( Harbinger )
Ratchet was absentedly typying at the computer but his spark wasn't really in it. All he could think about was the events of the last few days. And everything came back to Optimus's death and Jack replacing, no, succeeding him as leader of the autobots.
Ratchet began to think more clearly about his role in this tragedy.
" Megatron wanted to use the Omega Lock against Earth, I had to destroy it. "
" Jack did what was necessary. "
" So you destroyed the only device in the universe capable of restoring our home. Jack, we needed that. "
" You weren't there, Doc, and it's not your place to second guess a battlefield decision. "
" Didn't you heard what Jack said, doc ? Megatron was cyberforming Earth. "
" Jack saved our planet. "
" WHAT ABOUT OUR PLANET? "
" I'm sorry for Cybertron, Ratchet, but I'll pick my planet over yours anytime. "
" We had no choice : the cons had the kids in their possession and were using them as a trade off. "
" maybe if you had picked us up from school or bridged us into the base, then none of us would be in this mess in the first place! "
" he just ignored us and tell us to go home, even after I suggested him to bridge us to base. It's not like he was busy with something important. "
" It is because of him that Cybertron will remain lifeless and Optimus is dead."
" let our friends and Sierra die in the toxic atmosphere of our planet? You expected us to do that?"
" In an effort to save our home and the surviving Cybertronians and end the war that lasted centuries long. Let me guess… YES! "
" So that's it then huh? That's it?! After all they have done for us, all the risks and sacrifices they did for our cause, you want us to forget about them? They've done everything for us ever since they came into our lives and they made us feel like we were a part of their family. Yet you expect us to restore our planet while they die on it? "
" Guess what, Doc ?! Our home is already here. I am here for a few days at most and I already considered this world another home. But you never knew it because you never wanted to get out of the base. "
" You never cared about this planet, or its inhabitants, or even the kids to begin with. All you care about is your precious Cybertron and how you wanted to return when it was restored. "
" Well guess what… That choice you made in not taking the kids has cost us EVERYTHING!All this because you didn't want to do the most basic task we've been doing for months. You're no Autobot Ratchet. What you are is an overly obsessive, selfish, cranky, home sick, sparkless, miserable piece of scrap! Worse yet… You are nothing more than another Starscream"
" you no-good, filthy piece of junk ! It's your fault we are even in this predicament! If you would've picked the kids and myself up, none of this would have happened. This isn't about your precious Cybertron, it ceased to be when you all came to our planet. You can deny it all you want but the reality remains that your refusal to do what all the others did in being friends with the kids and taking care of them cost us our base, Jasper and Optimus. He would be so disappointed in you."
Ratchet brought himself out of his thoughts and was horrified by the next memory : Rafael's face filled with betrayal and tears when he told all of them he expected them to let the humans die to revive Cybertron. Bulkhead was right : He was no better than Starscream.
" Optimus... Rafael... Jack... I am so sorry. All of this is my fault. " He muttered to himself
Ratchet then took a deep breath and called the base.
( autobots base, earlier )
Dracarys, Arcee and Nightviper came back with all the predacons, making the autobots and humans stare in amazement. Miko took out her phone and took a picture all the while muttering " Awesome. "
" You brought them here ? " Jazz said
" Sir, this is against protocol. " Ultra Magnus protested
" Well, we don't have a choice, they consider Arcee and I to be their alphas. So you can keep your protocol to yourself." Jack bluntly said
" What ?! " Bulkhead said
" Say again. " Ironhide asked
" The predacons consider Jack and Arcee to be their new leaders, after Jack killed Megatron's predacon in a duel. " June explained
" You destroyed Megatron's attack dog ?! You're the best, boss. " Wheeljack said, smirking
" Predacons, transform. " Arcee asked them
The predacons then changed into robot mode, the T-Rex and the Gorilla first.
The Rhino became a hulking green humanoid male robot as tall as Ultra Magnus. The head had split horizontally and the lower jaw became the robot's chest plate. The two front hooves changed into his arms each showing a hand with four fingers. The back hooves turned into his legs, the upper legs were covered by the rhino's hide making a lower torso guard, and the lower legs each had six little spikes to where the side calves were and had a robotic toe sticking between the two front hooves. His face looked human, and he had a bronze yellow jaw. His eyes were red, but seemed to show gentleness.
The rat's robot form was a silver and bronze humanoid male robot that was around the same height as Bumblebee. The rat's head became the chest plate. The robot's head was completely bronze except for the top of his head which was silver and looked like a brain. The rest of the rat's form was on his back tightly packed. The robot's eyes were bright red and when he opened his mouth you could see two buck teeth.
The Cheetah's robot form looked like a humanoid male bot all blue and yellowish gold. The cheetah head had become his chestplate and the two front legs were crossed on his back. His faceplate was blue while his armored head was yellowish gold. His face seemed to look like a teenager. And he was as tall as Wheeljack
The raptor's robot mode was impressive: He was as tall as Megatron, his raptor legs became his arms, the head of the raptor became his chest-plate, and the rest of him seemed exoskeletal. His helmet head was brown but his face plate was blue and looked like a veteran's and he had red piercing eyes and razor sharp teeth.
The white tiger's robot mode was similar to the Cheetah's but with green replacing the blue. And he was as tall as Smokescreen.
The falcon was a fembot as tall as Bumblebee. Her robot form is an orange, brown, yellow and silver female humanoid robot. The falcon's head had turned into the robot's breast plate, while the wings folded behind her back, making them look like chibi wings. Her lower arms, legs, and shoulders were brown and her arms had wrist mounted missile launchers. Her head was brown and on the sides were feathers, with a beak shaped visor, her face was silverish gray. Her eyes however, were green.
The winged wolf was a male bot as tall as Bulkhead. In this mode he was primarily the same colors as his beast mode with more gold and a bright orange spot in his abdominal area and his wings folded against his back and talons on his feet.
The scorpion's was a male bot as tall as Shockwave. In place of razor clawed digits, this creature had pincers over his clawed hands. Protruding from his back was a long, thick tail that ended with a barbed stinger. His carapace-metallic armor was a dull-black and greyish hue. Mandibles snapped around a normal mouth on his faceplate and his optics were a visor design similar to an Insecticon. He rose up on thick, powerful legs stretching up to his full height.
The pteranodon was a male bot as tall as Starscream. The parts of his beast form covered his hands, chest, legs and back while the rest of his body was grey.
The spider was a really attractive fembot. As tall as Elita-1, she was dark purple in color with black on her arms and legs, with armor covering her large chest.
The Ant transformed into a male bot as tall as Smokescreen. His colors were red and black and his most notable features were the head of his ant mode on his torso, the abdomen staying on his back and his large fangs.
And finally, the crab transformed into a hulking robot as tall as Megatron. He was mainly red with his purple crab legs folded against his back, green optics, mandibles acting like a mouth and six horns on the sides of his head.
" So that's what it feel like to walk on two legs. " The rhino said
" Yeah, that's so amazing. Look at this pretty Kitty. " the Cheetah said in a young voice
" This is gonna be so awesome ! " Miko said
" Alright now if you're going to live with us, you will need names. Anyone has an idea ? " June asked
After some discussions, the names were chosen : The T-Rex was called Magmatron
The gorilla was named Primal.
The rhino's name was Rhinox.
The raptor was called Dinobot.
The rat was named Rattrap.
The cheetah's name was Cheetor.
The wolf was called Silverbolt.
The tiger was named Tigatron.
The falcon's name was Airazor.
The scorpion's was Scorponok.
The ant's was Inferno.
The pteranodon was called Terrorsaur.
The spider was named Blackarachnia.
And finally the crab called himself Rampage.
" We thank you for the names, Dracarys. But don't forget that Primal and I work with you, not for you. You can't order us like your subordinates. " Magmatron said
" I'm not forcing anyone to follow me. None of you are forced to help us against the decepticons, but if you try to hurt innocents then we'll come down on you. " Dracarys responded
Inferno bowed to him. " But I would never betray you and the queen, royalty. " He said
" What's with him ? " Smokescreen asked
" Don't pay attention, he fell on his head when we settled down in the cave and since that moment he thinks everything from an ant's point of view. " Airazor said
Soon a call was heard from the comms.
" Jack, do you hear me ? " It was Ratchet
" What's wrong, Ratchet ? Something happened to you ? " Dracarys responded
" I... I wanted to apologize to everyone face to face. " Ratchet explained
The autobots were stunned that Ratchet said that, they thought he would be too proud to accept his wrongs.
" We'll provide you a groundbridge, Ratchet. " Dracarys said, nodding to Raf who did so.
The green vortex appeared and everyone tensed up as Ratchet made his way into the base. Jack motioned for the predacons to move in the back of the room.
" You wanted to talk then talk, doc. " Bulkhead said, crossing his arms
Ratchet took a deep breath. " I was such a fool. I was so obsessed with reviving Cybertron than I forgot why we were fighting on Earth : To protect it and its inhabitants against Megatron. I am so sorry for my selfish words and deeds that day. I have no excuses for those. If you don't forgive me, I'll understand, but I needed to get this out of my spark. "
Jack and Arcee didn't answer for a moment before they looked at each other and sighed.
" It's good that you acknowledged your mistakes, Ratchet. We can forgive you but it will be a while before we can fully trust you again. " Dracarys answered
" I can live with that. " Ratchet answered before noticing the predacons " Hum, who are they ? "
So the autobots told him everything about the predacons destruction, Airachnid's death, the tracking of the surviving predacons and the duel between Jack and Predaking.
Meanwhile Ratchet has approached the area where Rafael was typying on his computer. The young boy looked at Ratchet and a silent conversation passed between the two before Rafael hugged Ratchet's finger, showing he forgave him. Ratchet smiled in relief.
" Boss, what must we do to the Predacon's body ? Shockwave would need only a single piece of cna to clone another. " Jazz asked
" Well the problem has actually been solved. You can ask Magmatron and Rampage for details. " Arcee said, facepalming
Magmatron was smirking and if Rampage had a mouth, he would be too.
" He was rather delicious, you know. " Rampage said
" What is wrong with you ? " Silverbolt asked
" Taste of enemies aside, how do we explain this to Lennox ? " Jack asked
Another chapter complete
Next Time : Dinobot strikes against Megatron's predacons