"Sari!" Bumblebee called, "Where are you?!"

"Bumblebee return to the plant immediately," Optimus ordered, "We have important matters to deal with."

"More important than our friends?" Bumblebee retorted.

******************************************************************

"Bumblebee, that's not a request. That's an order!"

"Let the kid go," Ratchet said.

"Since when is insubordination acceptable Ratchet? We have a job to do, and we're supposed to work as a team!"

"Don't be so hard on them Prime, we've all been fighting the good fight."

"I know. We've all been pushed to our limits. But we can't just stand around making excuses. Not if we're going to survive. Ratchet, take the key to the ship. We need to protect the AllSpark in case the Decepticons make a move." Ratchet nodded. "You two," Optimus pointed at Prowl and Bulkhead, "show me this 'Dinobot Island.'"

*******************************************************************

"Long time no see kiddo," Blackarachnia said, "Miss me?"

"Yeah, like I miss the chicken pox," Sari retorted.

"Funny. but as much as I'd like to trade snappy comebacks with you, I'm already bored. So just hand over the key and I'll be on my way."

"Yeah, well you're a little too late. The Autobots didn't trust me with it any more so they took it away."

"Oh. so it looks like we have something in common."

"Oh yeah?"

"You think living like this was a choice?" Blackarachnia showed off her claws. "Not that long ago I was one of them. But then they turned their backs on me."

"Yeah, I know what that's like."

"Now the thing that can make me normal is the AllSpark. It's the only way I can go back to the way I was. Before…" Sari pursed her lips in thought.

******************************************************************

The Auto-Rover was en-route to the ship and had already arrived in downtown Detroit when it was bombarded by cryo-missiles. Ice formed around the rover, lifted it up, and held it in place. Ratchet hopped out and took cover behind one of the ice pillars.

"I suggest you hand over ze key Autobot!" Blitzwing advised. Ratchet used his magnetizer to pluck a car up and throw it at Blitzwing, but he blasted it away with his fire cannon.

"The master will not be denied!" Lugnut slammed his Punch of Kill Everything in the ground. Ratchet was thrown into a wall by the blast. Blitzwing floated in front of him.

"The key, Autobot," Blitzwing held out his hand.

"You'll have to pry it from my cold, dead hand," Ratchet growled. Ratchet clenched the key in his hand. Blitzwing raised a brow, flew at him, and shoved Ratchet against the wall. He then threw him to the ground, put his foot down on Ratchet's back, grabbed his arm, and started to bend it backwards.

"Nothing personal Autobot," Blitzwing grinned, "It just would've been as much fun to kill you and then take it! Ahahaha!" He bent the arm backwards and snapped it. Ratchet screamed in agony. He easily slipped the key out from Ratchet's limp fingers.

"Quickly, the master awaits," Lugnut said. He and Blitzwing then flew off. Ratchet watched them fly away. He tried to move his arm, but the pain was too excruciating.

"Great, now what am I gonna tell the kid?"

*****************************************************************

"We've searched every inch of this island, and there's still no sign of the Dinobots," Optimus said.

"Maybe they left," Bulkhead suggested. Optimus and Prowl looked at him. just then, a tree was knocked down. Grimlock, Swoop, and Snarl stepped out of the brush. "Or not."

"Do not fear! We come in peace," Optimus said slowly.

"Intruders! Dinobots destroy!" Grimlock shouted. The Dinobots pulled out their bone weapons and ignited them.

"Anything else you forgot to tell me?"

"Let me talk to them. I helped them before. They know me," Prowl stepped forward.

"I think you've done enough damage. It's alright! We've come to talk. We will not hurt you."

"Dinobots hurt you!" the Dinobots charged, and Optimus and Bulkhead raised their weapons.

"Hold your fire!" Prowl stopped them, "Grimlock stop!" The Dinobots stopped. "You know us. We helped you defeat Meltdown. Remember?"

"Meltdown?" Optimus looked a Bulkhead.

"Don't ask," he responded.

"Black and green men good. Red man bad!" Grimlock growled at Optimus.

"Red man good!" Prowl insisted, "Our friend."

"Friend?"

"Evil forces are about to invade our planet and destroy everything in their path. If we wanna stop them, we must join forces and fight them together," Optimus said.

"Dinobots not need others to fight! Dinobots destroy people!"

"In case you haven't noticed, Dinobots are people." The Dinobots then started to fight each other.

"Prime? It's Ratchet. The key's been stolen!"

"What?! How?!"

"Coupla Decepticon scum ambushed me. I tried to fight em off but—"

"It's not important now. Just get to the ship and protect the AllSpark. We'll meet you there. Let's roll out."

"But what about the Dinobots?" Prowl asked.

"Looks like we're on our own." Grimlock picked up Snarl and tossed him away then swoop tried to claw at him. the Autobots then left.

"So Boss Man, what do we do now?" Bulkhead asked.

"I'm not so sure anymore. So far every decision I've made turned out to be the wrong one. Maybe Bumblebee's right. Maybe I'm not cut out to lead this team," Optimus lamented.

*****************************************************************

"Ah, the source of the treasonous transmission," Starscream arrived at Sumdac Tower. He fired a null blast at the top floor of the tower. He then gazed down at the inside. It was some sort of laboratory. He then saw a stasis pod in a corner with a body contained within. He gasped then smiled when he realized who was inside. Starscream landed in front of the pod.

"Well well. Look what the kragling dragged in," Megatron frowned. Luckily the fog on the glass hid his displeasure.

"Megatron? Alive?" Starscream feigned a gasp, "And looking…magnificent as always."

"Starscream. How good it is to be reunited with such a loyal and faithful servant in my time of need."

"I would've come sooner, oh grand and illustrious leader, but naturally we'd all assumed you'd perished at the hands of the Autobot scum." Starscream struggled to speak. "What…great…joy to see you did not."

"Yes, delight is written all over your face."

****************************************************************'

"Maybe Sari is—Hey!" Bumblebee looked up at Sumdac Tower to see Starscream arrive and blast a hole in the top floor then fly inside. He activated his comlink. "Autobot alert! Autobot alert! Is anybody out there?!"

"Bumblebee! It's Prime. What's your status?"

"Trouble at Sumdac Tower! It begins with a Star- and ends with a -scream." Bumblebee ran inside the tower.

"Well this day just keeps getting better and better. Do not engage! Repeat. Do not egage! Wait for back up!"

"But Sari could be in danger!"

"Bumblebee! Stand down! Do you read?!"

"Oh sorry—kersssh—can't hear you—kra krsssh—must be goin through a canyon or something!" Bumblebee clicked off the comlink. He pushed the button for the elevator. The elevator soon arrived, and Bumblebee ran inside.

"Looks like it's just you and me Starscream," Bumblebee said before the door shut.