Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers: RiD/Robots in Disguise (Car Robots), Armada (Micron Legends), Energon (Superlink), Cybertron (Galaxy Force), Beast Wars II or Victory. I only own the 'Neo-Dark Energon' and the 'Energon Techniques'. Read & Review, please!
Plot – During Koji's outing with Alexis, along with Kicker, Misha and Sally, they get caught up by Galvatron and his new playmate: T-Ai. Thanks to the Neo-Dark Energon, she's not the same like before. Optimus and Magnus observes to everyone as to how T-Ai was created. In response to yesterday's events, Koji implores Optimus by using Fortress Maximus, but refuses him to do so until he's greeted by an old friend of his late father and her newfound associate.
Chapter 14: Second Thoughts
Now with a Decepticon symbol embedded on her forehead, her eyes were glowing purple and her expression was being more strict. As a result, Koji's fear has already began to sink in.
"You look very surprised, Koji. Aren't you happy to see her, again?" says Ga'Mede mocking him.
"Wh-What have you done to her?"
Galvatron replied to him. "I did what was necessary: Making her believe that you like another female other than her. No wonder that we've watched it from far away."
"Damn you, Galvatron! You bring T-Ai back!" yelled Kicker.
Ga'Mede starts teasing him. "What's the answer that we're looking for? No! So, tough luck, pretty boy!"
Kicker's rage was starting to build up and was about to give Ga'Mede a taste of his own medicine until Misha and Sally restrained him.
"No, Kicker! Don't listen to him, please!"
"They just want to use your strength against you. So, calm down for once!"
"I know but still, they're really getting on my damn nerves!"
As Koji walks over to her, he tries to reason with her. "T-Ai, please let me explain."
With the Decepticon insignia on her forehead and her purple eyes glowing, she clenches her fist and gave him a different response. "Explain this." By punching him right in his face, she sends him hurling far until he crashes right onto the mailbox with a loud thud and it made him whelp in pain.
Everybody were left completely surprised of how different T-Ai has become after she got contaminated with Neo-Dark Energon by Galvatron and Ga'Mede.
As Koji staggers to his feet, T-Ai comes in and grabs him by the throat. But as she was about to cloak him again, Alexis stepped in and gave her a punch of her own until she grabbed her uniform and tossed her to the pavement.
After that, Alexis helps Koji up and grabs his cell phone by reaching it from around his neck. She opens it up and showing a miniature viewing screen of Dr. Jones.
"Alexis, what's the problem?"
"It's T-Ai that's what. Galvatron has implanted Neo-Dark Energon into her and has already assaulted Koji."
"I understand your concern. We've already overviewed the whole scenario. Optimus and his men are already on their way. Over and out." After he delivered the message, the screen went off and its phone cover was folded back.
T-Ai stood herself up and straighten her arms to her chest, while she formed her hands in the size of a ball.
This made Alexis, Koji and the rest of them very clueless as to what kind of move T-Ai is about to pull.
"Koji, what is she doing?"
A huge mystified purple orb had appeared on T-Ai's hands and is nearly done charging by aiming at them, while both Alexis and Koji are still left very puzzled.
"Since when did she learn to do that?"
"Like, never. She had no intention of fighting" replied Koji after making a slight recovery.
During his conversation with her, T-Ai fires a very familiar technique after she finished boosting its raw energy. "Neo-Dark Energon...Tsunami Blaster!"
Although both Koji and Alexis freaked out, along with Kicker and company, they immediately rolled out of the way before it struck an electrical pole on the bottom.
With the pole being blasted at half-way, it starts to break apart and lose its balance until the electrical wires that were connected to the other poles have snapped off and were already falling down onto Koji and Alexis. Just when they thought they were going to be electrocuted or crushed, a mysterious figure zoomed in and catches them before it crashes right onto the pavement road.
At first, Kicker and everybody gasped in shock but not until they caught something in the air: carrying both Koji and Alexis in his hands was Optimus.
"Are you two alright?"
As they both opened their eyes, they felt very relieved to see him arriving in the nick of time.
"We're okay, Optimus. Except one."
"Oh? Who could that be?" he asked.
"Her." Alexis points out to Optimus, the Autobot brothers and Magnus the individual that attacked them earlier.
When he veered in for a closer look, his optic sensors were widened in shock. "By the Matrix, what has happened to T-Ai?"
"Oh, no! The little lady is with the Decepticons? You've got to be kidding me!" says X-Brawn.
"What do you think, you bum?" added Magnus.
"Looking a little dense, Optimus? I've figured that I would entertain you with my new guest. Seems as though, she has made already quite the scene here" told Galvatron to them.
"Optimus, this is my fault that T-Ai saved me and got herself tainted with Neo-Dark Energon. It should've been me" said Koji sadly.
"We'll talk about this, later." He then turned his attention to his arch-enemy. "Give me one good reason as to why you're bringing such madness, Galvatron!"
"This is what happens, when someone doesn't do their homework, Prime. I always keep mine ahead on schedule, while you just laid back and do nothing. Right now, I don't have time to deal with you. Decepticons, fallback!" yelled the Decepticon leader to his troops.
As the Decepticons are retreating, Alexis looks over at Koji's expression and saw the sheer emotion on his face after witnessing T-Ai under Galvatron's control. "Koji…"
"Optimus, the little lady isn't herself anymore" says X-Brawn.
"No, I'm afraid not." He clenched his fist hard. "Out of all the people that he made them turn against us, T-Ai is by far the worst. Not like, when she was from way back then."
"What do you mean by that, Optimus?" Sideburn wondered.
"I'll show you something that you all didn't know about. Now, let's head back to base."
Back at Autobot HQ, Optimus shows everybody numerous photos from the viewing screen. Each of them were all black and white, but the picture itself had maintained its quality. For most people that were staring at them, they all felt somewhat amazed.
"Wow! I didn't know Planet Cybertron had photography" said Kicker.
"Actually, it's Cybertronian Photography. These photos from what you see here are about two millenniums old" Rodimus stated.
"So, does millennium stand for a thousand?" asked Fred confusingly.
Once again, Billy whacks him in the head with his trusty wrench. "Are you that stupid or something? Of course, you dimwit!"
"Wouldn't that mean these photos are much older than we are?" Karl pointed out to Magnus.
"Maybe, just a little. Besides, you should take a look on the far right."
As they get a glimpse of which photo Magnus was glaring at, they're all looking at a picture that shows two people working over at what appears to be a small pink microchip on a dashboard and sealed inside a Plexiglas cabinet.
"They seem to be working on something important. But, what could it be?" asked Misha.
"Beats me. Any ideas, Koji?" Kicker said to him.
"No idea. Just who are they and furthermore, what's so special about that item?"
Rodimus answered. "They…are Teletran-1's mechanics and that microchip is T-Ai herself."
When the red and orange-flamed Autobot revealed the details about the picture, everybody gasped in total awestruck.
"What? She was actually born like that?" yelled Kicker.
"Her hologram form was originally made from a microchip?" cried Alexis.
"That's unbelievable!" added Misha.
"Don't get full of yourself. She's always been like that, since the Cybertronian wars" Optimus confirmed.
"Just how long ago was it, Optimus?" asked Koji. "Because, I haven't even heard of Unicron."
"Seriously, Koji? You don't know who Unicron is?" replied Kicker.
"No, not exactly. Who was Unicron anyway?"
"Koji's right. Me and Karl weren't told by anyone about it. Can you please explain to us?" said Jenny.
Optimus retorted. "Gladly. It all started many millenniums ago. During our endless battles with the Decepticons, there came another force that made its presence felt by attacking our home planet of Cybertron. However, Unicron took no one's side but himself and despises both Autobots and Decepticons alike. When it arrived into Kicker's territory, we had to do what was necessary and prevent every planet from reaching total destruction. In order for Unicron to fulfill its mission, it needed valuable amounts of Energon to build up its power. In the end, thanks to our efforts including Kicker's, we've managed to put a stop on his turf when a part of his power drove its ancestor mad and then, sacrificed itself with the Super Energon that Primus had manifested with and became whole as the new sun. Right after that, we've recruited SnowCat and Demolisher over to our side after witnessing its demise. Just a decade later until the sun's collapse and the black hole threatening Planet Cybertron before it was sealed away by the four Cyber Planet Keys."
After discussing the brief story behind Unicron and everything else; Koji, Karl and Jenny became somewhat speechless and also fully understanding the whole scenario.
"So, that was Unicron. No wonder that I've felt its energy, when I was infected with Dark Energon."
"You did? But, didn't Optimus say that they already got rid of him?"
"I thought so, too. How did he survive?"
"He didn't really survive, Jenny. Parts of its raw energy had left before the black hole formation and were last seen drifting in outer space. That is, until Galvatron escaped from prison, terminated the Predacons by combining their sparks with Red Energon and the materials that he found which became Dark Energon" told Rodimus.
"Wait. Did you just say that Galvatron had terminated the Predacons? Even…Sky-Byte?" says Koji sadly.
"In a way…Yes."
Then, it hit him. The oddly familiar technique that T-Ai had fired and shouted its name out had once belonged to the same Predacon he befriended, long ago. "Wh-Why did he do that?"
"He had no use for them anymore, due to the constant failures that they've had against us" said Optimus.
Koji gasped in shame after learning about Sky-Byte's fate and hung his head down with tears in his eyes, while Alexis placed her hand on his shoulder for comfort.
"What about the Decepticons? Do they count?" Karl mentioned.
"Apparently not. Those freaks have had more defeats than from what the Decepticons can carry. It's all about the difference between winning and losing" replied Magnus.
"Yeah well, I'd have to say that it's pretty even from those two. Although, I'm not really familiar with the Predacons" said Kicker.
"Hey, where's Sally?" questioned Misha.
"Last I checked, she went off with Carlos and went into the medical room where Rad is. Why?" thought Koji after he wiped his tears.
Before he could reply, Alexis overheard his comment and started twitching her eyebrow by clenching her fists and her anger beginning to rise. "She's what?"
By noticing her mild temper, Koji tries to console her. "Alexis, calm down."
But as he placed his hand on her shoulder, she accidentally turned around and backslapped him right across his face after she said: "Back off!"
As Koji felt her hard slap, he stumbled back a bit until he lost his footing and fell to the ground. There was a look of grief and despair on his face, when Alexis's rage over Sally picking on Rad had taken over her.
A brief of silence had filled up the place until it was halted.
"Alexis! What did you do that for? Is it because you're jealous of Rad being with my sister, instead of you? I mean, seriously!" yelled Kicker.
Knowing of what he was trying to tell her about the sudden love triangle between herself, Rad and Sally, her expression had quickly softened and kneeled down next to him. "I'm really sorry, Koji. It was unintentional of me."
By feeling the harsh backslap that bestowed on him, he stood himself up and replied. "I know but, you shouldn't let your emotions get the better of you."
Although she understood his advice, she turns her head away and headed to the medical room. Not wanting to stand around, Koji follows her.
Subsequent to what has transpired earlier on, Magnus turned to his brother, Optimus about the difficulty surrounding the troubled friendship from them. "I know that I'm not pulling any fast punches, Optimus but if they keep this up, then Galvatron would use this as an advantage."
"Well, so far, he hasn't gotten the upper hand on us just yet. We need to think long and hard in order to prevent Galvatron from taking over Earth, Cybertron and even the universe itself."
"And that would most likely be depleting the stash of Neo-Dark Energon, correct?" Rodimus suggested.
"Affirmative. If we all slip up and let Galvatron keep using our human friends for his unholy weapon, we'll not only let ourselves down, but also Primus as well."
As Optimus discusses the Autobots of plotting against Galvatron's next scheme, back inside the medical room, both Sally and Dr. Jones are consoling Rad. His heart-rate monitor is still beeping; indicating that he's still holding on for dear life.
"Dad, how is he doing?"
"According to this report, he's slowly but gradually recovering from the assault that Ga'Mede had caused. Though, I must say, he's hanging in-there by a mile."
"That's good, right?"
Dr. Jones sighed. "It's unclear, if he survived or not. In scientific terms, it's a bit even between life and death." After he went through the paperwork declaring on Rad's ongoing recovery, the door was opened and in came Alexis with Koji behind her. "Oh, Alexis. Glad of you to drop by and I see that Koji is with you as well."
She turned her head around and saw him. As Koji waved at her with a shy grin, she glared her eyes straight at him. "Why did you follow me, Koji?"
"I was concerned about you, Alexis. Even though that I still feel gutted of seeing T-Ai contaminated with Neo-Dark Energon, I'm also worried about you, Alexis."
She felt utterly surprised. "R-Really? But, T-Ai assaulted you earlier. What worries you the most other than your best friend as your enemy?"
He replied. "If I was infected again, he would not only control me, but he'll also have access for me to control Fortress Maximus."
Sally widened her emerald green eyes in shock. "Are…Are you serious?"
"Very. It's no secret that I'm on the most wanted list for the Decepticons. At least, they didn't put a huge bounty on my head," he ends his sentence with a small laugh.
Alexis sweat dropped, while making a frown look on her face. She turned back to where Rad is. Having his nose and mouth covered with a mask to provide life support and having most of his body covered with bandages. By sitting down on the chair, she clasped his hands and a few tears had filled up her eyes again. "I'm…I'm very sorry, Rad. I…I should've known better."
Koji raised his eyebrow in confusion. "Huh? Alexis, what are you talking about?"
"I believe she's referring to the time with Rad and Carlos during the Mini-Cons, the Energon Wars with Unicron and the black hole, along with their previous conversation from the tower" Dr. Jones stated.
"But, what does this have to do with Alexis and Rad? Is it because they kept arguing with each other?" he asked curiously.
"Technically speaking, yes. Anyways, I was recently told by Optimus and Rodimus that even though you may have the ability to pilot Fortress Maximus, they will not allow you to step foot on the battlefield."
He couldn't believe his eyes, when Dr. Jones uttered those words to him. "Y-You mean…that I've been barred?"
With a nod of his head, he continued. "Exactly. Since you've brought Fortress Maximus all the way from Planet Cybertron, the Decepticons have become more persistent in their quest of total domination of Earth, Cybertron and the whole universe. If they're successful of capturing you, all hope will be lost."
Seeing that he's been prohibited to fight alongside the Autobots, Koji walked up to the wall, tightened his fist and pounds it hard. "This is nuts! First I get infected, then T-Ai and now, I've been forbidden from going into battle? Damn it!" As he released his fist from the wall, he took a deep sigh and went back to Dr. Jones about him not being able to fight. "Now, if I'm not mistaken, this all has to do with Fortress Maximus, right?"
"It's highly possible, if you were to reactivate him. But not to worry, Rodimus and his crew are working on it as we speak. Nevertheless, it's going to be really difficult without the Build Team."
"How come they're not here?" Alexis asked.
Dr. Jones answered. "They were heavily injured, when they tried to prevent Galvatron from escaping the Asteroid Prison Colony and due to the overwhelming odds that stacked up in their favour, we had to bring in some new recruits along the way. Like for example, SnowCat, Demolisher and a few others."
Koji, Sally and Alexis became a little intimidated about the new faction within the Autobots, because of Galvatron's escape.
"So, that's what happened to them. They tried to prevent him but they were obviously outgunned."
"Bummer. I guess, we now know why they're not with us."
In the midst of their conversation, the alarm was sounded. Just as Dr. Jones and Koji was about to leave, they've noticed that Alexis and Sally are still sitting next to Rad.
"Hurry up, you two! Rad will be fine."
"Yeah. Let's move it or lose it!"
After looking at each other's faces and then at Rad's, they got out of their seats and went to the Main Computer System.
Optimus and Ultra Magnus were already there and so were Billy, Fred, Carlos, Kicker, Misha, and the Autobot Brothers.
"Took you long enough."
"And in good timing too."
"While you were looking after Rad, we've received a message from the Decepticons."
"They're demanding to have Koji in person."
"The reason why is because they're attacking Rodimus and his teammates, when they were attempting to re-locate Fortress Maximus."
"No way! When did this occur?" says a startled Koji.
"As of right now, Rodimus really needs our help" Prowl notified to them.
"I'll say. Let's blow this joint!" said X-Brawn agreeing with him.
Before long, Optimus informs Koji about the possibly of getting captured by Galvatron once more. "Wait, Koji. As I've already told Dr. Jones, you cannot come and fight with us. I'm sorry, but that's a direct order."
When Koji tried to protest at them, they both stood there in silence with their optic sensors filled with strict and their arms were folded.
With nothing left to say, he walks away from everyone with his hands in his pockets and his head down in discouragement.
By seeing him feeling withdrawn, Alexis ran to him, grabs him by the arm and drags him back. Afterwards, she asked the duo about the circumstances relating to Fortress Maximus. "I don't think that was very assertive of you to forbid him from battling the Decepticons."
"Yeah well, don't take this the wrong way but, this is personal" Magnus responded.
She protested. "But, you can't do that! Do you know, what this means? Without him and Rad joining Kicker together, they'll be unable to use the Energon Fusion."
The Autobots have seemingly made a dreadful decision surrounding Koji's safety from the Decepticons and the usage of Fortress Maximus. They've almost forgotten the team formation of Koji, Rad and Kicker executing the Energon Fusion technique firsthand.
"Oh, perfect. We've been so busy handling the situation with Koji and Fortress Maximus for so long, we didn't notice that he and his pals are required to use that special move they've acquired" told Magnus to Optimus.
"In that case, I'll reverse my decision and allow him to fight with us. Nonetheless, under one condition and that is to never operate Fortress Maximus unless we're at a great disadvantage."
Although becoming a bit cautious, Kicker narrowed his eyes. "You mean that if Galvatron and Cryotek keeps pummeling on us, Koji gets to use him?"
"There is a possibility. As long as he stays away from Neo-Dark Energon, by all means necessary."
Koji's eyes lit up. "Thanks, Optimus!"
"Forgive me for asking, but we really need to get over there and help out Rodimus as soon as possible" informed Sideburn.
"And fast!" added X-Brawn.
"I'm already on it by opening up the Space Bridge." After Misha punched in the exact co-ordinates where Rodimus and his men are fighting Galvatron and his minions, the portal was opened.
Magnus made a sly grin at her. "Not bad. For a young lady, you definitely have some skills of handling the Space Bridge altogether."
Misha giggled. "Thank you."
Kicker is already fuming to see Magnus going soft on her. He grunted with disgust, while he muttered to himself. "That jerk!"
"Autobots, roll-out!" commanded Optimus to his troops and they all go into the Space Bridge with Magnus behind him, followed by the Autobot Brothers with Kicker and Koji on-board.
In the meantime, Rodimus and his crew are getting sorely beaten by Galvatron, Cryotek and his cavalry; while trying to secure Fortress Maximus someplace else.
"Is that the best you can do?" Galvatron teased at them.
"You might as well forfeit!" inserted Cryotek.
Despite the damage he has sustained, Rodimus stood himself up and so does his remaining soldiers. "Forget it, you two! We're not giving up!"
"Yeah, you heard him! We ain't loaning Fortress Maximus to a bunch of pin-heads like you!" yelled SnowCat.
"How dare you poke fun of our master! So, eat this, flat-foot!" Bludgeon fired his cannon at him and was knocked out completely.
"SnowCat! Why, you dirty little…"
Just as Demolisher was about to avenge his fellow comrade, he gets blasted by Ruination from behind and like SnowCat, he too was down.
"What a disappointment. I really would've expected more from you. But then again, maybe not."
Rodimus observes the whole area and his remaining soldiers. Only Scavenger, Nightcruz and Daytonus are left standing but are still getting manhandled by Bruticus, Sunstorm, Dreadwind, Axer and Magnificus. Team Bullet Train were also involved and they too got themselves beaten up by Cryotek earlier. "Slag! This is getting out of hand. Their forces have been doubled than from what we have."
Galvatron was eavesdropping on him and stood in-front of the near-fallen Autobot. "Quite right, Rodimus. Our quantity is a lot larger than yours. Now, here's my offer: hand over Fortress Maximus to us or we'll burn you all to the ground!"
"There's no chance! I'd prefer to be terminated, instead of putting up the white flag!"
The Decepticon leader became very displeased of his decision to keep on going. "Fool! You choose death over Fortress Maximus and even both planets?"
"Like hell!"
When Galvatron was about to deliver a crushing blow on Rodimus, he gets blasted on the back while making an effort to charge his strength.
As Rodimus became puzzled by this sudden turn of events, he gasped to see who fired on the Decepticon leader and arriving at a split second. "Optimus! It's about time!"
"What? You're here? Cryotek and all of you, get rid of them immediately!" shouted Galvatron with rage and they all go on the attack towards Optimus and company.
"Magnus, let's clear them out and secure Fortress Maximus" Optimus replied to him.
"It'll be my pleasure."
"Ultimate Energy Combiner! Omega Prime!" they both shout out in unison, when the merge was complete.
"You won't get away that easily! Have you forgotten my latest acquisition?" He shows him and everybody his new Neo-Dark Energon soldier, T-Ai on his shoulder.
At first, there was a moment of silence until it was quickly broken.
Omega Prime laid out his command to the two humans that were brought out here by the Autobot brothers. "I'll let them take care of that, Galvatron! Koji! Kicker! Do it!"
With a nod of their heads, they positioned themselves and shouted out their armor transformations.
"Let's do this! Koji, Transform!" He suited himself up into his crimson emerald green form with brightly bronze protection pads.
"Time to bust out some cons! Kicker, Transform!" Like his partner, he too transforms into his crimson red form with bright yellow pads and his hair glowing gold, while his eyes were light blue.
After seeing his enemies transformed into their crimson outfits, Galvatron made an evil smirk on his face. "Fortunately, there's always my personal favorite, when it comes to the heat of battle. Ain't that right, Ga'Mede?"
A tall young man with silvery hair had appeared by coming from behind him. As he walked towards the duo, he confronts them with his statement. "Let's see, if you can keep up with me." Then, he motions to his new comrade, T-Ai that was on Galvatron's shoulder and joined in the fray.
Koji secretly whispered to Kicker about not facing his best friend becoming a new member of Galvatron's army due to Neo-Dark Energon. "Hey, Kicker. Perhaps, you should deal with T-Ai while I try to handle with Ga'Mede. Sorry but, I just don't feel like fighting her."
"Listen, don't compare your problem with mine! Okay? So, live with it! And don't worry, I won't hurt her much."
Ga'Mede cracks his knuckles. "Are you two done talking yet? Because if you are, I'll gladly put both of you down for the count."
"That is, if you have what it takes" stated T-Ai as her sweet and innocent voice was beginning to become dark all of a sudden.
"Whoa! Did you hear that? The Neo-Dark Energon! It's eating her!" Koji mentioned.
"For real? Aw, man! It's similar to what Misha had, but this is different" says Kicker.
During their commotion with one another in regards to the Neo-Dark Energon, Ga'Mede is starting to get impatient. "Stop bickering and fight already!" With a loud yell, a black and purple aura has enshrouded his whole body while his hands were glowing semi-dark purple. "I'm going to grind the both of you to dust!"
Then, Kicker came up with an idea. "I think, I know of how we can turn this around. Here's the plan…" He whispers into Koji's ear and explains the whole theory about it.
As Koji nods his head, he de-transforms himself and takes a different route rather than squaring off against Ga'Mede and T-Ai.
Now, Kicker is left all alone against Ga'Mede and T-Ai with their Neo-Dark Energon powers initiating to build up.
"So that was your plan? How lame. Letting your partner runaway from a battle was very insufficient" told Ga'Mede.
"Oh, he's not running away. He's actually pretending," he told them.
"You wish" says T-Ai with her purple eyes glowing, along with the Decepticon insignia reappearing on her forehead.
"Uh-oh. I can almost feel the Neo-Dark Energon from within her. One thing is certain, I will not back down." While Kicker gets busy with them, back on over with Koji, he tries to avoid certain capture from the Decepticons by finding a way to get inside Fortress Maximus from the other side.
"Shouldn't there be a back door or something?"
As he turns around, however, he gets knocked down by someone and falls to the ground.
The young individual that got bumped spoke to him. "Hey! Watch where you're going!" She has dark emerald green hair, light lavender eyes with a thin blue and white jacket with dark red coat, white track pants and light blue sneakers with red stripes. Along with a pair of sunglasses; orange on the outside and black on the inside as it hangs on her collar.
"I'm sorry, ma'am."
"It's not ma'am, kid! It's…"
When she was about to introduce herself, a soft feminine but strong voice was calling out to her.
"Kelly! Where did you go?"
"Over here and I've found someone with me."
By hearing her response, the young woman revealed herself. She has long light orange hair, light green eyes with a clear blue work shirt, red belt and yellow buckle, navy blue skirt, purple pants and yellow shoes.
The instant that Koji had recognized her familiar face, both himself and the tall lady gasped in bewilderment.
"B-Bridget?"
"Koji?" She smiled. "Long time no see. How's life been treating you?"
Just as he was about to reply back, they hear some thunderous noises and some explosions coming from across the field. When they all looked up, they watched to see Omega Prime and the Autobots duking it out with Galvatron, Cryotek and their Decepticon henchmen.
"Oh, no! Not those creeps again! I'm getting out of here!" cried Kelly and was about to run away until Bridget grabs her by the back collar of her jacket.
"Will you get a hold of yourself for once?"
After she lets go of her back collar, Kelly hesitated. "Why should I? Everywhere I go and try to relax, these things keep on interrupting me!" She then crossed her arms and turned away from her and pouts. "If you ask me, I don't want to hear anything about them!"
Bridget became very frustrated relating to the heated battle that's been going on. So, she placed her hand on Kelly's shoulder by forcing her to turn around and face her in the eye. "Kelly."
"Yeah, what?"
With some vigor in her eyes, Bridget slaps Kelly right across the face so hard, it nearly echoed the place as a flock of birds fly away and into the sky.
Koji felt awkward of how Bridget reacted to Kelly about the intrusion that is happening in-front of them. It left a small red mark on Kelly's cheek, while Bridget continued.
"Quit acting like a coward and listen! What you're seeing over there aren't just things, they're special robots. In other words, they're called Autobots and furthermore, Koji once told me about this until his father's passing."
"N-No way." Kelly's eyes were widened, while pointing at Koji. "Y-You're…Dr. Kenneth Onishi's son?"
"Look, we can discuss about this another day. Right now, I need to find a way to get inside Fortress Maximus before I get caught by the Decepticons."
As Kelly looks up, she spots the huge Autobot and starts complaining about both the titular giant and the other faction. "Th-Th-That huge thing? And these…Decepticons, are they like…an opposite to those Autobots?"
"Of course, they are! What else would you expect from either one of them?" During Bridget's talk with Kelly, Koji's whole body had begun to glow in a crimson emerald green stature.
"Wh-What's going on?"
Not only was he glowing, but so was Fortress Maximus with the exact color.
Omega Prime and Rodimus were the first ones to witness this, along with Galvatron and Cryotek.
"Fortress Maximus! He's…"
"He's glowing! But, how and where's it coming from?"
"Eh? What's happening to him?"
"He's either building up some energy or maybe…there's someone communicating with him."
Elsewhere, Kicker was struggling against the combined forces of Ga'Mede and T-Ai until both he and the duo themselves also see it. "Huh? Wait a second! That light…"
"Why have I seen this color from before? It looks vaguely familiar." That's when T-Ai had noticed somebody from the rear. "I've found our prey!"
Bridget overhears that her longtime friend has been spotted and tries to warn him. "Quick, Koji! Do something!"
"And make it fast!" added Kelly.
"I'm…trying." As he shuts his eyes, he can almost hear somebody calling to him from inside his mind.
(Inside Koji's Mind)
Unknown: "Koji…Use Fortress Maximus."
Koji: "Huh? Wh-Who said that?"
A huge radiant blue glow sphere had appeared right in-front of his eyes and unveiled himself.
Primus: "I…am Primus, Koji. Now, operate Fortress Maximus, immediately."
Koji: "B-But, why? Optimus said that I can't."
Primus: "It makes no difference. Just activate him. Because as of today, you have acquired the Energon Teleportation Technique."
Koji: "Energon Teleportation? Does that mean, I get to teleport inside of him?"
Primus: "Yes but only for emergencies. Now, go!"
(Outside of Koji's Mind)
After his brief discussion with Primus, a huge light shined on him and later reopened his eyes, clenched his fists and transformed into his crimson emerald green form again. "Koji, Transform!" He then shouted out his newest technique that he received from Primus. "Energon…Teleportation!" With a huge flash, he disappeared and later re-appeared inside the cockpit of Fortress Maximus. By gathering up his strength that he can muster, he activates him via disabling the command block from Cerebros. "Deactivating Command Block. Activating Battle Stations! Fortress Maximus, online!"
By feeling Koji's essence, the optic sensors from Fortress Maximus glowed yellow while its Autobot insignia shined light green and spoke these words. "Access…Granted."
Omega Prime gasped in shock and so did Galvatron. "Unbelievable! He's online again!"
"This can't be!"
"Alright! Go, Koji!" says Kicker in a cheerful way.
While inside, Koji makes his move. "Fortress Maximus, annihilate the Decepticons and their leaders at once!"
Roaring with anticipation, he moves slowly and fires its massive firepower onto Galvatron and gets cloaked hard. Next, he does the same to his troops and Cryotek. As it starts getting prepared to load more ammunition, Galvatron made a desperate quick command.
"Decepticons, retreat!" He points at Omega Prime by giving him a fair warning. "This is far from over! Especially, Fortress Maximus! Galvatron, Transform! Mega-Bat Mode!" By transforming into one of his beast forms, he flew away and his army following him. The same goes for Cryotek withdrawing with his troops also.
Ga'Mede and T-Ai saw their leaders retreating from the battle and as they realized that they've lost again, they both grunted with displeasure and went off with them; leaving Kicker and the Autobots all by themselves.
"You got lucky! But next time, you won't be so fortunate!"
"And you can bet your Energon on that!"
Kicker rubbed his forehead, when it was sweating bullets during his fight between the twosome. "Whew! I'm glad that's done."
Back inside the Autobot base, Koji introduced to Optimus and everyone his old friends that he recently bumped into during the huge scuffle over Fortress Maximus.
"I see you've brought along some new visitors, Koji" says Optimus.
"Yes. That's Bridget and Kelly. In fact, Bridget and I go way back since she was a close friend to my late father."
"You don't say. So, how come she's with this cutie pie?" X-Brawn asked, poking fun at Kelly as some redness were shown on her cheeks.
Bridget replied. "Let me put it into terms that ever since we first met, we've become fast friends. But more importantly, this all started when she was reading a newspaper article about Koji's father over my shoulder. At first glance, she was just a stranger until I took her in for some modeling. In return, I even talked to her about my old cousin, Koji and from that point on, she and I have remained close."
"M-Modeling? You mean like fancy dresses and swimsuits by being on the front cover of a famous magazine?" cried Koji.
As she strokes her long orange hair, she smiled. "If you meant something like being elegant and smart, than yes."
"This is new. I didn't know Koji had someone that was related to his late dad" says a surprised Kicker.
"Just how long have you two been together?" Misha inquired.
Kelly scratches her head. "I'd say about…more than ten years or so."
"Holy frijoles! That long? No wonder they're so pretty. Just like Alexis" says Carlos coughing up a rude joke at her.
Alexis became infuriated with Carlos after he taunted her. "Shut up!" She punches him in the face hard and it left him a near black eye on his left.
"Hey! Can't we all just get along?" He whined, despite the fact that he's holding his bruised eye.
"In your dreams, Carlos!"
He sighed. "That's funny. I'm already awake and I almost wet myself."
Her frustration had quickly changed into relief upon understanding his new joke. She then made a soft giggle, where it turned into a laugh.
Koji and Kicker also began to laugh until everyone in the Autobot base laughed in unison.
As they were all having a peaceful moment, Cryotek and Galvatron are discussing about their secret plan from deep within in the basement of Decepticon HQ. In-front of them was a mysterious large stasis pod.
"It's time to make our next move."
"Yes, indeed. Everything is all going according to our plan."
Both leaders began laughing madly with their latest project beginning to unfold.
Inside the stasis pod is a large black shadow with spiked hair and a flash from its eyeglasses was shown.
End of Chapter 14