned. "Then that must mean…" Her eyes widened when she realised the scope of the danger they were in. "I need to inform Optimus and the others."
"I'm afraid I can't let you do that," said a voice.
Elita spun around at the next thing she saw was a fist, knocking her out cold.
Tarantulas look down at her unconscious body. "I must say I do like the new look, but it is clear you have not yet been able to remove your organic infection. But don't you worry, sis, you will be cured soon."
Meanwhile, Prowl was still making his way through the forest, somersaulting from branch to branch until he landed in a clearing where he saw a partially melted rock. He knelt down to examine it, and clearly, it had been hit by very familiar acid.
"Looks like Meltdown's been here," he said as he examined the rock closely.
"Prowl!" Bumblebee's voice rang out, drawing the ninja bot's attention.
"What is it this time, Bumblebee?" Prowl said in irritation, finally at the end of his patience, as he began to run in the direction of Bumblebee's voice. "What brilliant, insightful thought can you not wait to share with the rest of the world?"
Reaching his destination, Prowl gasped as he spotted the sight before him. He found Bumblebee unconscious and tied up in a spider's web, and seconds later, Tarantulas jumped behind him. He had only just spun around when he injected him with his stingers, hitting him with a powerful dose of cyber venom.
"I think he was trying to warn you about me," said Tarantulas and then wrapped up with webbing.
Optimus was making his way through the forest, looking for any signs of Meltdown or the Dinobots. Then emerging from the trees was Moonracer.
"Found anything?" Optimus asked.
Moonracer shook her head. "Not a trace."
Then suddenly, they saw emerging from the bushes was Grimlock.
"There again, I could be wrong," said Moonracer.
Optimus quickly reach with his comlink. "Elita! Prowl! Bumblebee! I'm going to need backup here!"
"Oh, I don't think they'll be able to help you," a familiar voice spoke up from behind them.
They quickly spun around and saw hanging upside down from a tree was Tarantulas.
"Tarantulas?" Optimus stared.
"Dion?" Moonracer gasped.
"Ah, Moonracer, I heard that you joined Optimus' crew," said Tarantulas narrowing his eyes.
Optimus then suddenly charged at Tarantulas and tried to grab him, only to discover that it was a hologram, and he crashed into a tree.
"Optimus!" Moonracer yelled, rushing towards him.
The real Tarantulas then appeared and fired a bolt of ratchet you from his stinger, hitting her and causing her to crash on top of Optimus.
The two of them managed to pick themselves up and looked at Tarantulas.
"You? You attacked Bumblebee and Prowl and stole their powers," said Optimus.
"I prefer the term borrow," said Tarantulas.
"What are you done with Elita?" Moonracer demanded.
"She's quite safe, I assure you, but I can't say the same for your little friends," said Tarantulas gesturing to the other Dinobots, who had just arrived.
Swoop then dropped Prowl and Bumblebee onto the ground, who were still unconscious.
"When I took their powers, I gave them something in return, an extra dose of venom," Tarantulas explained. "And if I don't administer the antidote in 2 megacycles, they'll go off-line permanently."
"Give them the antidote! Now!" Optimus demanded
"And free Elita while you're at it!" Moonracer roared.
"Actually, that will have to wait," said Tarantulas as he lowered himself to the ground. "I have a special mission for the two of you and my friend Grimlock here. My new friend Meltdown has agreed to cure Elita of her organic contamination."
Meltdown then stepped out of the bushes. "Oh yes, but I need a special genetic modifier to complete her conversion."
"Have you ever asked Elita if this is what she wants?" Moonracer asked.
"I will admit that I was surprised by her new look, but he is still suffering from her affliction, and I will do whatever it takes to save her," Tarantulas growled. "Even if that means working with questionable scientists with morality issues."
"Why have us do your dirty work when you have the Dinobots wrapped around your claws?" Optimus asked.
"The Dinobots may be strong, but they aren't extremely bright, and they would know what to look for or where to find it. Which is why I acquired your help, but I also knew that I had to get you motivated."
"You heard spider bot," said Grimlock as he marched towards the man and grabbed Optimus. "Come with me, Grimlock."
"You better return soon." Tarantulas called after them as he looked over to Bumblebee and Prowl, "For their sake."
Grimlock stompped his way through the roads of the city in his dinosaur form, scaring the humans and causing panic.
"You see puny humans run?" Grimlock asked. "Dinobots rule!"
Optimus then quickly fired a grapple and wrapped it around his neck to calm him down.
"We're not here to scare people," said Optimus as he tried to pull the Dinobot into line with his grapple. "We're here to get Meltdown's genetic modifier. Maybe you'd be less conspicuous in robot mode."
"Okay," Grimlock agreed, transformed to robot mode. "But Me Grimlock still taller than you, that's why spider-lady likes Me Grimlock best."
Optimus sighed in frustration and shook her head, "Don't you realise Tarantulas is just using us? Grimlock, as soon as he gets that genetic modifier. He'll drop us like a used engine block!"
Grimlock growled at him. "Spider bot told Dinobots about how truck bot hurt spider lady."
"Optimus would never purposely hurt Elita!" Moonracer glared.
Grimlock refused to listen to them. "Autobots bad me Grimlock go alone." He then began to march off, only to return a few seconds later. "Uhhh. Where me Grimlock find genetic thingy?"
Moonracer rolled her eyes. "And this is why Tarantulas want us to tag along."
Optimus sighed and indicated to Grimlock to follow him. "Come on! I know who can get it."
"Me Grimlock, go with you. But me Grimlock go with you alone!"
Powell was preparing to leave for the night when he found company waiting for him in the lobby.
"Where is thingy?" Grimlock demanded as he stomped towards Powell.
With a scream of fright, Powell raised his briefcase up in front of him like a shield. "Stay back! Don't hurt me!" he yelled.
"Uhh, Me Grimlock, not supposed to scare puny humans," Grimlock frowned till Optimus and Moonracer came up to Grimlock's side.
"This one, you can scare all you want," said Optimus.
Upon those words, Grimlock transformed and towered over Powell. "Then give us thingy now!" he roared as he picked Powell up in his teeth.
"What thingy? What's he talking about?" Powell asked in terror as he hung from the Dinobot's jaws.
"Prometheus Black's genetic modifier," Optimus answered.
"Never heard of it!" Powell said.
"We know that you have all of Meltdown's equipment when you shut down his company, so there's no point in lying," said Moonracer.
"And even if I do have a, why should I give it to you?" Powell asked.
"Did I mention that our friend is awfully hungry?" Optimus asked.
With a flick of his head, Grimlock tossed the Powell into the air, sending the human landing into his mouth, and clamped his jaws shut.
"You can have it!" Powell responded as he tried to get out of Grimlock's mouth. "I know where it is!"
Optimus smiled. "I knew you'd see reason."
After getting Grimlock to spit him out, he hit the ground covered in oil.
"My suit," he groaned.
Powell then led them to Meltdown's former lab.
"Black's lab has been locked up ever since his unfortunate accident," said Powell as he entered the lab. He stopped right in his tracks as a load crash reached his ears as Grimlock tore a hole through the wall.
"Don't touch anything!" he said as Grimlock tried to keep his balance as he stepped into the lab. "Since he went bankrupt, technically, all this belongs to me."
Grimlock then suddenly lost his balance and fell flat down on a lab table smashing everything on it.
"He did it," Grimlock said, pointing at Optimus.
Powell narrowed his eyes but then went to retrieve the genetic modifier.
"Here it is, the genetic modifier," he said as he carried the device over to Optimus. "But if you want it this badly, it must be more valuable than I thought."
Optimus didn't answer Powell, and he simply shot him a glare.
Powell flinched at this and spoke up again. "Are you going to finish me off now?"
"It's a tempting offer," Optimus said as he took the genetic modifier off of Powell. "But right now, I'm a little pressed for time."
"Cat yourself lucky that we have more pressing issues," said Moonracer as they left.
Once they were gone, Powell quickly pulled out his phone and Fanzone. "Captain Fanzone! I've just been rocked!"
Back on Dinobot Island, Meltdown was getting everything prepared for the separation process. All he needed now was the genetic modifier. Elita was still out cold, and Tarantulas were standing over Meltdown as he restrained Elita to the operating table.
"Are those really necessary?" Tarantulas asked.
"Not unless you want your sister to accidentally slice off her own head with those claws of hers?" said Meltdown. "I admit that I am curious as to why you don't wish to experience the procedure first."
"Because my sister has suffered enough, and I don't trust you," said Tarantulas plainly. "Especially considering that my sister is part of the reason why you were imprisoned in the first place."
"Fair enough."
Then suddenly, the wall burst wide open as
Just then, part of the lab wall collapsed as Grimlock broke his way through, followed by Optimus and Moonracer.
"No hurt, spider-lady!" Grimlock shouted.
"Ah, gentlemen and lady, I've been expecting you," said Meltdown, turning his attention to the two, "Do you have my genetic modifier?"
"You're not getting it until you free Elita and Tarantulas gives the venom antidote to our friends," said Optimus as he held the device in question up for Meltdown to see.
"I was afraid you might feel that way," said Meltdown and snapped his fingers. Suddenly several purple tentacles wrapped themselves around Optimus and pulled him back, causing him to drop the genetic modifier.
It became clear that Meltdown had somehow freed his three mutated subjects, and now they were attacking the three of them. A split second later, they soon found themselves flung outside the lab, and then they pounced on.
"Since you seem to have your hands full, I'll just take this," said Meltdown as he picked up the modifier and placed it into its connection. "Shall we proceed, then?"
Elita then regained consciousness and found himself strapped to an operating table. "What is this?"
"Calm down, Elita; we're just going to extract that foul organic half of yours," Tarantulas assured her as wires attached themselves to Elita's head.
"Ah, about that, I should probably mention a slight change in plans," said Meltdown.
Tarantulas turned on him. "What?"
"Don't worry, I will be purging half of her techno-organic form, just not the half you think," Meltdown smirked.
"You slimy traitor! You can't! I won't let you!" Tarantulas roared and launched himself at Meltdown.
However, he soon found a pair of massive arms holding him down and looked up to see that he was now pinned down by Colossus.
"I guess the Dinobots never mentioned my disdain for machines," said Meltdown leaning towards him. "Once we eliminate all of your sister's robotic circuitry, her remaining arachnid tissue will be perfect for my genetic experiments, and then I'll use the same process on you. And I will finally achieve my dream of creating a transforming organic."
"NO!" Tarantulas yelled while Meltdown reached for the switch to start the process.
"It's time for your extreme makeover," Meltdown smirked at Elita, who was desperately trying to free herself and activated the console.
Outside, the battle continued as the bat creature knocked Grimlock to the ground with another tackle. At the same time, Optimus tried to free himself from the shark creature's hold. The lizard creature had Moonracer trapped in an arm lock.
"Me Grimlock smash bad bat," Grimlock yelled as he drew out his flame sword and began to slash at the bat monster.
"Stop! You'll torch the island!" Optimus yelled over at Grimlock.
"And us along with it!" Moonracer yelled.
"No one tells me Grimlock how to fight!" Grimlock yelled as he swung his sword yet again.
The bat creature flew out of the path of the flames, which hit a nearby tree and soon quickly spread to the rest of the forest.
Inside the lab, Elita was struggling to free herself from her bonds.
"You can't do this to me!" Elita screamed.
"My dear, you're hardly in a position to make threats." Meltdown retorted as he looked over at Elita.
"Want to bet?" Elita snarled and spat a strand of webbing at Meltdown's face. He struggled for a moment, but soon the webbing began to dissolve from being in contact with Meltdown's acidic form.
"Why do you fight me?" Meltdown asked. "I'm going to free you from your crude mechanical limitations." He then pulled a second switch which made Elita scream in agony as electricity ran through her body.
"Elita!" Tarantulas yelled.
Back out in the now burning forest, Grimlock continued to swing his sword, trying to hit his opponent.
"Stand still so me Grimlock can crush you."
Moonracer Marinette managed to free herself from the lizard by head-butting him hard and then began skating around as he began swinging its claws at her. Moonracer was having a hard time avoiding the floors and the flames and then suddenly tripped on a log.
Optimus, too, had freed himself from the shark creature by punching it in what he assumed to be its jaw. However, it recovered quickly and wrapped its tentacles around his neck, throwing him onto the ground. Optimus had just lifted his head up and saw the creature pointing its crablike claw at him, but before it could attack, a mace appeared out of nowhere and struck its head, causing it to fall to the ground.
Swoop then transformed into his diurnal mode and grabbed the creature, lifting it up into the air. Snarl and the brontosaurus drew their weapons and took down the lizard creature that was attacking Moonracer. Then the three of them tossed the two creatures at the bat creature, knocking them to the ground, and the triceratops bot slammed his bludgeon right down on top of them, and they quickly ran away.
"Ah! See them run! Dinobots rule!" Grimlock bellowed in triumph but was soon brought down to earth as a flaming tree came crashing down behind him. "Whoopsie. Fire bad."
"Stand back. I'll handle this," said Optimus and used his fire extinguisher to put out the fire.
As Optimus was finished, he heard Elita's voice filling the air. "No, don't!"
"Elita!" Optimus yelled, running to her.
Elita was screaming in pain from every jolt of electricity running through her body, and Tarantulas was still pinned to the floor, helpless.
"Stop!" Optimus yelled as he entered the lab.
"Stay back!" Meltdown shouted as he threw a stream of his acid at him.
Optimus dodged the asses and lept over to the lab table, using his grapple to get the genetic modifier out of its connection.
"No!" Meltdown yelled. "I won't let some mindless machine beat me again."
Both Optimus and Meltdown rushed for the device. Optimus managed to get to the device first, but Meltdown quickly jumped onto his back, using his acidic touch to burn through his armour.
"Give it to me!" Meltdown snarled as he tightened his grip.
With one last gasp of pain, Optimus let go of the genetic modifier, and Meltdown dived for it, grabbing the device with his oozing hand. The modifier began to go haywire as Meltdown's acid ate through it, causing the device to zap its creator.
"Nooooo!" Meltdown let out a gargled yell as the blast from the genetic modifier affected the villain's ability to keep his form solid. Within seconds, nothing was left but an empty protective lab suit and a large puddle of sludge that remained of the villain known as Meltdown.
Turning his attention away from what was left of Meltdown, Optimus moved towards Elita. Meltdown's machine had shut itself down without the genetic modifier before doing Elita any serious harm. Optimus then broke the restraints that held her down.
"Optimus, thank you," said Elita weakly and hugged him.
"I failed you once; I wasn't going to do it again," Optimus answered, hugging her back.
From the mouth of the lab entrance, Grimlock watched as these actions transpired and growled angrily as he glared at Optimus.
"Grimlock, I know that you like me a lot, but I have decided who I want to be with for myself," she said gently.
Grimlock looked at her, confused. "But spider bot said truck bot did mean things to spider lady."
"Optimus made him a promise that he failed to keep, and he's been living with that guilt for a long time, but I don't hold him accountable for it. In fact, I'm partially to blame for my condition myself."
Optimus then remembered Tarantulas. "Where's Tarantulas anyway?"
"I'm afraid he's gone," said Moonracer, who was standing over an unconscious Colossal.
"No! But we needed the antidote!" said Optimus and looked at Elita. "Elita, do you think you could—"
Elita shook her head. "I'm sorry, Optimus, but are venom strands are different; I could end up making things worse."
Optimus closed his optics and then picked up what remained of the genetic modifier.
The three of them soon returned to Prowl and Bumblebee, who were still unconscious.
"I'm sorry," said Optimus looking at the two of them. "I try to save you."
"Optimus, wait!" said Moonracer and then picked up the injector containing the antidote.
"The antidote!" Optimus gasped. "He kept his word after all."
Moonracer quickly handed it over to Elita, and she began injecting the two mechs, and within seconds, they began to stir.
"How long have we been here?" Bumblebee asked.
"Almost two megacycles," said Optimus softly.
"HA!" Bumblebee cried and looked over at Prowl. "And you said I couldn't go ten cycles without talking!"
"Humhuh. All it took was being paralysed," Prowl retorted.
"What? You're making new rules now? I don't think so. Pay up with that sweet axle grease."
Both Optimus, Elita and Moonracer chuckled as they watched the exchange going on between the two, happy to see them all right.
They then returned to Sumdac Tower, where they met Powell and Fanzone and began explaining everything that had happened.
"So, your spider friend blackmailed you and those whack-job Dinobots into helping him, and then he got turned he scampered off?" said Fanzone said, recapping what Optimus had just told him.
"That's about the size of it," Optimus said, then placed the half-melted genetic modifier down in front of Powell. "Here, I don't think Meltdown will be needing this anymore."
"What did you do?" Powell exclaimed as he saw the state of the melted device. "It's ruined!"
"Cheer up, Mr Powell." Fanzone said calmly, "It'll make a dandy paperweight."
"He still broke into my office, held me hostage and threatened my life! What are you going to do about it, Captain?"
"Uhh, I'm going to go home and get some shuteye, and I suggest you do the same before I haul you in for being a public nuisance."
"It's an outrage!" Powell yelled as Fanzone left.
"I guess the whole thing about giant alien robots having no rights cuts both ways," Elita smirked.
"The mayor will hear about this!"Powell yelled as he stormed off.
"I almost feel sorry for him." Sari smiled as she watched Powell leave. "Almost." While this went on, Optimus looked in the sky in deep thought when she felt Sari tapping on her foot. "You okay?"
"Tarantulas didn't have to leave that antidote, but he did," said Optimus.
"So maybe he's not all bad," said Sari.
Optimus smiled at the prospect. "Yeah, there may be hope for him yet."
"I don't think he was all that," said Elita. "I mean, everything he's been doing was for me."
"I still reserve judgement, but I hope you're right," said Moonracer.
Meanwhile, at Meltdown's lab, the puddles that were all that was left of the villain began to stir as slowly they moved as one towards the spot of Meltdown's apparent demise. As the puddles gathered together, Meltdown's face began to form from the now large puddle.