It had been five hours since Megatron saved June Darby and she saved his life from Starscream. Agent Fowler has taken Mrs. Darby over to the hospital and she had her son, Jack Darby, her girlfriend, Miko Nakadai, and their friend, Rafael Esquivel come over to visit her. Ratchet mended the wound on Megatron's hand servo, and he even checked to make sure he wasn't infected with Dark Energon. Orion Eclipse, Bumblebee, and even Altair Comet were surprised that Megatron risked his spark to save a human being and for once in his lifetime, he actually did something right. Now Orion and his childhood sweetheart were feeling sorry for being hard on Megatron, but they mostly felt bad for Jack's mother. Orion Eclipse would attend Anthony Carter's birthday with Altair Comet and Bumblebee, but they decided not to since the incident happened with Megatron and June Darby because of that crazy vengeful seeker, Starscream.
"There. That's better." Ratchet said as he was able to fix Megatron's wounded hand. "Now let it rest for a while." The old medic told Megatron. "Will June be okay?" He asked. "She'll be alright, I promise. Why do you feel so worried about her?" Ratchet asked. Megatron nodded, "Because I don't want Jack Darby to lose a mother...just as Orion Eclipse had lost his mother. I feel responsible for her kidnapping and for her injuries. It's my fault that Starscream hurt her with the Dark Star Saber that I created. I never should've let him live! Now, look what happened!" Megatron told Ratchet. "Don't be hard on yourself. We didn't know that June would be kidnapped by Starscream. It wasn't your fault she got kidnapped and hurt by Starscream." Ratchet said.
Megatron made a remorseful expression as he tried not to tear up. "Come to think of it, this is almost like the first time you've risked your spark to save a human being. You saved humanity from Unicron once when you teamed up with Optimus Prime. Now you've saved a human mother from your revenge-crazed enemy." Ratchet said as he worked on his computer before he heard Megatron crying which caught his attention and made him confused. "Are you...crying?" the medic asked. "No! Don't look at me." Megatron denied it before he clenched his fist and hissed in pain when he triggered the pain in his bandaged hand servo wound. "Ow." Ratchet sat right in front of Megatron. "It's okay to cry. Crying is usually a response to pain." He told the old mech.
Megatron considered taking Ratchet's medical advice before he let it all out as tears fell from his optics. He hadn't cried this much since...since the day he lost his beloved Firestar. "It's happening again," Megatron said as he continued to cry. "What's happening again?" Ratchet asked. "The death and loss of a mother are happening again!" Megatron replied. "No, no, no. June Darby is not dying. She just got hurt. She'll be alright. I promise." Ratchet said comfortingly to Megatron. "By the Allspark, I've never seen you cry in tears before in my entire life," Ratchet exclaimed. "I...I...I haven't cried like this since...since the day I lost my beloved Firestar. If June dies, Jack will mourn for his carrier and he will suffer just as Orion Eclipse and I have suffered when we lost Firestar." Megatron said in bereavement. Ratchet was speechless. "Megatron. I had no idea that you're developing big emotions. Since when did you decide to have a heart?" He asked.
Megatron wiped his tears before he stuttered. "I...I d-don't k-k-know. I-I have no idea w-what's wr-wrong with me!" He said. "You don't have to explain. It's alright. There, there. Take a deep breath. June Darby will be alright. The Earth's doctors will take care of her until she recovers. I promise." Ratchet reassured the gray mech. "But—but that's not the only reason why I'm upset, doctor...Starscream wants me dead now for revenge because I have ruined his life. I created a monster. He...Starscream now holds an unhealthy, obsessive, hateful grudge against me because I mistreated him, I harmed him, I abused him, I punished him severely and I've beaten the scrap out of him for every misfortune and mistake he's made in the past millennia! This is all my fault." Megatron said in remorse.
"You didn't turn him into a monster, Megatron. It's Doomsayer who made him into a vengeful seeker who wants you dead. I believe that he downloaded a chip into his brain that says he should kill his former master without mercy. Though I wonder as to why you didn't kill him as Doomsayer would kill anyone who backstabs him." Ratchet wondered. Megatron snapped. "IT'S BECAUSE HE WAS MY FRIEND!" He alarmed Ratchet before he calmed down and sighed. "It's because...Starscream was one of my closest friends. When I was around my son's age, I found him being ridiculed and bullied for being born with red optics. Starscream came up to me for compassion, love, and acceptance and I became friends with him until we became inseparable. I've always treated Starscream like...dare I say it, like he was a little brother-figure to me, besides Orion Pax who was once my pupil and brother-in-arms until he became Optimus Prime. I couldn't bring myself to kill Starscream for all the times he had tried to overthrow me because I still have hope that there was some form of redeeming value in him. I never understood what motivated him into wanting to usurp me from the start. But now Starscream has become a monster who will stop at nothing until he gets his revenge on me for all the pain he endured which he brought all upon himself other than me being cruel and merciless towards him." Megatron explained.
A few days went by as June Darby would slowly recover from the incident with Starscream, Orion Eclipse would visit Anthony Carter and his family with his girlfriend, Altair Comet, Ultra Magnus and the Autobots would try to figure out who the Sword of Primus is actually meant for to be named the next Prime since the legendary relic wouldn't accept Orion Eclipse despite him being chosen by Optimus Prime to save the galaxy from the wrath of Doomsayer and his terrorist group of Unicron worshippers. Bumblebee would then travel to Earth while blending in among the humans in his vehicle mode where he had witnessed some humans holding up anti-Cybertronian signs and even military vehicles of the newly rebooted M.E.C.H now run by a racist man named, Adam Bowen, who wants to rid the world of any Autobot or Decepticon as well as any human who are allied with them. As for Doomsayer, he managed to recruit half of the Insecticon Hive from Airachnid, he made an alliance with Predaking, Darksteel, and Skylynx, and now with the help of the one-eyed scientist Shockwave, the Herald of Unicron has now forced him into cloning and creating new Predacons for Predaking to call his people since he now owns Darkmount as his fortress for his own Predacon Kingdom.
"I trust that things are going according to plan?" Doomsayer asked Shockwave with his arms locked in his back. "Yes, Doomsayer. Though Soundwave and I are curious to know any logical explanation as to why you would want me to create more Predacons? If I remember correctly, Unicron revived Predaking's army to try to destroy Primus before they were once again annihilated especially after my former master wiped them all out." The scientist asked. "Well, what we are planning to do defies all logic, my good doctor. Besides, I have already convinced his majesty that Unicron says that he will revive his old army once we team up to exact our revenge against the Autobots and especially Megatron. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Speaking of which...I intend to bring back The Fallen from the other dimension and do you know why?" The evil Cybertronian asked Shockwave. Shockwave looked and sounded irritated by his 'master' as he replied, "Yes, I know why. You want Megatronus Prime's flaming spark extinguish for abandoning you as a sparkling and rejecting you as a young mech, despite the fact that logically, your failed and pathetic attempt at bonding with your "father" happened more than a millennia ago."
That was enough to make Doomsayer snap as he then glowed in purple energy as his eyes turned from red to purple before he grabbed Shockwave by the neck and threatened him in a demonic voice. "YOU DARE MOCK ME!? Criticize me one more time and I will do far worse than stabbing that one eye of yours! UNDERSTOOD?!" Doomsayer roared, intimidating Shockwave as he shook in fear. "Y-Yes, sir." Doomsayer then ordered the scientist what to do, "Good! Now I want you to create MORE Predacons! I want Megatron and the Autobots to feel the wrath of Predaking and his army, especially mine along with the Insecticon Hive. You will work countless hours on cloning and doing your job...or I will rip out your very spark!" Doomsayer threatened. Shockwave paused as he saw the evil look in the mech's eye before he responded, "I'll do it. I will not fail you. Just as Megatron has failed us." He promised. "Excellent! Now...GET BACK TO WORK!" Doomsayer raised his voice as he demanded in a demonic tone.
Back at Cybertron, Arcee was strolling around Iacon when she found Knock Out who was just looking for her. "Ah, Arcee. Aren't you just a sight for sore optics?" Knock Out said. Arcee blushed as she put her hand behind her neck all bashful and happy. "Good evening, Knock Out. I trust that you're off to work?" Arcee assumed. "No, no not really. Just wanted to meet the most beautiful fembot in the world." Knock Out replied. Arcee chuckled. "So, how long have we been developing this little romance between us?" She asked. "Um...about more than a few cycles now I think. I lost track of time." Knock Out said. Arcee chuckled as she went up to her lover before she thought about Jack's mother, June Darby, and how she's doing now. "What's wrong?" The cherry-red medic asked the two-wheeler as she had a forlorn expression on her face. "Oh, it's June. I feel bad for her and especially my old junior partner and old friend, Jack. I...was worried that her injuries were fatal. But...thank Primus that she's safe and healed now. It took a whole weekend for her to heal from what happened with Starscream." Arcee told Knock Out. That seeker's name made the Ex-Decepticon medic cringe. "I hate him. I hate the fact that he works for my ex now! If I had known that Doomsayer was untrustworthy, then I would've..." Knock Out was about to rant, but Arcee calmed him down a little.
"Knock Out. Let it go. What Doomsayer did to you in the past was despicable. That I can sympathize with. As for Starscream...I still hate him for what he did to Cliffjumper. But I cannot let my grudge define me. So please, don't let your quarrel with Doomsayer cloud your thinking. You were one of the few medics who've helped me cope and heal from my PTSD." Arcee told Knock Out. The red medic cupped Arcee's cheek and looked at her with a sad expression on his face. "Arcee? I'm sorry that you've lost Cliffjumper and Tailgate because of Starscream and Airachnid." Knock Out said. "And I'm sorry that you've lost Breakdown because of Silas and because of Airachnid as well. I'm also sorry about Doomsayer and how he betrayed and sexually abused you." Arcee told Knock Out sympathetically. "Arcee? Remember the number of times that I would flirt with you when we were enemies?" Knock Out asked. "Yes?" Arcee said. "I truly meant what I would say to you back then. It took me long to realize that I was having romantic or even sexual feelings for you. But now...I want to be your boyfriend. Arcee?...Will you accept me?" Knock Out asked as he gave Arcee those sad puppy dog-eyed red optics filled with emotion.
Arcee hesitated before she finally gave him her answer. "Yes. I thought you would never ask, Knock Out." She then leaned in, to kiss Knock Out in a romantic way. Knock Out kissed her back and they kissed for a few minutes until they released each other and Arcee began to tell her new boyfriend, "I've also have had hidden feelings for you too. Ever since you flirted with me back when Smokescreen joined Megatron as his adopted son, at first, I was offended, but then suddenly...as I returned to our Earthly base before it got destroyed...I began to like the way you would tease me and I even wondered if you truly liked me or not. I was hoping that eventually, you would switch sides and be my new partner." Arcee confessed. Knock Out blushed as he embraced his new girlfriend. "I had no idea you've felt that way about me. But to me, you're more than a partner. You're my other half." He told Arcee before she passionately kissed him with tears flowing in her optics.
Knock Out's black and red optics were wide open as he felt Arcee kissing him passionately and he felt a thousand fireworks in his spark when she kissed him before he romantically kissed the two-wheeler back. The kiss took more than a minute until the red and blue Cybertronian couple separated from each other to take a breath before looking at each other's optics romantically with both their cheeks blushing.
"That was...wow." Knock Out said. "Yeah...wow." Arcee agreed. Knock Out reached out for Arcee's hand servo and he leaned in forward to kiss her in the audio receptor (ear). "I love you." Knock Out whispered seductively. "I love you too," Arcee replied.
Meanwhile, Ratchet and Wheeljack were spending some time together, especially long after they began their first date. They were at the lab forming a bit of "chemistry" together as Ratchet began to work on a few chemical enhancers to only test on machines and not robots. He and Wheeljack were getting along quite well as Ratchet even analyzed Megatron's CNA to look for any signs of Dark Energon with the Wrecker as his new lab partner.
"Wheeljack? You might want to look at this." Ratchet told his lab partner. "What is it, do-I mean, Ratchet?" Wheeljack asked. "I've just taken a sample of Megatron's CNA from that wound Starscream gave him. It seems a bit "normal", but I feel as though the Blood of Unicron is hiding somewhere in Megatron's Energon 'blood cells' as I believe humans would call it." Ratchet told Wheeljack as he looked deeper into Megatron's new and recent CNA sample at the test tube under a microscope.
"If I were to compare Megatron's CNA to even the likes of Doomsayer's evil CNA, then his would look calmer compared to Unicron's "True Herald"." Ratchet said. "I say calmer because I have a feeling that if Megatron was enraged, then that would trigger the Dark Energon in his blood pressure. At least, that's what I believe when it comes to dark medical science." the old Autobot medic said as he theorized something.
"May I look?" Wheeljack asked. Ratchet nodded, "Sure. Be careful though. I need this microscope." he said. "No worries. I'll look closely and carefully while I'm...woah." Wheeljack said as he looked through the microscope to see bits of Dark Energon in Megatron's CNA.
The next day, Megatron went outside of his guest room when he saw Orion Eclipse and Altair Comet together. They were talking to each other and Megatron didn't want to interrupt or disturb them, but just as he could leave them be, Orion spoke to his father. "I see you, dad." Megatron stopped before he looked at his son. "Orion. Altair. What a pleasant surprise." he said. "What brings you out here?" Altair Comet asked. "Nothing. Just...minding my own business." Megatron replied. "Are you sure?" Orion Eclipse asked curiously. "Yes, I'm fine. Look, I know that you and Altair Comet might still have some bad blood with me, but I will stay out of your way and..." Megatron said before Altair interrupted. "It's alright. All is forgiven. My father once told me that freedom is the right of all sentient beings and he and my mother once told me that anyone can have a choice for redemption or not." the fembot said.
Megatron smiled at Altair. "You've grown up so much since I last saw you, young femme. You look exactly like your father. You even have your mother's optics." he said in a kind, gentle voice. "Thank you," Altair said in appreciation. "So...we're still trying to figure out where to find Doomsayer. According to Jetfire and Ratchet, they said that he's assembling an army of one of the Autobots' previously defeated foes, including...both the Insecticons and the Predacons." Orion Eclipse, growing mildly concerned. Megatron's red eyes widened with shock. "The Insecticon Hive has returned?! How? I thought Soundwave had them and Airachnid banished to one of Cybertron's moons. Unless..." Megatron thought before Orion Eclipse answered, "Doomsayer." he said before he asked about Soundwave. "Wait, who is Soundwave? And who is Airachnid?"
"Soundwave is a very close friend of mine. He was your sparkling sitter who cared for you and your childhood friend, Wildbreak, Knockout and Breakdown's son." Megatron told Orion. Eclipse felt a headache as he once again had a flashback to his old, forgotten memories as he caught a glimpse of Soundwave and what he looked like during the Great War before the Exodus. "I think I...I think I remember Soundwave. He looked like he didn't have a face." Orion Eclipse said.
Megatron explained, "Soundwave does have a face. He wears a visor to cover his emotionless face, especially during battle. He used to speak until an incident with the higher caste and Sentinel Zeta Prime happened that caused him to be mute. Despite that, Soundwave used his silence, face mask, and surveillance for intimidation. Soundwave is what you would call the Decepticons' communications officer and our surveillance user. I remembered when you were just a sparkling and you called him 'Soundy'. Airachnid is or was the spider-like fembot who likes to collect the heads of endangered alien species. She was the femme who betrayed me and my Decepticons before she mind-controlled and enslaved the Insecticon Hive telepathically with her mind and voice." Megatron told his son.
"And Airachnid was the spider-like fembot who tried to kill Jack Darby to make Arcee suffer the loss of another partner, right?" Orion Eclipse asked. Megatron nodded. "Yes. I take it Arcee has told you about her history of rivalry with the spider femme who killed off her partner, Tailgate?" he asked. Orion nodded. "Yes. Arcee told me that she got PTSD from her and Knockout explained to me that Soundwave have her banished to one of Cybertron's moons along with the Insecticon Hive that she mind-controlled into her slaves. Bumblebee even told me how Arcee became vengeful and bitter because of Airachnid and because of the Great War that affected her." he explained.
"My mother told me stories about Airachnid and the Insecticons and how they've served the Decepticons once during the beginning of the Great War before Airachnid left the Decepticons after she tried to backstab you, Megatron." Altair Comet said.
Megatron cringed at the memory of when Airachnid tried to overthrow him back in his day as the leader of the Decepticons before Orion Eclipse talked about the Predacons and even the Insecticons, "Bumblebee and the others told me of Predaking and the Predacons. I learned about their history and how they're an endangered species that were close to extinction just like the Earth's dinosaurs. Knockout had already explained to me what happened to the Insecticons and Airachnid and even M.E.C.H's former leader, Silas, years ago thanks to Starscream's stupidity with the Dark and Synthetic Energon at the dissection table you ordered Knockout to use on Silas while he was possessing Breakdown's broken body like a demon or an alien parasite." Orion Eclipse said as he recalled his time of learning before he graduated and became an Autobot.
"Knockout will never forgive the humans who have dissected Breakdown for sure, but I'm sure he and the rest of us will not allow Doomsayer to massacre an entire race such as the entire human race by aiding Unicron. As long as we have Unicron imprisoned in an undisclosed location, Doomsayer will not rest until he gets his claws on his master's Anti-Spark and try to resurrect him." Altair Comet stated.
"But where are the Autobots even keeping Unicron and his Anti-Spark which is trapped inside the Reliquary of the Allspark?" Megatron asked. "Ultra Magnus says it is classified. Even though we're on his side, I'll doubt he'll trust an ex-warlord and his son NOT to share the secret location just for the sake of keeping the galaxy safe." Orion Eclipse told his father.
Meanwhile, back on Earth in Jasper, Nevada, Jackson "Jack" Darby and Miko Nakadai were having a lovely date to celebrate their 5-year anniversary at a nice restaurant. They talked to each other about the day they became lovers after the incident with Vince in high school where the school bully got jealous of Sierra dating Jack before she decided to pick on one of his friends as he was sexually harassing Miko which triggered Jack before he got into a fistfight in the hallway with Vince. After getting in trouble with the principal, Vince got kicked out of high school for using violence and for sexual harassment against one of Jack's friends after the incident, Sierra broke up with Jack to be with Vince and his ex-girlfriend left him to comfort Vince and to become his girlfriend, Miko felt sorry for what had happened until she and Jack realized that they were meant to be together.
"Remember back in high school when you stood up for me and fought Vince for sexually harassing me?" Miko asked her boyfriend. Jack made a dark expression on his face as he remembered the incident that had happened long after Team Prime left Earth. "Yeah. I remembered that day like it was yesterday still. Sierra broke up with me to be with Vince after he and I got into a fistfight and I was actually glad when the high school principal got that bully kicked out for what he did to you to get to me for "stealing" his girlfriend. Sierra was this girl I had a crush on and I wanted to win her over by beating Vince in a race, but she turned out to be the wrong girl for me." Jack said as he was feeling regretful to have dated the girl who repaid her after all he did to win her heart by defeating Vince.
Miko placed her hand over Jack's hand comfortingly before she told him, "Forget about Sierra. It was pretty obvious that she wasn't the right person to be your girlfriend. The reason why I decided to become your girlfriend is because you stood up for me and you defended me from that asshole. But enough about Vince and Sierra and especially the incident that had happened years ago. Let's focus on our anniversary together." Miko told her boyfriend before she went back to eating.
After they were done with supper, Jack paid for the meal with his credit card before he and Miko went out for a ride on their motorcycle together and Jack took Miko to a nice place in the desert on a hill where Jack wanted to ask his girlfriend something. "M-Miko? There's something that I've been meaning to ask you," he said. "Really? What is it?" Miko asked her boyfriend. It was then that Jack knelt down on one knee and he pulled out a box with an engagement ring on it. Miko was emotionally surprised as her boyfriend was ready to finally pop the question to her. "Miko? You and I have been through a lot of adventures and misadventures together with our Autobot guardians. You lifted my sorrows and made me the happiest man on Earth, especially after Sierra left me to be with Vince whom I fought to protect you and even our friend, Rafael in high school. You mean the whole world to me. I didn't realize that you were my true love until then. Will you do the honor of becoming my wife?...Miko Nakadai?...Will you marry me?" Jack proposed.
Miko was in tears of joy before she answered, "Yes. YES! I will!" she said. Jack let Miko put the engagement ring on her finger and she loved it. The ring was silver with a glimmering deep blue diamond and after Miko accepted Jack's marriage proposal, they embraced each other before they kissed each other passionately. In the evening, Ultra Magnus gave Megatron permission to travel to Earth to pay June Darby a visit. He hired Arcee and Bulkhead to accompany Megatron, to make sure he doesn't do anything suspicious while he was in Jasper. Arcee had called Jack's mother to meet her, Bulkhead, and Megatron at the Autobot's new base. June Darby accepted the invitation as Bulkhead and Arcee would later pick her up in their vehicle modes before driving her over to the Autobot's new hidden base at a different mountain in Nevada.
Once June Darby had arrived there, she got out of Bulkhead and he and Arcee transformed back into their robot forms as Megatron would also appear within the base to greet Jack's mother. "Good evening, Mrs. Darby." Megatron greeted June as he bowed respectfully. "You wish to see me, Megatron?" The nurse asked. Megatron nodded. "Yes. Are you feeling much better now?" He asked. "I'm still recovering from...the incident with Starscream." June Darby replied as she fixed her hair. "It has been a couple of days since after Jack's mom was put in the hospital in Jasper." Arcee said. Megatron made a guilty expression. "I'm sorry for what had happened, Mrs. Darby." He apologized. "You don't need to apologize, Megatron. I've been put in danger with Decepticons before. Though it's good to know that Knockout's on our side now." June Darby said.
Bulkhead replied, "Well, let's just hope buckethead—uh, I mean, Megatron can help us with defeating Doomsayer just as he helped us and our late leader with defeating Unicron." He said. Megatron made a blank expression as he was getting flashbacks to when he and Optimus Prime were fighting against Unicron at his core. "We still don't know where he and his followers are right now, but so far, they haven't struck just yet. So let's not worry too much about them." Arcee told Bulkhead. As Arcee and Bulkhead chat, Megatron looked at June Darby and she looked at him funny as he began blushing with an anxious look on his face. Megatron turned away as June asked, "Is there something you wanted to do with me?" The woman asked. "Uhh...erm...err...ehh...umm..." Megatron mumbled something before Agent Fowler appeared with his agents.
"Megatron! Autobots! We have a situation going on in the news right now. I think you should see this." William Fowler said. He turned on the big TV and it showed images of buildings in Boise, Idaho being attacked by the New Decepticons. Arcee, Bulkhead, Megatron, and June Darby were all shocked by what they were seeing.
"This just in: an alien robot attack has happened in Boise, Idaho. 300 people have been injured, 58 have been killed, 27 have been captured by these mechanical monsters that are bringing property damage and the police were unable to stop them. The military were sent to combat against these 'New Decepticons' and 'Insecticons', but they struggled with taking down these robotic monsters who were taking orders from their leader who goes by the name, 'Doomsayer' as well as their Air Commander, 'Starscream'. The authorities have..."
"Anthony and his family are in danger!" Arcee exclaimed. "We have to do something!" Said Bulkhead. "There's nothing we can do about it. Because of Doomsayer and his New 'Cons, the people as well as the President of the United States, Gabriel J. Henderson are blaming the Autobots for the tragedies and disasters that have been happening." Agent Fowler said. "This is insanity! Doesn't Doomsayer know that he and his horde should blend in with the humans and NOT blow their cover without having to deal with the humans' military might?!" Arcee asked. "Apparently not!" June Darby said. "Now I'm worried for Anthony and his family, especially the people in Idaho. Because they were of no threat to Doomsayer or any of the Decepticons."
"Doomsayer doesn't care. I'm going to help those humans in Idaho." Megatron said. "Don't even think about it, Megatron," Arcee told the ex-warlord. "Out of my way! I can deal with Doomsayer. I have a score to settle with him, especially after the way he lied to my son about me and his mother not loving him." Megatron rudely replied. "No, you're not ready to face Doomsayer. You have no idea how powerful and deadly he has become since the last millennia." Bulkhead told Megatron.