At the Decepticon base, with the assistance of the Constructicons, they had finally managed to finish building the Space Bridge. Mixmaster and Scrapper were kneeling before Megatron to receive their reward.
"Mixmaster… Scrapper… In honour of your successful construction of my Space Bridge, the time has come to officially initiate you both into the ranks of the Decepticons," said Megatron. "Now repeat after me: 'I pledge my unquestionable loyalty to Megatron and the Decepticon cause.'"
"I pledge my unquestionable loyalty to Megatron and the Decepticon cause," they said in unison.
"'I shall devote my spark in achieving our goal of a deceptive on Decepticon control Cybertron, by any means necessary.'"
"I shall devote my spark in achieving our goal of a Decepticon control Cybertron, by any means necessary."
"'And annihilate all those who have driven us from our rightful homeworld.'"
"And annihilate all those who have driven us from our rightful homeworld."
"'Surrender is not an option.'"
"Surrender is not an option."
"Welcome, brave Decepticons, your destiny awaits," said Megatron as he held out two energy sticks bearing the Decepticon simple.
He then placed the sticks on their chests and immediately cried out in pain. Their optics turned red, and they now had a new purple and green paint job along with the Decepticon symbol on their chests. However, right now, the two of them were crying out in pain as they tried to recover from this sudden electrical shock.
"Rise up and serve your new master," said Megatron.
"There's going to be oil, right?" Mixmaster groaned.
"With this AllSpark fragment powering my Space Bridge, nothing will stand in the way of victory," said Megatron as he held out an AllSpark fragment. He then inserted the fragment inside the power generator and then turned to Professor Sumdac. "Professor Sumdac, if you would do us the honour."
Professor Sumdac then reluctantly activated the Space Bridge, but it failed to power up.
"I don't understand what's wrong," said Professor Sumdac as he looked through the schematics. "The power sequencing won't respond. Perhaps I misinterpreted the schematics."
Megatron groaned. "If my Space Bridge is to become a reality, it would appear that I acquire additional help."
At the same time, on the remains of the Nemesis on the moon, Starscream was bringing his plans to fruition with a clone army.
"Ah, never before have I seen a more impressive group of lethal fighting machines," he said, looking at seven clones of himself. "Pretty good-looking if I do say so myself. That pompous bag of bolts Megatron won't know what hit him; he'll be crushed in our wake."
He then placed the head on his final clone, a purple and black one, which he had named Skywarp and then inserted a fragment of his AllSpark fragment into his spark chamber, giving him life.
"Us, against Megatron," said Skywarp looking utterly terrified. "Are you insane? Ah, I think I just rang an oil leak."
"Silence, you fool," said the pure blue clone named Thundercracker. "Megatron is a worthless pile of scrap metal compared to my genius."
"Brilliant observation, brilliant," said the orange clone named Sunstorm. "But your genius pales in comparison to the genius of our leader, the original Starscream."
"Hmm, I could listen to this one all day," Starscream smirked.
"And once we destroy Megatron, we'll have access to all that lovely Energon," said the yellow and blue clone named Dirge, rubbing his hands together.
"I'm so jealous that I'll never reach such heights of our glorious leader Starscream," said a red clone named Thrust.
"This one really knows his place," said Starscream.
The white clone, which he had named Ramjet, then marched up to him. "What are you talking about? I am the original Starscream!"
"Liar!" Starscream snarled. "I am the original Starscream!"
"I never said I was the original Starscream."
"You just did right now!"
"No, I didn't!"
"Yes, you did!"
"No, I didn't!"
"Yes, you did!"
"No, I didn't!"
The two of them continued to glare at one another, and the purple and turquoise clone named Slipstream, who was also the only female among them, rolled her eyes.
"Oh, haven't you figured out yet?" she snapped. "He's a pathological liar; each of us clones represents one aspect of your personality. He's a coward…" she pointed at Skywarp and then turned to Thundercracker. "…He's an egomaniac…" She then turned to Sunstorm. "…He's a suck-up…" She then pointed to Dirge. "He's a greedy mech…" She then pointed to Thrust. "…He's envious of everyone…" She then finally finished with Ramjet. "…And he's a liar."
"Am not!" Ramjet yelled indignantly.
Starscream then leaned in towards Slipstream. "So, which part of me did you come from?"
"Don't ask," she said, narrowing her eyes.
Starscream sighed, rubbing his forehead. "This is going to be a long orbital cycle."
Back at the Decepticon base, Megatron had contacted Shockwave.
"Everything is going as planned, oh great one," said Shockwave. "As you predicted, the Decepticon uprisings at the rim of the galaxy are straining Autobot forces to the breaking point."
"Excellent, but I've got a more immediate problem," said Megatron. "Tracked down Cybertron's top Space Bridge technician and delivered him to Earth as soon as possible, by any means necessary. The future of a Decepticon victory depends on it."
"One moment Excellency as I access the Cybertronian data network," said Shockwave as he accessed his console. "That's odd."
"What is?" Megatron asked impatiently.
"I've tracked down Cybertrons top Space Bridge expert, but he's not on Cybertron."
"Then where is he!"
"On Earth," said Shockwave and showed Megatron an image of Bulkhead.
Bulkhead was currently at the Autobot base painting Sari who sitting in a chair and was having trouble trying to sit still.
"Eh, can I move?" Sari asked, trying not even blink. "I'm getting a crap."
"I guess we can take a break," Bulkhead signed as he rose to his feet, and Sari made her way to the canvas. "Now remember it's not finished. I really think this is my best one yet."
But when Sari looked at it all, she couldn't make head or tails out of it. "It's, uh… very interesting. I just didn't think my head was so big."
"That's your leg," said Bulkhead.
"Oh!"
Bumblebee then joined them.
"It's called an abstract. You know, like that human artist Picasso… very early cubism," Bulkhead explained to Bumblebee.
"Oh, looks more like very early oil spill," said Bumblebee.
Back at the Decepticon base, Shockwave was explaining to Megatron about Bulkhead's aptitude test.
"This Autobots is a rather unique case," said Shockwave. "According to his file, he scored higher than any Cybertronian scientist on his Space Bridge aptitude test. Yet seems not to have any other discernible skills."
"I don't care if he knows his crankcase from his driveshaft!" Megatron roared. "All that matters is his ability to complete the Space Bridge."
The mysterious blue racer was now driving around the mountain ranges and had picked up the Decepticon transmission.
"But an Autobot would never cooperate willingly with Decepticons," said Shockwave.
"That won't be a problem; I plan to make him an offer he cannot refuse," said Megatron.
The blue racer then immediately did a U-turn and drove back towards Detroit.
At the same time, Bulkhead continued his painting while the other Autobots watched.
"Needs more colour, something bold," Bumblebee advised.
"Oh, bold," Bulkhead said.
"But not so bold that it gives me a processor ache," Ratchet complained.
"Oh, not too bold," said Bulkhead.
"Oh, perhaps some trees nature can be very inspiring," Prowl advised.
"Oh, trees," Bulkhead said.
"Maybe you can make it slightly darker," Elita suggested.
"Oh, slightly darker," said Bulkhead.
"But still make sure there's plenty of light," said Moonracer.
"Oh, plenty of light," said Bulkhead.
"Maybe it should have a caption," Optimus suggested. "You know, so people could tell what is supposed to be."
"A caption," said Bulkhead angrily.
With a few more paint strokes, he finished his masterpiece, but after following everyone's suggestions, the painting wasn't exactly first-class.
"Uh, maybe I was wrong about the colour," said Bumblebee.
"And the trees," Prowl agreed.
"Not to mention the light," Moonracer added.
"Now, I think it needs a longer caption," said Optimus.
Bulkhead groaned as he got his feet and began to walk away.
"Bulkhead, where are you going?" Sari asked.
"To find another canvas this one ruined," Bulkhead signed.
Sari narrowed her eyes at the Autobots. "Way to go, guys."
Then she ran after Bulkhead.
Megatron was standing on the base of his Space Bridge as the Constructicons were making some final preparations when Lugnut and Blitzwing approached him.
"The importance of this mission cannot be underestimated," said Megatron. "I'll handle the Autobot… Bulkhead myself. But while I'm away, I need the two of you to pick up an item for me at Sumdac Tower, a little something that should help convince the Autobot to cooperate with us."
"But oh grand, glorious one, the professor cannot be trusted alone with the new recruits," Lugnut pointed out. "Who would keep an eye on him?"
Megatron just gave a fiendish smile.
Moments later, Professor Sumdac was tied up and gagged and inside Megatron's cockpit as he flew towards the city.
Bulkhead was sulking as he walked through the park, and Sari attempted to cheer him up.
"I just what them to like my work," Bulkhead signed.
"But artists are supposed to paint what they feel. You can't worry about what other people think," said Sari.
"I'm not sure I can do that," Bulkhead signed.
"Well, I think you should listen to Sari," said Bumblebee as he drove up to them in vehicle mode before transforming to robot mode. "If you want to paint a bunch of ugly squiggly blotches, then whom I to tell you, it stinks."
"You really think it stinks," Bulkhead signed.
"Not helping," Sari glared.
Then they heard a blast, and when they looked up, they saw an edgy back pain straight toward them. It struck the ground just a few feet from them, and when the smoke cleared, they saw that hovering above them was a very familiar assault helicopter.
"Megatron!" Bumblebee said.
Sari looked state into Megatron's cockpit and saw her dad tied up and with duct tape over his mouth.
"Huh, dad," she gasped.
Megatron then fired at them again, and they moved out of the way.
"He's alive," said Sari. "My dad is still alive. Megatron must have been holding him hostage all this time."
She then quickly dived behind a tree to avoid another one of Megatron's blasts.
"Or been working with Megatron all this time," said Bumblebee, quickly grabbing her before Megatron could blast her again,
"What!" she said angrily.
"I'm just saying," said Bumblebee.
"My Dad would never—"
"Can we talk about this later?" Bulkhead interrupted.
Megatron then transformed to robot mode with Professor Sumdac tied around his chest. Bumblebee then activated his stingers and was about to shoot at Megatron.
"No, don't shoot! You'll hit my dad!" Sari yelled.
"She's right!" Bulkhead yelled.
"So what are we supposed to do? Fight him with snappy comebacks?" Bumblebee asked.
Megatron fired his fusion cannon, and Bulkhead picked up Sari moments before they were knocked back by the blast. Bumblebee then saw the blue racer zooming by.
"The blue racer!" he stared. "I knew it! He must be working with Megatron too. Moving to intercept."
He then transformed to vehicle mode and began chasing after the blue racer.
Megatron was chasing Bulkhead and continuously firing his fusion cannon. While the blast did not hit him, Bulkhead was flown back by the impact of the blast sending him crashing into a statue.
Meanwhile, Bumblebee blocked the blue racers' path.
Megatron then fired again, but Bulkhead used the statue as a shield. Unfortunately, Megatron's fusion cannon was just too strong and destroyed the statue and flung Bulkhead backwards.
"Bulkhead!" Sari shouted.
Meanwhile, Bumblebee was still chasing the blue racer down the high street.
"Pull over now!" Bumblebee ordered. He then hit him repeatedly until the blue racer went out of control and crashed.
Bumblebee then transformed to robot mode and called Bulkhead on his comlink. "I just nailed that lousy Decep car. How are you holding up, Bulkhead?" But Bulkhead didn't answer. "Bulkhead!"
He then looked up to see Bulkhead being carried away by Megatron, who was in his vehicle form. Then activated his stingers and walked up to the blue race. "All right, Zippy, start talking!"
Then the blue racer transformed into an athletic-looking mech with the Elite Guard insigne on his chest.
"First of all, the name's not 'Zippy'! As a matter of fact, I don't believe I've ever met another bot named Zippy, so one can only assume that you came up with 'Zippy' in reference to my speed, which may be technically accurate, but lacks certain creativity!" said the mech in a very fast voice.
"Eh… eh-eh…" said Bumblebee stunned, trying to figure out what he just said.
"Move to the point the names Blurr. I'm an Autobot intelligence agent sent to this planet by the Elite Guard to keep an eye on Optimus Prime and his crew as well as to monitor the Decepticon activity. And you, my friend, have just blown a Deca-cycle of convert servlets designed to uncover Megatrons plot to conquer Cybertron. Everything was going according to plan when I imprecated a communication from the Decepticon leader and an unknown double agent. They were in a mist of an abduction of an unsuspecting Autobot which now, from the stats of the cult crisis, has been successful. Got that so far?"
"Uh, can you repeater that last part?" Bumblebee asked.
"Which last part?"
"Oh, very thing after the name's not zippy."
Bulkhead was in the Decepticon and was being dragged to Megatron by Lugnut and Blitzwing. As he went past, Bulkhead could see Professor Sumdac inside his holding cell.
"Bulkhead!" Professor Sumdac gasped.
"Professor Sumdac, are you alright?" Bulkhead asked. "Sari's been worried sick."
"Silence, Autobot!" Megatron interrupted. "As improbable as it may seem by the looks of you. I have it on good authority that you are quite the genius when it comes to space bridge technology. Equally improbable is the fact that I now need your help."
"Never going to happen, Megatron," said Bulkhead defiantly. "Not as long as I ounce of spark in my chamber."
"Have it your way Autobot," said Megatron and turned to Lugnut and Blitzwing. "Why don't you show are guest what you picked up at Sumdac tower." The two Decepticons then turned Bulkhead's head so that he could see that behind him was a Headmaster unit. "Refuse to copulate with, and I will have no chose to cut off your head and replace it with this headmaster unit."
"Been there, done that," said Bulkhead. "The answer is still no."
"Ah, so brave of you," said Megatron as he walked past him. Then Lugnut and Blitzwing then forced him down to the ground. "Of course, your suffering will be insignificant compared to your friend will injure when I destroy them using your body." Megatron then activated the headmaster unit. "Starting with Professor Sumdac."
The unit then flew up and activated its cutting laser.
"No, you wouldn't!" Bulkhead panicked.
"Let's test that theory, shall we," Megatron smirked.
The laser got closer, and Bulkhead tried to break free, but Lugnut and Blitzwing were too strong.
"Yo mechs, we got like a complain, but we are running low on oil," said Mixmaster's voice.
Bulkhead looked around and saw Mixmaster and Scrapper.
"Mixmaster… Scrapper… it's me, your old pal Bulky remember? A little help here," Bulkhead begged.
"You know that bot?" Mixmaster asked Scrapper.
"Not ringing any bells," Scrapper said.
"You have no friends here, Autobot. And when I'm finished, you'll have no friend anywhere," Megatron grinned.
"Okay…okay, you win. I'll help finish your Space Bridge," Bulkhead sighed.
Then the cutting beam on the headmaster unit.
"Wise move, Autobot." Megatron grinned.
Bumblebee and Sari returned to the plan to inform the Autobots about what had just happened. They brought Blurr along, who began to explain his presence.
"So let me get this straight you're an Autobot intelligence officer, and you found Megatron's hideout," Optimus said.
"That is correct, Optimus Prime. I have already reported my findings to the Elite Guard, requesting reinforcements. But was informed that indicial support would be delayed due to the fact that Autobot forces are craped to fin to battle Decepticon uprisings along the edge of the galaxy. Further intelligence has also revealed that a human called Isaac Sumdac has been cooperating with the Decepticon leader by reverse-engineering space bridge schematics from your ship. Which Megatron attempts to stage a sneak attack on Cybertron within while the planets defences are at their weakest. But he's running into difficulties trying to get the device up operational. That's where your fellow bot comes in. Earlier today, I imprecated a communication between Megatron and the Decepticon double-agent plotting a kidnap of Autobot Bulkhead after discovering that his the galaxy's foremost expert in space bridge technology. At which of course any type of cooperation which would lead to dyer results leading to Megatron's—"
"Woah, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Back up!" Bumblebee interrupted.
"Did he just say Bulkhead?" Prowl asked.
"Our Bulkhead?" Optimus asked.
"The same Bulkhead that has two left servos?" Elita asked.
"An expert? On anything?" Ratchet said.
"I didn't see that coming," said Moonracer.
"That is correct," said Blurr. "Which brings us to earlier today when I tempted to thwart Megatron's plan. But that mission became fatally compromised when some bot got in the way. Now I'm not naming any names—"
"How many times do I have to say I'm sorry?" Bumblebee interrupted. "Man talking about being a die sparkplug. Besides, if you told us who you were, none of this would have happened."
"That's not impotent now," said Optimus. "All that matters is recurring Bulkhead. Ratchet head to the ship and try to get him online one more time. Take Sari and the Allspark fragments with you and keep them safe. The rest of you are with me and Blurr."
"Don't you what me to go with Ratchet?" Elita asked.
"No! We may need your help to deactivate Megatron's Space Bridge," said Optimus. "And we're going to need all the help we can get battling against the Decepticons. Transform and—"
"Wait!" Sari yelled. "You guy don't really think my dad is helping Megatron do you?"
"To be honest, Sari, I don't know what to believe," said Optimus honestly.
"Just promise you'll get him back here alive," Sari begged.
"I promise," Optimus promised. "I have no intention of breaking any more promises."
Meanwhile, at the Decepticon base, Mixmaster and Scrapper were moving equipment around, but there were communication problems between Bulkhead and Professor Sumdac. They were currently carrying a heavy tube across the construction site.
"Wait, wait! What are you doing?" Bulkhead asked. "The hollow cathode tube needs to be connected directly into the plasma blade neutraliser."
"But that would put it too close to the positive and negative grids resulting in a massive voltage overload," said Professor Sumdac as the Constructicons carried the tube in the opposite direction.
"Not when multiple thrusters are being driven by a single capacitor," said Bulkhead, and the Constructicons carried it in the opposite direction again.
"Are you forgetting about the plasma discharge within the radio magnetic field?" Professor Sumdac asked.
Getting sick and tired of carrying the heavy tube around, the Constructicons placed it down and grabbed two barrels of oil.
"That's it! We're on break!" Mixmaster announced.
"This is some kind of a joke, right?" Professor Sumdac asked. Then his eyes widened as he had an idea of what Bulkhead was planning. "Ah, or a scheme to sabotage Megatron's project, but let me do the talking, so it doesn't sound so preposterous."
"Why doesn't anyone think I know anything!" Bulkhead yelled, annoyed as he leaned down towards him. "Well, for once, I'm going to be the one to tell someone else what to do. Now go and make sure there is sufficient electron energy exchange compared to the cavity diameter and stop questioning me!"
"Right, electron energy exchange, I'll get right on it," Professor Sumdac nodded and then whispered under his breath. "You're doing great."
Meanwhile, on the moon, Starscream and his clones were prepared to launch their pre-emptive strike on Megatron.
"The time has come to purge the universe of that accursed Megatron!" Starscream announced. "And ever seal my destiny as the one true ruler of the Decepticons!"
Thundercracker then pushed him aside. "You second-rate clones aren't even worthy of reading my exhaust fumes."
He then transformed into vehicle mode and took off, and the other clones began to follow him.
"I must be a bigger pain in the gear shaft, and I thought," said Starscream.
"Well, well, look who just got to the party," said Slipstream walking right past him.
"Don't start with me, woman," said Starscream as they transformed to vehicle mode and followed the clones.
"Start what? Who's starting?"
At the same time, Ratchet and Sari had made it to the Orion and were currently on the bridge trying to get the ship started. Sari tried activating using her key but only achieved activating some warning lights.
"NOTHINGS WORKING!" Ratchet shouted, slamming his fist on the console. Then he stroked the control panel. "Sorry about that."
"You don't have to apologise to me," Sari said.
"I was apologising to the ship," said Ratchet.
"Okay," said Sari looking slightly concerned.
"Anyway, there is still one thing we haven't tried. But it's going to be risky." Ratchet said.
"What's that?" Sari asked.
"Open spark surgery," said Ratchet as he made his way to the AllSpark case. "We need to load the Allspark fragments into the ship's spark chamber. The chain reaction should provide enough of a power boost to trigger a jump start."
Blurr, meanwhile, was leading Optimus and the others to the Decepticon's hideout. They soon reached an abandoned coal mine and transformed into robot mode.
"Scanning these coordinates reveals that this could be the secondary point of entry into the excavation tunnels that Megatron is operating," said Blurr.
"Now we know how we would have made their energy signatures; the carbon deposits him must've masked them," said Elita.
They then entered the mine and looked for any Decepticons. Then they entered an opening with tons of cave openings.
"The area is clear, no sign of any enemy Decepticons energy signatures," said Optimus.
Then a beam of ice came straight at Bumblebee and Prowl, who managed to dodge just in time. But then several missiles came straight at Optimus, Elita, Moonracer and Blurr, and they too managed to dodge them.
"Unfortunately, ze same can't be said by your energy signal's Autobots," said Blitzwing.
"The signal dampeners created by your human professor have come quite useful," said Lugnut.
Bumblebee then activated his stingers, but Blitzwing was faster and fired his ice beam, which froze Bumblebee's arms and made him crash into a wall. Optimus changed with his axe held high, but Blitzwing caught it.
"IS IT HOT IN HERE OR IS IT ME?" said Blitzwing, throwing Optimus away and firing his flamethrower. Optimus dodged it, and it hit Bumblebee melting the ice around his arms.
"Thanks Blitzbrain," said Bumblebee.
Lugnut then changed at Prowl only to find out that it was a hologram. Then the real Prowl threw his shuriken at Lugnut's legs, but only one got stuck in his leg. However, before Lugnut could pull it out, he was immediately kicked in the face by Moonracer. Bumblebee fried his stingers at Blitzwing, but he jumped back to avoid them. Elita drew her blades and then swung at Blitzwing, forcing him to back up towards Lugnut. When the two of them were back-to-back, Blurr then raced around them, putting stasis cuffs on them in less than a second.
"Okay, I give. I'm officially no longer the fastest thing on wheels," Bumblebee signed.
Deeper in the mine, Bulkhead had finished the Space Bridge.
"I did what you asked," said Bulkhead. "Now, why don't you let me and the professor go, and we call it even?"
"All in due time, Autobot. Are you certain it will work this time?" Megatron asked.
"Oh, absolute," said Professor Sumdac and went to turn it on. When he did, the Space Bridge didn't seem to work at first. "Oh well, too bad nothing anyone can do now, so I guess we just be going."
Then the space bridge powered up.
"At long last, I will lead my troops back to Cybertron and reclaim what is rightfully mine," Megatron claimed.
Then the wall behind him blow-up as the smoke cleared it, revealing the Autobots.
"Too bad, there's nobody left to lead Megatron," said Optimus.
Then Scrapper jumped down and grabbed Bumblebee, Moonracer and Blurr.
"Who are you calling nobody?" Scrapper asked.
Then Mixmaster fired cement at Optimus, Elita and Prowl, making it almost all but impossible to move.
"So you two are working for Megatron now," said Optimus looking at the two of them.
Then the roof blow-up and when they all looked up, they saw Starscream with seven harrier jets circling around him.
"Megatron, my old friend, thanks for going all the hard work for me, HAHAHAHA!" Starscream laughed.