Transformers War for Cybertron: An Old War

by bigvic150

In this prequel to A New Adventure, we explore how Starscream, Silverbolt, and a big majority of the canon Aerialbots and Seekers came to be Autobots along with exploring the story of the War, with lots of additional Autobots and Decepticons, including combiners and briefly Mercenaries before their final fate. That's all I have to say. (ON TEMPORARY HIATUS)

22. Kaon Prison Break

Transformers War for Cybertron: An Old War.

Chapter 22: Kaon Prison Break.

In an effort to save Sentinel Zeta Prime, Orion Pax, now known as Optimus Prime, enacts a risky plan to allow himself, Zeeva Prime, Bumblebee, Sideswipe, Cliffjumper, Sunstreaker, and a few others to be captured by the Decepticons. But the plan works all too well, and soon, the Autobots find themselves en route to Kaon, the capital city of the Decepticons.

In the rainy city of Kaon where it's raining liquid helium rather than acid or water, a Decepticon dropship lands on a landing pod, depositing two Decepticon Brute Guards and multiple Autobot prisoners restrained in Energon chains, including Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, Sunstreaker, Sideswipe, and Zeeva Prime.

A Decepticon over the base's P.A. says, "Commence prisoner transfer!"

As the Decepticon Brute Guards escort the prisoners, a Decepticon Soldier exclaims a short distance away, "For the glory of Megatron!"

The Brute Guard on the left of the front says, "Move it, Autobots!"

The Autobot prisoners, including several dozen Autobot Soldiers, follow the Brute Guards.

Bumblebee says quietly, "(Softly) I hope you know what you're doing, Optimus."

Optimus replies in a whisper, "(Softly) Have faith, Bumblebee, and follow my lead."

Sideswipe adds before asking, "Optimus is right; we've been in tougher spots than this. Wow. Megatron has really gathered the army, hasn't he?"

The Brute Guard on the front left shouts, "Quiet!"

The Autobots continue in silence, and the doors to the inside of the prison complex opens as the computerized P.A. says, "Data signature confirmed. Opening main gate."

The Brute Guard on the right remarks, "Welcome to Kaon."

As the Autobot prisoners and the Decepticon Brute Guards enter the main chamber of the prison, a Decepticon Brute Guard interrogating an Autobot Soldier snarls, "You gonna talk now?! I want the location!"

The Autobot Soldier replies fretfully, "I told you, I don't know!"

Another Decepticon remarks, "Look, that's the one who fought Ironspan. He doesn't look so tough."

After stopping before a command chair, the Decepticon Brute Guard on the left front says, "Soundwave! Your prisoners have arrived!"

Soundwave turns the command chair around and stands up before saying, "Initiate: processing."

The Brute Guard on the right says, "We captured them trying to raid supplies outside of Kaon."

Soundwave points to the left and replies, "Take them to recycling."

The Brute Guard on the left says as the six Autobots start following the guard in front, "Move it, prisoners!"

Bumblebee asks, "Recycling? That doesn't seem so bad."

Sideswipe asks back, "Yeah? What precisely do you think they're recycling?"

The Brute Guard in front says, "Keep moving!"

Cliffjumper snarls, "Frag you!"

Optimus says, "Stay calm, Cliffjumper; our time is near."

The octet enters a room with a catwalk leading into the recycling unit, where Autobots are either placed in casket like cells to be taken to upper and lower prison levels or plunged into the Energon bridge that powers Trypticon Orbital Station.

Bumblebee questions, "What is this place?"

A Brute Guard up ahead says to an Autobot prisoner, "Get in there, Autobot." And he proceeds to stuff the Autobot prisoner in the cell.

Zeeva Prime asks, "Those are casket cells, correct?"

A Brute Guard answers, "Yes."

Another Brute Guard on the left of the catwalk before heading to the execution chamber says to an Autobot prisoner, "Guilty!"

The Autobot Soldier replies, "Spare me this mockery of justice!"

The Brute Guard snarls, "Who said anything about justice?"

And the Autobot prisoner is dunked into the Energon Bridge.

Bumblebee asks, "What is that?"

Optimus answers, "The Energon Bridge. It powers Megatron's orbital base."

The Brute Guard in front stops and says, "Halt!"

As the Brute Guard behind Bumblebee nudges him forward a bit with his spear, the Brute Guard in the room holding an Ion Displacer says, "Ready! Aim! Fire!"

He guns down six Autobot Soldiers, taking them offline.

After the last Soldier goes offline, the Brute Guard in the rear says, "You're next, Autobots!"

The six Autobots walk into the room, and the Brute Guard says, "Up against the wall!"

The Autobots line up against the wall and Bumblebee asks, "Uh, Optimus, this is all part of the plan, right?"

The Brute Guard cocks his Ion Displacer and says, "Ready!"

Bumblebee asks, "Optimus?"

The Brute Guard says, "Aim!"

Suddenly, Air Raid appears with Dark Rook and the Brute Guard exclaims, "Look out!" as Air Raid and Dark Rook bombard them with missiles, taking them offline.

Air Raid and Dark Rook hover into the execution room and they switch to robot mode.

Air Raid remarks, "Optimus! Looks like we got here in time!"

Cliffjumper remarks, "You said it, Air Raid!"

Dark Rook says, "I got the door."

As Air Raid works the console for the restraints before eventually shooting the computer, Optimus says, "Thank you, Air Riad and Dark Rook. The plan is working perfectly. By allowing ourselves to be captured, we've gained access to the prison complex, and now we stand a better chance of saving Zeta Prime."

Sideswipe remarks, "You and Dark Rook certainly took your sweet time, Air Raid."

Air Raid replies, "I in particular like to make a dramatic entrance."

Sensing some Decepticons approaching the door, Dark Rook's robot mode parts start to shift in front of everyone, making him resemble a combination of a Ground Vehicon Trooper and a Vehicon Sniper, thus revealing that Dark Rook is also a Pretender.

Air Raid opens a floor grate and continues, "Here, head into the service ducts. They should lead to the lower prison levels. That's probably where Sentinel Zeta Prime is being held."

As the three escapees head into the floor grate, a Decepticon behind the door to the room calls out, "Open up!"

Air Raid closes the grate and says, "Good fortune, Autobots." He looks over to the disguised Dark Rook and whispers, "(Softly) You know what to do."

Dark Rook nods as one of the other Decepticon Soldiers calls out, "Bring in the heavy turret! We'll blast it open!"

The door opens just as Dark Rook is giving Air Raid a thrashing.

Dark Rook says in his new Vehicon voice, "I'm not gonna ask again! Where are they?!"

Air Raid replies non-caringly, "Where are who?"

Dark Rook bashes Air Raid in the head as the two Decepticon Heavy Soldiers approach.

One of the Heavy Soldiers calls out to the Pretender, "You! Take him to Soundwave!"

Dark Rook replies, "Yes sir!"

Dark Rook drags Air Raid to Soundwave.

Bumblebee says, "Optimus, we gotta help Air Raid!"

Sideswipe replies, "Easy, Bumblebee."

Optimus adds, "It's too a great a risk right now, unarmed as we are... and Dark Rook is a Pretender, but he did not turn traitor. I sensed Autobot programming in him. But I promise, we'll come back for Dark Rook and Air Raid as soon as possible. For now, let's get moving."

After jumping down the elevator shaft, Bumblebee asks, "What is this place?"

Sideswipe replies, "Air Raid said they were service ducts."

Zeeva Prime says, "And by the looks of things, these ducts may have Decepticon Spiders in them."

Optimus replies, "Then we will destroy every Decepticon Spider we encounter."

After slicing down a breakable door, the three Autobots come across a viewing of some Decepticons being alerted to their escape.

A Decepticon over the P.A. says, "Alert! Alert! Autobot prisoners have escaped custody! Shoot to kill!"

After making their way through the service ducts, the six Autobots hear a Decepticon P.A. say, "Alert! Alert! Six Autobot prisoners have escaped custody! Shoot to kill!"

Eventually, they managed to rendezvous with at least eighty-four of Dark Rook's jet mode clones, and eighty-four of Dark Rook's Aerialbots.

As they rendezvous, they notice an Autobot Soldier running towards them, screaming in pure terror as a spider-bot finishes him off with an injection of cyber-venom.

After contending with the spider-bots in the service ducts, about thirty-six of Dark Rook's colorful Aerialbots arrived with various Autobot corpses from the shooting range, the service ducts, and all throughout the prison.

Dark Rook's first Twenty Changer clone revives them while simultaneously repairing them and curing them of the cyber-venom.

All the while, Dark Rook's clone began supplying the revived Autobots with weapons and better armored military frames that provide enhanced robotic durability in robot mode, better robot mode weapons, better vehicle mode weapons, and tweaked vehicle modes with elegant designs and an enhanced form of robotic durability.

Approaching a breakable door with Decepticon Soldiers below, Optimus whispers to his troops, "(Softly) Ready your energy blades. We'll drop down and surprise them."

Bumblebee whispers back, "How about we just stealth attack them?"

Dark Rook's Aerialbots sliced the gate leading to the command center and quickly sliced up the Decepticon guards without so much as making a noise.

All the Autobots jumped down and grabbed additional weapons from different weapon caches.

Sideswipe remarks, "NOW we're talking! I hate sneaking around!"

After Sideswipe activates the console, the Autobot Soldiers and Shotgunners have their fun.

Along the way, the real Dark Rook arrives and deploys one of his new Weaponizer Mini-Cons, Firefest, and Firefest transforms into an arm-mounted harpoon cannon.

As the multiple decimated Decepticons come back online thanks to his powers, Dark Rook uses Firefest's harpoon cannon mode to fire several harpoons that immediately and permanently reprogram the generic Decepticon soldiers into generic Autobot soldiers.

Optimus calls out, "Quickly, Autobots! Take the Decepticons' weapons!"

As Dark Rook uses his time and teleportation powers to help him revive and reprogram fallen Decepticon soldiers of all types, Optimus observes the view outside the window and states in awe and dread, "The Decepticon prison fields."

Bumblebee adds, "I've heard stories of this place, but to actually SEE it for the first time, it's horrifying."

Dark Rook activates the console and the reprogramming fest on the Autobot side commences.

In his position in an undisclosed location, Megatron is scowling about how easy it was for his army of gladiators to be reprogrammed by Dark Rook's first Weaponizer Mini-Con, in the form of an arm-mounted harpoon cannon.

Megatron asks Soundwave over the commlink, "Soundwave, is there any way we can reverse the effects of Dark Rook's harpoon cannon reprogramming our Decepticons?"

Soundwave answers, "Negative, Lord Megatron. Based on Shockwave's calculations, the effects are a potent combination of science and magic. The effects are irreversible. As long as Dark Rook has the upper hand with his Weaponizer Mini-Cons, there's nothing we can do."

Back in the courtyard, Bumblebee activates the console on one of the sniper posts and a wall retracts, revealing another courtyard section with additional snipers.

But like usual now, Firefest's harpoon cannon mode literally turned the tide by reprogramming the Decepticon Snipers into Autobot Snipers.

After following Dark Rook's mission marker, the now nine hundred and ten thousand, eight hundred and seventy-four Autobots come under attack by a wall crawler machine.

The Autobots destroy the external turrets and reprogram the Decepticon Rocket Troopers.

After Dark Rook teleports the old and new Autobots to Iacon, Optimus states, "The crawler's main servos still function. Now that it's been disarmed, we can use it for transport."

Dark Rook activates the switch necessary to control the wall crawler and the crawler begins crawling down to another prison level.

Sideswipe exclaims, "There! It's working! Down we go!"

Bumblebee asks, "Uh, is that good or bad?"

Optimus answers, "Bumblebee, we are locked inside an enemy prison, surrounded by countless Decepticons bent on our destruction."

Bumblebee muses, "So it IS bad."

Optimus replies, "It's purely a matter of perspective."

As the crawler makes it to underground level, Sideswipe states, "Well, I'm loving this! Let's crack some heads!"

Dark Rook says, "You go on ahead. I suspect Megatron will try to capture me and Firefest so they can reprogram Autobot soldiers into Decepticon soldiers. May the Primes protect you."

Dark Rook teleports out of sight.

Optimus Prime, Zeeva Prime, Cliffjumper, Sunstreaker, Bumblebee and Sideswipe enter the next room, where Megatron interacts with them via a fake wall pillar with eight heads in his likeness.

Megatron says, "Well, look at this. The PRODIGY returns."

Optimus growls, "Megatron."

Megatron continues, "I knew you couldn't resist rescuing Zeta Prime, which is why I orchestrated the entire thing: Zeta contacting you, your capture, all of it. All to bring YOU before ME. Welcome to your defeat."

Optimus tapped a button on a bomb detonator that sent a signal to the Autobot forces posted five to fifteen mega miles from Kaon to plan a fake assault with replicas of Firefest's harpoon cannon mode to reprogram the Decepticons defending their city so as to lessen the Decepticon ranks even further. But Optimus Prime's true contingency plan – since Dark Rook turned out to be right yet again – was organizing Saber Rex, Tailpunch, Starscream and a half of the Aerialbot forces to find a ship large enough to carry more then two million Autobots to carry the escaped prisoners and reprogrammed Decepticons-turned-Autobots to Iacon.

Knowing that Tailpunch, Saber Rex and Starscream got the message, Optimus decided to focus on the task at hand right now.

Bumblebee calls out, "Megatron's not messing around!"

Sideswipe replies non-caringly, "Yeah? Neither are we."

Carrying harpoon cannons of their own, the six Autobots reprogrammed the first wave of Decepticons into Autobots.

Optimus then asks, "THAT's what this is about? REVENGE for what happened so long ago in the High Council Chambers?"

Megatron replies, "Don't flatter yourself, Optimus. What I do, I do for ALL of Cybertron. My orbital station's Energon Bridge is back online, allowing me to create an infinite supply of Dark Energon. I shall use that power to return our planet to its former glory!"

Optimus then inquires, "At what cost, Megatron?"

Megatron answers, "At ANY cost!"

While contending with more spider-bots, Megatron states, "I will save this planet!"

After destroying the last of the spider-bots, Optimus states, "You're mad, Megatron! Your war is destroying the very planet you want to save!"

Megatron replies, "OUR war, Optimus. A war that I am winning. I've tamed the great Omega Supreme, at least for a short while. Sentinel Zeta and the other Primes have fallen. And yet YOU continue to resist the inevitable! You have the power to end this conflict right now, with ONE simple choice – take your Autobots and leave Cybertron forever, or stay and face complete annihilation!"

Optimus replies back, "This is our home, Megatron! We will stay. We will fight. And we will win!"

While contending with a final wave of Decepticon Soldiers and Seekers, Megatron states, "You cannot defy destiny, Optimus! I WILL bring order to Cybertron!"

After reprogramming the last batch of Decepticons and having Dark Rook's clones teleport them to Iacon, Megatron calls out, "Enough of this! You're about to join Air Raid and the millions of other Autobot fools as our prisoners. Permanently."

Megatron's eight pillar heads retract as a wave of Energon teleports Optimus, Bumblebee, Cliffjumper, Zeeva Prime, Sunstreaker, and Sideswipe into a prison cell.

Of course, Dark Rook temporarily froze time to recover the harpoon cannons before Megatron can get his greasy servos on them.

After awakening in their prison cell, the six Autobots get their bearings back.

Bumblebee inquires, "What just happened?"

Sideswipe replies, "That lousy bucket of bolts CHEATED, that's what!"

Optimus theorizes, "Megatron teleported us directly into a prison cell."

Just then, Soundwave walks in front of the cell out of nowhere and says to Megatron over the commlink, "The Autobots are secure. Escape is impossible."

Soundwave deploys Rumble and the earthquake-making Mini-Con croons, "Enjoy your stay, Autobots. Rest in peace."

Rumble punches the cell door and runs to catch up with Soundwave.

Bumblebee bemoans, "They took our guns. Again. Anybody got any ideas?"

Optimus muses, "Hmmm. Autobots, I'm sensing faint energy emanations from that wall."

Sideswipe replies, "No offense, Optimus, but I don't see how that's gonna help us."

Optimus replies back, "Well then, Sideswipe, watch and learn."

Optimus approaches the wall, and charges up his axe with so much Energon to the point where he's able to smash through the wall easily.

Bumblebee exclaims, "Whoa!"

Sideswipe remarks, "I didn't know you could do THAT!"

Optimus replies smugly, "There's much you don't know about me, Sideswipe."

Sunstreaker remarks, "Wow, that was incredible."

Bumblebee states, "Look at all of those prison cells!"

An Autobot Soldier calls out, "Autobots! They've come to save us! Free us!"

Bumblebee observes the cells and says, "These cells are hard-locked. Optimus, can you chop through the wall again?"

Optimus replies, "No, I'm afraid not. Doing that requires all of my reserve power, and it takes a long time to recharge."

Sideswipe states in response, "There's gotta be some way to open these doors!"

Optimus reveals, "Air Raid surveyed this prison thoroughly. When we find him, we find our answer."

Another Autobot Soldier asks fretfully, "You're not gonna free us?!"

Optimus replies, "Your freedom is near, my brothers. Be patient. Be strong, and be ready to fight."

An Autobot Soldier calls out, "It's the one called Optimus Prime!" And another Autobot Soldier calls out, "We will spread the word! Good fortune!"

Sideswipe activates the console for the door just as Corvowing Prime teleports in again with his clones, literally reprogramming the Decepticons in the other side of the assortment of jail cells.

Dark Rook also takes the liberty of recharging Optimus' axe.

Optimus calls out, "My axe is fully recharged. This way, Autobots!"

Optimus smashes another wall with his axe and Dark Rook teleports the new Autobots straight to Iacon.

After knocking out the next weak door, the four Autobots wind up in the recycling plant.

Bumblebee asks in disgust, "What is THIS?"

Optimus advises, "That current looks strong. Don't let it pull you into those grinders."

Sideswipe theorizes, "Must be how they recycle their prisoners."

Bumblebee replies, "Right."

Optimus sneers, "The Decepticons will pay dearly for this."

Suddenly, the recycling process goes in reverse at three times the speed with the grinded up Autobot corpses being restored while Dark Rook's clones salvage, repair, and revive the corpses at hyper speed.

Even Optimus is surprised at the whole thing and how easy it was to save the recycled prisoners so they can be repaired and revived.

Soon enough, over one million, nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine Autobot soldiers were salvaged, repaired, revived and teleported to Iacon.

After progressing to the upper part of the room, Dark Rook activates the console to the next room.

Upon entering the room, the four primary Autobots find Air Raid in an energy cell in the center of the room.

Bumblebee exclaims, "Look! There's Air Raid, in that cell up ahead!"

Air Raid notices his comrades and states, "I was wondering when you guys were gonna show up."

Sideswipe replies, "We took the extended tour, saw the sights, blasted some bad guys. The usual."

Air Raid replies back, "Don't get too cocky. I suspect that we're not alone."

Suddenly, Dark Rook used his Blade Dash ability to take out the armada of Decepticon Cloakers in the room.

Optimus asks, "Air Raid, where are the controls to your cell?"

Air Raid answers, "You'll have to nullify two containment protocols, each with its own switch. But be careful; there may be more of those Cloakers in the tunnels."

Suddenly, Dark Rook's clones nullify the switches, one at a time.

The clamps retract and so does the energy shield.

Air Raid exclaims, "Free at last!"

Optimus states to his future protégé, "Good work, Dark Rook."

Dark Rook replies, "Thanks, but we're not finished until EVERY Autobot here in the prison complex is freed."

Air Raid adds, "I spied the central control room on my way in. From there, we can override every hard-locked door in the prison."

Optimus states in response, "Lead the way, Air Raid."

Air Raid heads to a lift and lowers it so that the others can ride it.

Upon making it to the top floor of the room, the eight Autobots make their way across the top floor to the other side.

Along the way, Sideswipe asks, "Are you sure you know where you're going, Air Raid?"

Air Raid replies, "Feel free to venture out on your own, Sideswipe. No one will miss you."

Sideswipe replies back, "I'm just asking. Geez."

Air Raid then states, "The control room is just up ahead!"

Dark Rook activates the console to open the door.

Upon entering the room, a large enough enemy force consisting of Decepticon Protectors. They were casually reprogrammed.

While making it to another console, the Autobots are attacked by another Brute.

After reprogramming the Brute, Air Raid points out, "There! That console controls every cell in the prison."

Optimus asks to clarify, "Even Zeta Prime's?"

Air Raid replies, "Well, no. According to this, Zeta's locked down in a maximum security bunker on one of the lower levels."

Optimus announces, "Let's give the Decepticons something else to think and worry about. The time has come to free our Autobot comrades. Who wants to do the honors?"

Dark Rook accesses the console and every hard-locked cell in the entire Kaon Prison Complex opens, freeing every single Autobot soldier of all types, with Arcee and Jazz among them.

An Autobot Soldier cries out, "We're free! Free!"

Optimus remarks, "There. Freedom restored... and diversion created."

Bumblebee exclaims, "Yeah! Look at them go!"

A Decepticon P.A. announces, "Unauthorized deactivation! Alert! Alert! All prison cells, deactivated."

An Autobot Soldier calls out, "Optimus and Dark Rook did it!"

Bumblebee points out, "That should get their attention."

Air Raid adds, "My recon showed a hanger bay nearby. We can use their own dropships to help the prisoners escape!"

After activating another console, the eight main Autobots bore witness to an Autobot Brute punching out a Decepticon Brute, stealing his hammer and activating his shield.

Upon seeing Optimus Prime, the Brute declares, "Hail Prime!"

Optimus calls out, "Autobots! We must escort our brothers to safety!"

The eight main Autobots fight their way through multiple Decepticon soldiers, either reprogramming them or killing them.

Upon reaching the hangar, Dark Rook reprograms the Decepticon Seekers that are inbound.

Saber Rex turns up in his jet mode, pulling a large enough Decepticon dropship capable of transporting over one hundred thousand quadrillion Autobots.

Saber Rex calls out, "Everybody, onto the ship now!"

Every Autobot soldier of every type in this cluster rushed over to the dropship.

Optimus calls out, "Air Raid, Saber Rex, make sure that the prisoners get out safely, then escort them back to Iacon. We'll meet you there."

Saber Rex calls out on the commlink, "But what about you guys?"

Dark Rook answers, "We're not leaving without Zeta Prime. Now go!"

Air Raid makes his way to the dropship and calls out, "See you on the outside, Autobots!"

Optimus states, "Now, let's get who we came for."

After activating a console at the end of the room, the now seven Autobots head through the hallways to the next wall crawler.

Optimus points out, "This wall crawler should carry us to the lower levels."

After boarding the wall crawler, Dark Rook activates the console necessary to activate it.

At once, the Autobots man the turrets on the wall crawler as it begins its descent.

As soon as the wall crawler makes its descent to the lower levels, the seven Autobots come under attack by enemy wall crawlers and Decepticon Seekers.

The other wall crawlers are destroyed while the Seekers are reprogrammed.

Once the wall crawler arrives at its destination, Sideswipe asks Bumblebee, "You ready for this, Bumblebee? It's the big finale!"

Bumblebee replies, "Just watch me."

Upon making it to the next room, Dark Rook reprograms all the Decepticon soldiers posted in the room to the final approach to Zeta Prime's prison cell.

Upon making it to the door of the maximum security bunker, Bumblebee exclaims, "Yeeee-ha! We made it!"

After activating the console, the seven Autobots approach Sentinel Zeta Prime.

Bumblebee says, "Optimus, Dark Rook, look! It's Sentinel Zeta Prime!"

Zeta notices his two successors and asks, "Optimus Prime? Dark Rook? Is that you?"

Dark Rook replies, "Yes, Sentinel, it's us."

Sideswipe asks, "What do they have you hooked up to?"

Suddenly, the Decepticon boombox in front of Zeta unleashes a sonic attack at the seven intruders, disorienting them, sans Dark Rook.

The boombox transforms to robot mode, revealing himself to be Soundwave.

Soundwave remarks, "Autobots. How... predictable."

Sideswipe shoots at the shield, only for his bullets to bounce off.

Sideswipe bemoans, "We can't blast through that shield!"

Soundwave taunts his enemies as he says, "You cannot stop me, Autobots!"

After a few more tries of getting through the shield, Soundwave calls out, "Activate defense sentries!"

Four defense sentries are activated, only for Dark Rook to blast them in rapid succession.

Soundwave remarks, "Impressive. Frenzy, eject! Operation: Annihilation!"

Soundwave deploys Frenzy from his chestplate.

Frenzy states tauntingly, "Time to dance, Autobots!"

Optimus calls out, "Focus your fire on the little one!"

Frenzy calls out in response, "Hey! Who are you calling 'little?'"

Bumblebee remarks, "And I thought I was small."

After damaging Frenzy to the point where Soundwave left the shield, Optimus calls out, "Autobots, now! Fire at Soundwave!"

As the seven Autobots unloaded everything on Soundwave, the communications chief of the Decepticons states, "Frenzy, return!"

Bumblebee points out, "Hey, look! Soundwave has to leave the shield to help his little grunts!"

Sideswipe remarks, "Aww, he's like their daddy!"

Soundwave calls out again, "Activate defense sentries!"

Four defense sentries come online, but like last time, Dark Rook blasts all four of them in rapid succession.

Soundwave then says, "Rumble, eject! Operation: Disorientation!"

Rumble deploys and he says, "Get ready to crumble... before RUMBLE!"

Sideswipe bemoans, "Ugh, these little guys are so annoying!"

Rumble then states, "First we crack the shell, then we crack the nuts inside!"

After damaging Rumble substantially, Soundwave leaves the shield again.

Bumblebee shouts, "Now's our chance! Get him!"

After damaging Soundwave a little more, he and Rumble retreat to the shield.

Soundwave calls out once more, "Activate defense sentries!"

Same as usual, the defense sentries come online and Dark Rook destroys them quickly.

Soundwave then says, "Laserbeak, eject! Operation: Divebomb!"

Soundwave deploys Laserbeak, and he makes a squawking sound as he readies for battle.

After damaging Laserbeak substantially, Soundwave leaves the shield one last time, only for Dark Rook and Sideswipe to hit him hard with whirlwind attacks.

Soundwave falls on his back plate as he's uppercutted back to Zeta Prime's position.

Readying his Energon Repair Ray's drain option, Soundwave states, "Damage: substantial! Must reenergize with Zeta's life stream!"

Optimus Prime readies his Energon axe and jumps in the air while exclaiming, "Soundwave! Take this!"

Soundwave rolls out of the way and blasts Optimus with a stun blast before retreating with Frenzy, Laserbeak and Rumble.

As soon as the door closes, Optimus says to his predecessor, "Hold on, Sentinel. We'll get you out."

Sentinel remarks in reply, "A noble sentiment, Optimus. But I'm afraid I'm dead already."

Sentinel Zeta Prime collapses, completely offline.

Optimus says to his comrades, "Let's bring him home."

In the High Council chambers, Optimus carries Sentinel's deceased frame and says, "High Council, I return with a fallen hero."

The High Council leader, whom Dark Rook identified as Magnetburst, says in response, "Till all are one."

Optimus sets down Sentinel's frame and continues, "Times have grown desperate. The Autobots crave your guidance."

Magnetburst replies, "The Council exists only to choose the Primes. It is the Primes' directive to lead and protect."

Optimus replies back, "There are no Primes left!"

Magnetburst asks in response, "Even now, you still reject your calling?"

Magnetburst continues, "For too long have we watched the other Primes fall to their pride and greed. But you, Optimus, your courage and wisdom have transformed the lives around you. Megatron has infected the very core of our world. You must journey to the core and remove this blight. Failure would doom us all."

Remembering what Dark Rook told him, Optimus replies, "I will accept the burden, with all that I am."

Magnetburst declares, "Rise, Optimus Prime! For you are the leader of the Autobots! You are the second Last Prime while Dark Rook, now declared as Corvowing Prime, will be your protégé!"

The End.

(Author's notes: See you all in chapter 23: To The Core.)