Chapter 35: The Autobot Rescue
It had been 13 hours since Knock Out had been captured by the New Decepticons. Ultra Magnus and the Autobots felt guilty that they accidentally left him behind when they went through the ground bridge portal and it closed before Knock Out could enter it. Orion Eclipse rapidly recovered and his injured shoulder healed thanks to Ratchet's medical help. However, Megatron was still mad at Ultra Magnus for accidentally leaving Knock Out behind when they had to retreat due to being outnumbered by Doomsayer's army of New Decepticons as well as half of Airachnid's Insecticon army and Predaking's new army of Predacons.
"This is all our fault. We left Knock Out behind by accident when we retreated and now he's being held captive by Doomsayer and his army of followers! This is just as bad as when we couldn't help Cliffjumper in time when the Decepticons captured him before Starscream killed him back on Earth years ago." Arcee said in regret.
"I just hope and pray to Primus that Knock Out doesn't get killed by the enemy. For all we know, Doomsayer might use him for ransom." Hot Rod replied.
Ratchet left the med bay and Bumblebee asked him, "Ratchet, how is Orion? Is he doing okay?" The yellow Autobot lieutenant asked. Ratchet replied, "He's healed now. The young bot managed to recover quickly somehow." The medic said. "And how is Altair Comet?" Bumblebee asked. "She's doing fine. She has been keeping Orion Eclipse company for a while before he healed from his injured arm." Ratchet explained.
"I can't believe that all of this is happening." Ironhide said before he made a long recap, "First the Great War ended for five years before we tried to search for Shockwave and Starscream so we could bring them to justice. But when we went to Earth to find a relic called, The Sword of Primus in Idaho, that is when we met Orion Eclipse and his human friend and we thought he was a Decepticon scout before I touched the Sword of Primus which caused the spirit of Optimus Prime as well as the spirits of the Thirteen Original Primes to appear from that relic. Optimus tried to warn us about Doomsayer being the new leader of the Decepticons and he told us that Orion Eclipse would help us light our darkest hour before we took him to Cybertron where we trained him to be an Autobot. Then Doomsayer tried to lure us into his traps plenty of times to either kill us or force us to reveal where we are keeping Unicron and his Anti-Spark hidden and imprisoned inside the Allspark container within the vault at our base. Then we learned that Orion was the long-lost son of Megatron before he went to find his father so that he could help us stop Doomsayer before he and his legion of followers find Unicron and bring doom on both Earth and Cybertron. Then after Megatron joined us and he apparently adopted Smokescreen as his surrogate son, our friends went to visit Earth where they reunited with their old human friends and even met some new human friends before we found the long-lost daughter of Optimus Prime and Elita-One and we arrested Barricade and Overload for trying to kill Altair Comet as part of Megatron's old revenge plan to hire those two Decepticons to hunt down and kill Optimus Prime's conjunx-endura and daughter to make him suffer just as Megatron had suffered when he lost his family. Then after Orion Eclipse got into a fight with his father, he learned that he is not worthy to wield The Sword of Primus because it might be meant for someone else to become the next Prime. I was there when Orion was rejected by The Sword of Primus. Now our friend Knock Out has been captured by our enemies and it seems that we are going through on what seems to be the beginning of a Second Great War. I fear that this war might become worse than the first one that lasted for four thousand millennia because now Doomsayer has about 4 armies at his disposal. The Decepticons, the New Decepticons, the Insecticons, and even the Predacons!" Ironhide told every Autobot in the room before he finished.
"Calm down, Ironhide. We'll have to come up with a plan on how and when we're going to rescue Knock Out and blow up Doomsy's warship." Wheeljack said.
"But how are we going to blow up an entire ship that's bigger than the Nemesis?" Bulkhead asked. "It's not like in the Earth's movies where you can just blow up an alien spacecraft by pushing the red button for the ship to self-destruct, right?" he said.
"Perhaps we should ask Megatron since, you know, he's on our side now and he said that he would help us defeat Doomsayer?" Springer asked.
"How so? Because the last time he tried to help us fight against Doomsayer and his army, he got easily defeated when one of his minions turned him into a human while they were attacking a human city on Earth! And Jack's mother had to teach Megatron how to get used to his human body before I would create a machine that would turn him back into a Cybertronian." Ratchet explained.
"That happened recently, Ratchet. I'm honestly shocked that The Sword of Primus rejected Orion Eclipse because it didn't find him worthy of becoming a Prime. Optimus Prime did tell us that he would be the one to light our darkest hour, right?" Hot Rod asked.
"Yes, he did, Hot Rod," Bumblebee replied. "But Optimus once told us that leadership can be earned with or without the Matrix of Leadership and in his view, we have each acted as a Prime. So therefore, Orion Eclipse probably doesn't need The Sword of Primus to be a leader, a Prime, or even a hero. He and I have become friends and I can see in his optics that he has a good heart and he has the potential to be a great warrior." he told his friends.
"I thought I had the potential to become a great warrior and I thought I was destined for greatness, but when Optimus was dying right in front of me before I repaired him with the Forge of Solus Prime, he...he offered me the Matrix of Leadership to become a Prime, but I knew that I couldn't hold the weight of responsibility. I chose to be a rookie instead of becoming a Prime because becoming the next Prime wasn't my destiny." Smokescreen told Bumblebee.
At the med bay...
Orion Eclipse was reading a data pad while lying on the berth when his father, Megatron, came to check on him. "Hello, Orion," he said. "Hi, dad," Orion replied. "Are you feeling any better?" Megatron asked. "I'm fine, dad," Orion said. "Are you sure?" Megatron asked. "Yes. Ratchet was able to repair my injury and yet, I somehow managed to heal quickly." Orion Eclipse explained.
"That's...that's good," Megatron said before he sat right next to his son. "Son? Do you remember Knock Out from when you were young?" he asked. Orion tried to remember before he answered, "Uh, no. Why do you ask?" he said. "Well, it's just that...Knock Out delivered you from your mother when she gave birth to you. He was your nurse and he made sure you were healthy and clean when you were born. Then a few years after you were born, Knock Out became your friend and guardian, and...he was like an uncle to you. In fact, you called him, "Uncle Knock Out" from when you were just a child. Knock Out became more than a servant to me and your mother. He basically became a friend of our family. You would spend time with Knock Out and his partner, Breakdown and when you were very young, they introduced you to their son, Wildbreak, you became his playmate and his best friend." Megatron explained.
"Wait. Knock Out and Breakdown...were married? And they had a son?" Orion Eclipse asked curiously. Megatron nodded, "Yes. But that's a story for another time. You and Wildbreak were inseparable. In fact, you did everything together until you reached adulthood. As for Knock Out, he loved you as if you were his nephew and he made sure you were safe and healthy." he said.
Orion Eclipse grunted in pain as he was starting to get flashbacks to when he was just a sparkling who played with Knock Out, Breakdown, and their son, Wildbreak. The flashbacks lasted for only 33 seconds until they were over. Megatron looked at his son with concern. "My son, are you alright?" he asked. "I-I'm fine, dad. I'm just having another flashback to my old, forgotten memories. It hurts my head every time I quickly start to remember my past." Orion explained.
"I think I know how that feels, Orion. I remember having visions of Unicron when I...consumed Dark Energon and used its dark powers for my own personal use." Megatron told his son. "Dad? Why did you use Dark Energon?" Orion asked his father. "Because the Blood of Unicron has the power to reanimate the dead and I thought that if I used the Dark Energon, then it would keep me from dying. But...I ended up becoming Unicron's host. His puppet. His slave." Megatron explained, his voice filled with dread, pain, and regret.
"It sounds like you've regretted ever using that evil stuff. Then again, I took a bite out of Dark Energon and it gave me side effects, made me hear voices in my head, and even changed the color of my eyes from blue to purple." Orion said. "You what?!" Megatron exclaimed. "I didn't know what those purple crystals were back then. When the Autobots removed the Dark Energon from my body, I felt a little bit better and my eyes weren't purple anymore." Orion explained.
"Orion, you could've been poisoned!" Megatron told his son. "Or worse, Unicron could've possessed you. Dark Energon is evil, addictive, toxic, and dangerous. It has a deadly effect on those who aren't immune to its dark properties. The next time you see Dark Energon crystals. Destroy them. Do you understand, son?" Megatron said.
"I understand, dad." Orion Eclipse replied. He noticed the terrified look on his father's face before he asked him, "Dad, are you okay?" Megatron shook his head. "No. I'm not okay. I'm not just concerned about you, I'm concerned about your surrogate uncle, Knock Out now that he's the prisoner of the enemy. I have a terrible feeling that Doomsayer will force him to reveal the location of Unicron and if he finds him, then he'll return that demonic god and his Anti-Spark back to Earth where his body originated from, and Doomsayer will no doubt try to revive Unicron so that he can help him destroy Earth, Cybertron, Primus, and then the entire galaxy." he told Orion.
Meanwhile on the Devastator...
Doomsayer and Knock Out were lying on two separate operating tables when Shockwave began to use the Cortical Psychic Patch on them so that Doomsayer can enter into Knock Out's mind to find out where the Autobots are hiding Unicron and his Anti-Spark. Soundwave watched and he and Shockwave waited as Doomsayer went inside Knock Out's head. Starscream on the other hand was at the lab with his boyfriend, Skywarp, while still remembering what Doomsayer told him about kidnapping Orion Eclipse and interrogating him.
But now that they've captured Knock Out and are using the Cortical Psychic Patch on him and Doomsayer in order for the Herald of Unicron to find out where the Autobots are keeping Unicron's spark imprisoned in their base, Starscream was now starting to think about kidnapping Orion Eclipse and turning him against his father and kill Megatron for revenge instead of kidnapping Orion for interrogation since Starscream and his new master have already got what they wanted: an Ex-Decepticon who might know where Unicron and his Anti-Spark is being locked away on Cybertron.
"Skywarp," Starscream whispered to his boyfriend's audio receptor. "Yes, Starscream?" Skywarp asked in a quiet voice. "A few days ago, Lord Doomsayer told me that I should abduct Megatron's son and interrogate him into revealing the location of Unicron's Anti-Spark once we've found and killed Megatron for revenge. But now that we have Knock Out to reveal where the Autobots are keeping the Chaos Bringer's spirit locked away, I'm thinking that you and I should..." Starscream began to have a brain fart.
"You and I should what?" Skywarp asked quietly. "Apologies, Skywarp. My processor was pausing for a nano click. Why don't we talk outside of the lab since Shockwave and Soundwave might give us death glares for whispering while our new master is busy?" Starscream suggested.
Skywarp nodded in agreement before the two seekers left the lab and Shockwave and Soundwave stayed with Doomsayer and Knock Out lying on their two separate operating tables.
In Knock Out's subconscious...
"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" Knock Out screamed. "No, I won't! Not until you reveal to me where exactly your Autobot friends are keeping Unicron and his Anti-Spark imprisoned, locked away, and hidden! I have already asked Ultra Magnus and his Autobots where they're hiding my master. But now let's take a deeper look into your memories." Doomsayer said.
"No! No! NO!" Knock Out yelled.
*Flashback*
In the aftermath of Optimus Prime's sacrifice after Unicron's spirit was removed from Megatron's body and he and his Anti-Spark were imprisoned inside of the Allspark Reliquary after Unicron was tricked into thinking he got the Allspark, Ultra Magnus and the rest of Team Prime began to rebuild Cybertron before they contacted their fellow Autobots from across space to inform them that Cybertron is restored and the Decepticons have lost the Great War. Hot Rod, Ironhide, Springer, Jazz, Prowl, and a lot more Autobots both old and new have returned to Cybertron. A few months later, the Vehicons who have joined the Autobots helped repaired cities that were destroyed during the Great War and after 2 years of reconstruction, Ultra Magnus had the Allspark Reliquary containing Unicron and his Anti-Spark locked away inside a vault in the Autobots' base at Retoris.
"We must keep Unicron and his Anti-Spark inside the canister and keep him locked away and imprisoned inside our vault if we are to keep our planet...all planets safe from the Chaos Bringer. We must keep Unicron hidden, keep the information of his prison classified and make sure no one finds him and brings his spirit back to his body within the core of planet Earth." Ultra Magnus told his Autobots in a private meeting.
"Who would be stupid enough to bring Unicron back to Earth to revive him?" Smokescreen asked.
"We do not know yet. But if we are to keep the galaxy safe from the ultimate evil that is Unicron, then we must make sure his spirit doesn't return to his body, or else Earth would be destroyed and Unicron would go after Cybertron and Primus himself." Ultra Magnus replied.
*Flashback ends*
"So...The Autobots kept Unicron and his spirit locked away inside the Allspark Reliquary that originally came from Thetas Scorpii when it contained the Allspark...and they're keeping my master locked away inside a vault at their base...in Retoris!" Doomsayer said to himself before he laughed maniacally. "Hahahahaha!" Doomsayer then looked down at Knock Out and told him, "Thank you for showing me your private memories, doctor. I'll be sure to put your Autobot friends out of their misery once I've rescued Unicron and brought his spirit back to his body." the evil mech told Knock Out.
"NOO!" Knock Out screamed in despair.
(Outside of Knock Out's subconscious mind)
Doomsayer stood in the corner of the room, his arms crossed over his chest as he watched Shockwave and Soundwave work. The two Decepticons had hooked up the Cortical Psychic Patch to Knock Out's head, and were busy extracting information from his mind.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, Doomsayer let out a low whistle. "I've found it," he said, his voice hushed with awe.
Shockwave leaned in eagerly. "Found what?" he demanded.
"The location of Unicron's Anti-Spark," Doomsayer replied, his tone reverential. "It's being kept in the Autobot's base on Retoris."
"Excellent," said Starscream, grinning evilly. "Tell the New Decepticons, the mind-controlled Predacons, and the mind-controlled Insecticons who were turned into Terrorcons by Airachnid to make preparations. We'll raid the Autobot's base and rescue Unicron's spark, then bring his spirit back to his body at the Earth's core." Doomsayer ordered his minions.
As Shockwave and Soundwave got to work relaying the information, Doomsayer made his way to his quarters to prepare for the coming battle. He could feel the thrill of anticipation coursing through his circuits, and he knew that this was going to be the fight of his life.
Meanwhile, in the med bay, Orion Eclipse was already on the road to recovery. The Star Cube inside him had rapidly healed his injury, and he was already sitting up in bed, his eyes bright with determination.
"We need to rescue Knock Out," he said, his voice filled with urgency.
Ultra Magnus nodded grimly, his expression just as determined. "Agreed," he said. "But we need a plan."
Together, the Autobots began brainstorming, coming up with ideas for how they could rescue Knock Out and stop Doomsayer's army. Arcee was the first to take action, slipping out of the med bay and making her way to the Darksyde to rescue her boyfriend.
She found him locked up behind a cell, his neck fitted with a shock collar. But with her expertise, she was able to break him out and remove the collar before he warned her of Doomsayer's impending attack.
The two of them rushed to meet up with the other Autobots, who were already hard at work hacking into the New Decepticons' information and setting their warship, The Devastator, for self-destruct.
Wheeljack found a classified red button that set the entire ship to self-destruct, and the Autobots rushed to escape before it was too late. On their way, Knock Out ran into Doomsayer, and at first, he was terrified. But then he remembered how he had seduced other Decepticons in the past, and he used that tactic to give Arcee enough time to sneak up behind Doomsayer and knock him out cold.
After Arcee knocked out Doomsayer, she and Knock Out met up with the Autobots, but it was already too late. The New Decepticons, the Insecticons, and the Predacons had arrived, and a massive battle ensued.
Orion Eclipse was able to disable the security cameras, but it was too little too late. Starscream and the other Decepticons rushed to attack their enemies, but then the alarm went off, and they found out that the Autobots had set their ship to self-destruct.
With no other choice, Starscream and the others were forced to evacuate The Devastator before it would blow up just like the Death Star from Star Wars. Orion Eclipse helped his Autobot friends escape from The Devastator, and Ratchet opened a ground bridge for them to escape.
But then, just as they were about to leave, Starscream knocked Orion unconscious, and he and Skywarp kidnapped him before he could return to the Autobot base with his friends.
As the Autobots escaped through the ground bridge, Doomsayer woke up and turned into a jet to escape before the warship exploded. He and his minions all escaped from The Devastator before it blew up to kingdom come.
The chapter ended with Megatron demanding to know where his son was. Arcee told him that Orion had been kidnapped by Starscream and Skywarp, and the final scene showed Starscream and Skywarp taking the unconscious Orion Eclipse to a canyon on Earth while Doomsayer, The Insecticons, The Predacons, the New Decepticons, Shockwave, and Soundwave all went back to their secret lair on Cybertron, planning their next move.