Chapter 4

Nemesis Prime did not appear to notice the Autobots' arrival, or perhaps he did not care. Either way, he continued to ignore them as they ventured ever closer until they stood some distance behind the circle of drones around the base of the communications tower. They watched the army of the undead and its new leader with apprehension and fearful fascination; the Nemesis Army stood motionless, silently awaiting their leader's next instruction, their faces turned up towards him.

"They haven't moved since we left," Skyfire informed his fellow Autobots. "They've been standing there the entire time, just staring up at the transmitter, as if mesmerized by it."

"Hm. Perhaps they are waiting for something to happen, but what?" Prowl asked, though more to himself as he watched with reserved curiosity. "Skyfire, be ready to get us all out of here, in case anything goes wrong." Skyfire nodded in acknowledgement, and then Prowl spoke to the others. "We need to try and get his attention somehow, preferably without a show of force."

When no one had any good answers, Hot Rod reminded him again. "Sir, let me try. Please. I know I can reach him."

Prowl turned his attention to the orange and red cadet, and then back at Nemesis Prime, before taking in a deep cycle of air. "All right. You can try, but don't get close. Go ahead."

Blaster placed a hand on his friend's shoulder in support as all optics were now on Hot Rod, whose full attention was already upon the Nemesis. He stepped forward and cleared his vocal processor, preparing himself psychologically and emotionally for the challenge that lay before him.

Breaking through the eerie silence that pervaded the small city square, he called out to Nemesis Prime at full volume. "Optronix! Optronix, it's me, Hot Rod! Optronix!" Several astro-seconds passed by, but Nemesis Prime did not move or flinch, and so he tried again. "Optronix! Optronix, answer me!" Still nothing, but he was determined to get a reaction from his former class mate – any reaction was better than none, he thought – and ignored the doubtful looks from his superior officers. "Optronix!" A few more seconds went by and then, reluctantly, "Nemesis… Nemesis Prime! I demand that you answer me!"

This time he got a response. The Nemesis slowly turned around to stare down at the mech who had called out his name. Regardless of the distance that separated them, Hot Rod could see the Prime's red optics glowing with slight irritation and curiosity, though his expression was mostly unreadable.

But the Nemesis, standing high up on top of the tower, gave them no further indication that he was able or willing to respond to the cadet's demands, so Blaster prodded his friend to keep it up. "Don't stop now – I think it's working. Call out to him again," he said, optics wide with trepidation.

So Hot Rod did. He called out the mech's name repeatedly, demanding to be heard, ordering that he climb down from the tower and speak to him, all the while the drones on the ground nearby mercifully ignoring him. For a long time the Nemesis remained motionless, and it seemed as though he was undecided, unsure of what to do. Then, to Hot Rod's surprise, the drones directly in front of him began to clumsily step aside, moving as one, until the way was parted before him. Hot Rod glanced back at his superiors and then at the drones again, who had returned to their stationary positions, a clear path left for him to walk to the tower's base. Puzzled by the drones' actions, he was about to call out to the Nemesis again when he heard a deep, resonating voice bellow down from the top of the tower, and he knew immediately that it was the Nemesis speaking to him.

"I have made a path for you," the voice said, slowly and steadily. "Climb the tower, and I will allow you to speak with me."

Hot Rod looked to Blaster and let out a cry of triumph, grateful for the initial breakthrough, though he couldn't help but feel apprehension at the prospect of taking up the Nemesis' offer, fearful of what might happen when he did. Still, he knew that he had to do something if he was to even begin to get Nemesis Prime to trust him.

"Well, what are you waiting for? Go!" Blaster encouraged him, nudging him forward.

"Wait." Hesitant, Hot Rod glanced back at Prowl and Kup. He did not want to proceed any further unless he had their wholehearted approval. "Sir?" he asked tentatively, reminding himself that he had promised to respect his superior's decision, no matter what it might be.

Prowl stepped towards the cadet until he stood beside him and glanced up at Nemesis Prime atop the tower, who awaited Hot Rod's response. Finally, he looked back at Hot Rod, and noticed the same stubborn determination and strength of will in his optics that only the very bravest of Autobots possessed. "Optronix was a good friend of yours?"

Hot Rod nodded without hesitation. "Yes, sir."

The second in charge inhaled deeply, and nodded in understanding. "All right. We'll be right here if you need us," he said in a low voice. "Go get your friend back."

"Yes, sir!" Hot Rod returned with quiet pride, saluting his senior, and began to walk towards the tower.

The first thing that caught Sentinel's attention as he and his small contingent arrived in Iacon Central was the large assembly of Decepticons gathered near the Command Center, with Deluge in their custody. He was accompanied by Alpha Trion, as well as two cadets who had insisted on coming along – Powerflash and Sprocket.

Sentinel had been successfully repaired by Alpha Trion, and had since made an almost complete recovery from his ordeal at the hands of Deluge. As he strode purposefully towards the Decepticons, he appeared just as strong and self-assured as he'd ever been, though his physical stature was now smaller and slightly altered, due to his reversal into his original form ever since the Matrix had been removed from him. He sported a large cannon on his right shoulder, and was equipped with several other weapons on his arms, just like when he was Prime.

"Megatron!" he called out as he came to a stop in front of the Decepticon leader, who turned to face him. "I should have known that you would have something to do with this," he said, indicating the aftermath of the recent battle around them, then briefly cast his glance over all the Decepticons, who had stopped conversing amongst themselves to focus their attention upon him as they formed a semi-circle around their leader. "And you," he said, looking across at Straxus' head scientist with disdain. "I will deal with you later!" A few moments passed by in silence before he spoke again, turning to face Megatron once more. "I have just spoken to Autobot Command, and they have granted me full authority to deal with this emergency situation as I see fit. Therefore, it is in all of your best interests to leave Iacon immediately, or I shall order all units under my command to see to it that each and every Destron on Cybertron is apprehended for violating our highest laws, and sentenced to exile – beginning with you."

When the Prime was finished, Megatron did not respond straight away, nor did he appear at all surprised by Sentinel's sudden show of hostility. His Decepticons, on the other hand, looked back at the Autobot's Supreme leader with anger and resentment. But Sentinel ignored them, his focus fixed upon his former military advisor. How he thought that he could threaten an entire army of armed Decepticons, without backup, and get away with it was truly anyone's guess. Even his three companions, who had kept their distance as Sentinel had approached the Decepticons, knew that his show of pride and his arrogance would get him into serious trouble one day.

Starscream raised his arm weapon, pointed it directly at Sentinel's chest, and as soon as he did so the other Decepticons followed suit, slowly lifting their weapons and training them at the Prime. "How dare you accuse us of crimes that you, yourself are guilty?" Starscream reprimanded him. "I should have finished you when I had the chance."

Megatron held up a hand, indicating to his team that he wanted them to refrain from taking any action, and then stepped closer to Sentinel until the two were face-to-face. "This is neither the time nor the place for this," he said, his tone harsh. "We have come here to stop Straxus and his army of mindless drones, before they deplete the planet of all its energy and attempt another takeover. Therefore, Sentinel Prime, it is in your best interests to help us, or stay out of our way!"

Sentinel stared back at the Decepticon leader, who was noticeably larger, his stubborn pride not willing to step aside. "What are you talking about?" he demanded. "The drones are not reliant on our planet's energy – they are self sustaining! Do you take me for a fool?"

Megatron gave him a disapproving look, and pointed in the direction of the communications tower. "Iacon's energy reserves are being depleted at this very moment by the so-called Nemesis Prime, who now controls the drones. If he is not stopped soon, Cybertron will experience an accelerated energy crisis." He paused, watching Sentinel's reaction, and then added, "We have been aware of a forthcoming large-scale energy shortage for some time now. The point is, if you would spend more time listening to the Autobots under your command and less time pointing the finger at us, you might learn a thing or two about the state of affairs on this planet."

The bluntness of Megatron's remarks left Sentinel faltering for words, yet he was determined not to allow any Destron to show him up, no matter how justified they might have been in doing so. He turned brusquely away from Megatron and started for the Command Center without looking back. Several moments later, his three companions followed after him.

"Wow, he's a real aft-port," Skywarp commented, watching as Sentinel and the three Autobots disappeared inside the command post.

"Heh, you can say that again," his friend Thundercracker replied drolly.

Several lower ranking Autobots and cadets stopped what they were doing and looked up, their attention captured momentarily as their Supreme Commander strode past them in the hallway, accompanied by three others. He did not stop or acknowledge them, but walked straight by on his way directly to the control room situated at the top level of the Command Center. Once there, he stopped briefly to assess the damage that had been left behind by the drone invasion, moved past the destroyed control panel to stand before an auxiliary console, and punched in a command on the access panel. After a few moments, a live feed of the communications tower filled the nearby monitor.

Alpha Trion quietly stepped closer to stand behind Sentinel and peered at the screen, watching with a curious fascination as Hot Rod, the cadet who was mostly known for his brazen attitude and impulsiveness, climbed the tower to meet a lone mech standing at the top – the leader of the entire Nemesis Army. The drones on the ground below appeared to have made a pathway to allow Hot Rod unimpeded access through them. In addition, the tower's antenna was emitting a full-powered transmission beam, drawing a large amount of energy in the process – just as Megatron had warned. "What is this devilry?" Alpha Trion finally demanded to know, his voice barely above a whisper.

For several long moments Sentinel was quiet. He slowly straightened, his expression grim. "This cannot be allowed to continue. I will put a stop to it, even if I have to destroy the Nemesis Prime myself!" he declared obstinately, before turning and exiting the control room without another word.

Sprocket and Powerflash stood at the entranceway watching their instructor leave, waiting until he had disappeared around the corner at the end of the hall out of sight before they turned their attention to Alpha Trion for answers.

The elder Autobot walked out of the control room past the two cadets, indicating with a hand as he did so. "Come," he said to them, "we must hurry if we are to avert a major catastrophe."