Chapter 3
Smokescreen always took long drives when the members of Team Prime angered him. Lately it was Arcee that was bothering him; she couldn't forgive him for endangering her human partner Jack Darby. Usually Smokescreen was able to forgive anyone instantly but with him getting assigned grunt tasks and the distrust of Arcee, Smokescreen was starting to think that fighting for the Autobot cause wasn't what it was all cracked up to be. Maybe the life of a Decepticon would offer a more respect for Smokescreen. Suddenly his dashboard computer beeped something at him; it had picked up another energon signal. It was less than two miles from where Smokescreen currently was, he thought about calling for backup but he knew one of his teammates would take all the glory from him. So instead of calling for assistance, Smokescreen increased speed and drove to the awaiting energon signal.
The drive was easy enough and it gave Smokescreen time to formulate an attack plan to secure the energon deposit. When he got to the Decepticons' location there was at least a whole squadron of troopers, five Insecticons, three miners and the dark lord Megatron himself. There were Seekers flying overhead to provide an eye in the sky with Starscream flying at the lead. Starscream broke off from the main group and transformed, then walked over to Megatron. "Everything is all clear for miles lord Megatron, we did not a single Autobot" reported Starscream. "Good, for once you have completed a task I have asked of you" said Megatron. "Now's my chance to take out the leader of the 'Cons and his second in command" said Smokescreen to himself, the troopers were going to be easy to take down but the Insecticons were a whole entire problem. Insecticons were large and bulky, even though they had blasters; they preferred to destroy their enemies with brute force. The Insecticons were the only difficulty Smokescreen saw; somehow he had to get the squadron of troopers away from the mining site. Smokescreen just realized that he had brought with him a single grenade; he chucked the grenade as far as he could throw. An explosion rocked the clearing a few meters from where the Decepticons were mining. Half of the troopers ran towards the blast site in order to investigate. The other half formed a half circle in order to protect the energon and their leader. "Commander what has happened, I demand an explanation immediately" yelled Megatron. "Sir we detected a large explosion and we are now investigating" replied the commander. Smokescreen lurched from his hiding spot and shot down the whole semi-circle of troopers and managed to destroy two Insecticons. The remaining three transformed to their bug forms and flew straight for Smokescreen. He jumped and dodged two of the bugs as they slammed into giant boulders. The last broke its wing and spiraled towards Smokescreen in an attempt to take him out.
Megatron transformed and flew straight at Smokescreen; he ducked and watched as Megatron missed his target. Suddenly a force jerked Smokescreen backwards and then he realized that Megatron had attached grappling cable to the back of the rookie and was carrying him as the dark lord flew low to the ground. Megatron made sure to hit every rock and object to further damage Smokescreen. "Well what do we have here, Prime's latest recruit" said Megatron. "Do your worst Megatron; I've experienced worse back on Cybertron" said Smokescreen, "there's nothing you can do that's worse than going back to dreaded base". Megatron suddenly took interest in Smokescreen's comment. Megatron extended a hand to help Smokescreen stand up, then Smokescreen brought out his blaster and aimed directly at the dark lord. Megatron simply just stood his ground with a calm look on his face. "Why aren't you trying to attack me" asked Smokescreen. "Because you are not happy with your current life as an Autobot, but the life of a Decepticon could offer you so much more" said Megatron, describing the life of a Decepticon. The other half of the troopers had returned and drew their own blasters. They aimed them the blasters directly at Smokescreen, but Megatron raised his in an order for the troopers to stand down. "I will make you this offer once and only once; join the Decepticon cause and you will be free from the burden of the Autobots" said Megatron, "think about my offer Smokescreen". And the Megatron, Starscream, and the remaining troopers entered their ground-bridge leaving Smokescreen to ponder about Megatron's offer.