Transformers Prime: The Next Invincible

by Cloud Prince J'onzz

Jack Darby, the Half-Human Half-Viltrumite boy is training to become the next Invincible. But when he meets giant transforming robots from another planet; he must work with the Autobots to stop the Decepticons and super-villains. To become the greatest hero, the world needs.

2. Darkness Rising, part 2 to 5

A/N: Hey everyone; here's my attempt at chapter 2. I'm sorry it took me so long to get around to this; I've just been struggling with writer's block, for the longest time.

If some of you may have noticed, I've made a slight alteration to the filters. It's because I plan on making Raf, a fellow superhero. But, no spoilers.

Fowler and June will still be an item. But you don't need the filters, to tell you that. I'm also going to try and squeeze the rest of "Darkness Rising" into one chapter. It will be hard, and very time consuming. But hopefully, it'll be worth it.

The next chapter after this very long chapter, will be an original chapter. That will be the chapter where Raf, becomes a superhero. I'm going to try and get this done before, Christmas. But in the slightest chance, I don't. Then, Merry Christmas, to all.

Now, with that out of the way.

LET'S ZOOM THE COSMOS!

---

Darkness Rising part, 2

The Decepticon warship, the Nemesis, floated above a mountain, somewhere, in the forest. The bottom hatch of the ship opened, releasing a yellow tube, which lowered into the entrance, of an energon mine, within the mountain. "Of the energon deposits, we have located, while you were away, lord Megatron. This one is by far, the most significant. The drones have been mining without pause, during your absence. And have amassed, quite a stockpile." Starscream stated, while the troops below, were mining the energon. "You there. Fetch me a sample!" He ordered a member of the troop.

"Starscream. Now that I have returned. I will issue the commands." Megatron clarified, as he walked deeper into the mine.

"I, understand, Lord Megatron. Then, as your humble servant. Shall I ready the Space Bridge, to bring forth the Decepticon army, you have surely gathered, during your 3 years in space?" Starscream questioned.

"My army will come. But my time away has yielded a more, intriguing means of materializing them. A solidified form of the matter, the ancient text referred to, as the blood of Unicron." Megatron said, with a dark energon shard in his hand.

"Unicron the destroyer? But it is said, that his blood is the anti-spark." Starscream replied.

"Plucked from cosmic shores. Gaze upon, dark energon." Megatron said.

"Legend tells that it holds the power to, revive the Dead." Starscream said.

"We require only a cadaver, to be certain. Are you willing to make the ultimate sacrifice?" Megatron asked, while looking at Starscream.

Starscream gave a sigh of slight nervousness, before speaking. "That may not be necessary. If I may, Lord Megatron?" Starscream directed his attention to the descending elevator, within the yellow tube. Two Decepticon troopers were carrying the corpse of, Cliffjumper, on a portable metal slab. "Consider it, a welcome home present." Megatron gave a maniacal smile, of satisfaction.

---

Meanwhile, at the Autobot Base

"And since you now know of our existence. I fear that as of last night, the Decepticons know of yours." Optimus said to the children.

"Got it. If we see any strange vehicles, call 9-1-1. Can we go, now?" Jack replied. It's not that he didn't appreciate everything that the Autobots did for them, because he did. It's just that, Jack wanted to go home, and get back to his "seemingly" normal life. Besides; since he had powers, the chances that he could handle himself, were pretty good.

"Are you insane? I'm living a dream here, in botswana. And I will not allow you or anyone else, to shatter it." Miko declared, with determination in her voice. Thanks to his friend Markus, Jack met quite a few girls in the superhero community, and the not-so-superhero community. But one thing was for sure. When it came to this "Miko" girl he just met, she had the biggest nerve he'd ever seen.

"It is best that you three remain under our watch. At least, until we can determine our enemy's intentions." Optimus said. Even though he wasn't human, and was a complete stranger to them. He still wanted to protect them.

Of course, then Ratchet, decided to voice his own concerns. "Optimus, with all due respect, the human children are in as much danger, here. As anywhere." Even though they were kids, Jack didn't really appreciate the term "children". "They have no protective shell. If they get underfoot, they will go, squish." Ratchet said, while stomping his foot on the ground briefly, for emphasis on what he was saying. It wasn't just there safety, that Ratchet was concerned for. He genuinely, didn't want them there. He just didn't see the appeal, in interacting with humans. As for Jack, all Ratchet's two cents on the matter, did for him, was remind him that Viltrumites weren't that easily squished.

"Then for the time being, Ratchet. We must watch, where we step." Optimus reply to his old friend. Just then; an alarm followed by a green light, went off. Jack asked them what it was, causing Bumblebee to respond in his series of beeps, which he couldn't understand. But fortunately, Raf could.

"Proximity sensor. Someone's up top." Raf translated for them.

Ratchet checked the monitor, for the roof, and saw who it was. "It's agent Fowler." He said.

After hearing this, Jack asked the obvious question. "I thought we were the only humans who knew about you guys." Then Optimus went into detail, telling them that special agent Fowler was there designated liaison to the outside world. And that he tends to visit only when there are, issues. He then told them, it would probably be best if they didn't meet him, at this time. So the children, hid in the nearest corner, they could find.

Agent Fowler stepped out of the elevator, walked to the human area of the base, and voiced his grievances to the Autobots. "Seven wrecks, 34 fender benders, a three-hour traffic jam and a particular note. Numerous reports of a speeding motorcycle, of unknown make, and a black and yellow custom muscle car." As he was saying all of this, the children were still hiding, as they watched him voice all of his complaints. "So, anything you care to get off your tin chest, Prime?" Agent Fowler asked as a follow-up.

"We have the situation under control, agent Fowler." Optimus did his best to reassure him.

"They're back, aren't they?" Fowler questioned.

"If you are referring to the Decepticons. I have doubts that they ever left. Your planet is much too valuable." Optimus responded.

"Then it's time to wake up the Pentagon." Agent Fowler stated.

"Hear me, agent Fowler. We are your best, possibly your only defense against but Decepticon threat." Optimus informed him.

"Says, you!" Fowler said, with a less than convinced tone.

"Hey fleshy!" Bulkhead shouted, getting Fowler's attention. "Did anyone get splattered on that freeway? Team Prime knows when to use force." Bulkhead said, while grabbing a device. "And how much to use." He finished as he crushed it in his hand. Of course, that only made Ratchet complain, telling Bulkhead that he needed that.

"Enough! Military involvement, will only result in catastrophe. Perhaps you can condone widespread human casualties, agent Fowler. I, however, cannot." Optimus clarified.

"Then do us both a favor, and handle this, Prime. Under, the radar." Agent Fowler finished, while entering the elevator. "Or I will." He finished his sentence, as the doors to the elevator closed.

"Pretty big bearings. For a human." Bulkhead commented.

"Agent Fowler is concerned for his world, Bulkhead. As he should be." Optimus told him.

Meanwhile, back with the Decepticons. Megatron approached Cliffjumper's corpse, with his dark energon shard, in hand. "Legacy of power, born of Darkness, can reignite the spark." He said, while impaling the shard in the chest of the corpse. The shard began emanating a bright purple glow, until it sank completely into the corpse. Suddenly; the corpse began to show signs of life, as it broke free from its restraints, unleashed a zombie growl and attack the nearest Decepticons, it's saw.

"That's your plan? Bring Autobots back from the dead, to attack us?!" Starscream inquired, with fear in his voice.

"That, is no longer an Autobot. Just a mindless beast. Its only instinct, to destroy anything in its path." Megatron informed him, as the zombie Cliffjumper charged towards the king of Decepticons, only to be sliced in half by his arm blade. The zombie fell over the cliff. "There, Starscream, lies the indestructible seed of my army. The ultimate Weapon!" Megatron stated, as the zombie pulled itself to the top of the cliff, with Megatron putting his foot on its head and kicking it down to the bottom of the mine, afterwards. "Once I learn to control it." Megatron finished.

Autobot Base

Cliffjumper's life signal reappeared on the Autobot computer. "Blasted Earth tech. Cliffjumper's signal popped back online." Ratchet informed the others; blaming it on faulty Earth technology.

"Who's Cliffjumper?" Miko questioned.

"How is that possible?" Optimus asked Ratchet.

"It isn't. Another bug! The system is chock-full of them." Ratchet answered.

"If there's any chance Cliff's alive..." Arcee replied, with slight hope in her voice; then, Optimus decided to speak, Midway through her words.

"Ratchet, prepare sickbay. We may need it." Optimus closed his battle visor; he was making his way to the ground bridge, but was stopped Midway there, by Miko's words.

"Hey! What can we do?" She asked him.

"Remain with Ratchet." Was his only reply. Of course, that only made Miko release a sigh of boredom; coincidentally, Ratchet wasn't far behind, in that department. To say spending more time with the humans, not being on his to-do list, would be an understatement.

The ground bridge displayed a green light, as it activated. "Autobots, roll out!" Optimus ordered. He and the rest of the Autobots, excluding Ratchet, transformed into their vehicle modes, and drove right through the ground bridge, teleporting away.

"What... Just happened?" Jack asked Ratchet, since he's never seen a ground bridge before.

"I transported them to the designated coordinates, via the Ground Bridge." Ratchet answered.

"What's a ground bridge?" Raf asked.

Ratchet gave a sigh of annoyance, before speaking again. "A scaled down version of Space Bridge technology. Since we don't currently possess the means or energon required for intergalactic travel."

"You're stuck here. On Earth." Jack finished his sentence.

"With the likes of you, yes. But I constructed the Ground Bridge to enable travel from here to anywhere on your planet." Ratchet educated them.

This was all an incredible batch of information, they were receiving, from the alien scientist. "Wow! Does it work for humans?" Raf asked.

"Naturally." Ratchet responded.

"You mean I could just, shoot on over and visit my parents in Tokyo?" Miko ask the Doc Bot.

"Within moments. In fact allow me to send you their immediately, all three of you." Ratchet suggested, as a means to, finally be rid of them.

"Watch it, Ratchet." Miko said as a comeback.

Elsewhere; on the other side of the Ground Bridge coordinates, the Autobots arrived at the Decepticon energon mine, with their blasters at the ready. "Energon mine!" Bulkhead stated.

"Judging by its scale, the Decepticons have been tunneling here for quite some time." Optimus said; he heard some drilling, causing him and his fellow Autobots to find a shady spot, so they could spy on what was going on. Decepticons were carving fragments from the energon shards they found, with lasers. "Let's find Cliffjumper!" He ordered. The Autobots were walking in the middle of the mine, making their presence known to the Decepticons, who immediately raised their blasters to them. The Autobots returned the favor, by raising their blasters to them, in return. A battle ensued, afterwards.

Back at base, Miko was checking out a gizmo, and ask the typically obvious question. "What is this, anyway?" As she attempted to touch it.

"Broken, don't touch." Ratchet replied, as he walked past her. "Don't touch that, either" he said as she was about to touch something else.

"Is there anything in here, we can touch?" Jack asked him. To Ratchet's annoyance; at that moment, an annoying pop-up ad, appeared on his computer.

"How come you guys are using human computers?" Raf asked the good doctor.

"It certainly isn't by choice! It was handed down from the previous tenants, when we inherited this former missile silo. I make modifications as I see fit." Ratchet replied. A second later, more error pop-up ads, appeared on his computer, causing him to release another sigh of annoyance.

"I think I can fix that." Raf suggested.

"Really?! You know this is complex technology, don't you? I mean it isn't a child's toy." Ratchet said back to him. Raf got to work on his laptop, attempting to fix the problem.

"Now try." Raf said. Ratchet decided to humor him, by giving it a try. And to his surprise, it actually worked. Ratchet was now beginning to think, that maybe he shouldn't underestimate Raf's potential.

Back in the Decepticon mine; the battle continued to rage on. "Maximum overdrive!" Optimus chanted, as he and the others transformed into their vehicle modes and charged forward, through their enemy. Soon; the Autobots made it to the center of the operation, in the mine.

Bulkhead gave a whistle of slight amazement. "Quite an operation!" He said. The Decepticons detected them, and opened fire, causing the Autobots to shoot back. Meanwhile; aboard the Nemesis, Megatron was gazing upon the huge crystal of dark energon, within his sight.

"Blood of Unicron... How might I fathom the depths of your mystery, become worthy of wielding your astonishing power?" He said. Suddenly, Starscream appeared on his monitor, informing him that the Autobots have invaded their operation. Megatron took a wild guess, that Optimus was among them, to which, Starscream verified. "I need more time to prepare an appropriate reception for my old friend. Ready to ship for departure!" He ordered.

"But the energon I've mined - the Autobots will cease it!" Starscream informed him, with panic in his voice.

"Then blow the mines!" Megatron ordered.

The shootout between the Autobots and the Decepticons continued on. Arcee saw what she believed to be Cliffjumper. "It's Cliff! I have a visual." She said. Optimus told her that they would cover her, and ordered her to go. Arcee made a run for it, transformed into her motorcycle form and drove up the bridge. She transformed back into robot mode and used her acrobatic moves to climb up the tube, until she stood right in front of the downed Cliffjumper. The Decepticons from above shot at her, causing the platform that Cliffjumper was on, to give way, causing him to fall. "Cliff!" She said with concern, while grabbing his arm, to keep him from falling.

"Let's get you home, partner!" Arcee said to Cliffjumper. But when he moved his head, to look up at her, all she saw was a deformed version of Cliffjumper, that didn't even look like him anymore. But in spite of that, she still tried to pull him up, but all his squirming caused her to drop him. The rest of the Autobots witnessed his fall, as well. Not only succeeded in devastating, Arcee. To make matters worse, that's when Starscream, made his presence known, while releasing a maniacal laugh.

"Prime." He addressed Optimus, specifically. Optimus and the others stared at Starscream. "I'd stick around, but I'm squeamish." He said. He then dropped an explosive device, down into the energon, transformed into his jet mode, and flew away.

"The joint's gonna blow!" Bulkhead informed them.

"Autobots, roll out!" Optimus ordered. All the autobots transformed, and made a swift dash for the exit. The bomb detonated the energon, and for Cybertronians, it was common knowledge, that energon and blaster fire, do not mix. Even the Nemesis had to evacuate from the huge explosion. The Autobots raced as fast as they could, towards the exit, but the energon explosion following behind them, was just as fast. "Ratchet! Bridge us back! Use the arrival coordinates... Now!" Optimus shouted over the coms. The Ground Bridge opens right in front of them; allowing them to make it through and avoid the explosion, safely. Ratchet closed his end of the bridge, before the explosion could make it through. Optimus transformed into robot mode, and landed right in the center of the base. With the children gasping at the amazement.

"Cutting it a bit close. How about Cliffjumper?" Ratchet said. Unfortunately; his question only made them lower their heads, and sorrow. They really hoped that they could bring him home, but apparently, fate had other ideas, for them.

"What was that explosion? Was there a fight? Can I come with next time?" Miko asked them with thrill and an adrenaline rush, clearly present, in her voice.

Of course, that only managed to irritate Arcee, because Miko seem to be taking this so lightly, as if it were a game. "Look!" Arcee said with frustration. But before she could say anything further, Jack decided to diffuse the situation.

"He-hey, Miko, let's go see what the bots hide in their sock drawers."

"Seriously?" Was her only reply.

"Arcee, what did you see?" Optimus questioned his second in command.

"Not Cliff. At least... Not anymore. He was mutated... Like something from those butchered, like something from those con experiments during the war." Arcee replied, before getting dizzy and falling to her knees while supporting herself on a crate, as a result. Bumblebee tried to help her, but then she reassured him, by saying. "I'm fine! Just dizzy."

"Robots who get dizzy?" Miko said.

"Robots with emotions." Raf followed.

"Robots... Who can die?" Jack finished. One thing was for sure; alien or not, these weren't ordinary robots. They seem to be just as alive, as they are. As a Viltrumite; Jack's heard about a lot of aliens, but these Cybertronians, he's never seen anything like them.

Ratchet was giving Arcee a diagnostic scan, to see what was wrong with her. When he laid his sights on the purple liquid on her hand, he immediately started to wonder what it could be. "What is this?"

"Don't know. Cliff was covered in it. Leaking it." Arcee told him.

Ratchet scraped it off with a scalpel; then he took a good look at it and gave her an order, as a doctor. "Go take a decontamination bath. Now!" Bumblebee escorted her to the decontamination chamber.

"O-Optimus. I-I hate to bog, but... No bars." Jack said to him, because while checking his phone, he had no service.

"A security precaution. The silo walls isolate all radio waves." Optimus informed him.

"Well, if I don't call my mom like, now, I'm pretty sure the cops will be out looking for me." Jack responded.

"Have you broken a law?" Optimus asked for clarification.

"A... Curfew. It's after 10:00 p.m." he clarified to the Autobot leader.

"I better get home too, or I'll be grounded for a year." Raf said as a follow-up.

"Earth customs. I hadn't considered. But the issue of your safety remains." Optimus then set his sights on Bulkhead. "Bulkhead! Accompany Miko home." He ordered.

"Awesome! My host parents will freak!" Miko responded with sheer excitement, in her voice.

"And maintain covert surveillance, in vehicle form." Optimus told him.

"Curbside duty, got it." Bulkhead understood. Miko gave a sigh of depression; she was really hoping he would take her home, and bot form. This was a real killjoy, for her.

"Bumblebee! You'll watch over Raf." Optimus told his scout. Neither Bumblebee, nor Raf, had a problem with that, in the slightest.

Now all that was left, was to get one of them, to take Jack home. "Ratchet!" Optimus addressed Ratchet, hoping to pick him.

"Busy!" Was Ratchet's only reply; he really didn't want to leave in the middle of his work, mostly, because he just didn't care. Ratchet's a good physician, but sometimes, he really acts like a grumpy Grandpa.

Arcee emerged from the decontamination chamber, only for Optimus to address her, in Ratchet's place. "Arcee. Your accompany Jack." Jack had a look of nervousness on his face, while also putting his right hand behind his head, for emphasis. He really didn't want to make her feel as if, she was being put on the spot, especially, for his sake.

"Ooh, still dizzy." Arcee replied. She just recovered from that substance found on her, and now she was assigned to Jack, as his babysitter. It was a lot to process.

"You're fine! Says your physician." Ratchet told her.

Arcee release the side of annoyance, and began the task given to her. A little while later; Arcee drove Jack home, and parked in the garage, with her kickstand up, and Jack dismounting her. "Arcee, I just wanted to say, I'm really sorry for your loss." Jack said to her, with sympathy and his voice. He didn't know her before now, but he still felt bad for her, after hearing everything she just went through.

"What could you possibly know about loss?" Arcee asked in a snippy voice, while elevating her motorcycle form, slightly, and moving her rearview mirrors, as a result.

"What, you think you're the only one with problems?!" Jack said to her.

At that moment; she transformed right in front of him, taking a kneeling position in his garage. "I'm not sure girl trouble counts." She said as a comeback. She really didn't know the kind of problems, that he was going through. Not just girl troubles; but his parents being divorced, his dad being God knows where, in space and living up to a legacy that's not even his, or that he thinks he's ready for. But he decided to holster all of that other stuff, for another time.

"Well I'm pretty sure my girl trouble started the night I met you." Jack said. At that moment, he heard the sound of a car pulling in; he looked behind Arcee, and verified that to be true. Arcee turned around, and saw the car as well.

"Cons!" She said, while pulling her blasters out, aiming them at the car.

"No! Mom!" Jack responded, telling her that was his mom, while all so trying to stop her. June's car pulled into the driveway; she exited the car to greet her son.

"Jack?" She said.

"Mom! Don't freak, I can explain!" He said as an attempt, to ease her into the situation, to the best of his ability.

"Can you?" She replied, with a less than pleased face, and her hands on her hips, for emphasis on how displeased she was. She walked into the garage and approached the motorcycle, which Arcee transformed into at the last minute, before she saw anything. June then turned around to face Jack, while she spoke to him. "Jackson Darby, we've talked about this."

"Yeah, I know, and..." Jack said, only to be cut off by his mom.

"You don't know! I worry about you enough when you're not here, now I have to worry about you driving a motorcycle?"

"I'm sixteen, I can't be riding a 10-speed forever!" He said to his mother, while walking past her, in the garage.

"How did you even afford this?" June asked him; she knew full well that her son worked at a fast food joint, so there's no way he could afford to buy a motorcycle, especially one, that cool.

Jack thought of the perfect excuse. "It's used! It's abused, really, needs a ton of repairs. But the point is I may have been a kid when I bought this." Jack then walks to a workbench in the garage, and put his hand on a motorcycle helmet. "But I'm not anymore. You always tell me to make responsible choices... Well, I chose her. And I'll be responsible! I promise." He finished while walking towards the motorcycle, placing a hand on its windshield.

"Her? I didn't think you'd be bringing girls home, just yet." June replied to her son, with a Sly tone and look on her face. She really found this amusing; but she always thought the first girl that Jack would bring home, would be an actual person.

"I... Like to think she brought me." He said while putting his hand behind his head, displaying how nervous he was.

"Well, I'm glad you finally have a reason to wear your helmets, every single time you ride. You will take me for a spin every once in awhile." June said, with hope she would get to ride that baby, too. She and Jack made their way to the door, leading to the house. Arcee move to rear view mirror to watch them, as they did so.

"We'll see. She's kinda temperamental." He replied before hitting the light switch, which also closed the garage door, as he went inside for the night. But before Jack went to bed; he had something he had to tend to first. He went to his backyard, and checked on some plants, he was growing. By now, they were getting pretty big; all things considered, that was slightly a good thing. His mom walked right next to him; observing the plants, the same as him.

"Jack, are you sure you want to grow these things? I mean, all things considered, they're very beautiful, but they're just not meant to grow here." She said to him. Jack saw the look of concern on her face, and decided to reassure her.

"Don't worry Mom! It'll be fine, I promise. Oh, by the way Mom, guess what. I made some new friends today." Hearing him say that brought a spark of delight, to June's face. To hear her son, finally made some new friends, like she always wanted for him.

"Really?! Tell me everything!" She replied with delight.

"Well, one of them is a 12-year-old boy, who goes to the same high school as me, because he skipped a few grades, due to how smart he is. His name is Rafael Esquivel. And um, speaking of girls, mom. I just met one today." Hearing that sent A tingle of happiness coursing through June's nerves. She told him that she wanted to know everything. "Well, she's a foreign exchange student from Japan, her name's Miko Nakadai, and she's a real spitfire." Jack also described, Miko's appearance, as well as some of her hobbies, that make her a spitfire. Now Jack will always have a special place in his heart, for Sierra, after all, she is the girl he's had a crush on for who knows how long. But, it'd be stupid not to acknowledge some of the things about Miko, that make her appealing, as well.

"Well Jack, when do I get to meet this "Miko" girl, you've been mentioning passionately, for the last few seconds." June said in a teasing manner. This caused Jack to blush, with embarrassment.

"Okay, first of all; I didn't mention anything about her with passion. Second, there's this girl in school, I already like, I just don't know how to get her attention, yet. But it'd make me an idiot, to not acknowledge all the good qualities of Miko Nakadai, as well. I gotta tell ya, Mom; with how much fiery passion she has coursing through her veins, I'm starting to question if she's really human, and not a Viltrumite." Jack said. After hearing everything he just said, his mom had one more thing to say.

"Well in the slightest chance that you end up with Miko, instead of Sierra. I hope you can hold on to her, better than you did, with your last girlfriend." Again, that brought nervousness to Jack's face. "Oh, what? Did you think I forgot about the first girlfriend you had? You two were so cute, together!" She said in a typically embarrassing, mom fashion.

"That was a long time ago! And I was eight! And it was only for 5 days, anyway. We were moving to Jasper, at the time; she was one of my oldest friends, and we didn't have much time. So we decided to make the most of it, for those five days." Jack reminded her. To this day, June still had a picture of them, together, framed in their living room. Before leaving the backyard, they noticed Jack's pets, eating parts of the plants. "Oh well. Don't want the plants getting too big, anyway. Good night, Bugs and Pest!" Jack said to his pets, while giving a pat on their backs.

"I still can't believe you have those things for pets. And what's with those weird names you gave them?" June said.

"Hey, there are people in the world, who do weirder things than me. And as for their names; I thought about calling them Bugs and Daffy, because of how they sometimes fight over the scraps, like how Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, always fight. But Bugs and Pest, sound more original." Jack clarified. After that, they both went to bed.

---

Darby Residence, the next day

Arcee was revving her engine in the morning, signaling for Jack to come to the garage. Jack came through the house door, leading to the garage. "Shh! Are you crazy?! You'll wake up my mom!" He said to her.

"Grab your helmet, it's go time." She said back, while still revving her engine and moving slightly forward towards him.

Jack released a breath of annoyance. "It's saturday!" He replied.

"You can watch cartoons back at base with Bumblebee." She responded to him.

Jack released another sigh, before speaking with sarcasm. "Cartoons! I'm sixteen!" He went back in the house, to get everything ready, for starting the day at the base.

"And leave a note for your mom! She worries!" Arcee told him. She'd only been staying with him for one night; and yet she's already acting like a second parental figure, kind of like the aunt he never had, or never wanted.

Meanwhile, aboard The Nemesis

"I don't think you need to worry about further Autobot interference, master? Not with Optimus Prime gone." Starscream said to Megatron. Of course, his boss remained unconvinced.

"And what evidence do you possess of this fact?" Megatron question.

"I destroyed the mines, as you instructed." He replied.

"Optimus is not so easily destroyed. We have millennial worth of battles behind us to prove it!" Megatron said while standing very close to the oversized crystal, of dark energon.

"Maybe you should take a break, my lord. I worry that too much contact with the Dark Energon might allow its properties to... Adversely affect you." Starscream voiced his concerns.

"Or perhaps, Starscream, I have not permitted myself, contact enough." Megatron said and pulled a shard from the crystal out; bringing it near his spark chamber.

"Wait! Lord Megatron! No! Not your spark chamber! You do not know what it will do!" Starscream exclaimed. But Megatron didn't listen. She placed the Dark shard into his spark chamber and felt all of the raw power surging through him.

Autobot base

Ratchet was continuing his studies, with the Dark Energon substance, he scraped off of Arcee. "Hmm. The base elements of this goo, are like nothing I've ever encountered. Must be extremely concentrated to have affected Arcee so rapidly. Unfortunately, complete results are slow coming without the use of proper diagnostic tools! Thank you very much, Bulkhead!" Ratchet said as he took a slide of the substance out of his diagnostic machine. But what he didn't know; that a drop of dark energon spilled onto said tool, that Bulkhead broke, earlier. The dropper seeped into the tool, bringing it to life. But it didn't stop there; it mutated into a mechanical spider-like abomination. It crawled away, shortly after.

---

Darkness Rising part, 3

Arcee was in her motorcycle form, with Jack riding on top of her, while wearing his motorcycle helmet. They were on the road, in the middle of the desert, beside a stop sign. "Tighten your grip, Jack!" Arcee told him; drove fast, while popping a wheelie. Jack was holding on, as tight as he could.

"H-hey, what's with you, Arcee?" He asked her.

Arcee then stood regularly, while driving. "Thought you might actually enjoy the ride, if you weren't getting shot at." She responded, with what sounded like, slight joy, in her voice.

"Oh, bring it!" Jack said, with an equal amount of joy. They began to drive faster, down the highway.

Elsewhere; Miko was with Bulkhead, sitting in his vehicle form, near the dune. "Ready, set..." Miko started, before getting interrupted, by Bulkhead.

"Miko, I'm supposed to be protecting you." He reminded her.

"Bulkhead, I'm strapped tight inside 10 tons of metal muscle. I'm protected." She replied. They both drove down the hill, doing some dune bashing. With Miko chanting with excitement. Apparently, this was her idea of fun.

Somewhere else in the desert, Bumblebee & Raf we're sitting in the middle of the desert. Raf was sitting in Bumblebee's vehicle form, and playing racing video game on his car system, with him. Bumblebee seemed to be winning. Raf released a breath of defeat; when Bumblebee responded in his series of beeps, afterwards. Raf gave a slight laugh, before speaking. "No fair, Bumblebee. You've been driving a lot longer than I have." That was all too true, since Raf couldn't drive yet, because he was only twelve. Even though he lost to Bumblebee; he wasn't upset about it. It was a good game.

Autobot Base

Ratchet walked towards his computer, hoping to get some work done. "Thank goodness, for peace, and quiet." It felt really good, for him to have some time, to himself. "House guests can be such a bother." Ratchet was looking into his microscope; until he heard a strange sound. This distracted him, causing him to look around, for whatever it may be. When he saw nothing, he resumed looking back into his microscope. Then he heard a crawling sound, which also distracted him; as if someone, or something, was in the room with him. "Optimus?" He said, hoping that was him. Ratchet saw what it was, causing him to say. "By the AllSpark!" The thing making that sound, what's the tool he accidentally dropped a sample of dark energon on; the same tool that Bulkhead broke. It jumped at him, preparing to attack.

Ratchet moved out of the way, just in time. He tried swatting it, with a metal pipe, but it was moving too fast. As it maneuvered around his computer, it severed another tool of his. "I needed that!" He shouted to it. The mutated tool made another jump towards him. Luckily; Optimus arrived just in time, to blast it away. That wasn't enough to kill it, because it got right back up. So Optimus finished it off, by stomping on it. "And stay broken!" Ratchet said. "Now what could have caused that?" Ratchet said as a follow-up, wondering what could have caused it to mutate like that.

"I have a grave suspicion, Ratchet. Dark Energon." Optimus theorized.

The Nemesis

Megatron was standing in front of his crystal of dark energon; he seemed to be taken by it's intriguing power. Starscream made his presence known. "Lord Megatron?"

"It's as if the blood of Unicron the destroyer, flows through my veins. As if, I hear his very thoughts. I now know what I must do." Megatron said, as he plucked a shard from his crystal.

"And... What can I do to assist you, master?" Starscream asked with a stutter.

"Quit groveling! And await my command!" Megatron said back, and walked away. Megatron made his way to the flight deck, transformed into his jet mode and flew away. Megatron's new behavior, was starting to worry Starscream. Soundwave appeared behind him, startling Starscream.

"Soundwave! I fear that when our master reach for the Stars, he came down with a touch of, space madness. Lord Megatron has not been of sound judgment, since his return. Increase global surveillance!" Starscream said to Soundwave. Soundwave did the opposite, by replaying Megatron's orders to him, through his voice recorder. "I'm not deaf. But if Optimus Prime lives, I believe it is in Lord Megatron's best interest, that we ensure his enemy's destruction." Starscream stated.

Meanwhile; back at the Autobot base, Ratchet and Optimus were examining the remains, of the busted tool. "If the residue Arcee found on Cliffjumper, brought your broken equipment, to life. It would stand to reason, at the very same substance brought Cliffjumper, back from the dead." Optimus theorized, while disposing of it, properly.

Ratchet was in deep thought. "That would account for his life signal, inexplicably coming back online. But, dark energon... It's so scarce as to be virtually non-existent. What would it be doing on Earth?"

"It was transported, buy Megatron." Optimus explained.

"For what purpose?" Ratchet question.

"To conquer this planet, by raising an army of the undead." Optimus told him.

Ratchet shrugged this off with a laugh. "Well, Megatron will need to break quite a few toaster ovens. I mean, where on this world, would he find that many Cybertronian, dead." The rest of the Autobots and the children, arrived at that moment. They all had fun with their guardians; evidence by the cheerful chants, they released. They dismounted their Autobot friends, so they could transform. Bulkhead felt funny, for some reason. He opened his chest, and pulled out Miko's electric guitar.

"Sorry! Must have left that in the back seat." Said Miko, as Bulkhead handed it to her.

"Autobots, prepare to..." Optimus started, but then paused, to look at the children.

"Roll out?" Arcee attempted to fill in the blanks.

"Remain here! Ratchet, you'll come with me. Arcee, we'll be outside communications range, for some time. So I'm putting you in charge." Optimus finished. Of course, Miko thought that he should have picked Bulkhead, to be in charge, since he was the biggest. But he told her, that he never picks him.

"Optimus, with all due respect. Playing bodyguard is one thing. Babysitting's another. Besides, Ratchet hasn't been in the field, since the war." Arcee reminded him. She wanted to see some action, not look after the children.

"My Pistons may be rusty. But my hearing is sharp, as ever." Ratchet informed her, proving he heard everything, she just said.

"For the moment... It's only reconnaissance." Optimus replied.

"Then why do I hear an edge, in your voice?" She asked him.

"Arcee, much has changed, in the last 24 hours. And we all need to adapt. Ratchet, Bridge us out!" Optimus said, now directing his attention towards Ratchet. Ratchet activated the Ground Bridge; he and Optimus then walked through, disappearing in an instant.

"Okay chief. So um, what's on the activities list?" Jack asked Arcee, expecting her to come up with something entertaining. Arcee wasn't having any of this; she made the executive decision to go on patrol. Bulkhead reminded her, that Optimus told them to stay put. She told him that when he's in charge, he can call the shots. She then told Bumblebee, to accompany her. She then informed Bulkhead that he was now in charge, before they transformed and drove off. Bulkhead then ask them, what was on the activities list. Shortly after that, he heard a loud sound, which emanated from Miko's guitar, when she plugged it into a speaker.

"How about... Band practice!" She chanted with enthusiasm.

Raf was covering his ears from the noise of the speaker. "But, we're not a band." He said.

"Why so anti-social? Come on, Raf! You play anything?" Said Miko.

"Umm, keyboard." He suggested; holding his laptop in his hands.

"Laptop and samples, good! Jack?" She then addressed her attention toward Jack.

"I, sometimes mess around on the harmonica." He responded, while putting his hand on his head, in a nervous fashion.

"Do I look like I do country? Just cover yourself in fake blood and jump around screaming." She told him; Jack really didn't know how to respond to that. Miko walk towards Bulkhead, and said. "Bulkhead, percussion. We'll go for a big industrial sound. D.I.Y. we're a band. You just got to learn the songs. This one's a ballad. "my fist, your face." She made a fist gesture at Jack, with that last one. She then played her guitar, really loud. Everyone else covered their ears/audio receptors, as a result. And being a Viltrumite, Jack had very sensitive ears. Soon the green light and proximity sensor, activated. Indicating that agent Fowler, was dropping by.

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!" Bulkhead was telling her to stop.

"Come on! You can't handle raw power?" Miko responded; thinking he just didn't like the music. He informed them that, that was the proximity sensor, and told them to hide. They did as they were told; hiding behind Bulkhead's leg. Agent Fowler exited the elevator, shouting Prime's name, hoping to speak with him. One thing was for sure; agent Fowler did not look happy.

"Agent Fowler? Ah, he's not here. Nobody's here... Except me, of course." Bulkhead said, trying to diffuse the situation.

"Well, where did he go? Wait, don't tell me. He's out pancaking a mini mall. Now I don't know what language, you bots speak, on your planet. But Prime promised, he would handle the Decepticons." As Fowler continued with his ramble; the kids were moving behind Bulkhead's leg, trying to hide very thoroughly. But all their movement caused the still connected guitar, to emanate sounds from the speaker, because, Miko forgot to unplug it, instead of stretching the cord to their hiding spot. Fowler heard the noise, and tracked it to the speaker. "Since when are you bots, electric?" Fowler ask the obvious, sarcastic question. Bulkhead was getting nervous. At this point, The jig was up. The kids came out from behind Bulkhead's leg.

Hey, how you doing?" Jack said; hoping to lighten the mood.

"Contact with civilians. Team Prime, has really gone off the book, this time. Wait, don't tell me. You're running a daycare center?!" Fowler guessed, with sarcasm. Bulkhead had a nervous expression on his face, he was trying to think of a good excuse.

"First of all, sir. We're obviously too old, to be in daycare. But to answer your question. We're... Interns." Jack started. He was hoping he would buy that.

"Student, interns." Raf followed.

"Umm, earning extra credit in... Auto shop... Jack tried to say.

"Robotics." Miko finished, jumping right in front of Jack's sentence.

"Okay... Let's move. I'm taking all three of you into Federal custody. It's for your own protection." Agent Fowler told them, while making his way towards them. Until Bulkhead, literally put his foot down, in front of him, blocking his path from them.

"We're protecting them!" He stated to Fowler.

"Is that so? Well maybe you can explain that to my superiors, at the Pentagon." He said back; attempting to use the nearby phone, to call his bosses.

"Don't use that phone! It's..." Bulkhead started; he then put his giant finger on the phone, causing it to break. "Out of order." He finished. Fowler told him it wasn't over by a long shot; making his way towards the exit, and leaving. This probably wasn't going to end well.

---

Meanwhile; with Optimus & Ratchet. "Optimus, what do we hope to find here?" Ratchet asked his old friend.

"The site of the largest Cybertronian battlefield, in this galaxy." Optimus clarified. Ratchet thought he couldn't possibly be serious. "Do you recall the period, late in the war? When both sides began hiding their energon spoils, off world?" Optimus asked. Ratchet told him that, of course, he knew that. It was the very reason that energon deposits, exist on planets, such as Earth. "It is also the reason, battles came to waged on planets, such as this one. And I fear Megatron's memory, is as long as history." Optimus elaborated.

Back in the other neck of the woods; agent Fowler was leaving the base, by helicopter. Agent Fowler activated the radio, in his chopper. "Sir, agent Fowler. We have a situation. I'm in route from the autobot base. I'll brief you in person." Once that was done; he proceeded to home base. But what he was unaware of, was that the resident spy master of the Decepticons, Soundwave, was listening to everything he said. When Starscream heard this news from Soundwave; he ordered him to fetch agent Fowler, so he could brief them on the location of the Autobot base, instead. Soundwave ejected his drone, Laser Beak, from his chest, so it could capture agent Fowler.

Agent Fowler proceeded on his way; until something appeared on the radar, of his helicopter. "Hey Big Bird! I'm flying, here!" But when he saw what it was, in front of him, it came as a surprise. "What an Uncle Sam's beard?" He said with shock. He began out maneuvering Laser Beak. "First the freeways aren't safe. Now air travel?!" Agent Fowler continued to outmaneuver Laser Beak, until he was now behind him, going from the hunted, to the hunter. "You want to dance, con?! I'll lead!" He then opened fire on Laser Beak. This went on for a bit; till he ran out of ammo, Laser Beak flew behind him and severed his helicopters tail, causing him to lose control. "Never an Autobot around, when you actually need one." Fowler continue to spin out of control; he made an attempt at trying to push a flashing red button on his console. But Laser Beak grabbed him, and pulled him out of the cockpits.

Luckily; he was able to hit the red button, before he was pulled out. His helicopter fell to the ground and exploded, immediately afterwards. He was powerless to do anything about it, as Laser Beak carried him off to the Decepticon base.

Back at the Autobot base; the proximity alert was going off, like crazy. Apparently; that red button that Fowler pushed at the last minute, was an S.O.S. locator beacon. Raf complained, because the loud noise was hurting his ears. "It's an S.O.S. From Fowler." Bulkhead clarified. He tried to figure out how to handle this, from the computer, but to no avail. The alarm stopped, a little bit after that.

"Did you trace it?" Raf asked him Bulkhead.

"Location scan was incomplete. Oh well!" Bulkhead replied. He never really liked Fowler, anyway.

This on the other hand; caused some concern from Jack. "Oh well? Seriously?"

"Fowler's a jerk." Bulkhead said.

"Whoa! Whether you like the guy or not. The Decepticons, may have him." Said Jack. Even though Fowler may seem like a jerk; Jack still felt the compelling urge in his gut, telling him they needed to do something about it.

"And agent Fowler knows your location. Our location." Raf gave a gulp of fear, before finishing that sentence.

"And did we not just witness how fast, Fowler backs down from a bot?! The cons will totally make him squeal." Miko finished. Bulkhead made it clear to them, that they lost the transmission, and that Fowler could be anywhere. Even if they wanted to find him, the chances that they would, were very slim.

"Maybe I can narrow it down." Raf said and pulled out his laptop. "About 5 years ago, the government started microchipping their agents. You know, like owners do with pets." This brat looks of surprise to Jack & Miko. How did Raf know that. "What? I saw it on TV. Anyway, if I can hack into the feds mainframe. Maybe I can pinpoint Fowler's coordinates." He told them.

"You know how to hack? But you're like, 2 years old." Said Miko.

"Twelve, and a quarter." Raf corrected her.

Elsewhere; agent Fowler was brought to the Decepticon base, where he was greeted by Starscream. "Welcome, agent Fowler."

Agent Fowler stood on his knees; dusting himself off, before choosing to speak. "You treat all your guests, this nice?!" Agent Fowler had encounters with worse enemies, but as a host, Starscream didn't exactly make him feel like a happy camper.

Starscream gave a laugh, before speaking. "Any friend of the Autobots."

"Autobot? That one of those coin operated, wash my own car, places?!" Agent Fowler replied with sarcasm; trying to stay tight-lipped, about anything Starscream wanted to get out of him.

This brought a look of annoyance, to Starscream's face. "Oh, so that's how it's going to be, hmm? Apparently, no one has told you, I have no appreciation human humor. Make our guest comfortable." Starscream ordered his subordinates. This was not going to end well for Fowler.

Back at the Autobot base; Raf was hard at work on his laptop, trying to locate agent Fowler. "Latitude, 39.5. longitude, 116.9." once the coordinates were set, Bulkhead activated the Ground Bridge. He told them to wait there, of course, Miko started complaining, wanting him to not break up the band. Before running through the portal; Bulkhead put Jack in charge.

"Guess we three, have the run of the place. Miko? Miko?" Jack said; apparently, Miko disappeared, and he had a pretty good idea, where to. On the other side of the portal; tried looking for fowler, by calling his name. But what brought concern to Bulkhead; was that the Nemesis was there too. The whole Decepticon shebang. Decepticon troopers were everywhere, monitoring the area. Bulkhead hid behind a huge rock, for cover.

"Alright!" Bulkhead Heard a voice say; he directed his attention to a smaller rock. "What's the plan?" The person behind the smaller rock, was none other than, Miko.

This brought surprise to Bulkhead. "Miko?" He held his finger to his mouth, giving her the shush sign. He couldn't believe, she followed him. One of the Decepticons spotted her; aiming his blaster at her.

"Oh! Unwise!" She said, gesturing to her situation.

"Miko, get down!" Bulkhead ordered. Miko ran, causing the Decepticon to miss, after firing. He aimed his blaster at her again, hoping to hit her, this time. But Bulkhead tackled him, and began pummeling him, before he could get the chance. But the fight was not one sided; the Decepticon got in a few good licks, too. Bulkhead pinned him to the ground; Miko carry the big rock in her hands, while approaching his head. She told Bulkhead to hold him still, when she whacked the stone against his head, which did absolutely nothing. Bulkhead scooped her up, in his hand, and put her somewhere safe. "Miko, look away!" He instructed her. When she didn't listen, he said. "Turn your head, away!" She still didn't listen; she saw him rip the Decepticons circuitry out, right in front of her. She thought it was cool.

Bulkhead contacted Arcee & Bumblebee over there comms. They were driving down the highway, on their own mission. "Arcee, Bumblebee. Do you read?"

"Loud and clear, Bulkhead." Arcee responded.

"I have a situation." Bulkhead informed them.

"Bulkhead, they're children. Humans. Just do whatever." Arcee said to him, as she Bumblebee continued driving down the road. What Bulkhead said next to over the comms must have been really serious, because it made both of them stop in their tracks. "You're where? She's where?"

Back at base; Jack and Raf were contemplating what to do. "What do we do? Bulkhead may not even realize, that she followed him." Raf spoke.

"Oh, trust me, Raf. After knowing her for the shortest amount of time, that I have. She'll find a way, to make him realize it. Miko hasn't seen the cons in action, like we have. She has no idea." Jack spoke. Raf typed on the computer, showing him the coordinates; revealing their destination was still locked in. Jack released a breath, before saying. "Umm, you're in charge."

"In charge of who?" Was Raf's only reply. Raf activated the Ground Bridge, as Jack walked down the tunnel, leading to the portal. Raf caught up to him at, the last minute. Jack was unsure about Raf coming with him; he didn't want him to get hurt. But before they went through the portal, Raf had a very important question to ask him. Jack ask him if it could wait, till later, but he told him it was important. So Jack let him ask his question. "Jack, when the bots were on that mission, to get Cliffjumper back. Didn't you think about helping them? You know, as Invincible?

Jack stopped in his tracks. "Of course I did." Raf then asked him, why he didn't, then. "Because I still don't even know, if I even want to be Invincible, yet. I mean, this is a legacy, that's not even mine. And before my power showed up; I was totally okay, with having a somewhat, normal life. I couldn't just go with them through the Ground Bridge, without blowing my cover. Besides, I didn't have all the facts, yet. I still don't" Raf then ask him if he was going to tell the Autobots and Miko, his secret, yet. "I don't know, Raf. Miko's a loud mouth, spitfire, of a girl. She gets into more trouble, then she's worth. And I haven't known the Autobots, for that long. I still don't know, if I can trust them yet."

"But they saved our lives, Jack. And they've done a lot of good, since before and while we've known them." Raf replied.

"Yeah, well so did Omni-Man. Remember, I told you about what he did? And he did all those good things, for years. But I told you, they were all lies. He was just trying to enslave the Earth, for his own people, at the time. And we've only known these "Cybertronians" for a couple days, now. Look, I'm not saying they're the bad guys. All I'm saying is, we have to do the same thing, I said we should do. Keep one foot on land, and one foot in the water." At the last minute, Jack pulled his cell phone, out of his pocket. He couldn't use it in the base, so he would have to wait until he got to the other side. "When we get there, I'll need to make a call."

"To who?" Raf questioned.

"You'll see." Jack said. They walked the rest of the way through the Ground Bridge, immediately after that. Unfortunately at that moment, Arcee called the base, asking for Jack to bridge them back. But when there was no answer, she and Bumblebee decided to put "metal to the pedal" and race back there, as fast as they could.

In the brig of the Nemesis, Starscream continue to torture agent Fowler. Agent Fowler was suspended a few feet off the ground, by chains wrapped around his arms. "Agent Fowler, I have one simple request, they will save your family the pain of grieving. Tell me the location, of the Autobot base!"

"No problem. But I need to ask you something, first." Agent Fowler answered.

"Yes, I'm listening." Starscream said, hoping he was finally getting somewhere, with him.

"I got an issue, with the customer service, around here. Can I speak to the manager?!" Fowler remarked with witty banter.

Of course, all this accomplished to do, was irritate Starscream. "I make the decisions, here. I am in charge. Bring the prod!" He ordered one of his subordinates.

Outside of the Nemesis; Bulkhead and Miko were hiding behind a huge Boulder. "What's taking Arcee and Bumblebee?" Bulkhead wondered. Miko told him that the cons could be putting the clamps on fowler, right now. She then suggested that they stormed the joint. Luckily at that moment, the sound of a ground bridge appeared. Bulkhead gave a sigh of relief "They're here." The Ground Bridge opened in front of them, but who came out, wasn't who he was expecting, it was Jack & Raf.

"Why don't those guys, hang with their own bots? This is our one, on one, time." Miko said with annoyance. For some reason; she really didn't see him thrilled to see her friends. Bulkhead released a sigh of annoyance.

Jack and Raf were walking side by side. "Whoa! Are your bones vibrating?" Raf asked him. Going through the Ground Bridge, would definitely take some getting used to. The Duo set their sights on the Nemesis.

"You, there!" One of three Decepticon troopers said, all of which, were aiming their blasters at them.

"Scrap!" Miko and Bulkhead said simultaneously.

In the brig, Starscream continued with his interrogation. "I ask nicely, one last time. The Autobot base?!"

"Sure thing, buddy! Right after you eat my Star spangled shorts!" Agent Fowler insulted him. That was one of the many, last straws for Starscream. He began torturing agent Fowler, with an electric prod.

"As I imagined. Energon and human nervous systems, don't mix." Starscream educated him, with pain.

---

Meanwhile; Optimus & Ratchet continued with their mission, at their own location. They stumbled upon the remains of so many dead, Cybertronians. "For the first time in my life, Optimus. I had hoped that you were wrong." They heard a sound, looked above them and saw an approaching aircraft. The aircraft transformed into Megatron and landed on a mountain, in front of them.

"Optimus, been well?" I see you brought your trusty watchdog. I was certain he'd be, convalescing in a scrap yard, by now." Megatron was referring to Ratchet.

"Why don't you invite him down here, for a chat?!" Ratchet replied with spite in his voice.

"I know why you're here, Megatron." Optimus said to the Decepticon master.

"Hardly a surprise, Optimus. After all, you and I have been at this a long time. And your time, has come to an end!" Megatron said back, while holding a dark energon shard in his hand. He threw the shard into the ground below. The shards seeped into the soil, with the purple glow, to follow. "Rise, my army!" Megatron shouted. Zombie Cybertronians emerged from the ground, as a result. Startling the two Autobots.

"By the AllSpark?!" Ratchet spoke with shock.

"Behold, the power of Dark Energon!" Megatron chanted to them, from his vantage point. The zombies were approaching the duo. This was not good.

---

Darkness Rising part, 4

More and more zombie Cybertronians, emerged from the ground, in front of Optimus and Ratchet. "Megatron has desecrated the resting place of our fallen ancestors. And his own." Ratchet said.

"Not even the dead are free from his warmongering." Optimus replied.

Megatron was watching the whole thing, from the mountain he was standing on. "At last, symbiosis! I can feel it, I possess complete control over my army. Destroy them!" Megatron ordered his zombie jamboree. Optimus began shooting the hordes of the undead, but no matter how many times he blasted them, they just kept coming.

"Optimus, if our combatants are already deceased, how can we possibly defeat them?" Ratchet spoke with concern. The zombies continued to close in, on them. So Optimus issued his old friend an order.

"Ratchet, retreat! Bridge yourself back to base!"

Ratchet's hands were replaced by bladed weapons. "No! I shall stand with you, Optimus. You may require a medic when this is over with." Ratchet made it very clear that he wasn't about to abandon his friend. He began slicing up the zombies with his scalpel-like blades, while Optimus continued to blast them. "I, recommend dissection. The smaller the pieces, the better!" He suggested to Optimus.

"Sound advice, old friend!" Optimus complimented. Optimus switched from his blasters, to his blades, and began to slice and dice, alongside his friend.

"I have mastered dark energon. When you fall, Optimus. You too shall join my army you too, shall join my army!" Megatron declared, while still being The observer. Hearing this, only filled Optimus with more determination, to stop Megatron.

Meanwhile, with Bulkhead and the kids

the Decepticon troopers began shooting at Jack and Raf. They avoided the shots, the best they could, but doing so, caused Raf to fall on his back. Jack rushed to his friend, attempting to shield him with his body. Bulkhead rushed to their aid, in vehicle form; he opened his door for them to get in. "Get in! Now!" He ordered. They got inside, he closed his door and took a base of action.

"Thanks Bulkhead!" Jack said, giving his deepest gratitude.

"Yeah, thanks!" Raf spoke.

"W, what are you doing here?" Bulkhead ask them.

Jack put his seatbelt on, before responding. "We were worried about Miko. Have you seen her?"

"What's she look like?!" Miko sad with humor, making her presence known from the back seat.

Bulkhead drove behind a huge boulder, for cover. He opened his door for them to get out. "Everyone out!" Jack & Raf took off their seat belts, and got out. "And this time, please wait here!" Bulkhead finished. Bulkhead drove away from the boulder, to draw their fire away. But what he didn't know this, was that everyone except for Miko, exited his cockpit. As the shootout ensued, Jack pulled out his phone, to make that call, he mentioned earlier.

"Hey dude, it's me Jack. I need your help!" Jack said into his phone, but the person on the other side could barely hear him. "Yeah, I know you can barely hear me. That's because I'm currently in a battlefield, about to turn into a war zone. And I really need your help. Some "Invincible" help." The person on the other end seem to be debating with Jack, based on what Jack said next. "Yeah, I know what you said! But I'm asking you as a favor, from a friend, to do this, one last time!" The person on the other end must have gave in, to what Jack was asking for, because Jack, then said. "Thank you! Now, you can track me through my phone. I'll be waiting." With that said and done, Jack closed his phone. Raf asked him who he called. "Like I said. You'll see." Jack replied.

Bulkhead transformed into robot mode and climbed up the side of a mountain, to make his way aboard the Nemesis. Once he was high enough; he jumped onto the edge of the ship. One of the Decepticon troopers approached that position, looking for him. Bulkhead grabbed his leg and threw him off the edge, before pulling himself up. Bulkhead changed his hand to his mace and knocked one of the troopers down, with it. When the rest of them started shooting at him; he grabbed the one he knocked down, and used him as a shield, while using his blasters to shoot back. Bulkhead ran at the last trooper and finished him off, with an elbow drop. Bulkhead saw Jack & Raf on the ground, but he didn't see Miko. "Where's Miko?" He said in response to that. Immediately after saying that, he heard a knocking sound from his insides. He opened his chest, with Miko climbing out. "Miko?" He said, not knowing she was still in there.

"I heaved on your floor mats. Sorry!" She said to him. Bulkhead got her out and put her down. "Remind me... Never... To do that again." She said with a wheeze. Bulkhead was suddenly attacked by another trooper; Bulkhead pinned him to the floor, smashing him with his mace. Two more Decepticons rise from the now opened hatch, behind Miko. They made a grab for her, only to be shot at, by Bulkhead. Those decepticons, and a few others to arrive, started shooting back. Bulkhead used his thick armor, to shield himself, from the blast or fire. But then he had an idea. He ran to one of the communication panels, ripped it out and threw it like a shield toss, at the Decepticons, knocking them down. Bulkhead picked Miko up, shielded her from more blaster fire and ran down the same opened hatch, into the Nemesis.

Back on the ground, behind the boulder, Jack & Raf saw the whole thing. "Think they forgot about us?" Raf asked. Jack shrugged his shoulders, in response to that. But then, two Decepticon troopers appeared behind them, and made a grab for them.

Inside the Nemesis; Bulkhead was running with Miko in his hand, this was making her motion sick, evidence by her putting her hand over her mouth. Bulkhead was greeted by two decepticons, up ahead; he slid Miko across the floor, causing her to pass the decepticons, as he pummeled them. Miko skidded to a stop. "I'm gonna heave, again." She said. Bulkhead picked her up, and started sprinting again.

In another part of the Nemesis; Jack & Raf were both carried by one of the two Decepticons, that caught them. "Bring them to the brig! Commander Starscream is keeping the other human there." The one not holding them said. Suddenly; the hum of a motorcycle engine could be heard, approaching them. Arcee and Bumblebee came rushing to their aid. Also at that moment; Invincible showed up to save them, even though Jack was still being held by the Decepticon. Both the two Autobots and Invincible, slammed into the Decepticons, at the same time. Bumblebee & Arcee transformed to robot mode; Arcee made an attempt to catch the boys, but Invincible beat her to the punch, catching them both, with lightning fast reflexes. He then, put them down.

"Hey, it's you, again!" Arcee said to Invincible. Unfortunately, this wasn't the same Invincible, as before, he was actually Jack's friend, Markus Murphy. And because of that; he didn't know who the Autobots were.

"Again? You must be mistaking. Because I've never seen you guys in my..." Markus caught a glance of Jack giving him a sign, to just roll with it. "I mean, yeah. It's totally me, again. Good to see you guys, again." Markus lied.

"And what exactly, are you doing here?" Arcee responded.

"Oh, well you know, I was just in the neighborhood. And I thought I would lend a helping hand." Markus replied. He then landed on the floor, right next to Jack.

"What took you so long?" Jack asked his pal.

"Hey, do you have any idea how long it took, to find this place? You're lucky I still have the "find my friends" app." Markus answered. This brought a look of surprise to Arcee's face. She didn't know they knew each other.

"Wait a minute, Jack. You two know each other?" She questioned.

"Yeah. But it's a long story." He replied to her, in a nervous fashion.

"No it's not. I saved his life, once. We've been tight, ever since." Markus said. It wasn't a total lie; Markus actually saved Jack's life, from an accident in their childhood, it was actually one of the building blocks, of their friendship. They've been friends, ever since. Of course, the fact that both of them had a Viltrumite parent, who were also friends, helped out, with that, too.

Raf walked over to Bumblebee, happy to see him. Arcee looked at Jack, and said. "Appreciate you clearing the front door, for us. But storming the Decepticon warship, was not on the activities list."

"Tell me about it." Was Jack's only response.

The made their way down the hallway, with Arcee leading the charge. Arcee activated one of her blasters and leaned against the corner of a wall, for cover. She turned to the corner and aimed her blaster, expecting to see an enemy, only to see Bulkhead with his blaster readied, instead. "Friendly!" She said, telling him not to shoot.

"Hello." Bulkhead said, in response. They both holstered their weapons, afterwards.

"Brought the humans, huh?" Arcee asked Bulkhead, with annoyance.

"You try getting them to stay behind!" He replied with sarcasm. At that moment, Bulkhead laid eyes on Invincible, flying right next to them. "Oh, the flying man's back?!" Bulkhead said, with surprise. Again, Markus had to just, roll with it.

"Whoa! Who's the flying guy, in the tights?" Miko said, while still in Bulkhead's hand.

"I'm Invincible. Look, it's a long story, and they'll explain later." Markus said to Miko, gesturing to the Autobots.

"We need to find Fowler, and get these kids out of here." Arcee stated.

Jack cleared his throat, getting their attention. "He's in the brig." He and Raf said at the same time.

Markus tapped on Jack's shoulder, getting his attention. "Jack, can I speak with you for a minute?" They walked a few feet away from the others, so they could talk in private. "Now, Jack. I thought I was very clear in my letters, that I was retiring, from being Invincible. And I was serious about that. That's why I was hoping, if the mantle had to be carried on, that it would be you, who took it up. you're he only one I trust."

"Okay, first of all. I I don't even know if I want to do that, anymore. Second; one of the reasons I called you, I thought it would be great, to have some backup. And third; a part of me wants to tell my new friend, Miko, how stupid, her idea was." Jack replied. They spent the next minute, talking about how fiery, his new friend, Miko, was.

"Oh, alright. I'll help you, as Invincible. But, just this one, last time." Markus said.

"Thanks!" Jack responded. They ended, with a friend handshake.

Back in the brig, with Starscream and agent Fowler. "My dear agent Fowler. You do realize, the Autobots have a band into you?" Starscream gave a laugh, before continuing with his speech. "I am the only one you can rely upon, now. So tell me what I want to know or." Starscream finished by holding the electric prod, to put emphasis, on what he meant.

"Please, no more! They're in, secret government base." Fowler said, with pain, clearly in his voice.

"Go on!" Starscream insisted. Starscream was alerted to the sound of blast or fire, coming from the hallway, outside. He directed his attention back to agent Fowler. "Yes?" He spoke, wanting Fowler to finish.

"In the old steel mill. Or was it under that, carnival fun House?!" Fowler said with more witty banter. This further irritated Starscream; case in point, by him torturing Fowler, with the prod, again. "Someone find out what is going on, out there! He ordered his subordinates in the room, with him. They left the room, doing as he ordered. Back in the hallway; the Autobots and Invincible were thrashing all the decepticons, in the vicinity. The kids were finding it hard all the fighting, happening around them.

With Optimus & Ratchet

Optimus and Ratchet continued fighting the zombie bots. "Optimus, this prolonged exposure to dark energon, is sapping our strength." Ratchet informed him. The both of them becoming exhausted, was evidence of this.

"We cannot falter, now." Optimus responded. They continued to fight; but the zombies began to overwhelm them, by dog piling Optimus.

"Optimus!" Ratchet said, with concern for his friend. Ratchet resumed fighting, but the zombies piled on him, too. Megatron was watching the whole thing, laughing maniacally. Optimus burst from the pile, fighting off the rest to surround him. Optimus freed Ratchet, from the other pile of zombies.

"After all these years, Optimus. Still at the top of your game." Megatron observed. Optimus and Ratchet, presumed the fighting. "My legion, finish them!" Megatron ordered.

The Nemesis

there was a knock on the door, at the bridge of the ship. One of the Decepticons went to check it out. He opened the door, and was hit with blaster fire. The Autobots rushed in, clearing the area of Decepticons. "Clear!" Arcee said, as she and the others, put their blasters away. Markus and the kids, walked in, after that. "Wait in here!" Arcee told them. Bumblebee responded in his beeps, with what sounded like a difference in opinion. "They're slowing us down, and they're easy targets. They'll be all right, in here. As long as they stay put." She said back; she then directed her attention to Invincible. "And besides, Invincible will be here, to protect them." Markus opened his mouth, about to argue with that, but instead released a breath of defeats, realizing it was pointless. The bots left the room, with the door closing behind them.

"That, was intense." Miko stated.

"Was?!" Raf commented.

"It's your fault, that were stuck in this intensity. What were you thinking, Miko?" Jack said to her.

"Did I ask you, to follow me?!" Miko responded.

"You wanted us to be a band. Doesn't that usually mean, playing together?" Jack said.

"Well, maybe I decided to go, solo." She said.

"Well, I have some regard, for your safety!" Jack said. This girl, was really starting to get on his nerves, and he was almost 90% sure, she was human, and not a Viltrumite.

"Oh, I'm sorry! Is your name, Optimus?! You can leave my protection, to Bulkhead. Thank you, very much!" Miko yelled.

Raf a frustrated yell. "Stop it! Both of you!" He wanted them to stop fighting. He walked away from them, and sat down on the floor.

"Nice going, guys!" Markus sarcastically said.

"Shut up!" Miko said, walking past him.

"Dang, Jack! You were right about her. She's a real, flame thrower." Markus said to his friend.

Jack and Miko sat next to Raf. "Hey, hey. Raf, Raf. It's okay." Jack attempted to cheer him up.

"Yeah, we are going to be fine." Miko reassured him.

"Our bots will come back for us." Jack spoke.

"Yeah. They're gonna take us home." Miko finished.

"How do you know?" Raf asked.

Jack looked at the Decepticon computer, and spotted something interesting. "Hey, Raf. What do you make of that?" Raf looked at the computer, after that, too. He stood up, and walked over to it. Jack, Miko and Markus, soon, followed.

"It's important. Real, important." Raf said.

In the brig; Starscream was now pressed for time. "Wake up, you pathetic lump of flesh!" He said to agent Fowler. Agent Fowler was disoriented, due to the fact, he was rambling nonsense. Starscream heard a knock, at the door. The door opened; a trooper was standing there. "Well?" Starscream said; think he had the something to say. The trooper fell over; revealing Bulkhead, with his blaster, at the ready. Bulkhead shot the other one in the room, with Starscream. Bumblebee came in the room, a second later. Starscream pointed his blaster at agent Fowler, for leverage. "Not so fast!" He said to them. Starscream felt something tapping on his head; he looked up to see Arcee, pointing her blaster at him.

"I wouldn't." She threatens him.

"Oh, but I might." Starscream said.

Back on the bridge of the ship; Raf deep and thought, with what was on the computer. "We got to get this to Optimus."

"How do you know it isn't just a recipe, for space nachos?" Miko asked him.

"I know math, when I see it. And that is one, serious equation." Raf said.

"Well, can you, download it?" Jack spoke.

"I got a flash drive." Raf said, pulling a flash drive out of his backpack. "But I don't see anywhere, to plug it in. This tech is, way alien." A Decepticon soldier walked into the room, see a downed comrade, on the floor. The kid and Markus, made a dash, for the nearest hiding place. Raf realized that the last second, that he left behind his backpack. The other made it to the hiding spot, but Raf ran back for his backpack. The soldier saw him, pointing his blaster at him.

The Brig

"Now, ancient Fowler and i, will take our leave." Starscream said. To his surprise; agent Fowler was still rambling nonsense. The Auotbots shot at Starscream; he transformed, and made a run for it.

The Bridge of the ship

The soldier shot at Raf. Jack swooped in, saving him. Markus flew in the air, hit the con, hard. It was working for a bit, but the con swatted him away. "Miko, take a picture!" Jack told her.

"Great idea." She replied. The con aimed his blaster at the boys, yet again. "Hey you!" Miko got his attention; she then took a picture of him, with her phone.

"Not of that." Jack pointed at the con. "Of that!" He then pointed at the computer screen.

"Oh?" Realization finally dawned on Miko. She took a picture of the screen. The kids ran out of the room, with the con, hot on their trail. Then Bulkhead showed up, transformed to bot mode and pummeled the con. Markus arrived a second later, to help him with that. The Decepticons may not be Viltrumites, but one thing was for sure, they hit real hard, because it took Markus a while to get up. Bulkhead changed back into vehicle mode, with Arcee and Bumblebee, arriving in vehicle mode, to pick up the kids. Raf and Miko got in Bumblebee's cockpit, while Jack got on Arcee.

"I told you, to stay put." Arcee reminded them.

"Hey, we did. But they came in the room, regardless." Markus countered. They drove away, with Invincible flying behind them.

"I like pie. Can we stop for pie?" Fowler rambled, from Bumblebee's backseat.

"You found Fowler. Rock on!" Miko exclaimed. The team exited the Nemesis, beginning the long drive, back to base.

With Optimus and Ratchet

"Bravo, Optimus! Though, this is but a prelude. You may wish to save your strength, for the main event." Megatron spoke.

Optimus started climbing the mountain, that Megatron stood on. "You will not prevail, Megatron. Not while energon, still flows through my veins." Optimus responded with determination.

"Fitting. For is dark energon, which flows through mine." Megatron countered. Optimus tried to attack Megatron, only for him to turn into jet mode, and make his getaway. Optimus tried shooting at him, but it proved in vain. Ratchet made it to the edge of the mountain, after climbing up. Optimus helped him the rest of the way up.

"If this, wasn't Megatron's endgame. What is?" Ratchet asked. This caused the Prime, to wonder the same thing.

---

Autobot Base

Optimus patched up Ratchet's arm, who was now wearing a brace, around it. By now; he and Optimus had already met Invincible, at least, the old one. And again, Markus just had to, roll with it. "What happened to you guys, anyway?" Miko asked both Optimus and Ratchet.

"We engaged in army, of undead Cybertronian warriors." Ratchet replied.

"Zombies? You fought zombies, and I missed it?!" Miko complained.

"Bulkhead. You exercised extremely poor judgment, in allowing the humans to accompany you." Optimus scolded him.

Bulkhead could have come up with an excuse, but he chose not to. "It won't happen again, Optimus. I promise!"

"But it wasn't bulkheads fault." Miko defended him.

"Miko, please!" Bulkhead bagged; he didn't want her covering for him.

"And check it out. Recon!" Miko exclaimed, showing them the picture on her phone.

Optimus took a closer look at the image, on the phone. He asked Ratchet to take a look, since it could be important, to Megatron. "Whoa, Megatron's back? That's really bad news, right?!" Jack exclaimed.

Ratchet looked at the phone. "I, don't understand." The image he was looking at wasn't the equation, it was the Decepticon that bulkhead pummeled.

Miko looked at her phone, realizing the confusion. "Oops! That's the con who tried to blow Raf away. At least, that's we look like before Bulkhead, rearranged his grill." Miko cleared up, with excitement.

"Miko, Raf was almost killed! This isn't a game! When are you going to get that, through your thick skull?!" Jack shouted at her. It really irritated him, that she wasn't taking any of this seriously.

"Umm, we were all almost killed, Jack. You, me, Raf, even them!" She shot back. That was the last straw for Jack.

"Well, if this was just an average day, with the Autobots. Then I don't want to be a part of it. Not anymore." Jack basically announced, that he was quitting team Prime.

"Jack, putting you in harm's Way, was never our intent. However, it is no longer the safety of you three, that is at risk. But the safety of all humankind. We will respect your decision, if you wish to leave." Optimus said to him. After that was said; Ratchet activated the Ground Bridge, for him to leave.

"No point in Long goodbyes, here's the door." Ratchet said, all too eagerly, to get rid of him. Jack turned to Raf , asking him to come with him. Raf gave a quick glance at Bumblebee; he really didn't want to leave his new friend. So, he told Jack that he'd be okay, and that he'd see him at school. Jack said to him, that it was a sure thing. He made his way down the stairs; stopping to stare Arcee in the eyes.

"I know, you don't exist." He told her; remembering her threat.

"Don't make me hunt you down!" She replied. Even though she just met Jack; a part of her didn't want to see him go.

"Next time, think really hard, before you open your big mouth!" Markus instructed Miko, before joining Jack through the Ground Bridge.

The Nemesis, in orbit

Starscream was begging for mercy, from Lord Megatron. Megatron, was punishing Starscream for not waiting his orders, damaging his ship and putting a delay in his plans. Starscream said he was only trying to get rid of Optimus Prime, for him. But Megatron wasn't having any of it, he made it very clear, that only he, would rid himself of Optimus Prime. Starscream pleaded with Megatron; telling him that he knew a way, to get his plans, back on track. Megatron stopped torturing him, for the moment; telling him to explain, quickly.

Darby Residence

Jack was currently in his garage, doing maintenance on his ten speed. He looked to his left, to see headlights, shining on him. It was Bulkhead, with Miko exiting his cockpit. "Now I understand why you needed to rush home." She said to him was sarcasm, while approaching him, in the garage.

"Don't you have something more exciting to do, Miko?" He asked, wanting her to leave him alone.

"So, this is where you hang, huh? Back home, in Tokyo, I have loving parents and two purebred cats, Chi Chi and Ding dong. I went to the best school, took piano lessons since I was three." She educated him on her life.

"How nice, for you!" Jack replied, not really caring.

"No. How boring." She informed him; this brought a look of surprise to his face. "It wasn't me. Why do you think I jumped at the chance, to transfer here?"

"To Jasper, Nevada. "The entertainment capital of the world!" Jack responded with sarcasm, since their town felt like a joke.

Miko gave a slight laugh, too that. "Yeah well, the brochure lied. Piano lessons were starting to look pretty good, in fact. But then, the last couple of days happened." She got closer to him, so she was looking him in the eyes.

Jack gave a sigh, before speaking. "Okay, do you have a point?" He really didn't get what she was saying.

"You bet. I saw what you did today. When you save Raf. When you came to save me." She said with a mix of passion and gratitude.

"I've been raised to be responsible. To my school work, to my mom, my job." He said while replacing the tire of his bike.

"Dude, hear me out. You're no fry cook, you're a rockstar! Stop trying to pretend you're normal, Jack. You'll never fit in. You were born to do so much more." Miko tried to inspire him.

"Thanks Miko. But I think normal suits me, fine." Jack said to her; he then got back to work without a care in the world. Miko gave a sigh of defeats and walked out the door. But before she left; she had one, important question, to ask him.

"By the way, Jack. That superhero pal of yours. That was the one and only "Invincible" , wasn't it?" That made Jack pause from his work, for a moment. "One of the most famous Viltrumites, coming only second, to Omni-Man. Because let tell you something, he didn't seem like the original." She finished. This really, surprised Jack.

"Wow! So, you actually know about Viltrumites? And Omni-Man & Invincible, for that matter?" Jack spoke.

"Are you kidding? They made such a huge impact, on the world." She responded.

"Yeah, well Raf's one of the smartest kids I've met, in the last 24 hours. And he didn't even know about Viltrumites, or Omni-Man and Invincible." Jack clarified.

"Well, I do my homework on anything "not normal" , like, for instance. I know it's common knowledge, that Omni-Man and the original Invincible, were father and son. Now, are you going to answer my question?" She spoke.

Jack realized, she wasn't going to quit, not until she got her answers. "No, Miko. He wasn't the original Invincible. Now, if that's all, I've got to get back to work." Once all of that was said; Miko climbed in Bulkhead's cockpit, and drove off. After they left; Raf showed up. "Raf? What are you doing here?"

"I came to talk to you. I hope that's alright." He replied.

Jack gave a slight smile. "Of course. What's up?"

"Well, you better make this, a three way chat." Another voice said, belonging to Markus. He showed up at the last moment, in his civilian attire, wanting to talk with Jack, as well. Raf didn't know who he was without the suit, so Markus filled him in, on everything. Raf asked him how he saved Jack's life, in the past; remembering, that's what he mentioned on the ship. So, Jack went into explanation.

"Well, when we were kids, Markus was always older than me, so I looked up to him, like a big brother. Then one day; when I finally got my powers, I tried to help him stop the Mauler Twins. I wore a makeshift disguise, and everything. But I was inexperienced. I caused a lot of property damage, and almost got a bystander family killed, myself included. Markus scolded me for that. But you know what, he was right. I was 10 years old, and I jumped the gun. And to this day; I'm still getting used to my powers." This brought a look of surprise, to Raf's face. He said he thought, that Jack would already be used to them, by now, since he was sixteen. "I was so traumatized, that day, that every so often. I just basically, ignore them."

"Jack, that was a long time ago. I'm sure you've learned, from then. Besides, Jack. When I came to you, with the idea of carrying on the mantle, of Invincible. It wasn't something I was telling you to do. I was asking you. You may have been the only one I trusted, with the job. But, I wasn't trying to force that upon you. If you don't want to be Invincible, then that's your choice. But those Autobots, they seem good for you, especially, that "Arcee." You two have really seemed to hit it off, as friends." Markus stated.

"Look Markus, I appreciate you giving me a choice, to be Invincible. And maybe you're right. Maybe hanging out with the Autobots, even, Arcee, wouldn't be so bad. But even before they got divorced; my mom was still getting used to the whole "Viltrumite" thing. Especially, since they tried to take over the world, that one time. But even after she got used to it, she didn't want me going anywhere near, anything "superhero." And I really, don't want to disappoint her." Jack informed him. After hearing that; Markus gave a nod, and told him he understood, before flying away. It was just Jack and Raf, now.

"Jack, I don't know too much about superheroes. But if you have the power to help people, then isn't it your responsibility, to do that? Especially, by helping the Autobots stop the Decepticons, from invading our planet?" Raf asked.

"Sorry, Raf! But, I'm just not ready for this." Jack answered, while getting back to work. Raf gave a look of disappointment; he signaled for Bumblebee to drive up. Bumblebee was waiting to take him home, once he was done talking with Jack, about whatever it was they were talking about. Raf got in Bumblebee and drove away.

Autobot Base

Ratchet was going over the data, collected from the Nemesis. "It can't, be. Optimus!" Ratchet called for the Prime. Optimus arrived on cue, right behind him. "These, are engineering specs, for a space time vortex generator."

"Megatron's building a space bridge. If he hasn't, already." Optimus put the pieces together.

"The sooner he leaves, the better!" Bulkhead spoke, hoping that meant they'd be rid of Megatron.

"Bulkhead, a space bridge runs in two directions. Megatron may not be using it, to leave Earth. But, to bring through, his conquering army." Optimus clarified to him.

"The main event, Megatron referred to. But the only place Megatron could possibly, recruit that many, fallen warriors." Ratchet theorized.

"Precisely." Optimus agreed; there was only one place, Megatron could be going. "Cybertron." Optimus finished.

---

Darkness Rising, part 5

K.O. Drive-In

Jack pulled into K.O. drive-in, parking his 10 speed. Jack looked up, at the logo of the establishment. He released a breath of boredom. This really isn't what he wanted his life to be, working minimum wage, at a fast food joint, where he gets no respect. "Nice bike!" Jack heard a voice say. He turned around, to see Arcee, in motorcycle form.

"Arcee, Miko already tried. Tell Optimus, I respect him big time. But, if you're at war with the Decepticons, there's nothing I can do to help." Jack turned around, after saying that.

"Optimus didn't send me, and no one's asking for your help." She reassured him.

"Okay, so. If we both agree that I'm not, warrior material...? Jack said that last part with a slight, stutter. He really, didn't think he could help. Even if, he had powers.

"Jack, I just lost someone, I cared about. Maybe it's the grief talking. Maybe you're growing on me. Whatever it is, I'm just not ready to say goodbye." She said to him, with deep emotion.

Autobot Base

"Optimus, I've pinpointed the location of Megatron's space bridge. High, in Earth's orbit." Ratchet informed their leader.

"Out of our reach." Optimus commented.

"Okay, so you guys don't fly.? But can't you just, ground bridge there?" Miko asked them.

"The Ground Bridge, has limited range. Stretched all the way into orbit, it's vortex could snap. And scatter us to the stars." Ratchet educated her. Miko was still learning the difference, between a ground bridge and a space bridge.

"Since Megatron is likely, already in transit. I'm afraid, we must take that risk. Reaching the Space Bridge, first. Is our only means, of stopping him." Optimus announced. A horn honked; indicating someone was entering the base. It was Arcee; what she said to Jack, must have convinced him. Because, he was riding Arcee, with his motorcycle helmet, on. They came to a stop; Jack dismounted Arcee and took off his helmet.

"Hey. Guess, who's back." Jack said. Arcee transformed, after that.

"Autobots, prepare for departure!" Optimus ordered.

"Where to?" Arcee asked.

"The final frontier." Miko answered.

This came as a surprise, to Jack. "Space? I thought they didn't have any way, to get there."

"They don't, really." Raf answered, with Bumblebee lowering him, to the ground.

Jack looked to Arcee; he was guessing, this was goodbye. "Umm, be, seeing you." He commented to her.

Ratchet activated the Ground Bridge. Raf told Bumblebee, to be careful. Bee responded in his series of beeps. Miko told Bulkhead, that she was so jealous, that he was getting to go into space. He then, told her, not to even think, about following him. "Optimus, if you leave me stranded on a planet, taming with humans. I will, never forgive you!" Ratchet said.

"Until we meet again, old friend." Optimus responded, closing his battle visor, afterwards. "Autobots, roll out!" He commanded. Optimus, Bulkhead, Bumblebee and Arcee transformed; driving through the Ground Bridge. "Maximum overdrive!" Optimus chanted. The other end of the Ground Bridge, opened in orbit. "Autobots, transform, and gravitize!" Optimus said as they transformed, and landed on the Space Bridge. The bots looked back at Earth, seeing the Nemesis, approach them.

"So, Megatron's packing enough dark energon, to raise Cybertron's dead." Arcee said.

"And since we don't possess ready means, of disabling the Space Bridge. Nothing gets in, or out!" Optimus instructed his team; they all unholstered they're blasters.

Megatron was watching them, from the Nemesis. He gave a slight chuckle. "Optimus Prime, never disappoints. Unlike you, Starscream!" He said, directing his disappointment to Starscream.

"No need for concern, master. Soundwave, is locking on to cybertron's coordinates. Per, my instructions." Starscream said.

Back with the Autobots

The Autobots have their blasters, at the ready. "Well, what are they wait for?" Arcee spoke. Optimus zoomed the sight of his optics; he saw that the Decepticon sustained serious damage, to their interstellar navigation system. Bulkhead told him, that that was his handiwork. Optimus praised Bulkhead, for his good work. Without the navigation disc, the Decepticons were unable to aim the dish, at Cybertron.

Autobot Base

Ratchet and the kids, heard everything Optimus said, through the comms. "Don't the decepticons, know where their own planet is?" Raf questioned.

"Naturally. But, Cybertron is many light years away. To reach their target, there a must be astronomically, precise." Ratchet told them. Optimus theorized, that if Megatron went to the trouble, of rendezvousing with his space bridge. He must have, an alternate targeting system. A remote, one. "From what I know of Earth's technology. I doubt there exists, a single radio telescope dish, on this planet, powerful enough, to pinpoint Cybertron." Ratchet really had zero faith, in Earth technology. Raf wondered if a whole bunch of linked radio telescope dishes would work., like the giant size array, in Texas. Ratchet shushed him, before speaking. "This is not child's play." Optimus told Raf, that was good thinking. He then, ordered Ratchet to have Fowler, alert the array staff, to the security hazard.

But agent Fowler, still hasn't recovered yet. He sat up, on a medical gurney, and began rambling nonsense. He pointed at Ratchet, and said. "You, soldier. You're out of uniform. Put on some pants!" He then, laid back down on the gurney.

"That, maybe a challenge." Ratchet said, in response to that. Raf started typing on his laptop, possibly, coming up with a plan B. He said he couldn't get past the arrays firewalls; they were too thick. "You, actually think, you could keep the Decepticons out?" Ratchet asked.

"Maybe. If, I could get in." Raf spoke.

That gave Jack an idea. "Wait, Raf. What if we could get you, all the way in? Like, inside the building, in?"

"I could log into their internal Network, on the other side of the firewall." Raf said. Optimus told them, the risk was too great. The Decepticons could be there. Possibly, even on site.

"Optimus, with all due respect. You said it yourself, this is bigger than the safety of three humans." Jack reminded him.

"Yeah, if we let the cons win. We are fragged, along with everyone else, on our planet." Miko pitched in. After hearing their concerns, Optimus wanted to hear Raf's opinion, on the matter.

"I want to give it, a shot." Raf exclaimed.

The Nemesis

"Surly, Lord Megatron. The Autobots are up to something." Starscream said.

Megatron got close to starscream's face. "Really, Starscream?!" He said, asking a rhetorical question. Megatron walked over to the command console, slammed his fist on a button, and said. "Crush them!" Decepticon flyers emerged from the Nemesis, immediately after that; closing in on the Autobots. The Autobots prepared for a fight.

Texas Size Array

A ground bridge opened; Jack, Raf and Miko, came out. They all felt a little nauseous, from going through the portal. "That'll, take some getting used to." Jack said in response. They made their way, inside. Luckily; there didn't seem to be any security, at present.

"Security sure is lax, in this place." Miko commented.

Raf got to work, on the computer. "I'm in. And, so are the Decepticons." The other's asked how he knew. "Schematics. With the same alien math, we saw on their ship. But this time, I can download." He inserted a flash drive, in response.

"It's gotta be the space bridge." Miko said.

"The Decepticons are sinking it, to the dishes. But, can sync, to them." Raf said.

"Will they know?" Jack wondered.

"Even if the Decepticon see that I'm, in the system. They'll have no idea, I'm in the house.." Raf said. But what he didn't know, was that Soundwave; the residence spy Master of the Decepticons, was in the next room. He was controlling the satellites, locking them on to Cybertron.

In Space

The Autobots felt the Space Bridge move, a bit. "What just happened?" Arcee asked.

"The Decepticons are locking on, to Cybertron." Optimus answered.

On the Nemesis; Starscream informed Megatron, that the space Bridge was ready for activation. "Finally!" Was all Megatron had to say. The suspense was killing him.

Texas

"They're locked on to Cybertron. But, not for long. Raf said, switching the satellites back. Back in space; knew this had to be Raf's, doing. Megatron asked Starscream, what was happening. Starscream didn't know; so he asked Soundwave the same question, through the communicator. Back at the size of Ray, in Texas; Soundwave access to the security cameras, detecting the problem. Apparently, he had some competition, in the building. "The dishes are heading back, towards Cybertron. I'll just undo that, again." Raf said. At that point; Soundwave sent one of his tentacles, to stop them.

"What happens when the cons realize, they're being punked?" Jack asked Raf.

"It's only, "virtual" combat. You know, like online gaming." Raf reassured him.

"Yeah, Jack. What are the cons gonna do? They're probably like, 1,000 miles away." Miko commented. At that moment; the door behind them, opened, revealing Soundwave's tentacle. Jack saw the tentacle, and panicked. The tentacle made a grab for them, but Jack & Miko grabbed it, trying to stop it. The tentacle was swinging them around the room, with Raf still hard at work, on the computer.

"I won't let them lock on, again!" Raf said, with determination in his voice. The tentacle through Jack against the wall; Miko soon followed. The tentacle tried to grab Raf; he grabbed the flash drive at the last minute, before dodging the tentacle, as it destroyed the computer. Miko grab a fire axe, trying to hack the tentacle. The tentacle knocked her against the wall; picking the axe up, for itself.

"You handed it, an axe?!" Jack asked, with concern.

"Not good!" Raf pointed out.

The tentacle left the room, with the axe. Jack ran out the room, chasing the tentacle. He made sure to exit the room, before his friends. Because now he was in the clear, to use his powers. He used his super speed, to quickly change into his Invincible outfit. Soundwave brought the axe; using it to cut the hard line, his task, was now complete. The dishes were locked on Cybertron. At that moment; Jack, in his Invincible outfit, stormed in the room. Raf & Miko came in, a second later. "Hey, it's you again. But, where's Jack?" Miko said to Invincible; not knowing, where Jack could be.

"Never mind that. Look!" Invincible said to her, pointing at Soundwave, on the roof. Soundwave took a glance at them. Miko pulled out her phone, and took a picture of him. Apparently; Soundwave had the same idea, because he took a picture of the three of them, too. Luckily, since Jack was wearing his mask, Soundwave wouldn't recognize him, later. Soundwave transformed into a jet, and took to the skies. "Get back here!" Invincible shouted, flying after him. Invincible grabbed Soundwave, threw him to the ground and dashed towards him. Soundwave transformed into robot mode, and did battle, with Invincible. Invincible delivered powerful punch, after punch. He even managed to seemingly, damaged Soundwave's shoulder. For a while, it seemed like he was winning. But the one thing he didn't know about the residents spy Master of the decepticons, was that he was one of their toughest fighters. Soundwave overpowered Invincible, transformed into chat mode, again, and flew off.

Invincible made his way back to Raf & Miko. "Why is he leaving?" Miko was referring to Soundwave.

Raf examined the damage he did. "She cut the hard line. The dishes are locked on to Cybertron, for good." Raf explained.

"Well, the Autobots will stop them. I'm sure of it." Invincible replied. "Anyway, I've got to get back to my patrol. See ya!" He said as a follow-up, and flew away. Not long after that, Jack entered the room, with his clothes being slightly, a mess. "Hey, guys. What happened?" He spoke.

"And, where were you?!" Miko asked him, with a shout.

Jack had to come up with an excuse, a good one. "Hey! The moment I ran in here, that weird Decepticon, threw me out of the room. I'm just lucky, that the height he dropped me from, wasn't that high." Miko seemed to believe that; which probably wasn't that hard, considering how dirty and slightly torn, his clothes were, just now. Raf knew that Jack hurt everything he just said, about what Soundwave did. But since he was the only one of the three, to know his secret, he told Jack again, just to lower suspicion.

In Space

"Now, Starscream?" Megatron questioned, wanting to know if now was the time, to activate the Space Bridge.

"Now!" Starscream confirmed, pushing a button, activating the Space Bridge.

Megatron appeared on top of the Nemesis, with a huge crystal of dark energon, in his hands. "At last!" He exclaimed, throwing it into the Space Bridge. Optimus tried to stop the crystal, by blasting it. But it flew right past him, into the portal. The crystal crash landed on Cybertron. Megatron could feel its power, at work. "Arise, my legions!" He chanted. Dozens upon dozens, of Cybertronian dead, we're coming back to life, as zombies.

The Autobots stood at the bridge, observing everything. Bulkhead asked how they beat a whole planet, of the undead. At that moment, they received a call from Ratchet. "Optimus! I'm registering a rapidly expanding mass, in their space Bridge vortex. One with a peculiar, energy signature." Ratchet said from the base. By this time, the kids had returned from Texas, and agent Fowler finally woke up.

"Dark energon. Ratchet, we must destroy the Space Bridge." Optimus told him through the comms. "There's enough live energy on coursing through it, to achieve detonation. But we lack the firepower, to ignite it."

"If I knew how the Space Bridge was engineered. I might find a technical way, of accomplishing that feat." Ratchet said.

"Umm, would schematics help?" Raf asked, getting his attention, while showing him the flash drive.

That actually, would help Ratchet. "Optimus, I must say. Space bridge is our sole hope of ever, returning to Cybertron. Are you certain, that it's destruction, is the only option?" Asked Ratchet.

"I am, afraid so." Optimus answered.

"Then by all means. Let us light our darkest hour!" Ratchet encouraged.

"Autobots, take your positions, and follow ratchets lead!" Optimus commanded. They did as ordered. "While i, make my stand." He said as a follow-up. Megatron landed on the bridge, in front of Optimus, telling him that his fellow Autobots are wise, because they know when to retreat. "I hold no illusions about engaging your army, Megatron. But I might derail, its objective. By removing its head." The Prime replied, while extending a blade from his wrist. Megatron gave a chuckle, saying that was highly unlikely, since he was infused with their very might. "One shall stand, one shall fall." Spoke Optimus. Optimus and Megatron, engaged each other, in a duel.

Autobot Base

"These, things are getting closer. That's bad, right?" Fowler was referring to the dots, on the monitor.

"Ratchet, we're in position." Arcee sad over the comms. Ratchet told her to pay close attention.

Optimus and Megatron continued with their duel. Megatron seemed to be winning; so much, so, he's severed up Optimus blade, slammed him against the ground and threw him across the Space Bridge. Megatron raised his bladed arm, about to deliver the killing blow. "Master."Starscream interrupted him, through his communicator.

"Starscream. What is it?!" Megatron really didn't like being interrupted, from killing Optimus Prime.

"I do not wish to question your All-Seeing wisdom. But I believe the Autobots are up to something, again. Beneath your bridge, this time." Starscream informed his boss.

"Ah, misdirection, Optimus. You would have made a fine decepticon." Megatron said, now knowing what Optimus was up to. He then tried to strike his adversary down; only for Optimus, to catch his blade.

"I chose my side!" Optimus declared, before turning his hand into a blaster, and delivering a counter attack. Optimus continue to shoot Megatron, in midair, until he turned into a jet, making a break for it.

"Starscream. My army approaches. Rendezvous with the space bridge, for pickup!" Megatron instructed.

Meanwhile; the other Autobots were following Ratchet's instructions. He told them to follow the line from the flow regulator, to the energon pump. He told them there should be a valve. "I see it." Arcee told him. Ratchet told her to turn all that power against itself, all she had to do was reverse the current. Arcee turned the pump as hard as she could, reversing the current. "Current reversed." She said over the communicator.

"Yes! Right?" Fowler exclaimed, back at base.

"I'll ready the Ground Bridge." Ratchet informed them.

Back at the Space Bridge; Megatron flew towards the Autobots, and began blasting. They shot back, but he got a shot off, and managed to hit Arcee. She was launched off the bridge, drifting unconsciously in space. The Space Bridge was exploding, causing the Autobots to evacuate. The Megatron was too foolish, to not leave the Space Bridge behind. "Starscream. Where is my ship?" Megatron inquired.

"We would never make it, Lord Megatron. Don't be a fool. Take flight, and retreat!" Starscream advised him.

Optimus and the Autobots continued their evacuation. "Optimus, the Ground Bridge is ready, and waiting." Ratchet said.

"Autobots, jump!" Optimus commanded. He jumped through the vortex; the others soon followed, with Bumblebee grabbing the unconscious Arcee, while doing so.

Megatron was in the center of the space Bridge, completely ignoring the danger. "My legion." He said, witnessing the zombies approach the other side of the portal. Megatron saw the portal exploding around him. "No!" He exclaimed. Megatron tried to reach for his army, only to get caught up in the explosion. The Space Bridge was destroyed, causing a massive energy wave, in space.

Meanwhile, on the Nemesis; Starscream was giving a speech to his fellow Decepticons. "Decepticons. It is with deep sorrow, that I note for the log, Megatron's spark. Has been extinguished. All hail, Starscream!" He elected himself the new leader.

---

Autobot Base

the Ground Bridge was glowing, awaiting the return, of the Autobots. "Do you, think they're?" Inquired, hoping they were okay.

Ratchet checked his gauntlet, for their life signals. "For life signals. One, very faint." Optimus was the first to walk through, followed by Bulkhead.

"Bulkhead!" Miko exclaimed with excitement, running towards him, hugging his oversized hand. Bumblebee was the last step through; he was carrying a hurt Arcee, in his arms. This brought a sad look to Jack's face. He walked towards Arcee, in Bumblebee's arms, with deep concern for her. Raf & Miko stood at both his sides. Miko put her hand on Jack's shoulder, letting him know, she was there for him.

"We lost one, this week. By the AllSpark, don't let it be two." Ratchet exclaimed.

Jack walked closer, putting his hand on Arcee's. She may have only known her, for a couple of days. But in that short time that he's known her, he knew now, without a Shadow of doubt. That she was one of the bestest friends, he ever had. Arcee opened her optics, to see Jack, standing there. Arcee." He said with concern, for her.

"Jack, really? There are other motorcycles, in the world." She said, trying to make him, not worry so much.

"But, you are my first." He said to her, with sincerity and pride.

"And, Megatron?" Ratchet asked Optimus, wanting to know what became of him.

"Not even he, could have survived ground zero." Optimus stated.

"Prime!" Fowler said, getting Optimus's attention. "I didn't get to thank you bots, for the save. I owe you one. We all, do." He said, and left in the elevator.

Arcee stood on her feet, smiling down at the humans, particularly, Jack. He smiled back. Miko walked over to Optimus; she had an important question to ask him. "So, is this the part where you say goodbye. And, tell us we need to forget, we ever saw you?" Optimus gave them a serious look, in response to that.

The next day

"Without a means, of leaving this world. We Autobots take strength, in the bonds we have forged, with our three young friends. True warriors. If not in body, then in spirit. Optimus narrated, as the kids happily greeted each other, and were picked up from school, by their Autobot guardians. They were happy to see them, they really became their friends. Jack, Raf and Miko weren't just friends with the Autobots, their friendship between each of their, was stronger than ever, now. "My name is Optimus Prime. And I send this message. Though we did not choose, to be of Earth. It would seem, that we are here to stay. If you approach this planet with hostile intent. Know this. We will defend ourselves. We will defend humanity. We will defend, our home!" Optimus finished his narration.

the Esquivel Residence, later that night

Raf heard a knock on his window; he looked to see Jack, in his Invincible outfit, outside. Raf opened the window, to let him in. "Jack, what are you doing here?"

"Raf, I've come to a decision..." Jack took a dramatic pause, while taking his mask off. "I'm Invincible!" He said with pride. He then, began to elaborate. "I've decided, that I am going to carry on the torch. I even told Markus, before coming here. And I wanted to tell you, next. Well, that, and there's something I wanted to ask you, too. Raf, I was hoping you'd be my guy in the chair."

"What do you mean?" Raf asked him.

"You know, the guy that talks in my ear, through a communicator, sitting in a chair, at home. I need someone I can trust, Raf. And you're the only one, I can count on. So what do you say, buddy?" Jack said.

"Jack, I don't know." Raf responded.

"Well, it's an open invitation. Remember, Raf. This is your choice. Nobody's forcing this, on you." Jack clarified. A few seconds later, Jack had depressing look on his face.

Raf wondered about that. "Jack, what's wrong?"

"When the Autobots were in orbit. I should have been there, to help them. If I had, then maybe Arcee wouldn't have gotten hurt." He answered.

"You don't know that, Jack. Besides, it was in space. You couldn't have gone to help them, anyway." Raf reminded him.

"Yes, I could have. One of the advantages to being a Viltrumite. We're gifted, with an enhanced lung capacity. We can hold our breath in space, for weeks. I should have been there." Jack said back.

Raf walked over to Jack, put his hand on his arm, letting him know, he was there for him. "Jack, you can't save everyone. But you can always, try. And even if you can't save, everyone. You can always manage, to save at least, one person. So, you know what? I will be, your guy in the chair. I'll help guide you through, all the tough times. All I'm asking, in return, is that you keep being my friend. Well, that, and for you to have a little more faith in yourself."

Jack gave a smile to that. "Okay, it's a deal." They shook hands, and brought them together, in a friendship manner, afterwards. Jack put his mask back on, before speaking again. "Okay, Raf. I'm gonna go, now. You should get some sleep. And I've gotta get home, before my mom grounds me, for breaking curfew. See ya, around. Guy in the chair." Jack said, flying out the window.

Before Jack, flew away, completely. Raf said to him, with sarcasm. "Sure thing, Mr. superhero!"

"That's Invincible, to you!" Jack responded, with an equal amount of sarcasm.

"Okay, then. Sure thing, Invincible." Raf replied. Jack flew away, after that. Raf made his way to his bed, laid down and began to wonder, about his new job. "The guy in the chair, to a superhero. Why not?!" It wasn't the worst idea, in the world. Raf went to sleep, afterwards.

---

A/N: I'm sorry, that this was a little long. But I just wanted to get done with the darkness Rising saga, as soon as possible. And this was the most time consuming a thing, I've ever done, fanfiction wise. It took me several days, to get this done. And, I know I said I wanted to get this done, before Christmas. But, I just, ran out of time. So, Christmas day, is better than nothing. And, in regards to the part where, Jack realized he wanted to be Invincible, when he said, "I'm Invincible." I took inspiration from "Marvel comics, all new, Spider-Man." You know, the part where Miles Morales realized he wanted to be spider-man, so he said to his roommate, in costume, "I'm Spider-Man."

To all my fans, and fellow writers. Merry Christmas. I'll edit out any sloppy bits, later. But it's going to be very time consuming, considering how long this chapter is. In the next chapter, as promised, I'm going to make Raf a superhero, too. But, no spoilers. You'll just have to wait, and see for yourself. But, I will give you a hint. It will be a hero, that he carries the legacy of, too. I don't know which chapter, I'm going to do this on. But I do want to make Jack and Miko, a couple, real soon. And with the exception of curse words, I will be giving this, the m rating, treatment. I just don't know when, that'll be, yet.

One thing, I definitely want there to be in common, with this story, and another one, I'm making. I want Jack, to kick Soundwave's ass. I want him, to see him as his rival, because, I hate how tough Soundwave, is. And I want someone, to take him down a peg. Also, on a side note. I would like to add, that the plants you saw Jack growing, in his backyard. Are very special, plants. But don't worry, I promise, they're not marijuana. I will reveal what they are, in due time. And the same goes, for his pets, too. Also, I will reveal who Jack's ex-girlfriend is, in due time.

This is your resident rookie, "Cloud Prince J'onzz" , signing off.

STAY COSMIC!