note : I did say that this chapter would have Predaking's evolution but I changed my mind, it will happens later. For now, there will be three chapters and each will have a mission : one with Jazz, one with Ironhide and the last one with Elita.
It was a sad day for everyone present. Today was the day where Optimus Prime would be buried. Every member of Team Prime, human and autobots were at the funerals.
Optimus had been buried near the grand canyon in Arizona, his favourite place on Earth. Elita was the one who gave an eulogy.
" We live in an age of darkness. Optimus was born into a world divided. A world he tried to heal. A mission he will never see accomplished. It seems it's the destiny of great men to see their goals unfulfilled. Optimus was more than a leader, more than a teacher. He was a friend and a father to us all. When we were afraid, he gave us strength. When we were alone, he gave us a family. He may be gone, but his teachings live on through us. Wherever we may go, we must carry on his vision. And that is a vision of a world united. " She stated, holding back her tears.
Jack then came up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder before speaking.
" Optimus lived a warrior and died a hero. Let his spark join the Matrix... as the greatest of Cybertron. "
Miko, Raf and June were letting tears fall from their eyes, while the autobots saluted their fallen leader.
Ultra Magnus was the most stoic of them all but you could see the sadness in him.
Ironhide was clenching his fists, wishing he could crush Megatron's head.
Jazz was bowing his head, his eyes hidden by his visor.
Wheeljack and Bulkhead were bowing their heads, while Ratchet was sighing in sorrow.
Bumblebee was letting tears fall from his optics while Smokescreen was feeling guilty of not saving Optimus.
Arcee was near Jack and Elita, placing her hand on Dracarys's knee, seeking to confort him.
June then walked forwards and placed flowers on Optimus's tomb.
( later )
Smokescreen was being comforted by Jack, the two being the last to leave the place.
" All the Primes said you couldn't have done anything to save Optimus, Smoke. It's important you know this. " Jack said, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder.
( Nemesis, days after the destruction of Darkmount)
Megatron was in a fouler mood than before, which caused everyone on the warship to avoid crossing path with him, with the exception of Shockwave and Soundwave.
" I never would have thought Lord Megatron would be more furious than when Optimus recovered his memories. " Knockout commented to Starscream and Shockwave.
" And yet it happened because that human destroyed the Omega Lock. " Starscream responded
" I fail to see why you are so upset against this Jackson Darby. He was only acting to protect his homeworld against destruction, I find his actions logical. " Shockwave stated while typing on his computer
" And just what are you doing ? " Knockout asked
" Searching for the remains of the first predacon clones I created and sent to Earth, on Lord Megatron's orders, to protect energon deposits. " Shockwave answered
" Pfft. Another scavenger hunt? How logical would it really be to locate all the dusty remains of your former pets? " Starscream sneered
" You are not suggesting that I would send my creations to a distant planet without first having them microchipped ? " Shockwave responded
" Well, I-- Well, I was. But... seriously? You did ? " Starscream said in shock
( autobots base )
Team Prime was settling in their new base, Magnus, Elita, Ironhide and Jazz having picked vehicle modes.
Jazz was a Lamborghini Aventador, Ironhide was a GMC Topkick, Elita-1 was a Corvette Stingray C7 and Ultra Magnus was a truck similar to Optimus
" Not bad, those vehicles. " Jazz said
" It will do it for the time being. " Ultra Magnus stated
Just then, Smokescreen came back but he was now blue and yellow.
" What's with the relooking, Smoke ? " An amused Arcee asked
" Just so there will be no confusion between Jazz and I. " Smokescreen explained
" Hey guys, look what I found at the ruins. " Wheeljack, showing them the metal ball used for lobbing before throwing it at Bulkhead.
But Bulk was unprepared and the ball bounced of him and went straight towards a railing where Miko was standing. Sierra quickly pulled her to safety, one second before the ball crashed into the wall.
" Wheeljack ! Are you not thinking about the damage you could have done to my tools ?! " Ratchet demanded
" And to us, more importantly ! " Miko added, glaring at the two
" What is wrong with you, Wheeljack ?! " Jack snarled
" I thought Bulkhead would catch it, like always. " Wheeljack answered
" Soldier, this typical recklesness of wreckers is the exact reason I was assigned to lead you. If you cannot accept that this behavior won't be tolerated, you can walk away. " Ultra Magnus argued
" If my ship wasn't wrecked, I'd do it, Sir. " Wheeljack responded
" Nobody will walk away. We'll talk about this later, now we must talk about what Bumblebee and I found in that mine. " Dracarys said
( main room )
The whole team was assembled to talk about the predacon remains that Bee and Jack found earlier.
" If you found this predacon remains in the mine, then I'm willing to bet that Shockwave didn't stop at one predacon clone. We must become beast hunters. " Jack stated
" And how do you think you can find them ? " Ratchet asked, with disdain
" You don't get to talk in this conversation after the mess you pulled in Jasper. " Arcee retorted, glaring at the medic
" And to answer to your question, only Shockwave know where to find them. " Jack said
" And what can you possibly know about Shockwave ? " Ratchet sneered
" You are not suggesting that he is dumb to the point he would send his creations to a distant planet without first having them microchipped ? " Jack responded
Ratchet could not come up with an answer, so Jack turned away from him.
" We must be on guard for any decepticon activity. " He stated, before looking at Raf who nodded
( Nemesis, hours later )
The Predacon has returned and Starscream was forced to become his handler, to his horror. Even the apex Armor couldn't protect him from his manhandling.
( Autobots base )
" Jack, we detected several decepticon activities, in Texas, Scotland and New Mexico. " Fowler called them
" Thank you, agent Fowler. " Jack thanked him before turning towards the team.
" Ultra Magnus, take the wreckers and go to Scotland ; Jazz, Bee and Smoke, you'll go to Texas; Elita, Arcee and I will go to New Mexico. "
Then Ratchet opened the groundbridge which Jack, Elita and Arcee took first, then it was Jazz, Bumblebee and Smokescreen's turn while Ultra Magnus took the Forge of Solus Prime and went towards the groundbridge, followed by Ironhide, Bulkhead and Wheeljack. But, without anyone seeing it, Miko followed Wheeljack.
" Yo, can I come ? " She asked the white wrecker
" Yeah, Why not ? " He answered before picking her up and placing her inside his chest compartment and walked through the vortex.
( Scotland )
The wreckers arrived and Wheeljack immediately bolted forward.
" Does Wheeljack not comprehend the chain of command? I didn't authorize him to advance without proper cover. " Magnus stated
" I'm sure Jackie's just trying to prove himself now that you and he are serving together again, sir. " Bulkhead said, trying to defuse the situation
" Yee-HAH! " Wheeljack yelled, before leaping off the cliff
" Yes, he's proving himself as the same old "attack first, think later" bot. " Ironhide said, amused
They spot a lone Vehicon emerging from a cave below, who Wheeljack dispatched with little difficulty. He looked back up to give Ultra Magnus a mocking salute, when an entire squad of Vehicons emerged from the cave and attacked.
Bulkhead jumped from the cliff and crushed three vehicons, while Ironhide activated his canons and fired at four soldiers while Ultra Magnus dispatched the rest with the forge of Solus Prime.
Then Wheeljack heard a knocking sound coming from inside his chest. Suddenly remembering he has a passenger, he let Miko out, and she began gasping for air.
Ultra Magnus looked disappointed, Ironhide facepalmed and Bulk sheepishly looked away while Wheeljack was putting her down.
" Forgot you were here, kid. " Wheeljack apologetically said
" At least I didn't threw up on your floor mat. " She responded, before putting her hand in front of her mouth.
" And what could have possibly compelled you to bring the native ? Are your circuits impaired, soldier ? " Ultra Magnus asked to Wheeljack
" Jack told you to lead the Wreckers on this one. I assumed he meant all of them." Wheeljack responded
" Are you mocking your commanding officer ? " Magnus demanded
" Wouldn't think of it, sir. " Wheeljack responded, clearly thinking of it " The kid's a full blown wrecker. She may be small but she saved my tailpipe, snuffing out an insecticon all on her own. " He explained, making Ironhide turn towards her with a look of approval
" Outside standard protocol, no doubt. " Ultra Magnus said, clearly unimpressed
" The point is I can handle myself fine, sir. " Miko said
" Miko has been through worse. " Bulkhead added
" And besides, we cleared a way. " Ironhide said, showing the entrance of the mine.
Ultra Magnus sighed " Very well, we will do an exception. "
They entered the mine and began to look for what could be predacon remains.
" Wouldn't that be it ? " Miko asked, showing something to Magnus who turned back.
" No, that is a rock. " He answered, before walking away
Miko tossed it aside while behind her the rest of the wreckers were discussing.
" Just like old times, huh guys ? " Bulkhead said
" Except that last time, I didn't need permission to choose my partners. " Wheeljack responded
" Come on, Jackie, we're one the same team. " Ironhide said, making Wheeljack turn back
" All those cycles it took me to come to Earth, all I was thinking about was getting our band of brothers back. But this isn't the lineup I had in mind. You did the right thing, Bulk, leaving the wreckers when we still were in our A-game, before the rust set in " Wheeljack explained, before continuing his way
" Wait, I thought Wheeljack was the one who leaved the wreckers. " Miko asked
" He did, when Ultra Magnus was put in charge of us. Bulkhead transferred out before that, he joined Optimus at the Thunderhead pass battle. " Ironhide said
" Sometimes, I think Jackie feel like I deserted him. " Bulkhead said
" You don't want to be the one who breaks the band, Bulk. " Miko understood
At this moment, the mine began to tremble, causing Bulkhead to pick Miko up.
" What was that ? " Bulkhead asked
" Whatever it was, it's big and coming fast. " Ironhide said
And soon enough, the source of the cave trembling was revealed to be...
" The Predacon. " Magnus stated before ordering " Roll out ! "
The autobots transformed and rolled the Hell outta here, the predacon right behind them.
The beast tried to bite Ultra Magnus who dodged then it breathed fire but they dodged and turned into another cave. The Predacon was still running after them but was stopped by the closeness of the wall. It tried to ram into it.
The wreckers arrived in a dead-end with the only way out being up, and transformed back.
" That wall won't hold it forever. We must contact base and call for reinforcements. " Ultra Magnus decided
" Wreckers don't call for back-up. " Wheeljack boasted
" What Jackie means is that we can't get a clear signal this deep underground. " Bulkhead covered his friend, before putting Miko down. " Miko, I have to get you out of here. I'm gonna need you to climb. "
" No way. I want to help. " Miko refused
" And you will. " Magnus stated " Your mission will be to climb and contact Dracarys Prime. "
" Yes, sir. " Miko obeyed before she began to climb
They heard the predacon ramming into the rocks.
" I don't like the sound of that. " Ironhide said
" We make our stand here and now. " Magnus said, drawing the forge of Solus Prime while the rest of the wreckers activated their blasters.
The Predacon managed to break the walls and arrived in the room, with Ultra Magnus waiting for it. The dragon bot charged but Magnus striked him with the forge and yelled " Open fire ! "
Bulkhead, Ironhide and Wheeljack fired upon the beast who didn't even flinch and tried to strike Bulk and Iron with its tail, that they barely dodged. It then breathed fire at Wheeljack who dodged before it tried to burn Ultra Magnus who slided on the ground and hammered it in its belly. The beast was sent away but immediately got up and tried to strike Magnus with its tail but Ironhide and Bulkhead caught it.
" Oh no, you don't ! " They yelled
But this was a very bad idea, as the predacon then sent them flying into Magnus.
" Hey, Hot head ! " Wheeljack yelled
The Predacon turned towards him and roared before Wheeljack threw a grenade. Which would have landed in its mouth, if it didn't deflect it with its tail. The grenade bounced around before landing on the ground, and preparing to explode. Everyone's optics widened in shock.
" Oh, Scrap. " Wheeljack said
( with Miko, moments earlier )
She managed to climb up to the top of the wall but she saw bad news : Starscream wearing the apex armor and two seekers. She hid behind a rock.
" It would seems the autobots stumbled upon our mining operation. No worries, my Predacon must be dismantling them as we speak. It was a challenge but I managed to tame the beast, taught it to heed my orders." Starscream boasted, making Miko rolled her eyes, while wishing he would go away
" You're not wearing the apex Armor to protect yourself from it ? " the first seeker asked
" From my beloved pet ?! Of course not, in fact it is getting warm inside this. " Starscream lied before deactivating the Armor and placing it against a rock.
Suddenly there was a huge explosion and the decepticons went to investigate.
Miko tried to run away but she was spotted and Starscream placed his foot right in front of her.
" Miko, is it ? " He taunted
( in the mine )
The Predacon dug itself out of the rocks and looked everywhere but there was no trace of its enemies, but his gaze was drawn to something else. It pushed rocks away and the thing was revealed to be an optic. When the beast looked at it, it was filled with memories from another age.
( with Miko )
" Oh, I'm sorry, were you trying to call for help ? " Starscream taunted before moving to seize her
But Miko dodged his hand, ran towards the Apex Armor and pushed on its center. The Armor began to form around her until it was a little taller than Arcee. For Miko, it was so awesome.
" What's the matter, Screamy ? Can't pick on someone your own size ? " She taunted him
But something fell on the Armor and rolled towards Starscream.
" Well, what do you know, it does fetch. " Starscream commented
The Predacon was flying towards them. Miko tried to run away but it landed and pinned her under its paws.
( in the mine )
" Dammit, Wheeljack ! " Ironhide said, the wreckers having dug themselves out
" Well, that didn't go exactly as planned. " Wheeljack answered
" That's because any first cycle cadet know better than to detonate a grenade in a confined space. " Ultra Magnus scolded him
" The confined space was supposed to be the belly of the beast. " Wheeljack responded
" Your actions continue to be one step removed from getting us all scrapped. " Ultra Magnus countered
" With all due respect, sir, the predacon is loose and Miko is out there alone. " Bulkhead said before getting out of here
( With Miko )
The Predacon was clawing at Miko but fortunately the Armor was able to withstand its attack.
" Go ahead, make a wreck of her, like you no doubt did the wreckers. " Starscream engouraged it.
" Starscream, statut report. " Megatron said in the seeker's comms
" Master, we have secured the bone and our predacon with the autobots human pet, per my command. " Starscream reported as the predacon was shaking Miko in its jaws
" I will not risk losing a precious commodity to your arrogance. " Megatron scolded him
The Predacon then slammed Miko into the ground.
" I'll tear you apart ! " She yelled at it, but the beast breathed fire at her.
" Have the beast return with my prize, immediately. " Megatron ordered
" Yes of course, Master. " Starscream answered before muttering as the comms were cut off " Assuming I can coerce the brainless brute to... "
But he didn't finish for the Predacon landed on him and snarled in his face before taking the bone and flying away.
" You never obey my commands ! " Starscream yelled at him " Soldiers, let's finish the autobots as soon as I retrieve what is mine. "
Miko was laying on the ground, seemingly unconscious.
" Tssk, tssk, tssk, Even the strongest armor cannot protect the weakest creature. " He gloated before being grabbed by Miko
" It protected YOU, didn't it ? " She responded, before pushing him, getting up, and throwing him into a seeker.
The second soldier shoot at her, which did nothing and she run at him before uppercutting him, sending him behind her.
Starscream then armed his missile and fired but she caught it making it explode, which sent her into the air and she drop-kicked Starscream before moving to attack the seekers.
The wreckers had come back and were shocked to see Miko holding her own against the decepticons, except Wheeljack who looked at her with pride.
" Perhaps you weren't wrong about the human after all. " Magnus admitted
" That girl is a real pro. " Ironhide added
Miko sent a seeker on the ground with a spartan kick and the second with a shoryuken.
" You do know that I vanquished Cliffjumper, don't you ?! " He snarled
" Big whoop. I snuffed Hardshell. " Miko responded
The two glared at each other until Starscream saw the wreckers arrived.
" Retreat ! " He ordered the two seekers before they all transformed and flew away
" They got away with the bone. " She informed the autobots
" Hey, you brought your A-game kid, like a true wrecker. " Wheeljack comforted her, the two fist bumping " And I wish to remember us like this before the rust sets in. " He added, glaring at Ultra Magnus before going away.
( later )
Wheeljack called Ratchet for a groundbridge and arrived in the base. Jazz's team had returned
" Yo, Wheelie, so how did the mission go ? " Jazz asked
" Because Shockwave and Soundwave took our bone. " Smokescreen added
" The good news is Miko brought her A-game. The bad news is they took our bone. " Wheeljack answered before noticing someone missing. " Wait, where's Jack's mother ? "
" That's what we were wondering when you came. " Bumblebee answered
" She went with Fowler to retrieve another bone. " Sierra explained
" What !? Without one of us ?! " Smokescreen said
" The remains were in a museum. This should have been quick. But I guess they went to on a date. " Ratchet uncaringly said
" A date ?! Are you serious ?! They could have been captured by Decepticons ! " Wheeljack responded
" If they had troubles, they would have called me. " Ratchet dismissed, opening another groundbridge
" For Primus's sake, Ratchet, are you even listening to yourself ?! What do you think, Jack will say when he learns this ?! " Smokescreen said
" When I learn what ? " Jack said, making them all freeze.
Dracarys returned with Arcee and Elita but without any bone. He looked at them all and noticed his mother's absence
" Where is my mom ? " He asked
Jazz, Wheeljack, Bee, Raf and Sierra looked at each other, thinking the same thing : " This is gonna hurt. "
Next Time : Jack, Arcee and Elita's mission
