-1The energy signal was traveling at a phenomenal rate for something earthbound, seemingly passing through mountains without so much as slowing down, making a beeline for the Ark as if it knew exactly where it wanted to go. Sarah, however, knew nothing of this because she'd left a few hours before to perform a perimeter check. None of them thought to alert her because they were too busy preparing for an attack and figured no Decepticon would pay heed to a single puny human… until the energy signal's arrow-straight course abruptly changed, placing it on a heading straight toward Sarah's current location. "It's heading right for her!" Optimus didn't even have to issue any orders. Everybody already knew what to do as they all transformed and piled out of the Ark as if the place was on fire, then practically broke the sound barrier fifty ways from Tuesday as they headed out.
"I hope we get there in time," Bumblebee said finally. Ironhide tried to reassure him. "Don't worry, kid. Any Decepticon who tries to get their hands on her will find himself full of holes." Just then, he caught sight of the warplane overhead. "…Present company excluded, of course." Megatron didn't bother responding. He'd barely even been listening in the first place. Being higher up, he had a better view of the terrain ahead, and as such he was busy relaying information to the others. The signal was practically on top of her now and they could only pray that things would be all right.
The lot of them got a huge surprise when they finally got close enough to see Sarah, because it turned out she wasn't alone. Strange as it seemed, she had apparently made a new friend… a fairly large mechanical scorpion. "Scorponok is alive," Megatron gasped. The other Autobots were shocked as well, but not at the news of his survival. What was more surprising to them was the fact that the giant scorpion wasn't acting the least bit hostile toward her. No, Scorponok seemed perfectly content in her presence, even happy, as he skittered in circles around her, wagging his stinger in a thoroughly stupid-looking manner and chirruping weirdly all the while. However, he reacted violently when the earthbound vehicles came into his view, leaping between them and Sarah, tail arched forward into attack position and pincers snapping threateningly. They all came to a halt.
The standoff lasted mere microseconds, for Megatron chose that particular moment to land. Transforming in midair as he always did, he landed in a crouch between Scorponok and the Autobots, cannon ready almost instantaneously, waiting for the scorpion to make the first move. Neither moved for a few absurdly long seconds. Emitting a very peculiar squealing sound, Scorponok hopped up and down a couple times before lowering his tail and scampering over to Megatron to scurry in circles and bump up against him repeatedly in a most un-scorpion-like manner. Optimus and the rest came closer and the scorpion reacted hostilely again. "I'd say he knows you're a Decepticon too, just like him," Ratchet guessed. "He may not be the most charged weapon out there, but he knows his kind."
For the first time in what seemed like forever, Megatron actually smiled as he crouched down beside the absurdly happy scorpion. "You're looking well," he said even though he was fairly sure Scorponok couldn't understand him. He hadn't had much contact with Scorponok in the past… the scorpion had generally stuck with Blackout. But Blackout was dead now, had been dead for a very long time… Megatron was probably the first other Decepticon Scorponok had seen since his last deployment at the beginning of the first Earth battle. The scorpion continued to scuttle around in happy circles, squealing in that same peculiar way. "I don't know if you understand me, but the war's over." He gestured toward Optimus and the rest. "They're my friends now." Scorponok stopped his squealing at that, seemingly frozen by what he had heard. "…You can understand me?" A few long seconds passed before the scorpion hesitantly lowered his tail before slowly edging toward Optimus, seemingly afraid and uncertain. Megatron alone knew what was going on. Scorponok had behaved exactly like this upon being introduced to the other Decepticons. "Weapons down, everyone," he called. "Scorponok's just trying to say hello. If I remember correctly, he'll just give you a once-over and consider you allies from now on." All of them held still as the scorpion looked them over one by one in a manner that reminded the watching Sarah of a dog meeting new people, a little bit of tension evident in the slight twitching of his lowered tail. Scorponok promptly relaxed upon completing his 'inspection' of them and returned to where Sarah sat. Megatron had only one question. "Scorponok's hardly the trusting type. How did you manage to get him to act this friendly toward you?" Sarah placed one hand on the scorpion's head, drawing a softer chirrup as Scorponok closed his eyes, seemingly savoring the gentle touch. "I think it had something to do with the condition he was in when he first showed up. Would you believe somebody blew the poor thing's tail clean off? He looked like he was in so much pain… I worked my special magic and fixed him up good as new, and after that he started acting like this." It made sense to Optimus. "Bold words may win allies, but kind deeds win friends." Sarah smiled. "I guess it doesn't matter what species you are… everyone responds to kindness."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
…And another previously unaccounted for Decepticon makes an appearance.