"How can you possibly still be alive?!" Arcee questioned.
"I...was nearly ripped to shreds by the Predacons." Starscream managed to utter.
He wasn't wrong. He was missing a leg, leaking Energon from multiple areas of his body, missing half of his right arm, part of his wing, and his other wing had large claw marks through it.
Arcee pulled out one of her blasters and aimed it directly at Starscream's head. It began to light up. Starscream tried with all his energy to beg for mercy.
"Give me ONE GOOD DAMN REASON why I shouldn't just end this now! You killed Cliffjumper, tried to gut me, and stabbed us in the back whenever an opportunity came around. What could you possibly offer us?!"
Smokescreen and Ultra Magnus were very surprised. Arcee had never turned on someone so quick before.
"I...can...help you..." Starscream said in agony, "Shockwave has always been a thorn in my side since he returned to the Decepticons. I know where all of his secret laboratories are. I swear upon my life and the Allspark, if you bring me back with you, and patch me up, I will change sides. I will no longer be with the Decepticons. I will be with the Autobots once again...as I once was before."
"Do we have your word?" Ultra Magnus asked.
There was a short pause and Starscream managed to say, "Yes."
"Knock Out," Smokescreen spoke over the Comm, "Contact Ratchet immediately. We've found Starscream alive, but in very critical condition. We are bringing him back to base as soon as possible. Be ready, and tell Ratchet to be ready. This will be a difficult operation."
"Starscream is what?" Ratchet yelled.
"That is what Smokescreen said. They need you to be back at base as soon as possible." Knock Out replied.
"Understood."
"Ratchet...What's going on?" Jack asked.
"Starscream is said to be alive but in critical condition. They need me back at the base right away."
"So, what you said before, Optimus is?" Miko started.
"Dead? No. But his spark is somewhere else now. Optimus is no longer with us, and has simply merged with our planets core forever."
"But, can't I see Bee?" Raf asked, his eyes starting to tear up.
Ratchet paused and sighed. "No Rafael. Unfortunately you cannot. Every member of the team is well and safe from harm. Our main focus now is to rebuild Cybertron back up from the ashes of war."
Ratchet turned to leave. "I said I would stay, but right now they need me. I will return. Farewell."
He opened up a Space Bridge, and it quickly deactivated after going through it.
Raf wiped the tears from his eyes, as Jack's mother came to comfort him. Jack walked with Agent Fowler to his office, but turned to see something nearby. The Apex Armor lay on a platform, motionless, like the Autobots forgot to take it with them...or never meant to take it with them.
The mysterious figure watching Knock Out kept himself in the shadows. Knock Out continued working on the Synthetic Energon formula, talking to himself about how much he would miss seeing cars on Earth.
The figure silently emerged from the shadows. He slowly crept up on Knock Out, until his shadow stood high above the scientists' shadow.
Knock Out saw the bigger shadow. Afraid to turn around, he finally did, and had an oil leak. Lurking above him was an old ally...a beast...a king.
"Predaking?!"
"Yes, Knock Out. It is I. But remember, we are allies now...not enemies."
Predaking walked over to Knock Out's computer and examined his research.
"Natural Energon?"
"Yes. With the help of the Autobot medic we were able to produce a stabilized form of this Synthetic Energon, the very same Energon used to restore our planet."
"Remarkable." Predaking marveled.
Both of them were startled as they heard tires in the distance. Predaking turned and began retreating.
"Predaking, where are you going?"
"Somewhere the Autobots won't find me. We may be allies Knock Out, but the Autobots and I have scores to settle. I accept the fact that you have split from the Decepticons, as I have. Though you became an Autobot, we Predacons will stay a separate faction and do what we please. Besides I have other matters to attend to."
"Such as?" Knock Out inquired.
"Though we joined the Autobots in defending our planet from Unicron, Megatron still lives and is hiding out there somewhere, plotting for something big."
Predaking shifted and changed into his menacing Dragon mode. There were a few metal clunks here and there, a few shocks, and Predaking faced Knock Out.
"And I will not rest…until Megatron has been erased from existence off the face of Cybertron...by any means necessary." Predaking spoke while in beast mode.
He then turned away from Knock Out, unfolded his wings, and viciously roared as he leaped into the air and flew away.
Knock Out's mouth remained ajar as he witnessed Predaking fly away. He then turned to the tires in the distance, and knew not to tell the Autobots about this encounter, otherwise they would come for Predaking as well.
The Autobots pulled up and transformed. Ultra Magnus transformed, carrying a body in his arms.
"Starscream!" Knock Out yelled as he ran to the Autobots. "What happened to him?!"
"He was nearly torn to shreds by the Predacons." Ultra Magnus replied.
Suddenly the Space Bridge portal was activated. It opened and Ratchet stepped through a moment later. He went to the examination table as Magnus gently laid Starscream's body on top of it. Ratchet grimaced, for he felt sorry for the Decepticon in his condition. He opened his scanner on his arm and scanned Starscream's body.
"His vitals are critically low...unless I operate and try to fix him now, there won't be anything to save. You arrived at the right time." Ratchet said as he moved back and forth getting supplies and tools for the operation.
The others gathered around, and Ultra Magnus spoke to the other Autobots not currently with them.
"Soldiers," he acknowledged, "This is Commander Magnus. We have found Starscream's body in very severe need, and have brought him back to base so Ratchet can repair him. Return to base immediately. We cannot risk any unnecessary injuries and we must be together during this time for regrouping and further assignments. That's an order. Magnus out."
Within time every member of Team Prime had returned to the base. They watched as Ratchet slowly made progress on repairing Starscream. Knock Out wandered outside the base for a time to think.
He had finally made up his mind. "If Predaking and his pests were the ones who nearly terminated Starscream, then I end my alliance with them here. When I get my revenge on them for what they did to my friend, they will pay...with their blood, with their agony, and with their sparks."