63- Synthesis.
In middle of the night, outside the pokémon rangers' base, Team Prime was ready to allow their new scout drone to guide them to the Decepticon warship.
"You sure we don't need to install a GPS on our scout here?" Ranger Kate asked looking at the drone, ready for launch.
"Too risky. Both sides are getting real good at rootin out that kind of trick." Wheeljack explained.
"Besides, we don't need a tracker." Smokescreen started.
"We have Optimus and Blaster." Clemont ended as the Autobot flyers walked toward them.
"But won't the Cons see you both coming?" Dawn asked.
"Not until it's too late." Seaspray reassured.
"Blaster will make sure to bridge us to the warship at the moment he set optics on it." Warpath explained.
"We'll be prepared for immediate mobilization upon your command, sir." Ultra Magnus said.
"Good luck." Hot Rod wished.
"Be safe, dear." Elita added.
"Leave some Cons for us to punish for what they did." Sideswipe requested.
"Be sure. Just leave Soundblaster to me." Blaster asked.
"No promises." Smokescreen said with a smile.
"We'll try." Moonracer added.
"(We know you will achieve your quest.)"
"Whatever the outcome, know that Ratchet would be most proud of your contribution." Optimus reassured them.
"Specially yours, Clemont." Ash added, cheering him up.
"Come on, pal. Let's light this thing." Wheeljack encouraged.
Clemont used his remote control to make Chip blast off. Next, Optimus activated his jet-pack as Blaster changed to vehicle form and both Autobots and followed it. Meanwhile, aboard the Nemesis, Ratchet was working inside the Decepticons' lab.
"Fetch me the quantum cybermeasure." Ratchet asked while he manipulated some kind of yellow energon.
"Hmp, do I look like hired help to you, Autobot?" Knock Out complained.
"Knock Out, attend to the needs of our esteemed guest." Shockblast ordered.
"As you command." Knock Out said in defeat as he went for what Ratchet asked.
While Ratchet was working, Shockblast put on the table he was working a piece of the cyber-matter created by the explosion.
"So we know this cyber-matter to be produced by an atypical molecular displacement reaction?" Ratchet asked.
"Extensive empirical evidence indicates the fundamental instability within the Synth-En formulation to be the cause." Shockblast explained.
"Double-blind analysis?"
"Naturally. The results only confirmed my original hypothesis. Once the erroneous variable has been corrected for, the stabilized synthetic material will bind properly with cyber-nucleic acid."
"And produce a stable form of cyber-matter. Remarkable."
"Yes. Quite an act of providence."
"And to think that had we not let you destroy the beasts, none of this would be possible." Knock Out confessed by mistake.
"What?" Ratchet asked confused as he take what he asked to Knock Out.
Knock Out got nervous for what he said. "Eh, what I meant to say was, those specimens you requested earlier aren't going to prepare themselves, are they?" And he left.
"There is much to do and little time, doctor. Shall we get back to work?" Shockblast asked putting a hand on Ratchet's shoulder.
"Certainly." Ratchet answered, but still thinking that the Decepticons were hiding something.
At the same time, Optimus and Blaster continued following the drone in the air.
"Prime, haven't heard from you in a while. Everything all right up there?"
"So far, Ranger Kellyn."
"There's still no sign of the Decepticon warship." Blaster added.
"What happens when the Cons recognizes Buzzsaw's signal?" Iris asked.
"We're counting on them making visual contact with the warship before its radar can detect Chip." Clemont explained.
"And Blaster will take care of the rest." Misty ended.
"Optimus is in good hands. Blaster is difficult to surprise, just like Soundblaster." Hot Rod reassured.
"It's not Optimus I'm worried about." Elita expressed.
Meanwhile, inside the Nemesis's lab…
"Knock Out, I require a fresh CNA sample." Shockblast demanded.
Knock Out simply groaned for himself as he was going to the energon store.
"Knock Out, bring this. Knock Out, get that." He said to himself before groaning mad. "Apparently fetching is all I'm good for lately. It wasn't all that long ago I used to run this lab. Now I'm everyone's gofer."
The energon store door got stuck with one canister, which gave Ratchet an idea. So he went to grab it, but Knock Out saw him.
"Yes?"
"The Isoprobe. I… don't see one." Ratchet invented.
"What a surprise." Knock Out said sarcastically.
Ratchet made sure that no one was looking at him, so he grabbed the canister and pulled with all his strength. At the end he managed to pull it out before Knock Out returned to him.
"Anything else?" Knock Out asked giving him what he asked for.
"Thank you." Ratchet answered.
Knock Out was about to leave, but in the last moment he looked back to Ratchet happy. "You're welcome."
Even besides Ratchet thanked Knock Out really, it was necessary to not making anyone suspect about him. Meanwhile, in the bridge, Galvatron was seeing the progress.
"We stand at the very precipice of a new age." Galvatron proclaimed.
Suddenly Soundblaster detected something, and showed it on his screen.
"What do you mean our scanners have detected Buzzsaw's signal?" He asked before turning at his second-in-command. "Starscream, you did destroy the Autobot base, did you not?"
"With great fervor, my lord. Why do you ask?"
"Because Buzzsaw's frequency has been detected on radar."
"But that's not possible. He's right here in Soundblaster's torso." Starscream pointed.
"Which is why this would appear to be an Autobot trick. Designed to uncover our position and rescue a certain prisoner. But then, one has to wonder, how would they possible manage to execute such a complex task without the proper facilities?!" Galvatron questioned to Starscream, face to face.
"I, uh, hum…Allow me to troubleshoot." Starscream offered.
Optimus and Blaster continued following the drone, which was heading towards a storm, making their task harder. Meanwhile, Ratchet continue working, and it seemed like he finally discovered how to complete the formula.
"Ah, the final piece of the puzzle. Thank you, Decepticon engineering." Ratchet said to himself.
"Shockblast, assembly of the Omega Lock is entering the final stage. Your guidance is required." Galvatron called from the bridge's com-link.
"Understood, my liege. Knock Out, supervise our guest in my absence." Shockblast said heading to the exit.
"Wow, thanks for the big vote of confidence." The red Decepticon said.
Noticing that he was alone with Knock Out, Ratchet knew that was the perfect moment to execute his plan.
"I can't allow Galvatron to possess the stabilized formula." He said to himself before he erased all the data. "Not now or ever."
Next, he grabbed one of the lab's instruments and threw it into an active mechanism, causing an explosion.
"For the love of... What is happening?!" Knock Out demanded.
"The formula instability. It must have triggered a chain reaction." Ratchet invented while the room was getting full of smoke.
"Guards, help me extinguish this inferno before it scorches the project…and my finish!" Knock Out called by his com-link.
The two Vehicons which were guarding the lab's entrance received the message and got inside, but the smoke covered the entire room that allowed Ratchet to transform and escape. Optimus and Blaster continued searching for the drone inside the storm.
"Optimus, I'm picking up something." Blaster reported.
"It is the drone or the Nemesis?"
"Not of the right size, but is approaching us fast."
After a while, they spotted something, but it wasn't the drone, it was Starscream in vehicle form alongside his fellow Genesect squadron, and they already saw them too.
"Optimus Prime…how dare you continue to live?" Starscream said firing a missile at him.
Blaster fired one of his own electromagnetic missiles, countering Starscream's. Next, he and Optimus, who pulled out his gatling, opened fire, forcing Starscream and his pokémon to break formation and dodge.
"Blast those Autobots into oblivion!" Starscream command.
Then an entire squadron of Seekers and the Genesect flew toward Optimus and Blaster from above them. While the Genesect went after Blaster, the Seekers continued chasing Optimus firing at him, but as he tried to get away, he fired them back, taking down one. Meanwhile, Starscream were watching the fight from a safe distance.
"The frequency isn't emanating from Prime or Blaster, and it's still on the move." Starscream saw on his terminal. "Finish them! If I cannot find the source of the signal before it finds the warship, Galvatron will have our heads."
And Starscream went to find the drone. Meanwhile, inside the Nemesis was another problem.
"Lord Galvatron. Uh, there has been a situation. More like an accident really. I…" Knock Out called, a little nervous.
"Spit, it, out!" He said, starting to lose his patience.
"The prisoner has escaped!"
That made Galvatron grunt in anger. Optimus was still trying to evade the Seekers. He flew above them and once he put some distance charged at them firing his gatling, destroying half of the squadron. Blaster was also trying to get rid of the Genesect, dodging all the Signal Beams, Dark Pulses and Ice Beams.
"Alright, I have enough." He said deploying something.
It was Sundor, who flew right behind Techbug and hooked to its back and started zapping it, making the rest of the squadron to turn at them.
"Sundor, stay firm until the last moment." Blaster instructed as he turned back at them.
The other Genesect prepared to fire Techno Blast at the Minibot, but he used their leader as shield as it tried to shake him off. Seeing they were distracted, Blaster prepared two missiles to launch.
"Now!"
Immediately, Sundor got off Techbug, allowing it to aim its cannon at him, ready to fire Techno Blast alongside its comrades. But Blaster also fired his missiles, which flew right at where Sundor was. And when the Genesect launched their attack, the Minibot dodged moments before the beams were about to collide together, but instead of that, they hit Blaster's missiles. But that was what the Autobot communications' chief planned: that caused that the electromagnetic effect of the missiles combined with the explosion, which caught the entire squad, blinding them enough for Sundor to return with Blaster and leave to search for Optimus. Meanwhile, Starscream continued searching for the signal's source.
"Come out, come out, wherever you are." He said searching.
Optimus and Blaster, who managed to meet with him, ended with the last Seekers. As for Ratchet, he was trying his best to escape from the Decepticon warship, being chased by Decepticon troops that fired at him. But surprisingly his vehicle form was fast enough to lose them.
"Not bad for an old Bot." He said proud.
But when he turned right, he did not see Galvatron, who stopped him by stomping his foot over him, trying to crush him.
"If you terminate me, you'll never get your hands on the formula." Ratchet excused.
Galvatron retired his foot, allowing Ratchet to return back to robot form.
"Oh, I wouldn't be so certain, doctor. My experts are working diligently to disentangle your…false trail as we speak." Galvatron revealed.
Finally, Starscream found the drone with the signal he was tracking.
"There you are. And down you'll go." He said launching a missile that destroyed the drone.
Optimus and Blaster arrived too late, finding the resulting explosion.
"No." Optimus said.
"If the drone will not lead us to Ratchet, you will." Blaster suggested as they started chasing Starscream.
They surprised the Seeker, forcing him to dodge their attacks with evasive maneuvers.
Starscream gasped as one of the shots almost hit him. "Boys! Where are you? I need you right here to cover my back! Now!"
Once they recovered from the stun and after receiving Starscream's command, the Genesect changed to their alt form and flew back with their leader. They tried to fire back Signal Beam at the Autobots, but it was a very close battle.
"We need a ground bridge, now!" Starscream requested.
Once it appeared, they speeded up toward it before closing, right before the Autobot could reach it. Back to the Nemesis…
"Nice try. I'll just put this back where it belongs." Knock Out said to Ratchet, taking the sample he stole.
"Spectrum analysis confirms that the synthetic energon is stable." Shockblast reported checking an energon sample from the machine that Ratchet tried to sabotage. "The formula is now complete."
"And your time table for production?" Galvatron asked.
"With the aid of hyper-acceleration technology: not long."
"Oh, a pity you won't live long enough to witness the fruits of your labor. But as much as we appreciate your contributions, doctor, I made a promise to someone that I intend to keep."
Later, the Decepticons threw Ratchet to the open area of the upper hangar, where someone was waiting for him.
"Do you feel defenseless, Autobot?" Predaking asked while Ratchet looked at him. "Good. Now you know what my fellow Predacons endured. Right before you massacre them!" He shouted grabbing his head.
Predaking threw Ratchet aside, and before he could get up, he saw Predaking changing to his dragon form, and approaching him roaring. Ratchet received a few scratches before being pushed down by Predaking. At the same time…
"Optimus to base, come in."
"Optimus, have you determined the warship's location?"
"No Elita, the transponder has been destroyed."
"We are no closer to finding Ratchet than when we began." Blaster added.
Meanwhile, Shockblast was in the lower deck's main control. And by only pressing one button, it started to flow synthetic energon to huge canisters.
"Lord Galvatron, synthesis of the cyber-matter required to cyberform Earth has commenced." He reported by com-link.
"Splendid, Shockblast. Move the Omega Lock into position. I want to be ready."
"At last. Good riddance to lot of wretched species. Except you, of course." Starscream pronounced as he was attending to his pokémon.
"Although, I will say they manufacture some fine-looking automobiles." Knock Out admitted, making Starscream look him in disbelief.
Meanwhile, Ratchet was thrown against the wall, and just when he got up Predaking grabbed him with the mouth and threw him again. Next, he jumped and trapped him with his claw.
"Just get it over with. It's not like I could ever live with myself, knowing the role I played in humankind and pokémon's extinction." Ratchet said with some energon leaking from his mouth, while Predaking looked him threatening. "But if you want to avenge your cohorts, don't stop with me. Keep avenging all the way to Galvatron!"
By hearing that, Predaking stopped and retuned to robot form.
"What? What do you mean?"
"Your high and mighty leader wanted your Predacons exterminated, and simply allowed us to do his dirty work for him." Ratchet answered once he got up.
"Nothing but a false claim to save your own spark." Predaking said grabbing Ratchet and raising him.
"You consider yourself an intelligent being, don't you?" Ratchet asked, making Predaking stop and listen. "Then rise above your base instincts and analyze the situation." Predaking released Ratchet. "We followed the trail of that day with the desperate hope that it would lead to an energon mine. We had no idea we would find Shockblast's laboratory." Ratchet told as he cleaned the energon of his mouth.
"A coincidence barely seems plausible."
"Because it wasn't a coincidence. Energon was clearly planted to lure us there by Galvatron."
"Why would my liege wish to destroy us?" Predaking asked, still unconvinced.
"Having just been on the receiving end of your might, one theory springs to mind: Galvatron fears you, and any like you."
That answer let Predaking shocked, and full of rage. What come next were his screams of fury as an explosion sounded inside the Nemesis, and a Decepticon tank's body came flying through it. While he was carrying the body of another one, Predaking hit with an uppercut one Decepticon soldier against the ceiling While two heavy soldiers fired at him, he threw the body against one of them before blasting the other one with his blaster gun.
"Lord Galvatron, Predaking is on a rampage and moving rapidly toward the…" Galvatron heard from a Vehicon's com-link before hearing some blaster fire.
Meanwhile, moving between the remains of the Cons, Ratchet took advantage of Predaking's rage and reached to a terminal.
"Autobot base, do you read? This is Ratchet. Can anyone hear me?"
"Loud and clear, old friend." Optimus answered happy receiving Ratchet's call.
"Thank the Allspark you're okay." Blaster added.
Everyone inside the base heard him too, so they cheered happy.
"See Clemont? There was nothing to worry about." May told him.
"I've never doubt it."
"Listen to me, Galvatron has managed to rebuild the Omega Lock onboard his warship. I've deactivated the Decepticon shielding system. You should be able to get a fix on my coordinates." Ratchet explained as he heard shots near. "Optimus, you must hurry. Galvatron is preparing to cyberform Earth as we speak."
Once he finished his report, Ratchet ran to the opposed direction to the shots.
"Ratchet?" Optimus asked, before deducing he done informing. "Blaster, lock on to those coordinates."
"On it." He nodded.
Blaster's doing was seeing on the base's terminal.
"Autobots, prepare to storm the warship." Optimus communicated.
"You heard our leader! We're going in and we're going in heavy!" Ultra Magnus announced.
"This surely will be a fight like in the days of the war back on Cybertron, a fight to the limit. So gear up!" Elita instructed.
Arcee readied her laser handgun; Moonracer checked her sniper rifle; Bumblebee did the same with his portable shield and plasma cannon; Warpath prepared his energon rocket cannon while Sideswipe grabbed his shotgun; Smokescreen checked his phase shifter and also grabbed a neutron assault rifle; Hot Rod checked his weapons and his cybertronian bow; Wheeljack checked his grenades and his lighting whip; Seaspray readied his harpoon launchers with explosive ones; Elita placed her heavy cannon on her back and Ultra Magnus grabbed both the Forge of Solus Prime and his heavy rifle.
"They can't leave without saying goodbye." Bonnie said worried.
"There is no time for that, and no need. They'll be back." Tracey reassured.
"You'll need all the help you can get." Ash reminded.
"Let our pokemon assist you on this battle." Ritchie suggested.
"Sorry young ones. But this mission is crucial and unlike anything you have seen before. Besides, according to the coordinates, it will take place on space, void of the atmosphere your creatures require to breath. This time it's just us and them." Ultra Magnus explained.
"Well, in that case, be careful." Serena asked.
"Don't worry, we will. Blaster, we're ready and waiting." Elita communicated.
"Ground bridge incoming." He answered as the portal opened in front of them.
"Members of Team Prime, Autobot, human and pokémon, it has been my honor to lead you. On this day the fate of two worlds hang in the balance, and the battle to come may very well be our last. But for Earth, for Cybertron, for our comrade Ratchet, we must take the Decepticon warship." Optimus proclaimed as the Autobots walked through the portal.
Meanwhile, aboard the Nemesis…
"Are you sure confronting the beast-Bot directly is the best option, lord Galvatron?" Starscream questioned.
"We shall see how his majesty fares against the most powerful weapon in our vault: the Dark Star Saber."
Once they reached to a crossroad of paths, they saw landing the body of a Vehicon in front of them. The cause: Predaking, who was finishing with two engineers.
"Galvatron!" Predaking called.
"I'll just go fetch that little something we talked about." Knock Out said leaving.
"Is it true that you ordered the annihilation of my army?!" Predaking demanded.
"Indeed. And my only mistake was not seeing the extermination through." Galvatron answered, pulling out his sword.
Predaking prepared his claws and charged against Galvatron, who waited for him ready. Predaking attempted to strike, but Galvatron dodged and hit him in the torso double time. But Predaking grabbed him and pushed him against the wall, and before Galvatron could react he received a hard punch in his chest, before being sent to the other wall.
"I will tear you apart!" Predaking shouted grabbing one of the bodies.
He stroke Galvatron with the body until it was shattered in pieces and Galvatron was pushed to the other side of the hall. Once he recovered, he grabbed Predaking's hands and tried to push him back, roaring in the process. But Predaking, roaring too, was too strong for him.
"Boys, fire Techno Blast at once! Full power!" Starscream commanded.
At the same time as Starscream fired a missile, the Genesect fired their attack at Predaking's back. Predaking felt the impact, but had no time for react because the pokémon started to attack him with Metal Claw, Shadow Claw, Aerial Ace, Extreme Speed and Blaze Kick, all one after one on his face. That stunned him, and allowed Cryotremor and Infernyphoon to hit him hard on the chest with Giga Impact and Flame Charge. Next, Zapwave grabbed him by the neck with Electroweb, and allowed Galvatron, once he recovered, to hit his head with his gladiator bowler and kick him inside the room: the escape pods room.
"That's the spirit. But I was a champion of the Pits of Kaon not only due to my savage might…but also my cunning." Galvatron told as he pressed a button that opened one of the locks, and Predaking was too close for it, so the air sucked outside was dragging him out. "You should have headed my advice and faced me as a beast."
Galvatron fired at Predaking his fusion cannon at full power. The impact sent him flying outside, until he was no seen again. With that finished, as the Genesect grabbed Galvatron to ensure he would not be sucked out the ship too, Starscream pressed the button that closed the lock.
"Bravo, my liege. It isn't every day one witnesses the extinction of a species all over again." Starscream congratulated.
"One ultimate weapon coming right up!" Knock Out announced carrying the Dark Star Saber. "Where's tall, dark and scaly?"
Suddenly, they heard a call.
"Report." Galvatron demanded.
"Lord Galvatron, the ship is under attack. By the Autobots." One soldier reported.
"But the warship's cloaked. How's that possible?" Starscream asked.
"The medic lives." Galvatron realized. "Mobilize what remains of our forces. The Omega Lock must be defended at all cost!" Galvatron instructed as he grabbed the Dark Star Saber and the alarm sounded. "If Optimus Prime wishes to wage a battle for the fate of both Earth and Cybertron, then I shall oblige him. This will be our last stand." He proclaimed as the Dark Star Saber started to glow.
