13- Seismic threat.
It seemed like an ordinary day at the Cerulean gym, except that while Misty was taking care of the aquarium's pokémon, Bonnie, Ash, Dawn, Ritchie and Iris were enjoying in the swimming pool: Ash and Ritchie were competing in who swam faster, while Dawn and Iris were playing water polo, and Pikachu and the others were playing splashing and swimming in the small pool with Bonnie, who was using a swimmer. Max was also there, but he seemed busy with his Pokétch.
"Don't you wanna get into the water as everyone else?" Misty noticed.
"I will later, now I'm talking with Bumblebee. Did you know he has been promoted?" Max revealed.
"No way. And he was just promoted from scout to warrior." Iris said.
"It doesn't surprise me, specially after the last time he led the team." Dawn reminded.
"Not only that, he even earned a rank. He's now lieutenant." Max added.
"Wow, lieutenant Bumblebee. Sounds cool." Ash opined while he and Ritchie were having a break.
"Max please, you are embarrassing me in front of your friends." Bumblebee replied through the Pokétch.
"Why Bee? You have earned it for how great you are."
"Thanks, but I'm still not very used to lead a team on my own."
"By the way, what are you doing?" Ritchie asked.
"We are currently after a trail of Decepticon activity."
As he communicated, Bee, Hot Rod and Arcee were scouting around the shore of Ogi Island, a deserted place of the Johto region.
"Blaster managed to intercept a strange activity on Decepticon radio. According to it, they are looking for something around this island." Hot Rod reported.
"Well, we have been driving in circles and we still haven't found anything. Which means whatever they are searching for it isn't on the island." Arcee pointed.
"Then probably it could be located on its surroundings, even under the sea." Bumblebee realized. "Seaspray, do you have anything?"
"Actually Bee, I think I have found a little trail here." The aquatic Wrecker reported as he was diving.
He was heading right to a bunch of rubble underwater.
"I have found something, maybe what the Cons are looking for. It certainly looks as some kind of sunken human building, probably a research facility or a hidden base, one of two." Seaspray transmitted as he was checking the rubble, until he found a familiar symbol. "Guys, I'm seeing what I think it's the identification symbol: it's just a big red R."
"Then we must suppose that belonged to Team Rocket." Arcee deduced.
"Guys, ring any bell?" Bee asked.
"Wait, you have said you are in Ogi Island? On Johto? Ash, didn't we pass through a hard experience sometime there?"
"You're right, Ritchie. That was the base Team Rocket was using when they tried to capture Lugia and his baby."
"Hold on. Lugia, the legendary pokémon, had a baby?" Max asked surprised.
"Yeah, we saw it. I also remember that." Misty added. "But what would the Decepticons find interesting in registering a former Team Rocket base?"
While the gang and Autobots wondered about it, inside the former base the Decepticons were searching around the areas still in one piece, especially the control room. But because of all the time sunken under the sea, the damage and their trouble accessing the base's databanks, their progress was taking longer than expected.
"The surviving data only contains details of a process to extract great energy, but nothing else." One Vehicon engineer reported.
"Another false lead, just great. Starscream, we are wasting our time, chasing after untrusted clues from an already dismantled human organization in hope of finding something we may not expect they obtained. Besides, this salty water will not doubt threat to rust my illustrious finish."
"No one asked you to come, Knock Out, so stop complaining." Dropkick argued.
"Enough, you two! The knowing of Team Alien about this former base, which was hidden when it was operational, indicates they were aware of their competence's activities. So that means they could also have known of the other groups as well." Starscream theorized.
"Perhaps, but that's not of any use to us." Knock Out complained. "What do you expect to find?"
"If Team Alien managed to find all the other teams' hideouts and absorbed all their data, perhaps we can find a clue on one of them about any of their own actives."
"Starscream? Any luck?" Someone called through com-link.
"Nothing yet, Xiaxus. How about you?"
"We are at what's left of Team Aqua's base, but there's nothing left of their command center. You got something, Shockblast?"
"Team Flare's database lacks of any useful information, just the same repetitive details about how to harvest the energy which allows pokémon to mega-evolve."
"We have searched around Team Plasma's base, there's nothing in here. It seems they didn't got interest on what these ones were doing and simply erased any data they had." Ser-Ket reported by com-link as well.
"I will send some troops to Team Magma's base, just in case there's no useful things as here to no waste time with my presence there." Xiaxus said.
"Understood. I will call you if I find something here." Starscream ended.
Knock Out sighed. "It appears we are going to stay here for a while."
"General Starscream, we were reconnoitering the perimeter when suddenly we detected a weird signal. It's faint, but it seems like ours." The Vehicon in charge reported showing it to him.
"Hum…if you are bored here, Knock Out, why don't you accompany these troops and confirm that signal?"
"Well, it's better than stay here and wait salt to rust over my paint job. At least by this way I can move. Let's get this over with, there's a relaxing decontamination shower waiting for me back on the warship."
Starscream sighed in disbelief while the Decepticon medic went with a few troops out of the base's wreckage. Seaspray spotted them descending more.
"Guys, we got movement: Knock Out and a few troops are leaving the base and entering more into the deeps. Or they have gotten bored and went for a swim…" Seaspray started.
"Or we have found what the Decepticons are truly up to." Bumblebee ended. "Seaspray, keep watching the others and warn us if they do something more. We're going after Knock Out."
"Aye aye, lieutenant."
Bee turned at his pals. "Let's dive deep and stop them in their feet."
They looked him confused.
"Eh? Excuse me?" Hot Rod asked.
"If you are meaning let's chase after them, just say it." Arcee corrected.
Bumblebee sighed. "Let's go."
The three Autobots jumped down the cliff and immersed. They spotted the trail of bubbles let behind by the Decepticons and simply followed them. They followed them to the bottom of the sunken base, and saw them digging right next to the structure, making bigger a hole in the oceanic bottom through which they descended, and the Autobots followed them. At the same time, back at the gym…
"So, your brother didn't want to come?"
"It's not that, Misty. Clemont said he had to assist Ratchet and Fixit on some urgent thing at the Autobot base. So he will be a little busy, but…he will try to join us."
"Oh well, let's hope they manage to finish as soon as possible." Misty lamented, until a very familiar pokémon caught her attention. "Hey! Hold it right there, Psyduck! I told you a million times that you can't wear a swimmer in the water. How are you supposed to learn to swim if you act like a little child?"
"Still no luck?" Ash anticipated.
Misty sighed. "I'm afraid so. I just can't understand what Psyduck needs in order to overcome his fear. He's a water pokémon, he should be able to swim naturally."
"Don't you think you are being a little harsh with him?" Iris asked.
"Excuse me?"
Iris didn't catch the ball as she focused her attention on Psyduck. "It's true that as a water pokémon Psyduck should feel pleasant in the water, but forcing him learning to swim is not going to help him. You must put yourself on his place, and figure out how he feels, and that way find the better mode to help him."
"Maybe you are more similar than you think." Max said. "You also are scared of bug type pokémon, isn't it?"
"Oh right. But seriously?" Iris asked surprised, since she was the one who knew it the less. "Even the cute ones?"
"No, not all of them." Ritchie answered.
"I just can't avoid it. The way they move, their looks… it creeps me out. I can't help but tremble when I'm in presence of one of those bugs." Misty defended.
"Like you with cold, no Iris?"
"Ash, don't act like a kid! And I don't hate cold, it's just I can't stand it. Simply as that."
"See? That's something you and Psyduck have in common. Maybe if you both try to overcome your fears together you will be able to success." Max explained.
"You think so?" Misty asked hopeful.
"You will not know if you don't give it a try." Dawn said.
"And of course, you can count on us to help you." Bonnie added.
Back with the Autobots, the trio was following Knock Out's group, with caution to not approach them too much in order to not draw their attention. Bumblebee got an idea and whispered to his pals, who nodded. Once they saw a big enough tunnel, they split and disposed of the Vehicons silently with their melee weapons and sneak attacks. Knock Out didn't realize anything, until he felt something pushing against his back.
"If you don't want your paint to end burned, better don't think about calling Screamy for help." Arcee warned aiming her gun.
"Oh great, just what I needed. As if saltwater wasn't enough to threat my finish!" Knock Out complained.
"Why are you here, Knock Out?" Bumblebee demanded.
"I have no idea, I swear. We simply came to register a former human base sunken in the ocean."
"Tell us something we don't know already." Hot Rod insisted.
Knock Out widened his eyes in surprise. "Have you been spying on us?"
"Get to the point!" Arcee demanded charging her weapon.
Knock Out gasped afraid. "Okay okay. We came down checking a strange energetic signal with the only clue that it belongs to us. That's all you will get from me."
"Take us to it." Bee ordered.
"If you cooperate, you will be able to return back home without ruined looks." Hot Rod offered.
Knock Out groaned in defeat. "Fine. Follow me."
Knock Out continued tracking the signal with the terminal of his wrist, like Shatter did.
"Don't even think about transforming or pulling out one of your weapons." Arcee advised firm.
"And after this what? Are you going to lock me somewhere on your new base? Ha. I doubt your infrastructure may be properly strengthen to hold one of us." Knock Out provoked.
"Fortunately for us, it is." Hot Rod laughed.
That caught Knock Out off-guard. "Excuse me?"
"For your information, our current base is nothing compared to where we used to harbor on Earth before. Now we are more like when we were on Iacon. You Cons will not be able to take us out even with all your might."
"You are talking about Omega Supreme, don't you?"
"Not just that. Figure it out yourself." Arcee said.
Knock Out returned to keep checking the signal. "It's sounds higher, we're getting closer."
They saw the end of the tunnel, which was out of the water in a breathable environment. But when they reached it, they got speechless about what they saw.
"Wow. I didn't know we had one of those here." Knock Out expressed.
"By the Primes." Hot Rod said in a mix of shock and disbelief.
In front of them was a huge metallic structure, similar to the appearance of the central part of some virus, surrounded by a circle of paths which branched out and extended in multiple directions in the cave.
"I…I can't believe it." Arcee said.
"Guys, found anything yet?"
"Yes Seaspray, but it isn't good." Hot Rod started.
"What it is?"
"One of the most dangerous weapons even conceived by the Decepticons during the war: a seismic-shock warhead." Bumblebee reported.
"Wow, that doesn't sound good."
"It's worse: if Starscream or Xiaxus learn about this they could try to use it with Earth." Arcee replied.
"And everything we had fought for would have been for nothing." Hot Rod ended.
"Oh come on, relax. What is the point of using a superweapon designed to destroy worlds if our intention is to conquer it?" Knock Out argued back.
"More reason to prevent your comrades to knowing about this." Bumblebee said pushing him against the wall.
"Hey, calm down. That thing it isn't even active, it requires a key to work."
"We cannot take any risk regarding it; we must disable it so it can't function any way."
While they were arguing, something was seeing the Autobots moving around the cave, and it was stalking them. Hot Rod noticed a few rocks falling from the dark ceiling, but in the moment he turned on his flashlights, his own went off. Arcee saw him being sent against the wall hard, knocking him out.
"Hot Rod!" She cried going to assist him.
But before she could she heard some screech, which made her to look above and turn on her lights. At the moment, lots of giant metallic bugs crawled around the ceiling, roaring at them and flying in a swarm.
"Insecticons?" She said before starting firing at them, before being smashed by a huge terrestrial metallic beetle and pushed against the floor by another bug, a giant metal grasshopper.
"What's going on?" Bee demanded.
"Hey, don't look at me. I didn't know this existed in the first place." Knock Out excused.
Suddenly, the ground below Bumblebee started to shake, right before something emerged and launched him to the air. He managed to land safely, but…
"Surprise!" A strange but familiar voice said while the same creature grabbed him with a metallic claw and crushed him against the floor. "Lights out, Autobot."
All Bumblebee could do was groan before he went unconscious. At the same time, back to the Cerulean gym, the group was trying to help both Misty and Psyduck to overcome their fears. Bonnie took Psyduck by the hands while they stood in the small pool.
"Okay Psyduck, first we are gonna stand here until you feel comfortable with the water. Don't you feel nice?" She asked while they walked around for a while.
"Psyduck." Psyduck nodded.
"Good, then we are ready for the next step." She said putting him a swimmer before they went to the large pool. "Now let's practice the swimming basics while you float."
"Bonnie seems to be doing a great job." Iris observed.
"Let's see if we can catch her up." Ritchie said pulling out one of his poke balls, from which came his Butterfree. "Happy, we need you to help Misty. Can you land on her shoulder?"
Happy nodded, flying right next to her and landing on her shoulder.
"Now Misty, pet her." Ritchie requested.
"Haha, that's easy."
She had no problem with petting Happy, making her tickles.
"I guess she has no problem with cute bug pokémon." Dawn accepted.
"Then she's ready for the next level." Iris decided, just in the moment Ash entered. "So Ash, did Tracey allowed you to borrow one of his pokémon?"
"Yeah, after I explained what it was for, he agreed." He said with a poke ball at hand.
"Alright Misty, your next challenge is to being able to make contact with this kind of bug pokémon."
Ash opened the poke ball, revealing that the bug pokémon Misty had to interact was Venonat.
"See Misty? Is Venonat. You know him for a long time, and he's not as other scary bug pokémon like Beedrill, right?" Ash said.
"Ye…yeah. Much better." Misty hesitated, but tried her best to complete the task.
It took her more effort than with Happy, but she managed to touch Venonat. Once she did, she relaxed and even didn't lost her nerves.
Misty sighed. "Don't worry pal, it seems I will not continue reacting that way near you or Scyther from now on." And she continued petting Venonat, this time eagerly.
"Wow, what a huge amelioration." Dawn expressed.
"That's the spirit, Misty." Ash congratulated.
"Good to see you are making progress, Misty. And you're not the only one." Bonnie announced pointing to Psyduck, now swimming after Piplup as if they were playing tag in the water.
"Not bad, Bonnie. I think it's time for the last level of therapy." Iris enlivened.
"Alright then."
Bonnie returned back into the pool and reunited with Psyduck.
"Okay Psyduck, time for the last part: being able to swim without your swimmer." Bonnie announced, deflating the swimmer.
This caught Psyduck by surprise, and made him panic, so much that he didn't hesitate to jump onto Bonnie's back, grabbing her with strength.
"Hey, get off! Swim by yourself! You can make it, you just need to believe in yourself. Besides, you are making me tickles!" Bonnie begged.
The rest were not surprised really.
"It was expected." Ash admitted with troubled face.
"At least we hope Misty can complete her own." Ritchie wished.
"I'm back." Max called entering the gym. "And I was lucky enough to find a pokémon suitable for Misty's last trial. Misty, ready for giving a hug to your new friend?"
The pokémon Max brought was a Spinarak. Immediately, Misty reacted as usual: screaming with a terrified face and trying to get as far as she could.
"Get it away! Get it away from me!" She begged going back, until tripping on and failing into the pool.
Everyone sighed in defeat.
"Looks like we're back to start." Iris lamented.
Misty emerged, with Psyduck grabbing on her. "This is embarrassing."
"Guys, are you there?"
"Still here, Seaspray." Max answered to his Pokétch.
"Uff, at least I know my com-link it's not damaged."
"Why Seaspray? What's going on?" Misty asked.
"I have tried to call Bumblebee and the others since they went after Knock Out to see what the Cons are up to. But it has been a while and they haven't reported back yet."
"Do you think they are in trouble?" Ash asked concerned.
"I'm not sure, I just know they went down a submerged tunnel where Knock Out descended."
"If that tunnel is underwater, maybe I can check where they headed and what happened."
"Are you volunteering for a recon, Misty?" A new voice asked.
"Oh, hi Optimus."
"How did you reach there so fast?" Ritchie questioned.
"We're still on New Iacon." Clemont answered next.
"Oh, hi Clemont."
"Sorry not been able to be there with you, Bonnie, but it's taking us longer than we expected."
"But rest assured, I'm making them company." May answered, revealing to be there too.
"What were you meaning with that of checking it by yourself?" Ratchet demanded.
"Remember that special suit I asked you to make, Doc? Well, you should be proud because it is a success." Seaspray confessed.
"He's right, we saw Misty wearing that cybertronian mermaid suit which she had no problem to use." Serena added.
"And no one feels more comfortable in water like Seaspray than her. So she can do it perfectly." Ash ended.
"Very well. Misty, proceed with caution, recognition only. Do not engage the enemy if you encounter them. Once you find out what happened to Bumblebee, Hot Rod and Arcee report back and wait for instructions. Seaspray, you will stand by for in case of intervention." Optimus instructed.
"Got it, boss."
"Then I better get ready." Misty announced getting out of the pool.
Meanwhile, back with the Decepticons…
After a while searching on the base's files, Starscream finally gave up. "Nothing. It appears Knock Out was right, this has been a waste of time. Probably Team Alien thought the same when they registered this when they came."
"Can we at least blow what remains of this place? Just to let off some steam."
"Do whatever you want with it, Dropkick. It's not like it would bother to anyone."
"Well, not that Knock Out has done anything useful either. Ah, speaking of red."
Knock Out finally returned.
"Where is your escort?" Dropkick demanded. "Did you let them to do all the job while you were lazing around troubled about your look?"
"For you knowledge, mister elite, they fell victims of an ambush. One that I managed to get out intact."
"Enough with your prattle, Knock Out. Tell me at least you have discovered something useful about the signal." Starscream requested.
"I did, certainly. Thanks to an unexpected assist."
Knock Out stepped aside, allowing three new cybertronians to step forward Starscream: the three seemed to have insect parts on their bodies, but one possessed claws coming from his back and a visor covering his eyes, besides two little antennas on his head; the other looked very big and robust, with his head as the only thing which looked very like a bug; but the last one was who surprised Starscream the most, since he smirked.
"Well well, it has certainly been a long time." Starscream greeted.
"Excuse me? I don't recall ever meeting someone like you. But your voice sounds me familiar." The Insecticon leader noticed.
"Indeed, after all we have met since the moment you started to live."
"Hold on, is that you, Darkscream?"
"I may look different on the surface, but it's still me."
"Huh?" Dropkick said confused.
"Wait. Starscream, you know this bug?"
"As a matter of saying, Knock Out, he and I are old acquaintances. You see, after Galvatron allowed us to recover consciousness in our brand-new bodies, we also obtained new recruits. Even a new strong Insecticon which no doubt chose to join our ranks. I present you to Host."
"Haha, no doubt you are Darkscream, good to see you again." Host said happy giving him a friendly punch on the shoulder. "Is there anyone else of the former team here as well?"
"There will time enough to update you about everything that happened here. What about you?"
"After our master Galvatron ordered us to go search and bring back our scattered allies, I wandered through space for a long time that I don't remember anymore. But when I was about to give up, I stumbled upon a familiar sensation, and discovered an exiled whole Insecticon hive hidden in the deeps of an asteroid field, right after passing that red planet next to Earth. That's when I met my new companions. These are Kickback and Hardshell." Host introduced.
"Yeah, I remember them. I'm surprised you managed to survive the fall of Cybertron. It appears Shockwave's expectations about you weren't wrong."
"It's been a while, sir. Glad that you remember us, us, us." Kickback said with a creepy voice.
"When Host found us, we were surprised to find another strong Insecticon like us, and he took us to this planet." Hardshell told.
"We even surprised three ignorant Autobots, bots, bots. Hehehehe."
"Speaking about that, not just them. We also found this." Knock Out added, showing a hologram from his wrist terminal.
Starscream's eyes got surprised as he smirked. "Looks like coming here has not been a waste after all."
At the same time, Misty, in her special mermaid suit, swam into the same hole the Autobots followed Knock Out previously and flowed with the current. When she reached the end of the tunnel, she deactivated her suit, walking in land. She continued until reaching the cave's entrance where the superweapon was.
"Wow, I wonder how long this has been here." Misty witnessed, before she used her Pokétch. "Guys, I'm here, and you wouldn't imagine what I have found. I will send you an image.
She used her Pokétch to make a picture and sent it to the Autobot base.
"By the Allspark." Elita said troubled.
"What a huge structure. It surely has been taking a lot of time to create such marvelous construct."
"That isn't something to be proud of creating, Clemont." Ratchet snapped serious. "It is a seismic-shock warhead."
"And it is bad because…" May started.
"Megatron used to plant these massive weapons of planetary destruction on worlds which useful resources were completely drained or worlds he considered of no interest for him. It hammers to a world's core deep, cracking the planet in half. A diabolical work of art."
"So…are you saying that thing is some kind of…Decepticon superweapon?"
"Yes Serena, one of the worst. We were foolish at not thinking it could be one installed right down here, on your planet, since Galvatron used to choose his targets with great anticipation." Optimus confirmed.
"But why would Megatron plant one of those warheads in a very valuable target?" Ultra Magnus asked.
"At the most likely situation, Megatron would have forced us to abandon our efforts in protecting his actual world target, threatening to activate the weapon's countdown."
"Using said world as a hostage." Elita added.
"Optimus, there's an incoming transmission in an open channel. It's from the Decepticons." Blaster announced.
"A Decepticon transmission on an open unprotected channel?" Ratchet asked confused.
"Then it means they want us to hear it." Elita deduced.
"Patch it through." Optimus ordered.
Blaster did it and immediately Starscream appeared on the screen.
"Autobots, if you can hear us know this: besides having three of your team members captured, this is what we want to show you." He said as he showed them the superweapon. "Yes, as you can observe, we are in possession of one seismic-shock warhead, one of the most powerful creations of our arsenal. So here are our demands: leave this planet and don't step in our way. Abandon the fight or we will activate the warhead, and Earth will be nothing more than two huge pieces of rock floating in middle of space, with Unicron's casing at sight. Summarized: if you resist, we will destroy this world you so much care about."
Even the gang at Misty's gym heard it.
"He just gave us an ultimatum?" Iris asked in disbelief.
"That guy is so annoying with his threats and cheating. I am not going to let him win like that." Bonnie expressed mad.
"Neither you or anyone, little one." Ultra Magnus supported. "When it comes to threats, Decepticons are not to be trusted."
"Magnus is right. That hasn't stopped us either to protect innocents. The only way to stop them on their tracks is to keep on fighting." Optimus supported.
"Starscream may be in control of the warhead, but they can't use it without the activation key." Ratchet revealed.
"A key?" Dawn asked.
"You don't think a Decepticon would activate such a powerful weapon by accident, do you? Its activation is regulated by a strong security protocol, which means the only authorization it will accept is a key which starts the whole procedure." Blaster explained.
"Such valuable item must be in possession of a high-ranking officer to ensure it will not be lost or stolen." Ultra Magnus continued.
"And it appears the Decepticons were also not aware of this warhead's existence, so they may not be in possession of such key." Elita added.
"Which means we still have a chance, right?"
"Indeed Ash."
"Optimus, if Starscream has allowed us to listen his warning, he may be expecting us to make a move." Blaster reported.
"Us maybe, but not from the humans. Ash, you are the only ones who we can count for this assignment. I wouldn't ask you if there was another way, but this risky situation requires it."
"You can always count on us, Optimus." Ritchie said.
"No need to ask for our permission to assist you." Dawn added.
"We will always be willing to help a friend in need." Max ended.
"If we go with them, we will have more chances to win." Serena supported.
"What do we have to do?" Clemont asked.
"Right now, our priority is to leave the Decepticons without their best asset." Ultra Magnus answered.
"Clemont, your objective is to disable the seismic-shock warhead. For that, go to the access point and hack into its network. Once you download its schematics send them to us and we will analyze them in order to find its weak points." Ratchet instructed.
"Fixit, you will accompany them to provide technical support." Optimus added.
"Yes sir. It will be so exciting to be in the field again."
"Blaster, call the rest back to base. We will require all the help we can."
"Seaspray, don't let the Cons spot you to not alarm them. Maintain your position just in case we require your immediate intervention." Elita instructed.
"Understood."
From the Nemesis, Starscream was showing Xiaxus what they uncovered.
"Impressive, it seems our lord and master left everything prepared behind. He was always farsighted." Xiaxus expressed.
"The Autobots surely have received our warning. But you think they will remain without doing nothing?"
"Of course not, old friend. Prime always will try to find a way to overcome our barriers, no matter how great they are."
"Then thank goodness I left some protection on our new precious toy."
"Generals, the troops have checked the entire structure, but there's no sight of the activation key." Shatter reported.
"What do you mean with that?" Xiaxus demanded.
"It's missing."
"Then instruct the troops down there to not waste time and find it. If the Autobots realize our threat is an empty one, they will no doubt charge against us to neutralize what could allow us to achieve control of this world."
"We better tell that to the Insecticons too. Host has managed to improve our situation without us knowing, and by my experience Insecticons are good at finding things we could pass by." Starscream suggested.
Seaspray continued keeping an eye on the Decepticons, until he saw Dropkick and the stationed Vehicons on the former base heading back to the surface.
"Base, there's movement down here. The Cons are leaving the sunken base, and they seemed to be in a hurry." The Wrecker reported.
"When the Cons withdraw without reason?" Wheeljack asked, already at base with the rest.
Moments later, BOOM! Many explosions came from within the base, destroying it completely. But what concerned Seaspray was that some rubble was falling to the hole where Misty entered, so he changed to his alt form and speeded up right at it. He managed to get inside just in time of being squashed by the rubble. Meanwhile, in the cave where the superweapon was, Misty waited until the rest of the gang arrived by ground bridge.
"Woah, that surely is the biggest bunch of metal I have ever seen." Max saw.
"Yes, and it could split our planet in half, so let's make sure they cannot turn it on." Iris reminded.
"According to Ratchet, first we need to find the main console which controls all aspects of the superweapon." Clemont said.
"Well, that's gonna be a problem with all those Decepticons guarding around." May pointed.
"Or maybe not. Look." Ritchie signaled.
Most of the stationed Vehicons started to look around the cave, getting out of the warhead's roads.
"This may be our chance." Bonnie said.
"Ritchie, you, Serena, Misty and Max help Clemont find that console. We will go with Fixit in search of Bee, Hot and Arcee to free them." Ash coordinated.
"Me? I'm supposed to be here as technical assistance." Fixit defended.
"Yeah, but you are also the only one of us with weapons." Serena remembered.
"Oh, right. I forgot."
And the team divided. Ash and the others went to the main entrance and spotted two Vehicons guarding the end of the tunnel, where the three Autobots lied behind tied. Iris whispered something to Ash and Fixit, who nodded. Next, Pikachu and Fraxure came from their hiding place, waving at the Vehicons.
"Hey look." The first one pointed.
"Forget them, they're just wild creatures roaming around." The second answered.
It was obvious the Decepticons were not going to bother by some pokémon, which Pikachu shrugged to the group.
"Let me." Bonnie offered before preparing to shout. "Decepticreeps!"
The group dropped their mouths surprised by Bonnie's idea, which also awakened the Autobots.
"Alright, that was on purpose." The first Vehicon complained.
"Let's go check it out." The second supported.
While they went to where the group was hiding, Iris, alongside Excadrill and Piplup, sneaked between the rocks toward the Autobots. Once the Vehicons reached the end of the tunnel…
"Huh?" One of them said confused.
"Where is it? Where's the one who called us that?" The other demanded.
"Down here."
The Vehicons looked below them and saw Fixit between their feet, aiming them with his guns before firing. The result: both Cons ended with their heads destroyed and their bodies fell. The group gave Fixit a thumbs-up for the good job. At the same time, Iris finally reached the Autobots, who saw her approaching.
"What are you doing? Go away." Arcee whispered to her.
"Is this how you thank your rescuers? What a kid, Arcee." Iris answered back while the pokémon started to break their cuffs with Metal Claw and Drill Peck.
"You shouldn't call Arcee things like that, Iris, but you got a point there. We may need a hand right here." Hot Rod defended.
"Then having called the team instead." Arcee answered.
"They can't, so Optimus sent us in their place." Iris revealed.
"Optimus wouldn't make that decision if it wasn't for a good reason." Bumblebee added.
"Hey you! What do you think you are doing?!" A Vehicon tank demanded spotting her and aiming his cannon.
"Scrap." Iris cursed.
But no need to worry, because suddenly a stream of water started to fall upon the tank, who remained confused as he watched the water flow. But what came next he didn't expect it: the water covered the opening of a hole in the ceiling from which Seaspray appeared, not giving him enough time to react and allowing the Wrecker to insert his harpoons on his head.
"Sorry for the delay, had a hard time pushing lots of rubble to not end crushed."
"On the contrary Seaspray, just in time." Iris corrected.
While that happened, the other group was looking for the warhead's command center, evading the few Decepticons stationed there. Once they reached the central part of the structure, they spotted a terminal connected to the superweapon.
"That must be it." Clemont deduced.
"Wait here until we check the coast is clear." Ritchie asked him.
Clemont waited while Ritchie and Misty went to see if there was any Decepticon coming from one side, as Serena and Max did the same from the other. Once both pairs nodded, Clemont ran to the terminal, activated his backpack and inserted the Aipom arm into an entry access.
"Guys, I'm in." Clemont called as he started to type buttons of his wrist laptop.
"Search for the design schematics." Blaster instructed.
"Any sight of the key?"
"No Ratchet. And it seems you were right: the Decepticons seem to be looking for it as well." Clemont reported.
"Good, that means we still have time." Elita affirmed.
"Ratchet, you and Blaster work with Clemont to disable the warhead. Autobots, we must create a distraction to draw their attention so they can't notice their efforts." Optimus instructed.
"There's no better distraction for the Cons than a direct assault." Warpath reassured as the ground bridge opened.
"Transform and roll out!"
Back with the gang…
"This is easier than I thought." Max opined.
"As long as we don't make any noise, we will be alright." Serena reminded.
Suddenly, one of Misty's poke balls opened by itself, and appeared the pokémon she didn't expect to bring to the mission.
"Psyduck."
"Shh! Psyduck, what are you doing here? You should be at home." Misty shouted alarmed.
"You picked up his poke ball by accident?" Ritchie deduced.
"Oh scrap, I think I made wrong and picked his instead."
"Psy!"
And of course, Psyduck's sounds ended drawing the attention of one of the Vehicons guarding nearby. When he went to check what it was, everyone was forced to hide the best the could, but Clemont couldn't because he was still connected to the terminal.
"Clemont, come one. Disconnect yourself already!" Max whispered.
"I can't. It isn't as easy as unplug a vacuum."
The Vehicon was getting closer, so Ritchie decided to take a risk. Almost when the Decepticon could spot Clemont, Sparky hit him with Thunder Shock, zapping and frying him completely. But the other Vehicon heard the sounds as well and ran to check what happened. He just found the fried body of his comrade, right before Sparky hit him with Volt Tackle on the chest. The hit wasn't strong enough to knock him out, but he was sent to the edge of the ramp that he ended falling to the edge.
Ritchie sighed in relief. "That was close. Nice job, pal."
"Pikachu." Sparky smiled.
The Vehicon fell to the bottom, fortunately not right where the others were searching for the key. In other parts the Insecticons were doing the same, until Kickback's antenna detected something.
"Hum. Host, I think there's something big buried down here. Can you check it out, out, out?"
"Right away."
Host dig himself into the ground and moments later he emerged with a relic's container on his claws. Instead of opening it with care, he simply tore it apart, revealing some kind of strange of big hammer, not as big as the forge of Solus Prime, but considerable big.
"It isn't look like a key. But I wonder if it can act as such?" Host wondered checking it.
In that moment, the other half of the gang and the four Autobots reached the tunnel's entrance.
"The others are down there, in the command center, hoping to find how that thing works in order to break it." Bonnie pointed.
"Let's hope it works." Arcee said.
Dawn sighed in disbelief and loud. "It…it can't be."
"What is it, Dawn?" Iris asked.
"Look, down there."
Once they looked where she pointed, almost everyone reacted the same way as her.
"Unbelievable." Hot Rod expressed.
"No way. He's back?!" Ash followed.
"And he brought a lot of friends with him." Bee added.
"Guys, what's wrong? I know those look like Insecticons, which are no doubt bad news. But why that reaction?" Iris asked confused.
"You don't notice because you weren't with us when it happened, but that bug down there, the one which resembles a Drapion a little, was one of the Decepticons created by Team Alien." Ash shared.
"Host." Bumblebee remembered.
"Yeah, how could I forget it." Dawn shivered.
Suddenly, a tremor shook the place, followed by the flow of a water stream which entered through one of the passages connected to the warhead. From within the water, Team Prime charged firing at the Decepticons. The Vehicons fell almost immediately.
"Calvary is here." Seaspray announced.
Starscream, who decided to check if the warhead was fine and secure, came alongside Knock Out and Dropkick from another pathway.
"The Autobots are here?" He asked in disbelief.
"Looks like they are too deaf to listen to warnings." Knock Out joked.
"Insecticons, engage the Autobots! Protect the warhead at all cost!"
As response, the Insecticon leaders roared, calling the swarm to congregate around the structure and fire at Team Prime.
"Ash, you guys reunite with the others and find a way to leave that thing off forever. We will contain the bugs." Bumblebee ordered.
The group ran the fastest they could, sometimes forced to crouch in order to dodge the incoming giant bugs. Meanwhile, the Autobots combated the Insecticons in different ways: Optimus flew around, chased by some firing at them back with his gatling; Elita and Ultra Magnus confronted the Insecticons in close combat, Elita with both her swords and guns and Magnus with his hammer and deploying a brand-new weapon: his high shoulders opened, revealing two hidden plasma cannons which fired at different directions; Warpath simply drove from one way to another in vehicle form firing his cannon and dodging the incoming bugs; Sideswipe, Smokescreen and Moonracer were simply firing at the Insecticons, although she was having a little problem since she was using her sniper rifle.
"Urg, I can't get enough direct shots. If only I wouldn't be troubled by moving as only focus on aiming, like when Hot Rod and I were magnetized."
"Magnetized?" Smokescreen asked.
"Yeah, back-to-back because of the polarity gauntlet. It was funny, and then they did it with Airachnid and Breakdown too." Sideswipe explained before engaging another Insecticon in close combat.
"Moon, come here. I got an idea. It's a crazy one, but I think it may work."
Moonracer didn't hesitated and did what Smokescreen requested her. He allowed her to climb on his back before he activated the phase shifter, making her to enter him from his back before he deactivated it. As result of that, she ended glued to him, back-to-back. She got surprised, but at seeing him smiling at her, she understood why he did it. That also came beneficial to her, since despite him still moving, now she could only focus on aiming her rifle and fire, it also allowed them to cover their backs completely. Bumblebee, Arcee and Hot Rod joined the team firing their guns at the enemy, but also noticed the weird strategy.
"What's going on, couple?" Hot Rod asked.
"Just a little…teamwork."
"It was Smokey's idea, very resourceful." Moon supported.
"If she says so." Arcee simply said.
Seaspray also joined the fight battling the bugs with his harpoons in close combat. Until he encountered a bug smart enough to block his move: Kickback, who grabbed his harpoons with his claws from the back.
"What the? How did you do that?" Seaspray demanded.
"Haha, what do you think? It is enough for you?" Kickback mocked with his arms crossed.
Seaspray tried to continue slicing, but Kickback blocked his attacks continually. After a while, Kickback grabbed Seaspray's harpoons with his claws and took the chance to punch him with his fists a lot, ending with a powerful kick which sent him against the wall.
"My turn, turn, turn!"
Suddenly, all Kickback's back legs extended to the sides and unleashed a storm of shots which came from all his claws. Seaspray reacted fast enough and jumped above the Insecticon, kicking him aside.
"Nice try bug, but one thing you should know about me is that you will never beat me while we are in a wet place." Seaspray mocked.
"In that case, perhaps I should try from above." Kickback responded back before changing form.
In his bug form, Kickback fired lasers from his mouth, forcing Seaspray to just deflect his shots. Wheeljack was doing the same as his buddy, until he got tackled by an unpleasant known.
"Hello Wrecker, long time no see you." Host saluted.
"You?! Seems like you couldn't wait for the rematch, ugly!" Wheeljack mocked.
"Haha, I was eager for meeting you again, so I can show you what you missed the last time we faced."
Two large insect claws emerged from Host's wrist, the ones he used the first time they battled, and was about to do again. While the Insecticons were busy with the Autobots, the remaining Vehicons went to secure the warhead's command center, but the gang was already there defending it against them. While the gang tried their best to help Clemont with the controls, their pokémon were defending the fort: Pikachu, Kingler, and Corphish defended using Thunderbolt, Hyper Beam and Bubble Beam; Sparky and Espy did the same with Thunder Shock and Psybeam; Misty had to rely on Staryu, who used a combination of Rapid Spin and Swift, because Psyduck had no idea what was going on and simply ran from one side to another in panic; Beautifly and Skitty pushed the Decepticons back with Psychic and Blizzard; Quilava and Piplup used Smokescreen to cover where they were while they attacked with Flamethrower and Ice Beam; Fraxure and Excadrill combated using Dragon Rage and Focus Blast; Delphox and Pancham defended with Mystical Fire and Dark Pulse; Chespin and Luxray used Pin Missile and Electric Terrain to stop the Decepticons' approaching, while Dedenne simply used Thunder Shock; all assisted by Fixit, who used his weapons pretty well to finish them. Their defense was so strong that almost all the Vehicons were already defeated.
"Guys, I think I have found them. You better start the analysis immediately." Clemont begged.
"Right away. Once we figure out its weak points I will send them back so you can sabotage them." Blaster communicated.
During another clash of his claws with Wheeljack's swords, Host noticed how the Vehicons were making no progress in reaching the control terminal. Also, he remembered that he still had the relic attached to his back.
"Kickback!" He shouted before kicking the Wrecker back and grabbing it. "Catch! You know what to do!" And he launched some kind of sticky resin from his mouth at Seaspray, leaving him stuck in the wall.
Kickback changed back to robot form and grabbed it with his back legs. "Got it."
Kickback jumped above some parts of the structure, Spider-Man like style, before landing on top of the control panel, startling Clemont as he inserted the lower part of the relic into the groove where the key was supposed to enter.
"Hum, I wonder if I did it right." The Insecticon doubted.
Suddenly, the entire structure lighted up as the whole place started to shake.
"It's activated." Ultra Magnus saw.
"No." Optimus lamented.
On the contrary, Starscream laughed. "See Autobots? That's the prize of your bravery. Witness the last moments of planet Earth as it counts down!"
"Guys, the warhead has been activated!" Max observed.
"And Blaster and Ratchet hasn't figure out the weak points yet." Clemont added.
"We gotta do something. Fixit, any ideas?" Iris asked.
"Well, since the structure has started function at the very same moment the activation key was inserted, the fastest way to disarming the warhead will surely require removing the key from the ignition console." The Minibot suggested.
"And just to ensure they can't do it again how about we break it once out?"
"Good idea, May. Let's do it." Ash supported.
"Nahaha, what are you little ones think you are going to do, do, do?" Kickback warned standing over the console.
"Did that guy just repeated what he said last?" Bonnie recalled.
"Looks like you were right, boss." Kickback congratulated, referring to another arriving guest.
At the other side of the ramp, Host landed.
"Nice work, Kickback." The Insecticon alpha said before looking at the group. "Hey, I know you. You are the very same humans we encountered in the city the first time."
"Host?! Is that you?!" Ritchie asked in disbelief.
"In the flesh, I'm back!" He announced triumphant. "And as you can see, I didn't come alone. So, ready to make up for lost time?"
Host changed to his alt form and shrieked loud, followed by Kickback.
"Looks like we are gonna fight to reach the key." Ash deduced.
But what caught everyone off-guard, the Insecticons included, was a loud girl scream: it was Misty, reacting the same way she used to do with bug pokémon.
"Ordinary bugs are already bad enough, but giant ones?! That's beyond all bearing!" She said running away.
"Misty, it's not the time for give in to your phobia!" Dawn told her.
"Phobia?" Host asked interested as he observed Misty's reaction.
"What wrong with her?" Kickback asked confused.
"Misty tends to get like that when there are bugs around her."
"Dawn, do not share personal details with the enemy." May whispered her in serious tone.
Dawn covered her mouth, realizing what she did. "Me and my big mouth."
"So that human doesn't like bugs, like us?" Host repeated, before laughing maniacally. "Is playtime. And so for you don't get bored…" He spat more resin to the key, leaving it stuck to the console. "Here's a little challenge for you. Let's go Kickback, let's have fun."
"Ohohoh, right behind you."
Both Insecticons transformed and went flying after Misty.
"Oh no, they're going for Misty!" Serena saw alarmed.
"Guys, Misty is in trouble. The Insecticons had scared her and they are going after her!" Ash communicated through his Pokétch.
"What?! Oh no bugs, you are not messing with my girl." Seaspray swore trying to get out of the resin, but it endured already and his pushing wasn't enough to break free. "I can't. Hey, anyone can give me a hand here?"
"Sorry, pretty busy over here!" Sideswipe answered riding one Insecticon.
"Us too!" Arcee added, trying to help both Bee and Hot Rod with their opponents.
"We could really use a Dinobot right about now." Wheeljack said.
"We can do it. Moon, try to set him free, I'll cover you guys." Smokescreen volunteered, allowing Moonracer to be face-to-face with Seaspray.
"Okay water bot, remain still." She said pulling out her blades and starting to cut the resin the best she could.
Finally Bee and Hot Rod disposed off their foes. "Let's go help them as well."
But before they could reach them…
"Oh no, you don't." Hardshell announced landing and changing to his bug form.
He showed a cannon coming from his mouth which charged lot of energy before releasing it as an energy beam which hit the Autobots hard, sending them to the other side of the place. He continued doing the same, until he felt an explosion next to him.
"I see you also have your own kind of cannon, bug." Warpath said, making Hardshell to look at him. "Wanna see who's the most explosive?"
"Maybe another time, Autobot."
Suddenly, the ground trembled as another Insecticon, this time a Bruiser, emerged and grabbed Warpath after he changed to robot form. The Autobot leaders were still dealing with the rest: Optimus with most of the hive still after him and Magnus and Elita rumbling with Hardshell after disposing of the others. But the one who was more in trouble was Misty, who activated her mermaid suit after getting into the water, trying to get away from the Insecticons. Meanwhile, despite no enemies were attacking them, the gang was busy trying to remove the key form the console, but the resin was already hard and it was too hard.
"And I thought it was bad enough with Airachnid!" Ash complained.
Their pokémon and Fixit tried to weaken the carcass hitting it to allow their pals to have direct way for the key, except Psyduck, who after seeing Misty getting scared and leaving, decided to go after her. Back with Misty, she emerged at the other shore, in hope that she evaded her chasers. But suddenly, Kickback landed in front of her, shrieking in a threatening way as he advanced at her, making her scream more and run at the other way. But Host emerged from the ground, blocking her way, acting the same. That allowed them to corner Misty, who now, more scared than never, couldn't avoid letting out tears of fear.
"Oh, what's wrong little girl, do you fear us, us, us?" Kickback mocked laughing.
"That's the spirit, pal. There is no greater pleasure than knowing that you impose terror in others only with your mere presence." Host agreed as he approached the stinger of his tail to Misty's face, catching one of her tears.
At the edge of the platform, Psyduck witnessed how powerless his trainer was feeling at the presence of the monstrous bugs.
"Please, please, I wanna go home. Sisters, help!" She expressed anxious.
"Oh, and miss the chance to have fun with us? Don't be so selfish, little girl, we just wanna enjoy with you. Now, what should we do first?" Host mocked retrieving his stinger, but approaching his claws closer to her. "I think we may see how weak these beings are."
Both bugs laughed again of her, keeping on her torment. Psyduck, at seeing how Misty continued dropping tears and paralyzed with fear, had enough and decided to take action. He jumped into the water, opened his eyes when he was submerged and started to move his feet right at the surface: he was swimming. He didn't even care he was doing it, he simply wanted to help his trainer. Then, without him realizing it, his whole body started to glow. Moments later, the water splashed so brutally, like if something emerged from the water fast. The next that happened was Kickback being sent to the wall with strength, which caught Host's interest.
"Kickback, what happened?"
"Something…something hit me."
"Exactly what?"
"Well, if I knew what it was I wouldn't call it something. I will call it by its name."
While Host was searching for any of the Autobots he ended being attacked from behind, ending on the floor. When he looked up to see the responsible one, he remained without words. Also Misty, who was not hearing the Insecticons' mockery, looked curious what made them stop, and couldn't believe what she was seeing: it was a blue pokémon with saurian looking, with four spikes coming from the back of its head, claws on its webbed limbs and a red little gem in middle of its face which resembled a duck.
"A…a Golduck? Where it came from? Unless…" Misty wondered, until she thought about what could happened and gasped in disbelief. "Psyduck?"
The Golduck roared as he pounced his chest like a gorilla.
"How dare you ruin my moment of enjoyment, wet creature?! I'm gonna make you regret!" Host responded turning his hand into an Electro Bolter, showing that he implanted himself a new weapon.
Host fired his weapon, but Golduck dodged the shots with grace and speed, annoying the Insecticon more. Without being able to hit the pokémon with his weapon, Host roared in fury, changed back to his alt form and went underground. But Golduck didn't look worried, instead his eyes glowed, sign that he was using a psychic attack (Confusion) because moments later the Insecticon emerged again, floating in middle of air before being launched to the water. Kickback was next to attack, but his shrieks alerted Golduck, which jumped above the Insecticon and countered with Hydro Pump, aiming at his head. The water let the Insecticon a little disoriented, which Golduck took as chance to approach him. Next, he started to hit his legs with Focus Punch, but right at very specific areas: the articulations. Because these areas were very important, the precise hits Kickback received caused him huge pain, as he tried to crush the pokémon with his feet, but that simply allowed Golduck to strike his targets much easier. After a quick brawl, Kickback collapsed on the ground.
"Arg, my feet. I can't move them, not a bit, bit, bit."
After leaving his opponent immobilized, Golduck gave Misty a quick look, winking her an eye. But that moment was ruined when Host emerged from the water in bug mode and charged at him.
"Look out!" Misty warned.
But Golduck already saw him coming, and simply dodged him very close before getting into the water. Host, not willing to let his rival escape, flew above the water and started firing his cannons from his claws and a laser beam from the stinger of his tail. He repeated the process a few times in order to cover the entire flooded surface. The only sign he noticed was a few bubbles coming to surface, which was followed by Golduck, hitting him hard from below with Giga Impact. Host landed hard, but got up immediately and commenced attacking Golduck with his claws and stinger, but the pokémon was too much agile and smaller than an Autobot, so he evaded him all the times.
"Get still already!" Host shouted losing his patience.
Host stroke with his stinger with force, but that caused it to remain stuck in the floor when it missed. Golduck took the chance to perform the same strategy employed with Kickback, this time also taking out Host's claws and the tail.
"Ouch, what do you think you are doing, little pest?" Host said as he attempted to strike back, but no matter how much he tried he couldn't move any of his limbs. "I can't move."
"What have you done to us, little creep?" Kickback added.
Now that they were immobilized, Golduck in front of Misty, looked at her and pointed to her Z-Ring.
"You…wanna try it?" Misty asked, realizing what the pokémon was suggesting.
"Golduck." Golduck nodded.
Misty smirked and nodded as well. Before taking out a blue Z-Crystal and placing it on the bracelet.
"Okay bugs, you have laughed already! Maybe I'm scared of you, but I also know what you hate most. And that's my specialty." Misty called as the crystal started to shine and she got ready.
Both she and Golduck performed the same moves, creating a current of blue energy which flowed from Misty to Golduck, while both Insecticons, tired of trying to stand up, decided to change back to robot form.
"We are going to show you the power of water! Go Golduck, Hydro Vortex!"
Golduck submerged and summoned a huge whirlpool which caught the Insecticons, and not only the two of them. The Z-Move managed to rise and sucked in all the hive which was after Optimus, after throwing them to the other side of the cave. As result, the Insecticons ended disoriented and wet, unable to keep fighting for the moment. That was also witnessed by everyone else, including the Insecticon Bruiser which Warpath was still dealing with, who took advantage of the distraction to grab its jaws and opened them enough by force.
"Hey buggy, I got a little surprise for you. KABOOM!"
Warpath fired his chest cannon right into the Insecticon's mouth, which ended blowing its entire head.
"It's not very pretty, but it works for me."
Back with Misty…
"Wow, that was incredible. That water type Z-Move was amazing." Misty admired.
An alarm sound coming from the warhead caught their attention, so Golduck allowed Misty to climb onto his back before he started to climb up to the platform. In which…
"It's no use!" Bonnie screamed alarmed since they weren't making enough progress in breaking the resin jamming the key.
"There must be a fastest way to shut this down." Clemont said.
"Who about a huge strong hand here?" A familiar voice asked approaching them.
"Warpath, just in time! We are in a huge problem!" May started.
"How do we shut off this thing?"
"If only we could just take out the key, but one Insecticon jammed it into the console with some stuff." Serena explained.
Warpath grabbed the key and pulled from it, managing to extracting it from the console after pulling with both hands for a couple of seconds. "Nah, it wasn't that stuck."
"Of course, because not everyone here is big and strong like you." Iris complained.
"We loosened it for you." Fixit defended.
Everyone else noticed the warhead's shutdown, the Decepticons included.
"They have stopped the countdown." Starscream saw.
"Not on my watch." Dropkick proclaimed as he jumped, heading right at them.
Down there…
"This is what made that huge thing function?" Warpath observed seeing that they key looked not like a key. "It looks more like a war hammer than an activation key."
"Look out! Incoming!" Ritchie spotted.
Warpath saw the Decepticon approaching very fast, so he instinctively used the hammer to hit him. The hit's strength was so intense that sent him back to the ceiling, getting stuck in a crack caused by the hit.
"Whoa, I don't think I hit him that hard." Warpath confessed.
"Eh guys, is it me or is starting to get hot in here?"
"No, you're right, Iris. Look the water." Ash pointed.
The water started to boil, making bubbles as steams of water started to form.
"What could be making the water boil?" Dawn wondered.
The steam amount increased to the point that all the water was evaporating. And once gone, something worse occupied its place.
"Lava?!" Serena recognized in terror.
"What is all this lava doing here?" Max asked.
"Better said how it get here?" Ritchie corrected.
"Probably the warhead's effect caused a magma peak to rise from the Earth crush, raising from the same aperture it tried to drill." Fixit theorized.
Then, a giant red hand raised from the lava, followed by another, alongside a tail ended in spikes. Next a huge body emerged from the lava roaring, revealing to be just one being.
"It's Groudon!" Max, Ash and May recognized.
"Is that one of those...em...what are they called again?" Fixit requested.
"Legendary pokémon. And that one is one of the most important: he's the one who rules over land and created the continents." Max explained.
"Oh, that makes sense. Groudon must had feeling something was threatening the Earth's core and has come to check what it was." Clemont realized.
"So he also doesn't like the warhead like us." Misty interpreted.
"Pikachu, can you try telling him that thing is what was trying to harm the planet?" Ash suggested.
"Pika." Pikachu nodded.
"Why have you told him to tell him?"
"You see, Serena, Pikachu and Groudon used to share some weird connection long ago." May revealed.
Pikachu spoke, earning Groudon's attention, who also recognized him. After a while talking, Groudon seemed to understand him, because he started to attack the warhead, smashing the support pillars.
"It seems Groudon wants to sunk the entire structure into the lava." Ritchie deduced.
Suddenly Optimus appeared in front of them. "Then its time to leave. Get on."
While Groudon continued tearing the warhead apart, Optimus grabbed the entire gang alongside their pokémon while Warpath hooked to his back before fly back with the others. Speaking about them, Elita hit Hardshell with a double kick in the air before Ultra Magnus used his hammer to send him with the other Insecticons, while the others finally released Seaspray from the resin.
"Eh guys, what's that?" Moonracer called.
Bumblebee saw the lava rising. "There's a whole sea of lava getting closer."
"That would explain why it's getting so warm in here." Wheeljack joked.
"The lava is getting very fast, we better get out of here before it reach us." Magnus decided.
"Optimus, Warpath and the kids are not back yet." Elita argued.
"We're back!" Bonnie announced as they saw Optimus flying at them.
"Autobots, fall back. Into the tunnel." Optimus instructed.
The whole team transformed and drove where they came from.
"Blaster, get us out of here immediately." Optimus contacted.
"Opening an emergency ground bridge in front of you, get ready to decelerate."
Team Prime entered the portal and it closed before the lava could reach it. The Decepticons were also contemplating the whole scene.
"This place is gonna turn into a huge smelting pit! We need to evacuate!" Knock Out hurried.
"Decepticons, retreat!" Starscream ordered before transforming and leading the way once Knock Out got onboard him.
The Insecticons transformed as well, Kickback grabbed Dropkick and Host carried Hardshell, and followed their leader to the exit, all while the lava finally started to melt the warhead, making it to disappear into the molten rock while Groudon roared. Back to New Iacon, the team was updating Blaster and Ratchet about what happened.
"So the warhead ended completely bathed in lava." Blaster repeated.
"Just how we saw it." Arcee nodded.
"With the whole structure completely exposed to such high temperature surface, the warhead may not be completely molted, but damaged enough so it can't work anymore." Ratchet said.
"And I doubt not Con in his right mind would get in there to check it." Sideswipe supported.
"Besides, we now possess the activation key." Bonnie said pointing it.
"Hold on, that's not an ordinary activation key for a seismic-shock warhead." Blaster remarked, surprising everyone.
"What? Are you certain?" Clemont asked.
"I recognize an important item when I see it, and this looks more like a weapon."
"Well, when that Insecticon inserted it in the console the whole thing lighted up." Dawn pointed.
"How if Blaster says its not what its supposed to be?" Max wondered.
"Because the energy of that relic was so powerful that it served as a power source." Optimus suddenly revealed.
"Wait, that thing is a relic?" Hot Rod asked.
"Like the ones from the Prime database?"
"Indeed, Ash. And we are glad to have recovered one of great power as this: the Hammer of Primus."
"The what?" Wheeljack asked surprised.
"Say again?" Moon added.
"Are you saying that was Primus' weapon?"
"No Bonnie. The Hammer of Primus was a weapon deployed during the Great War. It was said that it could be powerful enough to destroy an entire planet with a single explosion." Elita narrated.
"But I just hit Dropkick with it and it simply sent him to the ceiling." Warpath recalled.
"Hum. Maybe the hammer's power was drained and used to power up the warhead, probably because both objects share a similar energy frequency and purpose." Ratchet theorized.
"Which may explain why it didn't act like it was supposed." Hot Rod ended.
"Well, I don't care if it isn't as mighty as before, but I think I may give this hammer a good use in the future. If you don't bother." Warpath suggested holding the hammer.
"Of course, Warpath. Now that it has lost its nature as a superweapon, it may be useful to give it a good purpose." Optimus authorized.
"In that case, soldier, you will require specialized training in order to wield that hammer properly." Ultra Magnus offered.
"We are also fortunately that a waterspout grabbed all the Insecticons in one shot."
"That wasn't a waterspout, Moon. It was a whirlpool." Dawn corrected.
"And it wasn't an ordinary one, it was a Z-Move." Ash added. "Right Misty?"
"Yeah, one that we performed perfectly." She said proud looking at Golduck.
"Wow, a Golduck. Looks so cool. Where did you get it, Misty?"
Misty chuckled. "I didn't caught him Bonnie, he was already in my team."
"Hold on, don't tell us that awesome pokémon was Psyduck." May started in disbelief.
"Well yeah, it seems he finally evolved. And he also learned to swim pretty well, isn't it?"
"Golduck." Golduck nodded blushing and scratching the back of his neck.
"It's very reasonable since he's Psyduck's evolved form." Max reminded.
"And the awesome moves he showed, seems like you payed attention to the practices at home." Misty revealed.
"How did this happened?" Clemont asked.
"I think when I was terrified by the Insecticons, Psyduck went to my aid, and managing to face his fear was what made him evolve."
"So it seems he finally overcame his fears. What a surprise." Iris congratulated.
"You have no idea how proud I am of you, Golduck. The way you combated the Insecticons, how you acted...no doubt you are going to be one of my strongest pokémon from now on. Wait and see, alongside Staryu and Gyarados, no trainer will be able to earn a badge in our gym anymore." Misty celebrated hugging Golduck.
"Welcome back to the group, pal." Ash said.
"Good to see they managed to raise above themselves." Serena added.
"Oh, now that it comes to me. Smokey, can you separate us already?"
"Oh, right. Sorry Moonracer. At least it worked."
"Yeah, and I admit it was a little pleasant too." She said blushing a little.
Optimus saw how the group, specially the pokémon, interacted happy with Golduck.
"Another dangerous crisis stopped, and rewarded with a small growth in this special family."
"Optimus, I know this may sound without importance, but I still wonder what the Decepticons could have been looking inside the abandoned Team Rocket base. Only Ash and his friends seemed to know about that place, so...the only possible way they could have obtain a clue about its location would have been from another human criminal source." Bumblebee discussed.
"Like Team Alien."
Meanwhile, with the Decepticons, Knock Out was checking Dropkick, who was looking pretty bad, at the medical bay.
"That hit you took was pretty hard, I must say yo got lucky. If it had hit you right in the head, you probably wouldn't have made it." Knock Out observed starting to repair him.
"So, the warhead has been lost?" Xiaxus supposed.
"Yes, but it wasn't the Autobots, it was one of the native creatures on this world: some giant pokémon." Starscream reported.
"Not to mention what that human and her annoying pet did to us." Host complained still a little wet.
"It certainly has been a while, Kickback, Hardshell." Shockblast saluted.
"Shockwave?" Kickback asked confused.
"What happened to you? Did you take a full change of look?" Hardshell added.
"It's a long story. Same as I can see about your head, Hardshell. You didn't present that configuration the last time we worked together." Shockblast noticed, referring to the Insecticon's new head, more bug-like.
"You can thank a certain Dinobot for smashing me against a face scanner."
"It required hard and delicate work, but we managed to fix him. Well, the best we could." Kickback explained.
"What happened to Sharpshot?" Shockblast asked.
Both Insecticons looked down in sadness before Hardshell spoke. "He didn't survive."
"That cursed Dinobot, he tore him apart." Kickback cursed. "And he was supposed to be the leader."
"Well, now you have another one to fill his emptiness." Shockblast said referring to Host.
"Regardless what happened in the past, we are fortunate to have an Insecticon hive in our ranks again. And with some old comrades back, this certainly will balance the scales." Starscream smirked looking at all the Insecticons behind the three alphas.