Chapter 8
Arcee and Wheeljack waited for some kind of word from either Optimus or Ratchet. Wheeljack leaned against a wall while Arcee paced around the main corridor. "That's it I can't wait any longer, I'm going to see if Ratchet and Optimus are alright" said Arcee. "You heard the doc, if they need back up he'll give us a call" said Wheeljack. Arcee just ignored what Wheeljack said when she activated the ground-bridge. "I'm going to help, are you coming or not" asked Arcee. Wheeljack and Arcee transformed and drove through the ground-bridge. They both arrived at the scene of the battle a few minutes later.
Wheeljack transformed and went over to where the bodies of Bulkhead and Bumblebee were. He fell to his knees knowing that the former scout and Wrecker were never going to get up again. Arcee looked around to try and find Ratchet or Optimus, but she only saw two more bodies lay unmoving. She went over to where Optimus' body lay; she simply stared in horror as now she knew what her former comrade was capable of. "By Primus, I swear that Blackout will pay for what he has done to Bulkhead, Bumblebee, Ratchet and Optimus" declared Arcee. As soon as she was done speaking, Optimus' chest opened up to reveal the Matrix of Leadership. Arcee suddenly found herself standing before an illusion of Optimus Prime.
"Arcee, you now know that I have joined the AllSpark and there is no one to lead the Autobots; I have seen potential leadership deep within you; do you accept the responsibility of leadership" asked Optimus' illusion. "Yes I do anything to avenge your death" answered Arcee. "Then arise Arcee Prime, the new leader of the free Autobots" said Optimus. Arcee Prime flashed back to reality as the Matrix rose up from the former Autobot leader and hovered over to merge with her own spark. Wheeljack stood watching in awe at the whole event as Arcee transformed into the newest leader of the Autobots. When the Matrix was finished becoming one with her spark; Arcee stood up and turned towards Wheeljack. "As of now you and I are the only Autobots on this planet and the only ones to Megatron and Blackout" said Arcee.
Onboard the Decepticon warship, 3 hours later...
"I congratulate you Blackout, not only have you managed to retrieve the last Omega Key you also have terminated my one true rival and over half of his team" said Megatron. "I did it to please you lord Megatron" said Blackout, "now we can focus on the restoration of our home world without any resistance". Megatron walked over to the remaining three Omega Keys were laying and then he put the last one with the others. Starscream was standing beside Megatron's side when Blackout stood up. "Yes congratulations Blackout on another job well done" said Starscream sarcastically. Blackout glared at the scrawny commander with a look that could kill. "As I promised you before, that if you were successful I would promote you to my second in command; Starscream you now only in charge of your Seeker armada" said Megatron. Blackout stared at Starscream looking as if he accomplished a personal goal. Starscream glared at Blackout but said nothing and walked out to go complain to Knock Out. "Now that you are my second in command, I have another task for you; I want you to hunt and rid this planet of the two remaining Autobots" commanded Megatron. "As you command, my one true master" said Blackout.
Late night, back at the Autobot base...
With Arcee have taken the role of leader of the Autobots, Wheeljack was becoming more and more worried. "We need to focus on finding the Decepticon warship and destroying Blackout once and for all" said Arcee Prime. "I have to agree with you on that, Blackout is becoming more powerful everyday" agreed Wheeljack. Suddenly the computer beeped with an alert of an incoming message. "A message from the Decepticons and it's from Blackout" said Wheeljack, "it says that he wants to settle this once and for all".