Sorry for the delay! I've been working on a couple of other stories: my non-Transformers story "The Cat Returns - What If Haru Stayed?", and helping LuisJM with his story, "Transformers Infinite".

At any rate, the beginning of this chapter winds backwards slightly from the end of Chapter 18, to provide additional details and tie some scenes together to describe what was going on in and around Hound's arrival in Minerva's ICU.


"So this is your headquarters, Sari?" asked Astro.

"It is one of our locations," she explained.

"Just so you know, Astro," said Jack, "she is our Captain."

"Oh! Forgive me, Captain Sari," Astro bowed.

She returned the gesture. "No apologies necessary, Astro. Glad to have you and your father here."

"Where are we, exactly, Captain?" asked Professor Ochanomizu.

"I'm afraid the location is classified, to keep it secret from the Decepticons," she replied. "I hope you understand."

"Oh, yes, of course," he bowed.

Sari returned the bow. "You and your son will be safe here, I assure you."

Minerva and June receive a comm from Optimus. "Incoming wounded!"

"Please excuse us," said Minerva, and they left.

"Raf's requesting an emergency bridge!" called out Bulkhead, and opened up one of the portals. Speeding in were Raf and another Technorganic, on yellow wheels! Shortly thereafter Miko arrived in Predacon form. Bulkhead closed the bridge. The new Technorganic screeched to a halt right in front of Sari.

"'Scuse me," she grunted. "Didn't know where we were going; next thing I knew, you were right there."

Sari chuckled. "No problem, Miss…?"

"Tomago. First name's Leiko, but my friends call me GoGo."

"Well, welcome! May I call you GoGo?" said the Cyber-Ninja.

"Works for me!"

"Hey, thanks for the assist," Raf told GoGo. "So, those things are weapons?"

GoGo levitated one of her arm discs and twirled it around on her index digit like a basketball. "Yep. Wheels and weapons."

Miko transformed back into her hybrid human form. "Cool move back there," she said. You got fighting skills?"

"Taekkyeon black belt," she smiled.

Sari was enjoying all this, when suddenly, she got a comm from Minerva. "Sari! Code Red, Emergency!"

"Please excuse me," she told the group, and warped away.

"Wow! What just happened?" said Astro.

"She did that to me," said Professor Ochanomizu. "A flash, and we were gone to another location!"


Sari warped into sick bay. "Where's the bot?" She asked. Present were Optimus, Ironhide, Minerva and June. They all stepped aside letting her see the patient. "Oh, Hound!" she exclaimed, and began glowing white. She approached the ICU bed and reached out to touch his badly wounded servo.

However, that same moment, June called out "He's gone!"

"No!" said Optimus. Everyone turned to look at the vitals display. All of his signals were now flatlined.

Undaunted, Sari closed her optics and began meditating. She touched his servo. However, instead of going into the healing process, she began going into the Well. All around her was a white void.

Looking up, she saw three bots. At first all that was visible to her was an outline, as if she was seeing them standing before a bright light. Slowly the outlines became clearer, and she saw Hound, completely restored, with Kup and Rodimus on either side.

"Hound!" She called out in sorrow. "I'm so sorry! I should have gotten to you sooner!"

"It's OK, kid; I'm with my buds now. You watch over the comrades I left behind, y'hear?"

"I will, Hound, I promise."

All in sick bay overheard Sari speaking, although they could not hear Hound. June put a servo to her mouth. Optimus and Ironhide lowered their heads, and Minerva shook her helm sadly. Letting go of Hound's now gray servo, Sari stepped back from the ICU bed and stopped glowing. She looked up to Optimus. "I'm sorry. He's in the Well now."

"You did your best, Captain. We lost many brave Autobots today. The Decepticons may have won this battle, but they have won battles before. The war is not over." He stepped out of sick bay.

June came up and put a cover over Hound's remains.

"Sari, we overheard you speaking to Hound. What did you promise him?" asked Minerva.

"That I would watch over his comrades," she said purposefully.


"Ben and Aang are arriving!" TFA Bulkhead announced, opening the space bridge. All gathered around the opening. They were in for a horrifying shock.

Coming out were Aang and a taller female Technorganic - who closely resembled Shockwave! They were holding Ben, who was bleeding Energon. He was missing an arm.

"Guys, he needs help!" Called out Aang.

"To sick bay, now!" Jack thanked the new Technorganic and took her place, carrying their friend who was groaning in pain, with Aang following Jack close behind. The new girl was left with GoGo, Astro, Miko and Raf.

"Oh, man!" Miko unconsciously picked up one of Ben's catchphrases. "What happened to him?"

"He was attacked by another girl, with red and orange armor and had a sort of red light whip and a blade," said the new arrival.

"A blade?" Raf frowned. "If she had a whip, that's Firefly. But a blade?"

"Maybe she got a new...uh, what's it called? Mod?" Astro suggested.

"Wouldn't surprise me," said Miko. She then turned to the newest Technorganic. Eyebrow raised, she scrutinized this fembot. "You're an interesting one," Miko quipped. "What's your name?"

"Eleanor," she replied. "Eleanor Lamb."

Miko - who was still in her hybrid human form, passed a hand in front of Eleanor's one large blue optic. "You sure resemble someone with that one big optic, Eleanor."

"I do?"

"She's talking about a Decepticon, his name is Shockwave," said Raf. "Big, bad guy."

"Yes, I was told that before, by that other one we fought."

"But nothing against you!" Miko smiled. "Anyway, it's nice to meet you Eleanor, I'm Miko." She held out her hand.

"Hi Miko," Eleanor smiled, putting out her one servo to shake.

Raf came up, "Glad to meet you, Eleanor," he said. "Happy you made it here safe and sound. We have some other new arrivals." And he introduced her to GoGo and Astro.

After the greetings, the Predacon hybrid asked, "so, what's that other arm for?"

"Oh," she answered. "I'm a marine biologist. I found two uses for it." She held her arm up and it transformed into a harpoon.

"Whoa!" said Miko. "Kinda cool!"

"If I recall correctly, Captain Sari's Optimus has a similar mod," said Raf. "He's a bot from another dimension," he explained to Eleanor," and his alt mode - what he can transform into - is a rescue fire truck. The mod that's similar to yours is a grappling hook."

"What's the other use?" he asked. She transformed her arm again, and the harpoon became a syringe.

"A needle! Neat!" said Miko

"I use it to inject medicine into sick marine animals," Eleanor explained.

"Not much of a weapon though," the hybrid human observed, "but the harpoon's pretty good."

"Weapon?" Eleanor asked.

"To fight those Decepticons, like Firefly," said Raf. We have two medical bots who will want to examine you, and they may uncover additional abilities."

"I see." She looked around. "Interesting place you have here."

"We'll go over things in time," said Raf. "Apologies if things are going fast, but there's a war going on."

Dr. Onishi and Professor Ochanomizu watched and marveled at these amazing youngsters before them.

"An unbelievable group, Professor," said the Doctor.

"Indeed," his colleague replied. "And all this time, I thought Tobio was the only one.

"As did I with Koji. I've been told that they are all over the world."

"What do you think it all means?"

"Captain Sari foretells a cataclysmic battle," Dr. Onishi explained. "I am afraid the fate of humankind lies in the balance, and these young beings are our hope, provided the evil one does not get to them first."


Jack entered sickbay, carrying Ben. "Incoming wounded!" He called out.

"Ben!" said June, and taking him from Jack, she lay the wounded Technorganic down on a bed.

She went to check on his vitals. "He's stable otherwise," the nurse bot reported. Looking down at him, she asked "How are you feeling?"

"It hurts!" Ben replied.

"I understand," June said with compassion, and readied an EMP gun. Setting it to a low level, she administered a shot to relieve the pain. "Does that feel better?"

"Yes, thanks," he said. Transforming her servo to a medical device, she set about closing up the Energon leaks. Stepping aside, June let Minerva give him an examination.

"We need to talk to Optimus," Minerva told June.

"Let me go bring him back," and the nurse bot left. Jack came up to Ben. "Was it Firefly?"

"Yeah. She got some new mod, an energy blade like you and the Captain have."

Jack shook his head. "Wouldn't surprise me. Thanks for the Intel. You hang in there!"


Minerva and Optimus engaged in a brief conference.

"It will take some time to protoform an arm, Optimus."

"How long? I know Red Alert has completed his facility, but I imagine an entire arm takes time."

"Two orbital cycles, minimum."

The Prime shook his head. "Ben's a skilled fighter, despite his youth. We cannot afford to have him out of service that long."

"I'm afraid there's no other option, except…" Minerva turned to look at Sari, who was standing with Jack by Ben's bed.

"She prefers using her White Energon in dire circumstances only," said Optimus.

"I understand, but as I said, that's your only option besides waiting for Cybertron to protoform a new arm."


Optimus returned to Hound's bed and spent some moments pondering the remains of yet another brave warrior lying under the white sheet.

"I'm returning back to be with the troops, Optimus," said Ironhide.

"Understood, old friend," he replied. "Thank you for finding him so quickly."

"There's something you should know. I didn't have time to tell you before. Let's step outside." And the two went out to the hallway.

"When I found Hound, I wasn't far from where that combiner monster was," Ironhide began. "Prime, Hound didn't destroy him."

"What?!"

"The blast however, blew it apart, separating it back into the five TechnoCons. They were unconscious when I picked up Hound, but just as I was putting his chassis into my alt mode they began coming to, so I sped back to you. It looked like the orange one was damaged, missing an arm. Made me wonder if that'd keep them from re-combining."

"Any way of knowing what type of bomb it was that Hound used on it?"

Ironhide laughed. "I know just about every weapon that Hound kept in his arsenal. I'll bet it was the one he called his 'Sayonara Baby'. A special invention of his."

Optimus betrayed a grim smile. "I don't suppose you know the formula?"

Ironhide chuckled. "Oh, yeah. Hound only told one or two bots about his little recipe book. Sideswipe's one, I'm the other."

"Let's keep that weapon on hand then. We may need it."

"Roger," he replied, and left.

Sighing, Optimus walked back inside and over to Ben's bed.

"How are you feeling, Benjamin? He asked.

"Better now, sir," he responded.

"Was your mission a success?" he looked to Ben and Aang.

"Yes," they replied.

"We found the new Technorganic in Sri Lanka," said Aang. "Ben and I battled Firefly and Skysword for her."

"And you fought them off to save the Technorganic. Good job you two!"

"So, a new fembot," he continued. "What is her name?"

"Eleanor Lamb," said Ben. "She has a very interesting mod!"

"And what is that?"

"She can warp, like the Captain," he smiled.

"Well, that is impressive," said the Prime. "I look forward to meeting Eleanor. You two have done very well indeed. Congratulations on a successful mission."

"Thank you," they both responded. Aang bowed in respect.

"Benjamin, I am sorry for your injury. One of our other brave soldiers, Arcee, lost an arm, not once, but twice in prior battles. We shall do everything we can to restore it."

"Thank you, sir," Ben replied.

"Captain, may I speak with you?" He said.

"Of course," said Sari, and excusing herself, they stepped outside.

"How can I help, Optimus," said Sari.

"Sari, I have a request to make of you," he began. "Can you please use your White Energon to restore his arm?"

"Well, yes, of course I can," she responded, somewhat reluctantly, "but as you know, my preference it to use it only in dire circumstances, with bots who are gravely injured or ill." She looked down, still saddened about Hound's death.

"I understand. However, despite his youth, Ben is a brave soldier with great abilities. Minerva told me it would take two orbital cycles for Cybertron to protoform a new arm. Our resources dwindled, I need him sooner rather than later."

The Cyber-Ninja looked up into the Prime's optics. "Yes, of course. How can I decline the request of a Prime?" she smiled.

"Thank you," he responded.

Returning to Ben's bed, Sari said "Ben, I want to restore your arm for you."

"Captain?"

She began to glow white. "Take my servo with yours."

Ben's optics were huge! "Uh, what's going to happen?" Watching this, Aang quietly began a Tibetan chant.

"I'll be honest with you, Ben," Sari responded. "I've only done this with unconscious bots. But trust me; I will be at your side every step of the way."

He reached out with his remaining arm and hesitating at first, grabbed her glowing servo. Instantly, the sick bay burst away like a new painting sprayed with solvent. Everything was pure, brilliant white!

"Aaah! Where am I?" He yelled, but his voice echoed out around him.

"It's alright, Ben; I'm here," said Sari's voice.

"Where? Where are you? I don't see you!"

"Look to your left," she said, and he turned, and she was there. They were standing together, floating. He was whole! He looked at his arm - it was there.

"Whoa! Did you heal me already?"

"No, Ben. We are not in the physical world right now. This is the 'you' that is inside."

"I don't understand."

"That's alright."

Suddenly, an opening appeared before them, and Ben found himself and Sari passing through it.

"Where are we going?" He asked.

"To another plane."

"First class or coach?"

Sari laughed! "You always have a good sense of humor, Ben!"

Passing through, there were others around them, all in white. Countless bots who had passed away, but Ben didn't know this.

"Aaah!" he screamed! "Ghosts!"

"It's alright, Ben. We are in the Well."

"I don't like this! I never liked ghosts!"

"Don't worry, I am with you."

"Hey bud," came a voice.

Ben looked to his right. "Hound?"

"You're gonna be OK, pard."

"What are you doing here?"

"Can't stay long, Ben. Sari will explain it." And he left.

"Hound? Hound?" He cried.

"Come, Ben, time to return," and she brought him back to sick bay.

"What was Hound doing in the Well?!" Ben demanded.

"I'm afraid Hound died in battle, Ben," Sari explained.

"NO!"

She lay Ben's astral self back down in his chassis, and began the healing process. Aang watched as Ben, still glowing white, suddenly sat up, with Sari remaining where she had been, holding on to his one servo. Then Ben, as if in a trance, held out his stump, staring at it.

Suddenly, the arm began to regenerate itself. Both Technorganics watched in awe as the Cybertronian skeletal structure knitted itself back together: upper arm, elbow, forearm, wrist, servo, and digits. Then came the connective servos and support wires and energon supply tubes, exostructures and finally the chassis. Ben, mouth open, was only able to issue a weak "Wow".

Sari and Ben stopped glowing, and she helped him lay back down. He was totally exhausted - physically as well as emotionally. She put a servo on his forehead, and he said "Thank you."

"Rest, Ben," she told him. "I'll be back in a bit, and bring you to Hound's remains here in sick bay so you can pay your respects."

"Yes," he said weakly, "I'd like that." And closed his optics.

Aang bowed before the Cyber-Ninja. "Thank you, Captain."

"We need him whole, Aang," she responded, and putting a servo on his shoulder, she said. "Aang, I've been meditating about you."

"Captain?"

"Come with me to my meditation chamber. I want to examine your Spark. I think you are a good candidate for Cyber-Ninja training."

"I would be honored to be a Gakusei of yours, if you deem me worthy!"

"I had another Sensei in mind," she smiled. "A good Cyber-Ninja, in another dimension. And they left for her meditation room.


A little while later, Sari returned to sick bay. Ben was sitting up at his bed, smiling, legs dangling over the side.

"Ready to be discharged, Captain," smiled June.

"Glad to hear it," she responded, and Ben jumped off the bed. "Let's go over to Hound's bed," Sari told him. His demeanor changed. "OK," and they walked to where Ben's favorite bot lay. June followed behind.

"Can you...can you take the cover off?" he asked. And June removed the white sheet. Hound's remains were gray, as all deceased Cybertronians were after their Sparks expire. The nurse bot helped Ben up to his bedside. Ben held his mangled servo, and laid his head on Hound's chassis.

"You were my hero, Hound," Ben said. "I want to be a soldier just like you."

"Rest in peace." And he jumped off the bed. "Thanks," he said to June.

"My pleasure, Ben," the nurse bot replied, and re-covered Hound. Sari and Ben left sick bay.

"No more silliness, Captain," Ben told her. "No more fooling around. From now on, I want to be a good soldier."

"I still like your sense of humor, Ben," she smiled. "Don't lose that." And put a servo on his shoulder.

"I think, I think I'd like to become a Wrecker."

"That's a very tough group," Sari told him. "You could compare them to the Marine Corps. We have a Wrecker in the Skystrikers."

"We do? Who?"

"Miko."

"You're kidding!"

"It's true! She was an honorary Wrecker way back when she was fully human."

"Hold on! Miko was fully human once?"

Sari chuckled. "OK Ben, your first job as a good soldier is to learn as much as you can about your comrades."

"I learned about Raf's story when we went to go find Lara. Alright, I'll learn about Miko. Wow, didn't realize it. So she's a Wrecker, huh?"

"Yep, go ask her about it."


"Hey, Miko." Ben called out, walking into the training room.

"You're looking better. Sari got you a new arm?"

"Yep. Listen, I know I've had a lot of growing up to do these last few months."

"You did fine, Ben," she responded.

"For a while. But there were times when I let my ego go to my head. I've know been as big a jerk these last few months as I ever was."

He paused, looking at Miko. "Aren't you gonna argue with me?"

"Not when you're right."

The young Technorganic chuckled and nodded, realizing he'd walked right into that one. "Fair enough. Anyway, I just learned that Hound was killed in battle."

"Hound?! NO!"

"Yeah. He was my hero, Miko. I just paid my respects in sick bay. I made a vow that from now on, I'm gonna change my ways, be a good soldier."

"You are a good soldier, Ben!"

"Thanks. I want to be like he...like he was. Hey, listen."

"Yeah?"

"Do you think...do you think I might have the toughness to be a Wrecker?"

Miko smiled. "Found out about me, eh? Who told you, the Captain?"

"Yeah. She told me how you were an honorary Wrecker, back when you were fully human - which I didn't know."

"Which? That I was an honorary Wrecker or that I was once fully human?"

"Both. Which is another thing I've gotta be better at; learning more about my comrades."

"So, what happened? How'd you become a Predacon chick...er, Predacon hybrid?"

"That's a looong story. I'll tell you later. For now, I'll answer your first question. Yeah, I think you've got what it takes to be a Wrecker! Be tough, though. Tell you what: you and me, first chance we get, let's go talk to our world's Bulkhead."

"He's a Wrecker?"

"Yep! Wrecks with the best!"

"Deal! So...time to begin telling me your story?"

"Why not? It all began with Predaking. You know about him?"

"Nope."

Miko rolled her yellow slitted eyes. "Don't study up much, do you?"

"Guess I should, huh?"

"Might be a good idea! Anyway…"

Suddenly, there was a comm from Sari. "Skystrikers, we're being called to a meeting by Optimus. Meet me in the large conference room." They both responded "Roger"

"To be continued," said Miko, and they headed on down the hall.

"Did you know Raf?"

"He was a classmate of mine," she smiled.

Ben did a double take! "Dang! I've got a lot of stuff to get up to speed on!"

"Yup."


All were gathered in the Area 51 large auditorium. Optimus had invited everyone: the Skystrikers, the new Technorganics and the family members on hand, the Autobots present, from both dimensions.

"Autobots, Skystrikers, Technorganics and friends, I called you here to give you a report on the most recent battle that occurred on the New Jersey outpost against Megatron and his forces. I am sorry to say that the battle was a loss for our forces. The Decepticons have defeated our stronghold, despite a mighty show of force. Many thanks for bravery in battle must go out to our Autobot troops, Regulan soldiers, human troops, and one of our new Technorganic partners."

The Skystrikers and Technorganics turned to give a congratulatory glance at Lara, who was sitting next to Arcee. She smiled back.

"We lost many brave soldiers today, Autobot, Regulan, and human." Ben put his head down, thinking of Hound.

"The lynchpin of the Decepticon victory was a 'secret weapon' called Caligulus." He turned to an overhead, showing a recording made by one of the Autobots. It showed the TechnoCons flying together, then suddenly combining into a single unit.

"Caligulus online! Ready for slaughter!" The combiner said.

"What the…?" said Jack, frowning. Sari watched all this in horror, shaking her head.

The video showed Caligulus mowing down Autobots, Regulans, and humans leaving a path of destruction in its wake, with nothing seeming to be able to stop it.

"Seeing our troops decimated, I had no choice but to call a retreat," the Prime said sadly.

"One of our Autobot soldiers, casting aside all concerns for his own safety, took on this Caligulus, and unleashed his most powerful weapon of all," Optimus continued, and the video showed an enormous explosion, followed by a yellow mushroom cloud. "We assume he delivered the weapon at battle zero."

"Battle zero!" gasped Raf.

"What does that mean?" asked Ben.

"It means he was right on him! He must have...grabbed Caligulus and then blown himself up!"

"This, however, did not destroy the combiner, although it did succeed in breaking it apart, damaging one of the TechnoCons. Unfortunately, the blast took the soldier's life."

"Dammit!" said Jack.

"Hound," Ben muttered to himself, recalling his mangled chassis. He fell back in his chair.

"Captain, there must be something we can do!" said Raf to Sari.

She looked back at him, "I will talk with Optimus."


Sometime later, the Area 51 leadership held a private planning session.

"Well, Captain, you have certainly expanded the roster of Technorganics," said T:Prime Optimus to Sari.

"And I had originally thought Jack was the only other one," said the Prime's counterpart from Sari's world.

"It was an amazing mission to accept from The Thirteen," said Sari, "yet here we are."

"Are there any others?" Asked T:Prime Optimus.

"None that I am able to detect."

"And no further encounters from Kālī," said TFA Optimus.

That's what worries me," Sari replied. "It seems like she has lost interest; why?"

"Could she be planning an abduction?" Said Agent Fowler.

"That would be a logical scenario, but only if she knew of our location," replied Sari. "Until we know more, all we can do is proceed with our plans."

"I appreciate the Skystriker's offer to rejoin us in our battle," T:Prime Optimus told her.

"After your presentation, and given the fact that I am not detecting any additional Technorganics, it's a logical choice. We are, all of us, eager to assist."

"Lara is a natural choice for partnering with Arcee," said T:Prime Optimus.

"Agreed," said Sari, "and Aang is going to the Cyber-Ninja Dojo, to study under Dai Atlas."

"I've communicated with him," said TFA Optimus, "he's looking forward to having a Gakusei."

"And Aang is excited to make the journey," smiled Sari.

"And your newest arrivals, Koji, Astro and GoGo?" Asked T:Prime Optimus.

"They will begin basic training on Cybertron."

"A new training team, I understand," said Fowler.

"Yes, with our forces depleted, I need Sideswipe down here," said T:Prime Optimus. "Captain Sari and I have decided on a new partner for Ironhide."

"She eagerly accepted the assignment!" Sari smiled.

"That leaves the two youngsters, Frankie and Cody."

"I'm keeping them here at Area 51, to help with administrative duties."

"Appreciate that, Sar," said Bumblebee. "Aang's been a great assistant, and with him headed to the Dojo, those two will be a big help to me."


Koji, Astro, Eleanor and GoGo were sent to Cybertron's training fields, there to hone their battle skills at the servos - and claws - of two of the Autobots' best trainers. Being Technorganics, naturally, they're picking up new skills and techniques at record pace.

"Our recruits are doing well, Miko," Ironhide told his new training partner.

"Well for fighting against drones, yeah," she replied. "Shall we take them to the next level?"

"Lemme guess: against you?"

"Against me," she smiled.

Ironhide chuckled. "Go get 'em, tiger."

The Predacon girl bounded over to where the trainees were assembled. "Alright, you four! You've fought against the drones. How do you think you've done so far?"

"Good," said GoGo.

"I saw your mod list," said Miko. "I know you've got plasma jets, yet you don't use them. How come?'

"Why bother? Fast racing gets 'er done."

"Not against aerial attacks," quipped Astro.

"My discs'll take 'em out," GoGo boasted.

"Care to prove that theory, GoGo?" said Miko.

"What? Against more drones? No prob!"

"No, against me!" And Miko stretched her Predacon wings out to their furthest extent. "One on one! You and me! Let's go!" And she took to the sky. "Let's go, speedy! I'm after you!"

GoGo's optics opened wide! Miko made a turn and came down after her, furnace glowing bright yellow. "Better get moving!"

GoGo sped away, and it was a cat and mouse race! The other recruits watched in awe!

"What do you think's going to happen?" asked Eleanor.

"I dunno, but my money's on Miko!" said Astro.

"No way! GoGo's gonna get her!" said Koji.

GoGo dodged and weaved, trying to avoid Miko's attack, but the Predacon Wrecker wouldn't have it. Anticipating every move, she blasted the yellow Technorganic with fireballs, scorching her tail. "Gotta do better than that, Speedy!"

GoGo threw a disc at Miko. It flew in a wide arc and headed straight for the Predacon's neck. But before it could make its mark, Miko revealed her three-headed mod; the head on the side where the disc was coming blasted a plasma missile at it, sending it careening back to the ground with a thud! GoGo had no choice but to call it back to her wrist. Miko came in for the kill. "Air beats ground!" Yelled Miko.

"Alright! Alright!" Yelled GoGo, and calling up her plasma jets, she took to the air. Flying around, she faced her opponent.

"Good, good!" Said Miko, waving the digits on her claw, inviting an attack, her wings beating back and forth in a hover. GoGo twirled and threw a disk straight at Miko's center, aiming for her Spark Chamber, but Miko's danger mod anticipated the move, and slammed the disk with a clawed fist at just the right moment, sending it hurtling away. She tried again with her other disc, but this time Miko twirled, using her tail, smacking it up. "Excellent attempts!" She said encouragingly. "Just remember: your opponent may have the ability to anticipate your move, and counter it."

Miko looked down at the ground to the other recruits. "Lesson ove...Whoa!" And Miko jerked aside suddenly, as GoGo made a sudden attack at her midsection, trying to fly and head-butt her. The effort failed, and GoGo sailed on past her.

"OK, 'A' for effort," she told the recruit. "But don't try a sneak attack on an opponent with three heads."

"Yeah, that wouldn't work," she replied, scratching her helm.

"Good job with the plasma jets, though," Miko replied. "OK, who wants to go next?" And the fembot from Sri Lanka raised her servo.

"Eleanor! Minerva found that cannon mod in your arm, so let's see what you can do with it against me!"

Eleanor flew up to where Miko was, while GoGo returned to the ground. She revealed her cannon and transformed her one servo to an orb weapon.

"Think fast!" And Miko's left head shot a plasma bolt straight at her! She raised her cannon and fired. It met the bolt midway between the two, causing an explosion.

"Nice! Good reflexes, Eleanor," said Miko, "good aim." Let's see how you do in motion." And the Predacon girl took off, flying in rapid circles over and around the Technorganic, firing bolts straight at her. Eleanor was forced to twist and turn in flight, keeping her one blue optic on Miko. She kept firing with her cannon.

"Don't rely on just your cannon!" yelled Miko, "try using your orbs too! They can be just as powerful!"

Watching from the ground, the group observed both femmes going at each other, twirling and circling rapidly. "Looks like a weird ballet," said Astro. "Yeah, with fireworks," quipped Koji. GoGo chuckled at the remarks, enjoying the training exercise.

Several minutes later, Miko called a halt. "Well done, Eleanor," she said. They both landed.

"Now, a question: why do you think I didn't encourage you to use your warp mod?"

Eleanor thought for a moment. "Because…it's a defensive mod?"

"Yes and no. Defensive, sure. Will get you out of a tight spot, like when you used it to rescue Ben!"

"It can also be used in offense, like suddenly warping in to an enemy and planting a cannon shot in his face, eh?"

Eleanor laughed!

"Your warp mod is a powerful tool, but Minerva cautioned you that it can quickly drain your Energon reserves, so you should use it sparingly. I'd encourage you to consider it an advanced weapon."

"Got it!"

"Alright, Koji, come on out to the field." The young Technorganic stepped up.

"Now, Minerva tells me you are built for espionage."

"Yes," he responded.

"So, you've got the language mod, like Captain Sari and Jack; you've also got that 'Mojo' mod like the Captain, which was pretty funny when you used it on one of the drones."

"Thanks!" He smiled, recalling how, during one of the training sessions, he landed on top of one of the drones, placed a servo on its helm, and optics glowing white, he reprogrammed it to attack the other drones!

"That was a clever maneuver. Then you've got that 'Mirage' mod - again, very useful for spy work, and for fighting, when you made yourself disappear and then project holograms of your teammates to fool the drones."

"I do want to be a spy, but also a scientist like my Dad," he replied.

"You might be interested to know that Captain Sari's father is a scientist," Miko told him. "Having his DNA, she is also very skilled in scientific work."

"I didn't know that!"

"So, what are we going to do here?" Miko wondered out loud. "You need to be trained in battle techniques regardless of the fact that you won't be a soldier."

"Let's see how you do against me, eh?" She smirked, and took off into the sky. "Let's go!" Koji followed behind her. He then had an idea, and disappeared…

Miko smiled. "Thought you'd try that," she said to herself. Making use of her "danger" mod, she waited for him to make a move. She sensed a presence coming around on the right, then her auditory sensors picked up the sound of a weapon powering up. A nanoklik later, there was a flash, and a blue orb came at her! But anticipating it, Miko flew up and over; the orb passed by, missing its target.

"Not bad, kid," she told him. "I can't see you, but I can sense your presence. STILL!" And turning quickly, she shot a fireball in his direction, but like his orb, it kept going, because he stealthily dodged the attack.

"Heh! Good job," She thought. "So, what'll it be, Koji? Cat and mouse? You've figured out you can't attack me unseen, since I can sense you with my 'danger' mod. Other Decepticons have that mod as well - study the archives and learn who has 'em. You'll have to use a different technique on me."

Koji revealed himself, then suddenly, dozens of Kojis, Astros, GoGos, and Eleanors surrounded the Predacon girl. They moved over and around her.

"Nice! One thing though: I know which holograms not to fire at, eh? Your fellow trainees are on the ground. That leaves...six Kojis." And using her two extra heads, six bolts were fired in rapid succession at the targets. One made its mark.

"Ow!" Said Koji, as the holograms dispersed.

"It was a very good strategy, Koji," Miko said encouragingly, "next time, add this: when you bring out the holograms of everyone, that's a distraction. Good for only a few nanokliks against the enemy. That's the time to attack! Raise your orb and strike right then and there!"

"Got it," he responded, and they returned to the ground.

"Alright," said Miko. "Time for the flying ace!"

"Ready!" Astro yelled, and took off into the Cybertronian sky. Miko went after him.

"Your flying skills are second-to-none, Astro," said the Predacon Hybrid, catching up to him, "but there is one weakness you should watch out for."

"What's that?"

"Atmospheric interference."

"How so?"

"Out in space, of course, it's not a problem, but the Autobots have been terraforming this Cybertron since they brought it back to life. It's still somewhat thin and toxic. You can't breathe in your 'human' mode here, and I can't in my hybrid human form. But it does have some atmosphere, and lets me do THIS!" And being near Astro, she flapped her wings violently against him, causing him to lose control!

"Whoa! Whoa!" He yelled, falling down to the ground, until he managed to right himself.

"Be careful when coming up against a Predacon," she told him. "Even though you can fly rings around them, a Predacon's wings are powerful weapons in their own right! Fighting on a planet, they can cause you to lose control, and that can spell trouble in battle."

"How do I avoid it?"

"Know the enemy! Anticipate their moves, and don't let them take advantage of you. Don't get too close to a Predacon; use your orbs, shoot, and fly past them quickly."

"That goes for everyone down there!" Miko yelled to the trainees.

"Enough aerial techniques. Ground fighting. Let's land." And the two got back onto the training field. "Now, how would you attack a Predacon on the ground?" She asked the group. Holding her tail high up, she said "Trust me: you don't want to get hit by this!"

Ironhide watched the training session and smiled. "I know Miko's not even two dozen stellar cycles old," he thought, "barely out of her - what do the humans call it? Teens? And it's a damn shame all the suffering she had to endure from that Predaking infection, to get changed into what she is today - no longer fully human! But what a Wrecker she is! Who knew the Autobots would get a Predacon on our side!" he chuckled.


Retiring to her private chamber, Sari meditated peacefully in zazen, her mind reaching out to track down any remaining beacons of Technorganics. It felt like searching for dim, scattered stars in a pitch black night.

Suddenly the vision changed, and Sari opened her eyes to see herself in a nightmarish, apocalyptic scenario. The newly rebuilt city of Iacon on T:Prime Cybertron was crumbling in flames. Buildings collapsed, citizens running hysterically as if the end of the world was upon them.

Looking below, she saw the noble T:Prime Optimus impaled on a sharp post. The rest of the Autobots lay eviscerated around the fallen leader. It was indeed the end of the world.

Glancing back up, she spotted the source of the destruction: a Technorganic, flying at top speed, raining down mayhem and death.

On instinct, she flew toward the evil doer to stop him, before halting in shock when she recognized who it was.

"JACK!" her old Gakusei ignored her, slicing the Spark chamber of an Aerialbot with his broadsword. Jack roared like a mad animal, his now-red optics shining in bloodlust. He raised his servo, carrying something that made Sari even more horrified: Arcee's offline head.

Before the Cyber-Ninja could do anything, the vision changed. This time she was hovering over a tropical ocean. All seemed bright and peaceful, until she saw all manner of fish, floating motionlessly on the surface.

"Oh, my." she sighed. The fish were all dead. She scanned the water and disturbingly discovered the ocean's acidity was growing by the second, to the point where no life-form could dwell in it!

She turned, and saw Eleanor Lamb, her single optic red, infusing the ocean with pure, liquid Tox-En. In a matter of seconds, the entire ocean was dead.

"Eleanor, what are you doing?!" she cried, and again the scenario changed.

This time she was in TFA Iacon, but the city looked even worse than its T:Prime counterpart. She feared to see another Technorganic of hers, and her fears were right. There was Aang going on a mindless rampage. But unlike Jack who had used all sorts of mods and weapons, Aang merely used his P.O.M. to shred everything and everyone apart, molecule by molecule.

Sari gasped at the horror of Autobots of all ages being slowly disintegrated, screaming for their lives.

"Aang, stop!" Sari flew at him, intent on stopping this. But he completely ignored her, and Sari phased through him like he wasn't even there.

The next vision was the most shocking of all. Astro was burning down Detroit, destroying the base of Sumdac Tower and making it crumble.

"Daddy!"

She flew on a beeline for the tower until a heart wrenching sight halted her. TFA Optimus with his Spark ripped out, TFA Ratchet torn limb from limb, Bulky pierced with a pole, TFA Jazz shredded apart. And worst of all, a beheaded Bumblebee.

Sari was almost grateful for the next vision of Armageddon. This time she was in New Kaon, where Ben and Lara were butchering fleeing Decepticons. Their optics too were red.

Sari came to see a daunting, though not saddening sight of an offline Megatron. Around him lay a Starscream sliced in half, a broken Soundwave and a Shockwave with his head severed. The combiner Caligulus was torn apart as well.

"Sari!" an old voice echoed with urgency. She found herself in a black void, a light glowing form behind her. She turned around to see Alpha Trion, made of light.

"Sari, I do not have much time. The Creators are gaining strength and trying to block out my presence." to emphasize, the light was blinking out and fading. "You must guard yourself and your brethren. The envoy of the Creators is…"

The light died for just a second and when it returned, Alpha Trion was speaking like he had never been interrupted.

"There is a darkness sleeping…"

"Alpha Trion, please I cannot make sense of what you speak of!"

"...betray your own..."

"Alpha Trion!" the light died out completely and Sari awoke from the nightmarish mediation with a start.


On the other side of the world, similar experiences were occurring.

Near Ayers Rock, Sari's wise friend Jarlie was in deep meditation. Something had called him to be close to Uluru, the ancient Spirit of his ancestors. He sat by the fire as night began to fall. Above the sparks, he saw a portal open.

"Sari!" He saw her face in terrible horror. At first, all the vision displayed was her Technorganic face. Then, it gradually turned, and all around her was fire, death and destruction!

"What is this, Uluru?" He soon had his answer, for he then saw what Sari was seeing: his "blue eyed" friend!"

"JACK!" Jack was raining destruction all around, killing other "blue eyes".

"What is happening?"

Then he realized: the knife-edge warning he'd given to Sari was about to come to fruition.

"It is time," he said to Uluru, "time for me to lend a hand." And he got up and fetched his Didgeridoo.


In the Tibetan mountains, Gyatso was in Milam - the Yoga of the Dream State. Suddenly, like Jarlie, he too had a vision. Like Jarlie, it began with Sari's face beholding a horrific scene. But his vision then turned to a different Technorganic.

"Aang!"

In his vision he saw his son using his nascent Cyber-Ninja powers to disintegrate the Cybertron of the other dimension. The peaceful Autobots were screaming as he used his Processor-Over-Matter to tear them apart.

"Why, Aang, why are you doing this?" He knew in his heart that the evil Kālī was in some way responsible for it.

Arising from sādhanā, Gyatso tried to make sense of the vision. He knew it was given to him for a reason, and that he was being called to assist. "Sari, my students and I will pray for you, Aang and the others."

Three foreboding visions! What does it mean? As Jarlie had said, the world is on the edge of a knife. Kālī has not made an appearance lately; evidently she has not had a need!

Another cooperative effort by yours truly and TheSealer!

Thanks for reading. Please review.