3- The Call.
It was a fine day on Lilycove City, without any suspicious or out of the ordinary activities taking place. But outside the city's limits was another story: the police seemed to be chasing two vehicles driving at high speed: a red advanced version of a Plymouth GTX and a blue updated version of an AMC Javelin.
"Drivers, decelerate and turn off your engines! This is your last warning!" Officer Jenny demanded with a speaker from one of the police cars.
"Look what a mess you've gotten us into. You couldn't just avoid messing with the natives even if I advised you not to." A sinister female voice argued from the red vehicle.
"They were asking for it, right there checking all passing vehicles. Who do they think they are, the masters around here?" A sinister male voice answered from the blue car.
"Well, you provoked this retaliation, then you get us out. I don't care the way you employ, just do it."
"Already something in mind."
The blue car started to ignite its exhaust pipe, and suddenly, after allowing the police cars to catch up with it, launched a huge current of fire which burned the cars' wheels and covered their fronts with smoke. All that forced them to stop, allowing the vehicles to escape. The two runaway vehicles drove up a hill where they could observe their chasers checking their vehicles and wondering where they went. Seeing they were now safe, the red vehicle started to transform until it revealed to be a tall, intimidating and sinister-looking female robot.
"I'm surprised. I didn't expect you to use such a smart skill." The red robot admitted.
The blue vehicle changed as well, revealing to be a big robot with a bully appearance and whose mouth seemed not visible. Both of them shared one common thing, red eyes: there was no doubt, they were Decepticons.
"Oh, I love the smell of blown fuses in the morning." The blue robot proclaimed, which mouth seemed more like audio-like readings.
"That's the fifth native settlement we inspect since our arrival to this world. It can't be a coincidence; those must be the dominant species of this planet."
"They don't look so tough, specially with those little fleshy bodies. Are you sure we came to the correct location?"
"There is no mistake. The coordinates indicate this is the target world where our faction was supposed to congregate." The female Decepticon reassured projecting a hologram of the planet and some travel marks on her wrist.
"We have been on this rock for more than a megacycle and we haven't found a single trace which proves our own have arrived. The only thing I have seen is lots of those humans, and the creepy things which crawl everywhere we go." The blue robot objected as he turned his attention to a group of Zigzagoon looking at him with curiosity, but he turned one of his hands into a gun, aimed at them, charged it and fired a laser blast near them, making the little pokémon to run away while he continued firing at them, until his partner stopped him.
"Enough."
"You know I can't avoid it, its fun when they go away."
"We have to save energon, partner. Don't waste it with such unworthy beings."
"Alright, you are the smart one, so what do you suggest us to do? We have tried to contact with any ally, but no one has answered our transmissions."
"Then perhaps we should send something more…intense than a simple transmission."
With that answer, the female Con changed form again, but this time she turned into a Jet Harrier T12 and took flight. Her partner followed her turning into an AH-1Z Viper. Speaking of Decepticons, the Nemesis was hidden in the dark side of the moon, and its crew seemed to be working on something in the upper deck. Well, the engineers were working on something while Knock Out was supervising them. In that moment, Starscream arrived.
"Well doctor, have you figured out why our attempts to call for backup have been…unfruitful? Shockblast is taking a close look to the warship's systems from the inside out and so far has no reported any issue."
"And he will not, because I think I finally discovered what's wrong. It appears our communications' array has received very considerable damage. Probably thanks to the previous use the Autobots gave it against the Chaos Bringer's undead army, from which you and Shockblast managed to miraculously escape without a scratch." Knock Out reported as they witnessed the engineers trying to fix some parts of the antenna.
"Ah-ha. And how long it's reparations will take?"
"Well, those are the bad news. You see, the vault was lack of the proper materials used for this array to be fully repaired. There was only a few remains we have been able to use to keep this trinket whole, but I'm afraid the communications' range only reach every part of Earth and to the moon, not beyond the planet."
"What? That cannot possibly be. There must be replacements which we can employ from the remains of the Harbinger."
"I thought that as well, Starscream. But when the engineers were dismantling it, they found no surviving components for this kind of device. Not even the ship's com antenna seemed useful anymore."
Starscream groaned. "With our communication range that limited, we lack the required means to contact any possible surviving Decepticon forces out in anywhere of space. There must be something we can use to get it fixed."
"Well, I would recommend donating vital components from the only alternative existing sources: our warship's other subsystems. But of course, that would change the lack of function from one important part of the ship to another."
Starscream sighed, knowing they reached an impasse. "Then we must debate this with Shockblast. I'm sure he will analyze the situation thoroughly to see if we can find a way out."
"Commander Starscream, our sensors had detected a suspicious signal. It seems to be from one of our own." A Seeker soldier came reporting.
But the Decepticons were not the only ones who were busy. Into the new Autobot base of New Iacon, Team Prime was still performing the modifications to ensure the base will work at full capacity: Optimus, with the help of his jet-pack, was putting some parts of the structure to the perimeter towers, alongside Wheeljack using the Jackhammer; Warpath, Ultra Magnus and Smokescreen were also helping with this task, being the young Autobot the most helpful thanks to his employment of the phase shifter; Moonracer was climbing up the main structure carrying some parts to the top, where Arcee was waiting, and when she arrived the two female Autobots started to install some of the new shield generator transmitters; meanwhile, both Sideswipe and Hot Rod were driving over the perimeter ring in vehicle mode, deploying some of the new sensors around the structure, while Seaspray did the same putting sensors on the island's limits, these ones hidden; inside, Ratchet was in the garage using his torch to cut the parts of the recovered crash-landed Autobot ship in pieces, which were carried by the gang's strongest pokémon to a decontamination area before taking them to the storage, for in case there was any remaining trail of cybonic plague; Elita was helping Blaster and his Minibots in the command center linking the informatic systems.
"Ratchet, where do you want me to put the laser scalpel?" Clemont asked through the com link of his backpack while he carried one cybertronian item.
"Into the instrumental table, next to the operating berth. That's where I decided to put all my new tools."
It took Clemont some hard work, but he managed to drag it next the other items.
"Uf, I'm starting to think it would be nice to have an assistant here to help us with everything around." Clemont suggested.
Ratchet laughed. "I guess I will have to continue with some upgrades for your backpack. But I guess you're right there. With such a big place to run and maintain, it couldn't harm to have some other helpful hands here."
"How about something like an assistant drone?"
"Haha, like that robotic replica of yours Clembot? By the way, where's everyone else?"
"They are still deciding how to organize our personal area, my sister included. She insisted that everyone would help her to see it today. Why? Do you need more help right there?"
"Ha, I already have much well-needed help here with your pokémon helping with the ship. Why don't you go, join with the others and so rest? Once the others are done with their duties, I will ask for their assistance here."
"Are you sure? Okay then, thanks Ratchet." Clemont thanked exiting the lab and making his way to their exclusive zone. He passed next to where Blaster was working, and seeing him busy he stopped. "Hey Blaster, anything you need?"
"Well, if I could just end with the server's configuration, I could turn it on and activate the whole communications network. Do you know something about complex informatics?"
"Are you kidding? I'm the one who equipped the Prism Tower with an informatic defense line for possible trespassing. Let's take it a look."
"I appreciate your enthusiasm, but remember this is an original cybertronian grid. Despite your great intellect, you should at least be cybertronian to try to understand it."
But Blaster and his Minibots saw impressed how fast Clemont typed into his laptop, and saw the results in his terminal.
"Remember how much time I used to pass with Ratchet?"
"Nice work. You surely would have been hired for a job like this if it wasn't for the war." Blaster congratulated. "Now let's see if our new supporting feature requires retouching before passing to the next thing."
With that solved, Clemont continued walking to the gang's personal area. When he arrived, he saw everyone debating.
"I'm telling you. The first thing we need to put here is a couch." Dawn was telling.
"And exactly where are we going to get a couch?" Iris objected.
"I can check in our house's loft. Perhaps dad has one there which he doesn't use. Just need to clean it a little and just fine." Bonnie suggested.
"I'm sure he would not bother." Clemont supported.
"We'll also need some shelving if we are going to place bigger things." Ritchie added.
"And let's not forget a TV. With enough cables to connect it to possible gaming consoles." Max came up immediately.
"And exactly where are we supposed to plug it in? We'll also need a power source for any electronic machine we bring. And we already know what happens with energon." Tracey reminded.
"Blaster, is any way energon can be used to supply some converter device which can transform said energy into electric power?" Clemont suggested.
"That would require mine and Ratchet's presence to create such device, but compared to what I'm currently busy with, piece of cake. Also I'm sure the good doctor will be glad to make such an invention."
"If that happens, I will be with him to help and check progress."
"Now that it comes to me, where are you going to get all the energon needed to supply all this place?" Serena recalled.
"That's taken care of. Before we engaged Unicron, Blaster took the precaution to copy all useful data within the Nemesis's databanks, including the synthetic energon formula." Elita revealed.
"But are we talking about the complete formula or the previous one?" Misty remembered.
"The one Ratchet was forced to complete alongside the Decepticon scientists which was used for the Omega Lock." Blaster clarified.
"Which means now you will have all the energy you will need." May understood.
"You will no longer need to assault mines from the Decepticons in order to compete for the stuff." Clemont added.
"It sounds better that way, but that's far from being true. The Decepticons will still try to control those deposits in order to keep the maximum possible amount of energon under their control." Elita confessed.
"And because of that, we must take all possible resources from their reach, if we have any chance to cause them trouble by the lack of fuel." Optimus added arriving. "Also then, with the space bridge as our secret way to Cybertron, we possess an additional access to an unlimited supply of energon, coming directly from our home planet."
"And the info about the energon transfusion capacitor would also serve us well with the base's energy demands." Blaster added.
"I see you're also preparing everything to organize your space. If there is anything you require, just make us know."
"Thanks Optimus. But for the moment we're just deciding what to put." Serena thanked.
"Blaster, once we bring a TV, think you and Clemont can trick or modify it or something like that in order to receive any special channels? I would love to see the exclusive pokémon contest channel through it." May requested, getting back into the matter.
"How about we bring some camp tents for when we decide to go camping?" Ritchie started.
"We could use them for a pajama party inside. And some smalls beds for the pokémon." Bonnie followed.
"I think another important detail would be perches for our coats, hats or even umbrellas and any additional clothing." Misty added.
"And a table which can work as workplace for the laptop." Tracey suggested.
"Alongside a pair of chairs." Iris continued.
"And some drawers to place small important objects such as our poke balls, maps, cases, backpacks, those things." Ash joined.
"Like the one which contained all the Z-Crystals?" Max remembered.
"Speaking of which, we should start knowing how to perform Z-Moves, so we can prepare more surprises for the Decepticons." May recalled.
"But for that each of us will require a Z-Ring in order to perform them." Tracey reminded.
"There must be a way we can obtain some ones similar to the one Ash possess." Iris opined.
"Actually, mine is not a Z-Ring, but a Z-Power Ring, which is like an upgraded version which allows me to perform sometimes a special move with Pikachu." Ash explained with his Z-Power Ring attached to one of his wrists.
"You mean the one you used to beat the Cons and scare Starscream?" Clemont reminded.
Ash nodded. "But maybe I can ask professor Oak to send a request to professor Kukui, see if there is any way he can send us some."
"That would be great." Ritchie supported.
"I wonder how the water Z-Move looks like." Misty expressed amazed.
"Blaster, the wall perimeter sensors are deployed."
"Copy, I already have a lecture of the area. Now that you have ended with it, Sideswipe, see if you can finish mounting the new long-ranged communications array."
"Yeah yeah, I will take it a look."
Sideswipe climbed to where the antenna was almost completely installed. He simply united the last part of the antenna to the basement, making it to move a little to its corresponding location.
"Looks to me that little trinket is now all round." Sideswipe announced.
"Thanks for the favor. Optimus, the base's antenna is already operative. Communications online, and from what I'm seeing it's range is vaster than our previous bases': it seems it reaches even farther than the solar system's limits."
"Which means any Autobot out there listening will be able to hear us."
"At last we can speak with the rest of us. Have you also linked it to the space bridge?" Ratchet added.
"In no time." Blaster answered doing it.
"Perfect. Then it seems like a good chance to prove how well our new way for transportation works."
"This I have to see it."
"Eh? Why Max? Where are you going?" May asked confused.
"Hey, have anyone seen Bumblebee? Don't tell me he was been sneaking off from base's duties." Sideswipe called when he returned.
"Of course not. He volunteered for when we will test the space bridge for the first time. Do you have his coordinates?" Ratchet asked.
"Locked on." Blaster announced.
Everyone saw how the space bridge's systems activated, opening an unmistakable portal at the end of the structure. From which, a familiar yellow vehicle drove in, with Max waiting for him.
"So, you got it?" Max asked in excitement as Bee changed back to robot form.
"I just arrived at time for catching the last one for the soonest session." The yellow Autobot answered showing him a little ticket on his fingers.
"Session? For what?" May asked.
"For a tour through the Mossdeep Space Center. Remember the last time we were on Mossdeep City when Ash had his gym battle?" Max reminded, earning a nod from Ash and his older sister. "Now people can visit the same facilities we saw the first time."
"And why do you want to see it again? We already had a vip tour last time. You even saw the inside of the space shuttle while Team Rocket attempted to steal it."
"I know, but I just can't wait to see it again. And since so many people want to see it as well, I asked Bee if he could get an entrance ticket for me."
"So you could go all your own? No way, Max. You are still very young, so I'm not going to let you go without an adult's supervision."
"Fear nothing, May. I'll be there with him, being on guard if something unexpected happens." Bumblebee offered.
Still unsure, May turned at Optimus. "How do you see it?"
"I know how strong Max and Bumblebee's connection has been forged, proving he would stand by his friend's side for anything. Moreover, Bumblebee proved great adaptation for changing situations during our engage with Unicron back home. I don't think of anyone else Max may be safer with."
"Besides, it's only a touristic tour, nothing compared with what we have passed through." Serena supported.
"Yeah, what could go wrong?" Dawn added.
May sighed in defeat. "Alright, as long as Bee comes along, you can go."
"Yes. Thanks, big sister." Max yelled happy before hugging May. "Let's go, Bee."
Bumblebee changed back to vehicle mode, allowed Max to get in before the space bridge opened again and they went through the portal.
"I think you did alright, May. It has been a while since they passed time just the two of them." Clemont reassured her.
"And now that Bee feels like the old days, there's a lot they can share as well." Sideswipe added.
Far from there, in a small rock in middle of the sea of Hoenn, the two new Decepticons were waiting while the red one deployed a location beacon just like Dreadwing did time ago.
"Are you sure this will work?" The blue Decepticon asked.
"The frequency of beacons is designed to be detected by any Decepticon system. If there's any ship of our own out there, even hidden, they will detect it. One way or another." His partner reassured him. "Now we just need to wait."
"Hmm, perhaps we would not have to."
Suddenly, above them, they spotted the Nemesis descending through the clouds. The duo changed to their air alt modes and flew right to the warship. Moments later, they were walking through the ship's corridors.
"Ah, it feels good to be home at last." The blue Con expressed.
"I couldn't have said it better myself, partner." The red female Con agreed.
They reached the ship's bridge, meeting the other three recognizable Decepticons.
"Well well, Shatter and Dropkick. It's been a while."
"We are also pleased to set optics on you again, commander Starscream." The female Con, Shatter, saluted.
"As well you too, Shockwave. But, you look a little…changed. Have you been working out?" The blue Con, Dropkick, asked.
"More complex explanation for a more proper time, Dropkick." Shockblast preferred.
"Uh…who you two guys are?"
"These two, Knock Out, are some of the best warriors the Decepticon movement ever had the honor to forge." Starscream started.
"Shatter and Dropkick were some of the most noteworthy members of the DIS." Shockblast introduced.
"DIS? You mean…the Decepticon Intelligence Service?" Knock Out named.
"Indeed. A force specialized on top secret and high-risk missions which acknowledged significant success during the war."
"High trained warriors and special operations' operators, the ones who operate within the shadows. While most foot warriors used to battle on the front, the members of DIS performed special tasks such as obtaining vital intelligence from the enemy, infiltrating the most inaccessible of bases…or tracking and hunt down specific targets." Starscream counted.
"Wow, so I guess we should consider ourselves lucky to have you with us." Knock Out understood.
"We are pleased for being able to perform as the old days. But, if it isn't such a bother, what have taken you so long to meet us?"
"What are you referring to, Shatter?" Shockblast asked.
"We have been wandering on this planet for a while, and we haven't seen any other of our kind, Bot or Con." Dropkick explained.
"Hm, define 'for a while'. How long have you been here?" Knock Out questioned.
"We landed here around a megacycle ago." Shatter answered.
"That equals two or three weeks. So maybe they weren't aware of that."
"Huh?" Dropkick asked in confusion.
"About what?" Shatter followed.
"Almost a half month ago, the Autobots managed to aboard our warship and successfully terminated our lord and master. Galvatron's fall also allowed them to take command of our warship and forced us to keep a low profile, everything back on Cybertron." Starscream narrated.
"But that time was ephemeral: sometime later after our enemies systematically took control of our home planet, our master returned as well. But it wasn't him the one who was commanding his chassis, instead it was being manipulated by The Destroyer himself." Shockblast continued.
"Unicron?" Shatter asked concerned.
"Galvatron?" Dropkick asked confused.
"As the Autobots battled to contain the Chaos Bringer we managed to recover the Nemesis, but what came next we didn't expect it." Starscream continued hardly.
"We decided to return to this planet, hoping to gain better results at raiding it for establish a new Decepticon regiment." Shockblast followed. "I put a summary of the recent events taken place during that time lapse in our warship's historical record."
"Perhaps you didn't get to know anything of that because you arrived to Earth just when we were in our darkest hour back on Cybertron." Knock Out deduced.
"I see, that explains all." Shatter saw.
"That's the past, we must now focus on the present. Your services were most useful during the Great War, we will appreciate your return back into our ranks." Shockblast welcomed.
"You couldn't come in a most needed time." Starscream appreciated.
"What are you referring to, commander?" Shatter asked.
"The Autobots not only are here as we, it seems they have grown in power. They managed to destroy almost what remains of our stationed troops." Knock Out explained pointing at the few soldiers operating on the bridge, most of them Seeker soldiers.
"Our only hope to keep on the fight is to summon all remaining Decepticons scattered across the universe. But unfortunately, our communication system has suffered damage enough to properly send any message beyond this planet." Starscream continued.
"We lack the necessary primal components and appropriate infrastructure to perform suitable reparations. Before detecting your signal, I was debating about possibly using the inner components of one of the multiple subsystems of the warship as relevant replacements." Shockblast ended.
Shatter and Dropkick looked each other and smirked.
"You would not need to." Dropkick started.
"Excuse us?" Knock Out started.
"We may have been on this world less than you all, but we managed to learn a few things from its natives. Specially their technology." Shatter started.
"You have been observing the humans?" Starscream asked.
"Very closely, commander. And in one of our journeys, I paid close attention to what seems their complex ways of communication. With help of a little cybertronian hand, I think I know just how to get the message reach deep space." The female Decepticon started showing a hologram from her wrist.
"Are you certain…this will work?"
"Starscream, if there is one thing I learned when Lord Megatron put me in their temporary command, is that these specify kind of warriors are very resourceful. Even in the hardest conditions." Shockblast reassured him.
After hearing his comrade's argument and looking the hologram once again, Starscream smirked. Meanwhile, at the entrance of the Mossdeep Space Center, Bee was waiting in vehicle mode until he saw Max coming out.
"So, everything okay?"
"Totally Bee. Not only the ticket allows us to visit the facilities, but also we can do it freely by our own."
"Then go ahead. Be my guide."
The duo made their way to the facilities Max wanted to see again. They enjoyed a lot, testing the different equipment used by the astronauts, getting a surprise sometimes (like when Max was very dizzy and Bee had to carry him out of the room), but always careful to not let the Autobot been spotted by anybody else or the security systems.
"This day is getting better and better by the moment." Max expressed.
"Did you have so much fun the last time you and your friends were here?"
"Not that much. Well, speaking for myself. I think maybe it's because you are the one who's here with me."
"Looks like nothing has changed before we returned to Cybertron."
"Yeah, everything looks the same."
"Well, not exactly everything."
"Oh, right. But you know, Bee? Actually…"
But before Max could continue, a beeping noise sounded from Bee's wrist. He deployed a hologram from his wrist with a red spot in some kind of map.
"What is that?" Max asked.
"Ratchet managed to improve our systems so now each of us have access to a personal terminal which allows us to see the area from a safer point of view, analyze objects, obtain access to sources of info and locate our partners more precisely." Bumblebee revealed.
"Wow. When did Ratchet have intention to tell us this?"
"I guess when things were almost finished at base." Bee answered as he checked the signal. "Hum, according to this there's a peculiar reading nearby. It's small, but it's definitely energon."
"Which means?"
"Or the astronauts managed to recover a meteorite which contains energon, or…"
"There's another cybertronian here."
"Exactly, and that's what I'm going to find out. Max, you get back to the space center. I'll look for you when I'm done."
"No way Bee. What if it is a Decepticon which surprises you and you can't call for backup? I'll accompany you, hidden of course. Besides, I would not enjoy the center knowing you are out there maybe battling a Con."
Bumblebee wasn't sure about his friend's decision, but he smiled at hearing that. "Okay, but stay behind me. Right where no one can see you."
The duo followed the signal to a small warehouse, but big enough for Bumblebee to get in. It was dark inside, so Max looked for the lights' switches, which took him a while until he touched them, turning them on. With the lights on, Bee spotted something moving between some boxes nearby, so he aimed his guns at them.
"Whoever or whatever you are, come out with hands to the sky!"
"Please, I don't mean any harm. I'm actually no warrior class. Well not officially despite I possess some authorized means for auto defense." A voice defended between the boxes.
"Hold on. I recognize that voice."
"Bee, who is it? It's a Decepticon?" Max called.
"Decepticon? Who are you calling Decepticon, mister? I'm an effective Minibot assistant." The new voice introduced, finally getting out of one of the boxes.
Bumblebee's eyes widened once he saw who was. "Fixit?"
The Minibot's eyes widened as well. "Scout Bumblebee? Sweet Solus Prime, I'm glad someone found me. Well, someone of our own, of course. But this is not exactly the place I expected to be reunited with old fellas."
"Fixit! You're back!" Max yelled hugging him.
"Oh, I see the humans are also with you too."
"Where did you go?"
"We thought you embarked with Ironhide and the rest when they decided to search for others in space." Bee revealed.
"And I was, until I got stranded after a rough battle above Pluto. But I managed to repair an escape pod which broke off the ship, igniting its engines and setting course back to Earth, in hope of being able to meet with any Autobot still assigned here. After I arrived, I have been trying my best to remain undetected posing as an ordinary maintenance robot. But a couple of hours ago I picked up two weird signals, but I can say for sure they were not of ours. I have tracked them to somewhere around these facilities."
"Then you will require more proper hands to deal with these unidentified signals. Do you know where they actually are?"
"On it." Fixit answered taking out a scanner and checking it. "Hum, it appears the signals have stopped right at what seems to be the communications' site."
"That must be the center's transmitting station." Max deduced.
"We better don't waste time. Let's roll out!" Bee declared transforming.
After allowing both Fixit and Max board him, Bumblebee drove right to where Fixit spotted the two signals.
"By the way, I have noticed you also have recovered your voice box, scout Bumblebee. Ratchet must have operated beyond his experience to perform such achievement."
Max laughed. "You have missed a couple of things, Fixit."
"I hope you and the others can update me about everything back at home."
"We surely will." Bee added.
As they made their way, right where they were heading, Shatter and Dropkick were working on something with the station's antenna.
"Are you sure this primitive tool for natives' communications will be enough?" Dropkick questioned.
"He has a point. So far I know the farthest that humans have reached has been to the moon." Knock Out supported, speaking through com-link.
"This isn't an ordinary antenna. The array was designed to be able to send messages able to reach deep space, in a possible attempt to contact alien lifeforms. How ironically for them to think they expect to find intelligent life out there when it's already right here." Shatter explained.
"Are you sure this human invention will be the answer for our prayers?" Starscream doubted, standing on the Nemesis's bridge.
"It is the most advanced tech of this kind in the entire world. Besides, only to be certain, we will power it up with some modifications which will ensure your message would reach farther than we expect. Also, that would allow the message only to be received by our frequencies."
"Even if it is not as advanced as our own, human technology has proven to be useful for us so far." Shockblast pointed to Starscream.
"We suggest you to prepare whatever you want to send for the remaining crews out there while we end settling this up." Dropkick suggested.
"Alright then. I will send you the message once it's ready." Starscream authorized.
"We are preparing an electromagnetic tide as the channel to transport the message. Ready to start recording at your mark, sir." One of the Vehicons reported.
Starscream put himself in front of the terminal and started his speech. "This is commander Starscream of the Decepticon warship Nemesis, the path of the glorious Decepticon quest for conquest has suffered a serious stalemate: I'm regret to announce that our great master, Lord Galvatron, has perished at the hands of the enemy, who have established themselves at the world we so tenaciously desired to control. And to make things worse, I also lament to inform that our precious home world, Cybertron, has disappeared, probably thanks to our enemies' undoing. We are now facing difficult times, but if there is something we Decepticons are known is to not give up when we have a certain goal at sight. The greatest lesson I learned from our master is that when we are united together, we are able to stand against any obstacles we encounter in our way, even change the tides in our favor. That's why I'm sending this message, to reunite all Decepticons shattered, lost and astray across the universe, it's time for us all to fight together, as we did in the War for Cybertron. I have uploaded specific coordinates within this message, in order for you to find the way here. This is a message of priority one, so any of ours out there which receives this transmission, I plead for your devotion to the cause and ask you to meet with us. We are still fighting, for the glory of our kind, and memory to our former lord and master. It is time for all Decepticons to reunite and stand together once again."
While Starscream prepared the message, Shatter and Dropkick were finishing the last details of the array's modifications, placing an energon cell in the center of the structure. In that moment Bumblebee arrived.
"Look, over there." Max spotted. "Those must be the ones you were talking about."
"I don't recognize those two, but judging by their looks they don't look like Autobots." Fixit observed.
"Then that means they are Decepticons. We have to do something with them, Bee. Bee?" Max asked as he received no answer from his pal. "Bee? You heard me?"
"It can't be. I…I recognize those guys." The yellow Autobot said, with an annoyed tone.
"What?"
Bumblebee changed back to robot form almost not giving Max and Fixit time to get out of him.
"What they are doing with the antenna?" Fixit wondered.
"Whatever it is, it cannot be anything good." Bumblebee simply said with a serious tone.
"That looks like the array designed to send messages to deep space. A special project in order to find possible intelligent alien life." Max deduced.
"If that device is that powerful as you say I cannot imagine what vile use the Decepticons will give to it. We have to call everyone to come assist us." Fixit suggested.
"No time for that. Whatever they are planning, it's going down." Bumblebee swore activating his guns and battle mask.
"What? Bumblebee, I don't think that's a good idea. Why are just two of them without ordinary Cons with them?" Max asked concerned by his friend sudden behavior.
"Fixit, get Max to somewhere safe and remain hidden. I will handle this."
"But Bee!"
"Come on Max, this way." Fixit said grabbing Max by the hand. "Don't worry, I'm sure Bumblebee knows what he's doing. We have to trust him."
Bumblebee made a run for the communication array, just where the two Decepticons started activating it, making it to emanate currents of electricity.
"A couple more tweaks and it will be done." Dropkick communicated to his partner.
"Comrades, I'm calling you so you know Starscream has ended preparing the speak. Now it's up to you." Knock Out reported from the Nemesis.
"Understood Knock Out. Preparing satellites to transmit the message." Shatter acknowledged.
"You two, Decepticreeps!" A voice called, making both Decepticons to look down and spot Bumblebee aiming them with his guns. "Hands up and stop with whatever you're doing!"
"Well well, look who's got his voice back. You really have surprised us, scout, we thought you will not make it, but it seems you are more persisting than I ever imagine."
"You have no idea, Shatter."
"Honestly, I thought by now you will be rusting in a scrapyard. You may end there if you intend to get in our way again after we break you, like the last time." Dropkick mocked.
"I'm sure he has already learned the lesson, if he is smart. But since we are busy here with something which requires more our attention, I will give you a chance to survive: leave now and we will not hunt you down, B-127."
It seemed that answer only displeased Bumblebee more. "Here's my answer."
Bee started firing at them and the array, causing it some damage, but not enough for malfunction.
"Handle him! And finish the job this time!" Shatter ordered to Dropkick as she returned to her job with the antenna.
Dropkick jumped off the antenna and changed to his helicopter form to start fire at Bumblebee. He jumped over some trailers to get closer, but that was a mistake, because Dropkick returned back to robot form and tackled him against the floor. The impact made both opponents to slide between some vehicles until another trailer stopped them. Max and Fixit saw everything from a safe distance: Dropkick was the first one to stand up and punched Bee back, he attempted to shot him, but the Decepticon pushed his arm aside before kicking him. Before he could strike again, Bumblebee hit the Decepticon on the leg, making him to kneel before kicking him on the head with a cool combo. While his rival was still stunned, Bee tackled him.
"This is weird. Bumblebee is not fighting as he usually does." Max observed.
"You know Bumblebee's combat movements? You two surely have passed lot of time together." Fixit admired.
"Sure, but this doesn't look good. He seems out of his mind."
"That also doesn't look nice." Fixit added pointing at the array. "That antenna seems to have suffered a few modifications, by cybertronian hands."
"You mean that blue thing on its center?"
"Yes, it must be an energon cell. With the proper configuration changes and the energon's boost, the device's reach may have been enhanced. So now whatever signal sent by it could reach even further than previously expected."
"And that's bad?"
"It depends on the use that is applied to. But the only useful option for the Decepticons for it would be for…"
"Call in an army!" Max and Fixit finished at the same time.
"They may be using it to send a message to contact the other Decepticons wandering the universe, we need to warn Optimus. Fixit, call the base so they can send the whole team."
Fixit tried to contact their companions through the com-link, but he just received static. "There's no answer. That modified array must also be blocking any outside transmission."
"And Bee looks busy facing that tough Con." Max noticed before looking up again. "We will have to stop them ourselves."
"Us? But we are not warrior-class, we lack the required battle experience."
"We just need to sabotage the antenna before they can send any message, I didn't say anything about battling them. Besides, when my sister and me traveled with Ash we also encountered threatening situations, and we managed to deal with them without battling as well. I'm going, you're coming with me?" Max asked as he prepared to climb up a ladder.
Fixit doubted at first, but next he smirked. "Are you serious? Before I departed with the others to search around space, I thought hearing about what the others performed, even about you humans and pokémon, was the most thrilling part of what I lived. Gosh, I'd love to get out in the field, in a strictly not-confrontational capacity, of course. It would sound exciting."
"Then now you have the chance, but we better hurry."
Back into the fight, Dropkick was pushed against another trailer, but before Bee could kick him the Con grabbed him by the leg and forced him against a bunch of barrels. Next, he hit him before grabbing him by the legs and throwing him against a small hut. Then both robots started throwing all kinds of objects they had at hand, trying to keep the other on the ground. Bee decided to make use of his agility and dodged Dropkick's last attack, and countered with a poke on his face followed by a kick on the chest, ending grabbing one of his arms and making a tumble. He went directly to continue the fight, but Dropkick took the chance to grab him by the head and throw him aside, but Bumblebee took the chance to transform, turn around and speed up at his opponent. Dropkick expected him to try to run over him, but before reaching him Bee changed form again and punched him hard, sending both of them rolling to an area under construction. Both robots recovered, but Bee was faster and managed to hit the Decepticon first, dodge the next attack, roll aside, grab a large piece of iron and hit Dropkick on the leg with hit, and his head next. Meanwhile, Max and Fixit were still climbing up the array's tower, one better than the other.
"It isn't easy for me since I possess wheels instead of legs."
"Try to lift one of your wheels one time and the other one next." Max advised.
They were still halfway their objective, and Shatter was ready to transmit the message, typing the necessary commands of the array's terminal, which showed a percentage of the transmission process, almost a fifty per-cent. Back to the fight, Bee was dodging Dropkick's hits until he pushed a container which hit him on the leg, chance he took to grab him by the arm and throw him aside. But before he could continue Dropkick sent him flying with a hard hit on the head. While he was on the floor, Dropkick attempted to finish with Bee, but the former Autobot scout countered his hit with a kick and next grabbed him by the head with his legs before making a twirl which made the Con roll aside, but he took the chance to change to his car form and put some distance between him and the Autobot. Next, he changed to his helicopter form and started to fire his guns. Bumblebee took cover immediately and saw a long chain beside him, which gave him an idea. He grabbed it, swung it and threw it at the helicopter's blades, causing them to malfunction. As Bumblebee recovered it, Dropkick was forced to change back to robot form, so Bee prepared the chain again. While the Decepticon was finishing transforming, Bumblebee moved around him, tangling him with the chain in all the parts of his body. Dropkick tried to attack him, but Bee managed to tangle every part of his body, and when he pulled from the chain, it made all limbs of the Con's body to stretch, immobilizing him.
"You think these little chains can hold me forever?" Dropkick challenged.
"No, but maybe it can do this!"
Bee pulled the chain with all his strength, making it to send Dropkick flying against another warehouse, but the launch's strength was so much that the Decepticon crashed against the walls so hard that he was knocked out. Meanwhile, Max and Fixit finally reached the top of the tower, just where the energon cell was planted.
"Okay, here we are. So, what do we do now?" Max asked.
"The cell is implanted within the interface of the array's structure, that's what allows it to expand its reach radius." Fixit checked.
"So what?"
"Well, maybe it looks complicated, but it's actually very easy. It would be enough to simply remove the energon cell to interrupt the whole process."
"Wow, only that? I hope you brought some assembly tools."
Fixit pulled out a small drill from his hand.
"That should do it."
And both proceed to remove the energon cell and sabotage the Decepticon operation. Unfortunately…
"What are you doing?!"
Shatter spotted them below her and fired a burst of fast laser shots, which forced them to stop and cover themselves. Next, the female Decepticon changed to her jet form and aimed at them.
"Scrap!" Both cursed.
But suddenly, a combined laser shot from Bee's weapons hit one of her engines, making her to lose altitude and transform again.
"Thanks a lot, Bee!" Max yelled.
"Keep on with what you were doing!" Bumblebee ordered as he approached the tower.
But Shatter tackled him by surprise, and pinned him on the ground with her foot, as the two pals continued with the sabotage. Shatter grabbed Bee and threw him aside. He was determined to keep distracting her from his friends so he went to face her again, but she was faster than Dropkick and managed to counter him again. Meanwhile up there, Max was helping Fixit pulling from the cell as the screen was now almost at 99% for the transmission. But fortunately, they pulled out the cell in the last moment, which caused the process to stop and show a message of power failure which made the tower to shut down.
"We did it!" Max celebrated while Fixit simply grabbed the energon cell.
"No." Shatter cursed.
"Bee, we did it!"
The duo saw Shatter's mad face as she pulled out her weapon and was about to fire at them, but Bee prevented her from doing it grabbing her arm and making another twirl which pushed her against the floor.
"You…would…not…mess…with my friends!" Bee said with each punch.
Shatter had enough and pushed Bumblebee back, right before she managed to pin him again. Now she was the one who punched him repeatedly on the head while screaming in fury.
"Right after I kill you, I'll kill them!" Shatter swore as she grabbed a metal stake, ready to give him the last blow.
"Bumblebee!" Max called, right before he grabbed the energon cell from Fixit, who was distracted, and threw it.
Bumblebee used all his left strength to fire a laser shot.
"Hahaha, you missed." Shatter laughed.
"Are you certain?"
Shatter witnessed her eyes before looking again, and saw the shot hit the energon cell Max threw, destabilizing it.
"Fool! You'll kill us both!" Shatter exclaimed in disbelief.
"No. Because I have a reason to live." Bumblebee pronounced before changing form and start driving.
The cell's instability grew dangerously till the point it exploded, making a huge explosion which caught Shatter. The explosion's shock wave sent Bumblebee flying some distance as well, next to some containers.
"Bumblebee!" Max shouted running at him. "Are you okay?"
Bee stood up barely from the wreckage. "Yeah, I have been through worse."
Max was pleased to see his pal was fine.
"By the way, that was a crazy idea." Fixit opined arriving.
"Yeah, I guess I thought fast. Doing what you will do in my place."
"You did right, Max. At least we managed to get rid of those two."
"Are you certain?"
That voice alarmed the three and made them look at the remains of the explosion. With disbelieving on their faces, they witnessed how Shatter walked out of the flames with some parts of her body broken, with terrifying eyes looking at them. Dropkick also recovered consciousness and joined his partner.
"This is the last time you ruin one of our operations." Shatter declared.
"Which means now we will ruin your skins." Dropkick threatened pulling out a sword from his wrist.
Despite he was very affected from the two fights, Bee tried his best to incorporate himself and stand between the Decepticons and his friends. "In order to get them, you will have to past through my sparkless husk first."
"Good, we will be glad to." Shatter answered in a scary and threatening way.
But before she could do anything, someone grabbed her from behind and kicked her so hard that sent her back into the mess. It was Elita One, with Arcee, Sideswipe, Hot Rod and Moonracer beside her. Dropkick, not aware of this, attempted to strike Bumblebee with his sword, but a hand grabbed him by the arm and prevented him from doing it. He looked next to him and saw Optimus as the responsible one, who twisted his arm, causing him to groan in pain before being smashed by a big hammer.
"Are you alright?" Ultra Magnus asked, with Warpath, Wheeljack, Seaspray and Smokescreen alongside him.
"Guys, just in time." Max appreciated.
Seeing they now were surrounded and outmatched, Shatter reunited with Dropkick.
"Don't even try anything, Cons." Arcee warned.
"Hands where we can see them." Smokey added.
"Alright Cons, who wants to be Kaboom first?" Warpath mocked.
"Prime is here?" Dropkick asked in disbelief.
"They are all here, just as Starscream confirmed. Get up, partner." Shatter said to Dropkick, who now was in a very bad shape.
"I can't. Not that long."
"We don't want to hurt you, but we will if you give us no choice." Ultra Magnus warned.
"How did you know we were in trouble?" Max asked.
"When the array was operational no more the interference also disappeared, so I managed to call for backup." Fixit revealed.
"What were you doing here?" Elita demanded.
"As if we will tell you." Dropkick spitted immediately, while Shatter checked something on the personal terminal of her wrist.
"You don't have any business here, Decepticons."
"You're right, Prime. A whole team of Autobots is more than we are trained to face, but since we have what we wanted it seems we must now take our leave. See you next time, B-127." Shatter saluted.
"Yeah, and I hope you prove a proper challenge next time we face." Dropkick mocked before both Decepticons changed to their flying alt modes and flew away.
Bumblebee couldn't contain his anger more and started firing at them despite the fact they were already too far.
"Cowards! Come back and fight like a true warrior!" Bee challenged, leaving the others surprised by his reaction, until Optimus stopped him.
"Bumblebee, you already know how to respond on situations like this: if the enemy overpass you in number or combat ability the best course of action is to report back and wait for assistance."
"Not them, Optimus. I know how they operate, and now I know I can beat them."
"Are you serious, Bee? Those guys are DIS." Moonracer objected.
"Hold on, DIS? For real?" Smokey asked in disbelief.
"Eh…exactly what does that means?" Sideswipe asked confused.
"It means those Cons are some of the bests." Wheeljack explained.
Speaking of Shatter and Dropkick, despite their injuries, they managed to return back to the Nemesis, and now were being examined by Knock Out in the medical room.
"I have to say I'm very surprised: I didn't expect you to return like this." Knock Out expressed checking Shatter's condition while Dropkick waited for his turn.
"How many Autobots did you engage?" Starscream questioned.
"Just one, the one we thought may be rusting by now: B-127." Shatter answered in pain.
"B-127? Hum…I don't recall hearing about an Autobot named like that." Knock Out responded.
"No one use that kind of nomenclature anymore on these days." Shockblast clarified.
"That was the designation belonging to that slippery scout, that yellow one which we had so much trouble tracking down." Dropkick specified.
"The yellow scout? Ah, you are referring to Bumblebee." Knock Out corrected.
"You know him?"
"Know him? Ha, I can't tell you all times we have raced against each other, competing to reach for a relic in play or just to see who is fastest."
"He's also the one who extinguished Galvatron's spark. You may do well to not underestimate him again." Starscream warned.
"Rest assured, commander. After what we have endured on this experience, we'd already learned the lesson." Shatter promised.
"And he managed to force you to retreat." Knock Out assumed.
"Don't mock on us, doctor! He maybe managed to humiliate us, but we could have taken him down for good, if it wasn't for the other Autobots to arrive. That was too much for us to handle at that moment." Dropkick detailed.
"And…did you complete the mission?" Starscream demanded getting to the point.
"The Autobot wasn't alone: a Minibot and a human sabotaged the process in the last moment." Shatter answered, making Starscream groan, but he stopped at seeing her smirk. "But they don't suspect it has been in vain. The transmission was successfully sent."
"Are you certain?"
"It is, Starscream. My instruments are detecting it." Shockblast confirmed checking the terminal. "It appears the sudden interruption caused a displacement, splitting the signal and sending it to multiple trajectories."
"Which means it will reach more areas and further, excellent. Seeing how well you have operated today I believe both of you have earned a place within our crew." Starscream congratulated to both Decepticons. "And the Autobots better get ready, for now things will started to return just like the old times."
Back to New Iacon, the gang was receiving the news about what happened. Some ones reacting more seriously.
"You got in middle of a fight with Decepticons?! I will have to start reconsider letting you go alone in future events."
"But May, it wasn't our fault. We didn't expect to find Decepticons right there." Max defended.
"He's right, May. No one could have anticipated that, it could have happened to any of us." Misty supported.
"And who would expect we will encounter such veteran Decepticons?"
"Fixit! You are back!" Bonnie yelled in happiness as she hugged the Minibot.
"But what happened?" Tracey asked.
"Bumblebee has lots of experience engaging different kinds of Decepticons. Why was different this time?" Serena wondered.
"Because these two Cons were not ordinary ones." Arcee answered.
"How did you say they were called? DIS?" Max recalled.
"What's that?" Iris asked.
"Is an abbreviation to recognize members of the Decepticon Intelligence Service." Ultra Magnus revealed.
"I heard of those guys during my stay on Iacon. It appears they are bad news."
"You have no idea, Smokescreen. Is a special force formed by specialized units, very-well-formed warriors, spies and commandos, created by Megatron to perform top secret missions for different purposes. It is said to be composed by the toughest Decepticons." Hot Rod explained.
"They caused us more than one serious problem during the war. Since they used to act more covertly, their activities were more difficult to detect, sometimes only when it was too late." Warpath continued.
"The effects of their actions were such that even Sentinel ordered the special teams like us Wreckers to track and eliminate them at the earliest chance." Seaspray followed.
"And so we did. Those ones may be the only survivors of that vermin." Wheeljack suspected.
"And that's why it was so hard for Bumblebee to deal with them." Fixit realized.
"But that doesn't even explain why he performed like that. Why is Bee so obsessed with beating those two?" Max remembered.
"Hold on. You say the reason you got yourself into the mess is because Bumblebee forgot about you? That doesn't sound like him." Ash said surprised.
"Pika." Pikachu nodded.
"Why he acted like that?" Dawn asked.
"Because he passed through his hardest experience thanks to those two." Ratchet answered, shocking everyone.
"What are you referring to?" Ritchie asked.
"It has to do with…how he lost his voice?" Max deduced.
"I'm afraid so. Do you remember when I told you how he lost his voice box? Well, being as the great scout we know he was, Bumblebee was able to evade even the hardest trackers within the enemy ranks. It wasn't a coincidence that he ended getting into the spotlight of the DIS, becoming a high-priority target. And Shatter and Dropkick were the best of them all. They finally managed to catch Bumblebee off-guard, and when they did, they delivered him to Megatron. And you know what happened next." Ratchet narrated.
"Now I see, it's because of them that Megatron took his voice from him." Ash realized.
"Why everything has to be reduced to revenge?" Serena lamented, making Ash to hug her.
"Those kinds of wounds don't disappear so easily." Arcee said.
"I guess Bee remembered the feelings when that happened and wanted to make them pay for that." Sideswipe pointed.
"Do you think it will affect him for a long time?" Iris asked.
"Bee is a tough bot, and he has passed through lot of things. We must have faith that he will find the strength to overcome this as well." Warpath encouraged.
"I hope so." Max expressed worried.
"Hey, why don't you go and speak with him? Maybe that would help him. After all he listens to you." Bonnie suggested.
"Yeah, that may be the best right now." Max agreed, but before he went with his friend he stopped. "There's also another thing, those Cons spoke to Bee, telling something as…B-127. What is that?"
"That…was Bumblebee's original name." Optimus answered arriving, surprising everyone.
"Bumblebee's original name?" Ritchie asked in disbelief.
"How's that?" Dawn followed.
"After the period of the Golden Age, with the rule of the caste system, most cybertronians from medium and lower class received designations composed by just letters and numbers, unlike Elita and I. The actual system considered more suitable that way to register the less important parts of our society. I'm certain Megatron's original name was also one of that kind, right before he became known as Megatronus. But when the War for Cybertron broke up, most former members of lower castes decided to let behind their original names and adjudge themselves new identities. For when I met Bumblebee the first time, he still introduced himself as B-127, until he saw fit to change it for a more proper name." Optimus narrated.
"I think he made right. After all, a name gives you identity." Ritchie said. "Right Sparky?"
"Pikachu."
"And I guess those two Decepticons still use to know their targets the old way." Clemont deduced.
"They are very fit to protocol." Ultra Magnus confirmed.
With all heard, Max went to where Bumblebee was sat. He didn't look well, probably because of the fight or by the fact that he forgot his most important duty of taking care of his friend.
"Hey, are you okay?"
"Oh, hey Max. Listen, I'm sorry for what happened. I know I shouldn't act like that, and…"
"I know, the others told us. And I understand you." Max said, surprising Bee. "You lost the way you used to be by what they did to you, and you didn't want to remember it again. I guess that's why you faced them. But you mustn't be afraid of that anymore, because you are whole again, and that's something no one can take away from you anymore. And you don't need to beat them to prove being better, I know you are."
Max's words managed to make smile appear on Bumblebee's face.
"Just promise me one thing: the next time you encounter one of those guys, don't let your emotions drive you away."
"I will. I give you my word."
"And I also think B-127 doesn't seem fit for you. Seriously, that cannot call itself a name. I will not put it to any ordinary robot, not even Clembot."
Bumblebee laughed. "You got a point there."
The gang smiled seeing the two friends acting the same again, the same as the Autobots.
"Optimus, according to Fixit's report the Decepticons seemed desperately to find a way to call for reinforcements." Elita reported.
"Which means even if they didn't succeed this time, they will still try to find a way to communicate with their own." Ultra Magnus deduced.
"If the Decepticons are determined to gather the remaining of their forces, we must also do the same. Blaster, are long-range communications operational?"
"Out of glitches and ready for use, Optimus."
"Then we should use it to send a message for all our brothers and sisters out there listening." Ratchet suggested.
"Agreed, old friend."
"I will send the message with a highly encryption, in order to prevent any stranded Decepticons and the warship to see its content." Blaster added as Optimus prepared to send the message.
"I will link it to the nearest communication satellite in order to increase the signal's strength." Fixit offered.
"I can help you with that." Clemont said connecting his laptop.
"This is Optimus Prime. To all surviving Autobots scattered across the space who can hear this message. We all have lived dark times, but after eons of endless battle a shine of hope has finally dissipated them: Cybertron has been secured, but the conflict with the Decepticons is not over yet. Our enemies are determined to assault a very important world which story is linked to ours. With Primus' blessing and my actual status as leader of the team already stationed here, I ask all of you to meet with us and help us ending this conflict once and for all. Follow this transmission's trail, it will lead you to our new home. Don't worry for any unanswered question your sparks harbor, all will be answered once you are with us. I wish you safe journey and letting you know that I wishing with all my spark to see us all reunited at last. Till all are one."
As Optimus spoke, Blaster recorded everything, synchronized with the satellite and prepared all details for the message to be launched to deep space. The transmission was designed to be repeated in patterns, being sent by the satellite while it continues orbiting Earth so travel different trajectories, expecting to reach the places where there were still friends hidden, waiting to be found.