Transformers Prime: The Final War.
Chapter 71: Thirst.
(Author's notes: In a flashback to the Stronger, Faster episode, Corvowing left for Knife Out at the Energon Mine a sample of the unstable incomplete Synthetic Energon formula in order for the events of the Thirst episode to happen, resulting in Airsized being freed, the loss of the Insecticon hive to her control, and the loss of a third of the Decepticon army's remaining troops.
Enjoy chapter 71: Thirst.)
(Flashback: During the Stronger, Faster episode...)
Corvowing Prime giggled evilly as he left a flask of the incomplete Synthetic Energon – the green variety – in the Energon mine before he and the other Autobots evacuated.
This was mainly done so as to make sure that some events of the Thirst episode happen in chronological order.
And if his precognitive dreams were anything to go by, the result of Airsized being freed and turned into an Energon-sucking Terrorcon will result in the loss of the Decepticon army's Insecticon hive and over a third of their remaining troops.
Hours later, Knife Out stumbles across the flask, examines it, and smiles evilly, unaware of Corvowing Prime cackling maniacally high above the Energon mine.
(End of flashback. Present day...)
On the Nemesis, in the laboratory, Roughstuff bemoans, "Oh, will my torture ever end? First, I had to vie for Megatron's favor against that treacherous siren, Airsized. Now I must contend with Highstalker and his incorrigible beast!"
Knife Out replies, "Oh, look on the bright side, Roughstuff. At least one of them is now on ice, locked securely in the vault of the Nemesis."
Roughstuff remarks, "Oh, you have no idea how much I would love to stuff Highstalker and his mangy abomination right into that stasis pod beside her, if it was ever big enough and wide enough to do it. The only reason Highstalker's Project Predacon is at full swing today is because I supervised the acquiring of his dozens of Predacon bones."
C.Y.L.A.S. starts groaning in pain and exhaustion, and Roughstuff snarls, "Will you please keep your lab rat quiet while I'm airing my grievances?!"
C.Y.L.A.S. pleads weakly, "Roughstuff, help me."
Roughstuff asks, "Hmhmhmhmhmhm. My, my, my. Whatever is it that you have been inflicting upon poor C.Y.L.A.S.?"
Knife Out replies, "Ha! Well, anything that merits the need for a living petri dish."
Knife Out infuses some Synthetic Energon into C.Y.L.A.S., making his yellow optics turn green and causing him to be energized a little more.
Roughstuff queries, "Despite your justifiable lack of regard for his human side, it doesn't actually trouble you to watch what's left of your former partner and Knockdown's former partner endure your scientific activities?"
Knife Out replies, "Not really. Besides, C.Y.L.A.S. nearly had poor Hyperfight pinned to his lab table in the past if it weren't for the Autobots. I think my former partner and Knockdown's former partner would be pleased to be a part."
Suddenly, C.Y.L.A.S. shuts down.
Roughstuff asks in confusion, "What just happened?"
Knife Out explains, "Well, you remember when I told you about that Synthetic Energon I recovered from the Autobots? Well, I've been reproducing the formula to test its viability as an alternative Energon source due to the fact that the Earth's Energon deposits and Energon mines are getting thinner and thinner. However, the compound remains irregular, and there have been side effects."
Roughstuff questions, "Such as what?"
Suddenly, C.Y.L.A.S. reactivates with a roar of anger before he snarls, "Roughstuff, I hope you replaced your transformation cog, because I'm gonna rip it out all over again and feed it to Knife Out!"
Knife Out concludes, "Sheer, murderous rage."
Roughstuff remarks, "Such power and anger! Lord Megatron has always wanted a beast machine super soldier, and now we have the means of delivering one to him."
(The intro plays: The Predacon known as Predatitan screeches as he flies over a highway and spits a huge fireball at the highway. Out of the flames comes the entire Autobot army, with the new Vehicons, Shockwave, the new Autobots born in Autobot Outpost Omega 2, and the Autobot Predacon clones that were originally Decepticon Predacon clones in the original timeline coming out of the flames in vehicle/dragon mode. Optimus Prime is once again last. And as the camera pans around him, Optimus quickly transforms to his taller robot mode, and the view shows the entire Autobot army deploying their various robot mode weapons for battle. In Autobot Outpost Omega One, Bumblebee transforms to vehicle mode and drives through the Ground Bridge, followed by Stakebeak and his two clones known as Dreadstreaker and Swingslice. Bulkhead transforms to vehicle mode and he drives through the Ground Bridge, followed by Bombspeed and her two clones known as Crashout and Mazenter. And finally, Arcee transforms to vehicle mode and she drives through the Ground Bridge, followed by Jakestreet and his own two clones known as Jetace and Shortmark. In a Cybertronian battleground, Megatron fires his Fusion Cannon while Highstalker fires his own AstroMag Cannon, Roughstuff fires all of his missiles, and Devastator, Menasor, Bruticus, Preyerking, Abominus, Monstructor, Constructicon Maximus, Bruticus Maximus, Dominus Trannis, Dinoking, Liokaiser, Piranacon, Tripredacus, Devastator Maximus, Predacus, Infernocus, Volcanicon, Battle Gaia, King Poseidon, God Neptune, Megatronia, Grand Galvatron, and Thunder Mayhem fire their guns. Predatitan screeches as he flies towards Optimus Prime and Corvowing Prime, spitting fireballs at them. But the two Autobot leaders are unaffected as Optimus activates his jetpack and Corvowing transforms to his own dragon mode and they fly towards the Predaking lookalike. They respectively punch Predatitan before the title card appears. It reads, Transformers Prime: The Final War: Beast Hunters. The last thing the viewers hear is an unknown Predacon roaring.)
On the bridge of the Nemesis, Roughstuff notices Megatron is busy talking matters with Highstalker over the commlink.
Megatron says into his commlink, "Now, tell me of the Predacon protoforms. What is the status of their incubation? Mmhmm. Uh-huh. Yes, please continue, Highstalker. No, no one is interrupting me."
Roughstuff notices Megatron staring ahead and leaves the bridge.
Roughstuff heads back to the laboratory, encountering Knife Out along the way.
Knife Out asks, "Did you speak with our liege about our little enterprise?"
Roughstuff answers, "No. He was talking with Highstalker about the status of the incubation of the Predacon protoforms."
Knife Out groans.
The twosome heads back to the laboratory, only for C.Y.L.A.S. to scream in rage again.
C.Y.L.A.S. snarls, "I am gonna make you suffer in ways you won't ever believe!"
Roughstuff questions, "Exactly how much of this Synthetic Energon have you given him?"
Knife Out replies, "Two additional doses, three at the most. But C.Y.L.A.S.'s increasing volatile nature isn't the only hindrance."
Knife Out injects C.Y.L.A.S. with more Synthetic Energon.
The Decepticon cyborg continues struggling against his restraints.
Knife Out explains, "It seems that the more of the green stuff I administer, the rapidly this monstrosity formerly known as Hyperfight burns through his own natural Energon reserves."
Roughstuff bemoans before coming to a realization, "This will not do! Lord Megatron already possesses one unruly beast with that Predacon of his! What good is another monster that cannot be controlled?! Wait. I'm a fool."
Later, Knife Out stares at the cube of Dark Energon that Roughstuff took from the Energon Storage Vault and snarls, "Dark Energon?! You are more than a fool, Roughstuff; I think your neural cluster has blown a massive fuse!"
Roughstuff replies, "Oh, on the contrary, Knife Out. Adding Dark Energon to this formula will allow Lord Megatron to have complete and unchallenged control over his super soldier."
Knife Out replies back before pointing out, "Okay, it's true that Lord Megatron appears to possess a symbiotic link to anyone or anything infused with Dark Energon, thereby allowing him to manipulate them as if they were puppets, but when Unicron was awakening, he possessed the ability to control Lord Megatron and the ability to give him painful processor-aches for attempting to disobey Unicron's commands. And besides, have you forgotten what we told you about how the Dark Energon brought Trypticon out of stasis and he rebelled?"
Roughstuff points out in response, "Okay, Unicron's awakening does raise an interesting point. But as for Trypticon reawakening and defying Lord Megatron, that was the result of a massive infusion of Dark Energon. I'm only suggesting a drop or two, merely just enough to allow our lord and master to command his super soldier at will."
Knife Out replies, "Even so, it's just too drastic of a measure to undertake without Highstalker's approval. After all, I do report to him."
Roughstuff replies back, "Not on this project! Super soldiers fall under military operations, meaning, dear doctor, that you now report to me. Are we clear?"
Later, Knife Out infuses C.Y.L.A.S. with Dark Energon.
The cyborg struggles further in his restraints as the Dark Energon slowly begins to take hold.
Knife Out says, "Wait for it..."
C.Y.L.A.S. struggles some more before powering down.
Roughstuff snarls, "Darrgh. Humans in any form cannot be relied upon!"
Suddenly, C.Y.L.A.S. comes to life and growls like a zombie while continuing to struggle against his restraints.
Knife Out remarks, "It's alive!"
Suddenly, C.Y.L.A.S. breaks through his restraints, knocking Roughstuff aside.
Roughstuff exclaims fretfully, "Scrap!"
C.Y.L.A.S. takes two steps forward before getting to his knees weakly.
Roughstuff demands, "Oh, for the love of Primus, now what?!"
Knife Out answers, "I tried to tell you earlier: it's a side effect of the Synthetic Energon. He's burned through his natural Energon reserves."
Roughstuff replies, "Then perhaps we should withhold any infusions of any form of Energon for a while. It might help calm C.Y.L.A.S. down a bit, and make him a tad more manageable."
Suddenly, C.Y.L.A.S. states like a Terrorcon vampire, "Need... Energon."
His mouthplate opens up to reveal a set of upper fangs, lower fangs, and a tongue-like mouth appendage capable of draining Energon from its victims and transforming them into Energon-sucking Terrorcons.
Roughstuff and Knife Out gape in horror while C.Y.L.A.S. howls in hunger and anger.
C.Y.L.A.S. slowly advances on Roughstuff as Knife Out jumps out of the way, forcing Roughstuff to take back steps.
But then, he trips backwards, and he tries to scurry away, but C.Y.L.A.S. grabs him by the arms.
The now Terrorcon vampire tries to suck out Roughstuff's Energon, but Roughstuff keeps moving his helm and neck armor out of the way.
Knife Out spies his Energon prod and shocks C.Y.L.A.S.
Roughstuff kicks C.Y.L.A.S. off and gets up, but C.Y.L.A.S. doesn't go down.
Roughstuff starts to ask, "Is he actually trying to – ?"
Knife Out finishes before answering, "Suck out our Energon with that thing? It sure seems that way."
Knife Out tries to shock C.Y.L.A.S. again, bu the Terrorcon grabs the prod and snaps it in half.
Knife Out exclaims, "I needed that!"
C.Y.L.A.S. growls in response.
Roughstuff and Knife Out rush out of the laboratory with C.Y.L.A.S. in pursuit.
Roughstuff calls out, "See if you can hold him off!"
Knife Out asks, "What?!"
Roughstuff transforms to jet mode and starts to blast off.
Knife Out exclaims, "Wait for me!" and he transforms to his vehicle mode to follow Roughstuff.
After losing two potential Energon meals, C.Y.L.A.S. goes off to find any Decepticons onboard the Nemesis and infect them for their Energon.
Eventually, Knife Out and Roughstuff stop to transform back to robot mode and to cool off their overheating circuits.
Knife Out states, "We need to sound the alarm!"
Roughstuff replies, "Out of the question! Lord Megatron will undoubtedly hold us responsible for this pandemic!"
Knife Out points out, "But we are!"
Roughstuff replies, "Well, you are, mostly. Anyway, our master doesn't need to know that, not if we handle this the right way."
Knife Out asks, "Meaning?"
Roughstuff points out, "Use your helm, Knife Out. This warship is crawling with highly-trained Vehicon Troopers, Vehicon Seekers, Vehicon Tanks, Vehicon Snipers, Vehicon Trucks, Vehicon Generals, and other kinds of medium to heavy hitter Decepticon troops armed for combat. The moment C.Y.L.A.S. attempts to feed, they will neutralize him for us. Problem solved."
In a hallway, a Vehicon Trooper is patrolling when C.Y.L.A.S. attacks him and feeds on his Energon, taking him offline temporarily.
As Roughstuff and Knife Out start to cross over to the hallway, Roughstuff states, "Once we recover C.Y.L.A.S.'s body after he's been taken offline, we must dispose of it as quickly, as discreetly, and as thoroughly as possible. Not a single trace of him or the mutation can be allowed to remain."
Knife Out replies with a shudder, "His, uggh, infected body."
Suddenly, Roughstuff and Knife Out scream as they come across the Vehicon Trooper.
Knife Out checks the trooper's vitals and says before demanding, "Gone. Completely drained of Energon. Tell me something, Roughstuff. When you said '"problem solved,"' is this even close to what you had in mind?"
Roughstuff replies, "I don't appreciate your tone, Knife Out. This brewing catastrophe is hardly my fault."
Knife Out retorts, "Well, it certainly isn't my fault!"
Roughstuff points out, "Oh no? You're the mastermind who chose to experiment with Synthetic Energon."
Knife Out points out in response, "And you're the monkey wrench who believed that it was a good idea to dabble in voodoo!"
Both Decepticons freeze as they hear zombie growling sounds.
Turning to see the Vehicon Trooper, the zombie states only one word: "Energon."
The Vehicon's featureless faceplate opens in half to reveal the same set of fangs and the same tongue-like appendage that C.Y.L.A.S. has.
Roughstuff and Knife Out start backing up with a scream.
Roughstuff inquires, "I thought you said he had no spark?!"
Knife Out explains, "Dark Energon – it reanimates the dead."
Knife Out and Roughstuff deploy their blasters and they start shooting at the Terrorcon, but the shots only slowed the zombie down.
Knife Out exclaims, "Aim for the head!"
Roughstuff exclaims in reply, "What?! How do you know?!"
Knife Out replies, "I have seen human horror films!"
Roughstuff looks at Knife Out with a shocked and incredulous expression.
Knife Out clarifies, "Only at drive-in theaters!"
Roughstuff aims his missiles at the Terrorcon's head, and fires one missile at the head.
The explosion blows the Terrorcon's head to dust, but the tongue-like appendage still remains intact and the Terrorcon is still shambling towards the twosome.
Roughstuff snarls, "Darrgh! Forget the head; go for the spark!"
Roughstuff fires consistent strong shots at the Terrorcon's chestplate, puncturing the Vehicon's spark chamber fatally and destroying the spark chamber.
The Terrorcon finally dies.
Knife Out and Roughstuff retract their weapons.
Knife Out states, "We've severed its link to the Dark Energon. Human horror films, waste of time."
In another hallway, C.Y.L.A.S. is still slowly shambling through the corridors.
The Terrorcon plague-bringer states hungrily, "Energon."
In another hallway, Knife Out states, "If this mutation is able to be passed along with a single bite, the entire crew of the Nemesis is at risk!"
Roughstuff whimpers before querying, "You're saying that C.Y.L.A.S. could create more Terrorcons?"
Knife Out replies, "Yes, it could happen, and the ensuing feeding frenzy could turn the Nemesis into a scrapheap! So, now, can we sound the alarm?"
Roughstuff and Knife Out come across a group of four Vehicon Troopers.
Roughstuff starts to ask, "You there! Have you noticed any unusual activity..."
The Terrorcons growl as they reveal their fangs.
Roughstuff finishes shakily, "... in this sector?"
The four Terrorcons shamble towards the twosome, and they scream in unison as they run into another adjoining hallway.
Coming across a two-way corridor, they take separate paths, but Knife Out runs back to Roughstuff.
Just as they were gonna continue running, the Terrorcons appeared at the end of the hallway.
The twosome run the other way and they dive into Soundwave's workshop in the hallway to the right.
Roughstuff states, "In here, quickly!"
The twosome jump-dives into the workshop just before the door closes.
Roughstuff states, "Knife Out, this situation might be a tad more dire than the two of us thought."
Knife Out asks, "Hmm. I find it rather ironic that, after battling Autobots all these stellar cycles – getting smacked down, shot at, decapitated, mangled, sliced to pieces, vivisected, burned to ashes, getting our heads caved in, getting crushed under anything, getting crushed by the biggest and strongest Autobots, getting eaten by the Dinobots, getting melted by any Autobot using a Corrosive Slime Cannon, getting melted by any Autobots using acid-related weaponry, getting eaten by Corvowing Prime in his dragon mode, getting blown up to smithereens, this is how our lights go out?"
Roughstuff says, "Drained of our precious life force. If this is indeed the end, if we are going to become Terrorcon food, it has been an honor serving Lord Megatron with you."
Knife Out replies, "You're no Knockdown and you're no Knock Out, but I must confess, I've always admired your lustrous finish for a Seeker."
Roughstuff smiles embarrassedly.
Knife Out resets his vocalizer.
Roughstuff states, "Well, then."
Knife Out says, "We should get going."
Exiting the room, the twosome slowly walks through the corridor, and as they start going back the way they came, they bump into Megatron. And he isn't happy at all.
Megatron demands, "Would either of you two like to tell me WHAT exactly is going on here?"
Roughstuff replies, "Yes. Absolutely nothing, Lord Megatron."
Knife Out adds, "All is quiet. One could say vow of silence."
Megatron busts the lie as he points out, "Funny, because the Dark Energon within my spark chamber has been pulsing."
Roughstuff states, "Allow me to handle this. It's Knife Out's fault!"
Knife Out starts to say before he exclaims, "Precisely, my – what?!"
Roughstuff rambles in explanation, "He infused C.Y.L.A.S. with a cocktail comprised of Dark Energon and Synthetic Energon, creating a monstrous mutation which is now on the verge of turning the entire crew of the ship into mindless, Energon-sucking Terrorcons!"
Megatron doesn't believe it at first as he warns, "I do not know from what madness your yarns spring, Roughstuff, but if I learn that you have once again been dabbling with my Dark Energon stores, attempting to infuse yourself with its formidable power despite the fact that you are no longer attempting to dethrone me, let me just say that you have been awarded more chances for redemption than ANYONE in Decepticon ahistory!"
A Terrorcon growls behind Megatron, "Energon!"
Megatron turns around and states, "You there, what do you think you're doing? I order you, stand down!"
The Terrorcon snarls and charges towards Megatron, but the Decepticon leader fires a fatal shot at the Terrorcon's spark chamber.
Megatron turns to face Roughstuff and Knife Out, and Roughstuff states, "We did try to tell you."
Knife Out nods for added emphasis.
Later, on the bridge of the Nemesis, Megatron asks, "Then why can't I command the monster to follow my bidding?"
Knife Out explains, "While the trace of Dark Energon should have been able to have you control these ghouls, I believe the synthetic component may be corrupting your link to them."
Megatron nods before saying to Soundwave, "Initiate high alert. Instruct all troops and all Decepticons to keep their distances from the mutations and terminate on sight. And make sure that they aim for the Terrorcons' spark chambers."
Soundwave says into the microphone speaker, "Attention, all Decepticons onboard the Nemesis, we have a Terrorcon outbreak on our servos. This breed of Terrorcon can multiply by sucking out your Energon and using Dark Energon and Synthetic Energon combined to turn you into Energon-sucking Terrorcons. Keep your distance from the mutations and terminate on sight. Be sure to aim for their spark chambers, as their spark chambers are their only weak spot."
Megatron turns to Roughstuff and Knife Out, and he says, "Your fates, on the other servo, remain to be seen. Now, find this creation of yours and eradicate it immediately!"
Roughstuff and Knife Out rush out of the bridge.
After coming onto a hallway, Knife Out states, "Roughstuff, I realize Lord Megatron is only doing this to punish us, but exactly how are we supposed to be the best choices to hunt down C.Y.L.A.S.? I mean, why not deploy his beloved beast machine super soldier, hmm? After all, it is supposed to be the ultimate hunter."
Roughstuff points out, "Out of the question. Can you imagine if the Predacon became infected? Nothing on Earth or Cybertron could stop it if it ever became infected. After all, it is like what the history datapads on Cybertron said: Predacons are known to be slightly more resilient to most forms of physical damage."
Meanwhile, in another hallway, several generic Decepticon troops of every kind in Transformers War for Cybertron, Transformers Fall of Cybertron, Transformers Revenge of the Fallen, Transformers Dark of the Moon, Transformers War for Cybertron: Siege, Transformers Armada, Transformers Energon, Transformers Cybertron, the Transformers 2007 movie, Transformers Generation 1, Transformers Age of Extinction, Transformers Robots In Disguise 2015, Transformers Cyberverse, and Transformers Prime, were all shooting at the vampiric Terrorcons, all making sure to aim for the spark chambers.
Even the Insecticons were being careful as they executed the Vehicon Terrorcons while double-checking to make sure that they don't delay in executing the Terrorcons so as to avoid getting infected.
As the Decepticons left in search of more of the mutations, Soundwave led HAZMAT-style teams of Vehicons to scavenge the corpses for spare parts and to make sure that not even a single drop of the lavender Dark/Synthetic Energon was left over.
Soundwave then says to the search and destroy teams, "Excellent work, Decepticons. Continue onward to the next hallways."
In another hallway, C.Y.L.A.S. stumbles upon the Decepticon vault.
Punching the scanner button, the door opens and C.Y.L.A.S. spies Airsized's stasis pod.
Approaching it, C.Y.L.A.S. growls, "Energon." And he proceeds to bust the glass cylindrical window containing the pod and he opens the stasis pod, freeing Airsized from forced stasis lock.
Gasping for air despite the fact that Cybertronians don't need to breathe, Airsized notices C.Y.L.A.S. and asks, "Hyperfight?! Didn't my sister exterminate you once already from what I heard on Decepticon radio chatter?"
C.Y.L.A.S. tries to infect Airsized twice, but he misses.
Airsized smacks C.Y.L.A.S. in the head with one of her spider legs, but he is mostly unfazed.
C.Y.L.A.S. grabs Airsized and tries to infect her again, but he misses once more.
Airsized grabs the tongue-like appendage and slaps C.Y.L.A.S. hard in the face to make him release her.
Airsized jumps away just before C.Y.L.A.S. can grab her again.
Airsized drops to her knees due to being in stasis for a long while, and she avoids C.Y.L.A.S. trying to stomp her.
Airsized tries to scramble away, but C.Y.L.A.S. grabs her by her shoulders and throws her face-first into a wall.
Airsized slides down the wall and looks up at C.Y.L.A.S.
Then, C.Y.L.A.S. grabs Airsized again, slams her into the same wall, holds her against the wall, and only manages to nick her before she webs herself up the wall.
C.Y.L.A.S. growls, "Energon."
Airsized webs the Terrorcon to the floor and impales him in the chestplate leading to where the body of Silas' last clone is, making him scream in pain.
Airsized remarks before proceeding to slice open C.Y.L.A.S.'s chestplate, "Second time's the charm, but to make sure this time, I'll be certain to rip out your very spark."
Upon seeing Silas inside, Airsized asks before saying, "Silas? Whatever has any of your men or the Decepticons done to you? But more importantly, thank you for freeing me."
C.Y.L.A.S. replies weakly, "No... thank... you."
Then, C.Y.L.A.S. finally dies.
Airsized replies, "Whatever."
Airsized activates her Insecticon Telepathy and says, "Insecticons, heed me. Heed me. Your queen has returned."
The Insecticon army aboard the Nemesis who have just finished killing the rest of the Terrorcons all transformed to flying beetle mode and they all fly towards Airsized's location as she scurries away from the vault.
The Vehicon Troopers and other Decepticons reported this to Onslaught, Barricade, and the other Decepticon commanders, including Motormaster.
Soundwave takes notice of the Insecticons leaving and comes to only one conclusion: Airsized has returned.
Later, Roughstuff and Knife Out come across the open vault and they spot C.Y.L.A.S.'s corpse.
Roughstuff remarks, "Our ordeal is finally over."
Knife Out replies, "Or not."
Knife Out points to Airsized's busted open and empty stasis pod.
Roughstuff bemoans, "Scrap."
Megatron contacts Roughstuff and asks, "Roughstuff, have you made contact with the plague-bringer?"
Roughstuff replies, "Actually, my lord, I have good news... and bad news."
Megatron groans in annoyance.
Later, the Insecticon army is shown finding Airsized and she leads them as she also flies while saying, "Loyal Insecticon servants, the time is now! Lay waste to all Decepticons! Leave no trace of any one of them in your wake!"
At the end of a hallway, Soundwave emerges, and Airsized snarls, "Soundwave!"
Airsized signals her Insecticon servants to halt.
Soundwave angrily clenches a fist and he snarls, "Airsized."
Airsized sneers, "I vow that on this very day, the world will hear the sound of your screams! Hah!"
Airsized and her Insecticon army charge towards Soundwave, but the surveillance chief opens a Space Bridge to one of Cybertron's moons.
Airsized and her Insecticon army accidentally fly into the portal and they end up stuck on one of Cybertron's moons.
Airsized notices Cybertron in the short distance and as the Space Bridge closes before she and her Insecticons can get back to the Nemesis, Airsized shouts, "NO! (Echoes)"
On the Nemesis, Soundwave remarks, "Good riddance. For now."
Soundwave walks back to the bridge of the ship.
The next day, Megatron states into his commlink, "Yes. The containment protocol you recommended to prevent any further outbreak is now underway. Oh, and Highstalker, having just lost more than a third of our military might, I can't stress enough the importance of Project Predacon. See if you can speed things along, will you?"
Receiving an affirmative, Megatron hangs up and turns to his objects of punishment.
Megatron asks, "Knife Out, need I remind you that as the ship's medic, you report directly to Highstalker, not Roughstuff?"
Knife Out replies, "Understood, Lord Megatron."
The Decepticon leader states again, "Just to be sure, you will hand over all of your projects to him immediately. Including this so-called Synthetic Energon."
Knife Out replies, "As you wish, my liege."
Megatron turns to Roughstuff and snarls, "And as for you, Roughstuff..."
Roughstuff tries to plead, "Lord Megatron, if you will just allow me to explain things—"
But Megatron interrupts, "No. Allow me to explain things, in a manner that I know you will understand."
Megatron slowly advances on his lieutenant, who squeaks in fear as he realizes what Megatron is planning to do.
On Cybertron's moon, the Insecticon army snarls in unison, "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" "Your majesty, we await your command!" 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Airsized states while holding out her hands, "Approach me. Serve your queen."
An Insecticon approaches, Airsized places her hands on the Insecticon's head, and she immediately sucks out his Energon, revealing that the virus has taken partial hold in the sense that Airsized is a vampiric Terrorcon, but she still retains her sentience.
Meanwhile, in the Autobot base on Earth, Corvowing Prime and his family and friends finished explaining to the entire Autobot army, Insecticons, Maximals and Predacons included, what had happened on the Nemesis that day.
To say that even Optimus was horrified by the pandemic of vampire Terrorcons on the Nemesis was an understatement.
But Redsight assures them, "Don't worry; they're all taking precautions to make sure that the pandemic doesn't happen again. However, as a result of the pandemic combined with Airsized being freed, the Decepticons have lost their Insecticon hive and a third of their remaining troops. And now, Airsized and her Insecticons are currently Energon-sucking Terrorcons too. This means that when we restore Cybertron, we'll have to take precautions just in case Airsized is foolish enough to lead a Terrorcon Insecticon assault on Cybertron."
Optimus replies, "Then take precautions we shall. However long it takes, we will make sure to destroy Airsized and her army of Terrorcon Insecticons. Not out of revenge, but merely as an act of mercy."
Even Arcee had to agree to that.
The End.
(Author's notes: In the next chapter, the Autobots will clone their new kind of ultimate Predacon: a Mecha Shadow Fury Predacon. This is inspired by the Transformers Prime story Rise of the TechnaFury, but it's not one hundred percent the same because I don't intend to start a copyright.
Also, the Evolution chapter will diverge from the canon timeline. Chief among the divergences is this: Predatitan will eventually be forced to reveal his true loyalty to the Autobots when he discovers Megatron's plan to terminate Project Predacon.
Also, in the Evolution chapter, the Autobots and Decepticons will undergo an evolution of their own. This evolution consists of the current battle frames for the Autobots and Decepticons – in other words, their current armored bodies – gaining a modern look. For example on the Decepticon side, Barricade becoming more like a combination of his Dark of the Moon and The Last Knight incarnations.
See you all in chapter 72: Rise of the Mecha Shadow Fury.)
